Nothing

At least once a month, I invite Takeguchi Sensei and his spouse for dinner.  We scout out new ethnic restaurants to try.  In addition to having good food, I also get to enjoy their company and conversations that I did not get to have at the dojo.

This evening, I shared with Sensei some news from the local recreation center where I have been volunteering.  

"The graduates from the Self Defense for Senior course cannot have enough of it.  They want more, but I don't want the same people to keep coming back.  I want to make the couse accessible to others.  So, the solution is to start a new spinoff class!  You see what the seeds you sowed have become?"  I playfully punched Sensei on the shoulder.

"Yeah, that's good.  That's good."  Sensei scratched his head and broke out his signature smile, "You know, given their age and perhaps limited physical abilities, even if they never become a black belt, they still deserve a chance to enjoy Aikido.  That's what Aikido practice is about."

Because of my new endeaver of teaching Aikido to seniors, I learn to teach Aikido differently from the way I was taught as a beginner.  

In the old school way, students are told to bite the bullet and just grind.  Work hard. tough it out.  Even if it hurts, endure and try harder.  No pain, no gain.  But when the students are a bunch of 55+ silver foxes, with the oldest one in his 80s, there is no way I demand that they take that same approach.  

In addition, the only mats we have are the tiny, skinny yoga mats students bring to class.  We have no standard grappling mats.  If anybody attempts to take a break fall, they definitely will break after they fall.  

My new motto is:  Learn swiftly.  

Try swiftly.  Be a swift beginner.  Even if you cannot do a technique, fail in a swift manner.  Don't wait till you can do it before you do things swiftly.  If you always do things the hard way, you have already gone off to a wrong direction.  You may forever be lost in the woods, and may never find your way out.

I told the seniors that they come to the Aikido class to learn to be the boss.  At our age, we have earned the right to be in charge of ourselves.  So, learn to be the only boss to our own bodies.

With my regular students at the dojo, I share with them a similar message.  I remind them not to get used to any pain or discomfort while learning Aikido.  "When you do something the right way, it should not be painful or uncomfortable.  If you choose to tolerate it, it will become your normal.  Then, you may never improve."

To my delight, Takeguchi Sensei concurs with me.

"That's right, that's right!  You should always feel very comfortable and move easily.  There is no need to duck or bend backwards for your partner because bosses don't duck!  The only problem is that many people don't even know what being confortable means."

Sensei went on to tell me something I never knew before with a mysterious smile on his face. 

"When O Sensei came to Hawaii to promote Aikido, he would have his students teach classes.  He would play with the kids . . . and I was one of those kids." 

Takeguchi Sensei actually practiced with O Sensei???  😱  How come he never told us that?  So, what was it like touching O Sensei?

"It felt like nothing," with a nostagic look in his eyes, Sensei said in a soft but firm voice.  "There was nothing.  But then, we flew all over the place!"  Sensei could not help laughing.

Apparently, the experience still has a huge impact on him to this day.

"That is why I strongly believe you should never direct any force towards your partner.  That was not how O Sensei did it."