Making real progress with Aikido
Here is a wonderful video giving what I think is an excellent example of 13 Jo Kata with Henka performed by Said Sebbagh Sensei.
When I watch this video, and I must say that I have watched it countless times, I can really appreciate the amount of practice and hours that Said Sebbagh Sensei has put to get to this level of technical advancement demonstrating the 13 Jo Kata alone and in paired practice. I can also see that the Kaizen approach is prominent in his approach.
You can also watch it on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lu8obh0SZMw
I feel the need to mention this, as sadly many Aikidoka practitioners only seem to content by 'copying' a form such as the 13 Jo Kata (and any other Kata or techniques) often not executed correctly in its purest basic form. There is a big job to do to acquire the correct basic form and when you have got the form more or less correct, there should be an element going beyond the basic form, ie to push yourself beyond 'the box'.
It is also a perfect time to relentlessly question whatever we are doing is correct or wrong. So it is good to be asking yourself deep questions and by being honest: is my technique done efficiently and effective in terms of Martial aspect? Am I complete harmony with my body movement by keeping all the Aiki principles that Aikido offers?
It is certainly not easy to confront our failures, but one needs to open his/her mind up to willingly say: 'my technique still needs improving'. Only then when you adopt this mindset, you begin to improve because your mind is 'open' just like a child willing to learn.
It takes a lot to admit our errors, but if we accept and seek the truth, then I am a firm believer that our Aikido will progress much further but it truly means we should remove our ego.
Possibly our biggest enemy that sits within ourselves.
Hence why Aikido, if it is practiced well, truly helps us becoming better as human being. The more we progress with the correct mindset, the more we will feel we become an advanced beginner instead of expert.
This is very paradoxal to realise this, but Aikido is a spiral and we keep coming back realising we are still a Beginner and this spins endlessly! When we accept this, then we can unlock our true potential to becoming better technically and our physical abilities to execute high level techniques also affect our mind and spirit for the better...
Aikido is a wonderful Martial Art but to understand it in its true form, one must begin to do the work by continuing to attend training, class after class regularly.
Are you prepared to commit to this? The journey is truly fascinating if you can!