I would like to thank the program managers, Ms Vicki Grabham and Mr Jason Jones for making the classes possible.

The classes are:

Adults - Thursdays 5:15 - 6:15pm
Children - Fridays 4:00 - 5:00pm

These classes are on-going. If you have friends or family who may be interested in practising the fine art of Aikido, they are most welcome to sign up at the recreation centre.

Keiko

"What is the thing that is uniquely Aikido?" a friend of mine asked. The question seemed similar to: "What do you do in aikido?", or "If I practice hard and long enough, can I achieve black belt in two years?" and "After I achieve my First Dan in Aikido, I'm going to stop, because I've reached my goal." How do I respond to these? There is a saying: "Enlightenment is not a result of practice. It is practice itself." In aikido classes, the same techniques and movements are repeated in every class. We all learn through repetition; that is human nature. And practising entails repetition until the lesson is learned or internalised. It is a question of discipline.

Looking at the characters that make up the word "keiko", or practice, the two characters literally translate to mean "admonish, or warning" and "old, or ancient". Is it a warning to strip of old habits/behaviour? An admonishment of what is no longer beneficial to oneself?

When O Sensei talked about practising, the reference was constantly to the refinement of oneself - of tempering the spirit.

As O Sensei stated: "The purpose of training is to tighten up the slack, toughen the body, and polish the spirit."

The commitment to study and practice Aikido is to constantly be mindful of one's attitude, behaviour, purpose and to constantly improve oneself in everyway. It is the difference between saying "I would like to be practising more" and "I am practising"

The martial artist is in constant practice, everyday; especially outside the dojo. Why? This is where integrity will be most important because you are alone with yourself. Once you step on the path of Aikido, every moment is filled with the idea that "I am practising".

Constant practice entails having a routine everyday, and striving to do the best at even the smallest thing. To practice at every moment is to live with razor sharp awareness and focus. Being in the present moment means being alert to your surroundings, the people around you, and everything that happens. It is also having the proper behaviour at the appropriate time. Practising to live in such a conscious and responsible manner contributes to the practice of aikido technique in the dojo. And practising aikido outside the dojo means being in harmony with everything around you; treating the world as a dojo.

Ask yourself, how would you behave if no one was looking? And how would you behave when someone is? If a parent tells a child not to rest their feet on the coffee table, do they do the same when the child is not around?

If we look at the characters that make up the word "bushido", the character "shi" in the middle can be taken to mean "gentleman", "scholar" or "samurai". It is the martial way to practice at being a better person, a model citizen able to defend one's community at a moment's notice; to spread peace and harmony by beginning with oneself: to become the perfect gentleman or lady, full of confidence, a calm disposition and inner strength. Let us say you visit someone, and the door is closed: what do you do? Do you knock and wait for an answer? Do you knock once, or repeatedly? Do you knock and open the door, or open the door, then knock the door- frame? Just opening the door may seem mundane and trivial. However, the simple act of approaching, knocking, opening a door and then entering the room can reveal your character and upbringing. Good manners and behaviour are nurtured through consistent daily practice and positive affirmation from childhood; or over a substantial length of time. It does not happen overnight. With due respect to Robert Fulgham, I would say that all you learn, you learn from home - good and bad.

Bushido

There is a story of a master who woke up earlier than usual one morning and started to prepare the morning tea. It is normally the duty of his disciple to prepare tea every morning for the entire monastry. When the disciple finally awoke to find the tea already prepared, he humbly asked the master why he did not wait or wake him up? The master answered simply, "because I was in the kitchen." ... A wise and responsible person would do what needs to be done without needing to be asked nor would they "pass the buck". For a child, it means finishing work that needs to be completed or clearing one's room before going out to play. It means reading up on a topic before going to class the next day, and always being prepared without being told to do so. It is joyfully meeting deadlines without complain nor excuses.

So what makes a person a success? What makes an 'A' student or a concert pianist? How does a child grow up to be a good-natured, well-mannered and responsible adult? What makes a good Aikidoist?

Proper guidance, dedication, and living a life of practice. (Copyright Sept. 2004: Rafael Oei)

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