Aikido dođo Yamatokan

Becoming Shodan, is really quite an achievement. The earnest commitment, the discipline to show up, the focused attention required is no easy thing.
We can all acknowledge the hard work.

Still, we may have heard the humbling belief that becoming a ‘black belt’ is actually when we become ‘a serious student’.
In the west we have been insidiously taught to believe that ‘black belt’ means ‘expert’, and because we have achieved this we have essentially “reached the goal”.
Some quit - satisfied or not, some venture forward to practice and achieve success in other martial disciplines, while some might actually choose to stay with their present practice -thinking that the next tier is to teach.

Teaching will, however, reveal gaps in our learning. Students question the how and the why and at times our answers may not satisfy. The ease of technique in one student may not manifest in the less ‘ideal’ uke. Those who stay discover that there are many layers to learning. An open mind glimpses the vast richness of learning achieved by implementing rigorous, knowledge-rich curriculum with a multi-modal approach. We use various visual/kinetic methods to reinforce our understanding, while actively practicing out of our comfort zone for the body experience.

Some of us might actually lean into this discomfort.

We learn, unlearn, and then relearn.
We refine, whittling down technique from occasionally ‘forcing’ to more frequently controlling. We pare down our movement -giving attention to detail. We create sharp lines/edges purposefully or beautifully round circular flow to add a clarity. We manage a deeper kind of blending, harmonizing with the ‘grain’ of our uke, reading and sensing body inclination.
And then we ‘Polish’ the mirror of Self, understanding the body, mind, and spirit.

So for some of us, becoming Shodan revealed yet another immense horizon.
Learning becomes quite infinite.
It becomes embodied into our Being, overflowing into our daily life, presenting itself as more of a lifestyle - if we so choose.

G. Breeland, 6th dan

Remember that when practicing Kotegaeshi
it is helpful to not just ‘pull’ the wrist and arm, but to connect to ukes center, draw him out with our own center and lead.
We are blending with attacking energy, not physically catching the hand to pull and twist. At first, this is what we might do but later we can notice and refine.

Establish a good center connection before turning. Always take balance first.
Draw uke out spirally and turn.
Arms, hip, and feet move as one coordinated whole body unit.
We prioritize our center and our strong legs.
The Kotegaeshi wristlock finishes after the body creates appropriate space and distance.
If uke is off balance we can turn/lock the wrist with much less physical force.
It is not necessary to wrench the wrist.

G.Breeland, 6th dan

Honor the brilliance of going slow.
View it as an opportunity to refine our presence and awareness.
Practice into this wise activity with patience.
Learn to see every part of the form.

Practicing techniques slowly might seem unnecessary, tedious, and boring.
Yet it brings a mindful focused attention to nuance and detail, to all things ‘tai sabaki’.
We study and notice how to control our own coordinated body while observing other ‘unnoticed’ factors such as the breath, body dynamic, weight distribution, space or the absence of it, timing and balance. These observations allow for more ease in control, smoothness and good connection.
When we move fast and use momentum we might sense and feel very little. We might move incidentally and accidentally - perhaps landing in the correct area, copying movement but without purposeful intent.
Going slow allows the body practice to gain this awareness since we are essentially retraining our nervous system.
This way we incorporate small details while noticing the reflexive and inefficient habitual patterns of muscle activation.

As a practice, we can eventually balance the approaches of going both slow and fast.

The question to incorporate in our own study is how much can we mindfully notice moving slow and how much of those details can we keep intact while moving fast?

It’s our own private study.
Gather the information.

G. Breeland, 6th dan

Shoshin (初心) — Beginner’s Mind

Shoshin refers to maintaining an unconditioned mental state during practice. Technically, it means observing each movement without preconception, allowing correct timing, distance (ma-ai), and alignment to be perceived accurately. In Aikido, Shoshin prevents rigid patterns and mechanical repetition. By suspending assumptions, the practitioner can adapt posture, balance, and connection according to the partner’s action. This mindset supports continuous technical refinement, even at advanced levels. Shoshin is not lack of experience, but the ability to reset perception, ensuring techniques remain functional, responsive, and consistent with principle rather than habit.

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