Why train Aikido?
The self-defense reason does not apply since Aikido is not self-defense, at least not as it is commonly practiced, and it is not competition so you cannot grade yourself by aid of competition results. There are no records to beat. It might very well be the case that some pick up aikido for self-defense reasons and then later drop out, or maybe they stay because self-defense became less important to them, they got other interests, and so on.
There can be many reasons for practicing aikido and we shall not delve upon them but see what benefits there are to aikido training. Because there must be something beneficial to it since so many are training. Then, what is it that aikido training yields and what are the reasons for training? We begin with the obvious reasons first.
Exercise
Aikido gives a good working through of the whole body, which strengthens joints, muscles and skeleton. One becomes strong and agile. The cardiovascular system is not exercised very hard and it is a good idea to complement aikido training with jogging.
Endorphins
If you train hard enough for some time it seems that the fact that in aikido a comparatively larger part of the body is exercised the release of endorphins is higher than in other physical activities. Increased endorphin release results in improved wellbeing, mental balance and, it is believed, a strengthened immune system.
Symmetry
All techniques are done on both left and right side. The left and right halves of the brain thus become symmetric as regards body movement control. New scientific research has shown that new cells are created in two areas of the brain (the frontal brain base and hippocampus) and that these cells migrate out to areas where they are needed, for example to control new body movements. The creation and migration may take several weeks, which explains why there is a gradual development over time.
Balance and coordination
Training yields better balance and coordination. Breathing is improved.
Body contact
We humans seldom touch each other. Exceptions are few: siblings, your own children, spouse and the like. Other herd living animals that are predators as we, all experience intense body contact within their flock. Just think of wolfs and chimpanzees.
We have language with which to touch each other, but I never the less think that we all, exactly like the primates, carry a need for body-to-body contact that is not sexual, not violent, and not pecking order instituting. Through aikido training one gets such neutral body contact that promotes a relaxed attitude to body contact and other humans.
What you get is what you give
If you train harder than usual with the right attitude, interesting effects can be seen.
Hard physical training breaks down the body, and at rest it rebuilds itself (and thus become stronger than before). This stimulates the creation of new brain cells that hinders/alleviate depression, improves memory, and more. You actually become healthier; both body and mind.
Especially so if you as an instructor try always to do your best for each and every one of your students, taking care of them, see to their wellbeing and development, practicing each technique with everyone on the mat and try to see and feel what "errors" each person makes, and instruct in order to help them improve, you will over time develop an ability to see vague patterns of movement, tens muscles, stiff joints, different length limbs, far below the usual threshold of perception.
You will be surprised to find that you have developed an ability to sense modes and frames of mind, an ability to really feel what other persons feel (far beyond common empathy).
There is a story about Yagyu Munenori who was called one of the greatest martial arts masters of all time, that he as an old man one day stood in his garden with his young servant who carried Munenori´s sword for him. Suddenly Munenori left the garden and went into the house apparently in a very bad mood. His servants inquired into what had happened in the garden and reluctantly Munenori told them that out there in his garden he had suddenly felt danger, which was totally uncalled-for since there were only he and his servant there. After a while the young servant admitted that as he had stood behind Munenori, he suddenly came to think "how easy it would be to draw the masters sword and cut him down".
Whether this actually happened or not, the story is true in the sense that for more than 300 years it has been known that sensitivity increases by long arduous martial arts training.
Spontaneity & intuition
Especially in Japanese strategic thinking, influenced by Buddhist theory the importance of reacting to stimuli without any prior analysis or mental deliberation has been stressed.
In modern strategic thinking, colonel John R Boyd has modeled this direct reaction to observation of reality in his strategy model, the O-O-D-A loop, by an arrow pointing directly back to observation from orientation called Implicit Guidance & Control.
Between attack and counter attack there is virtually no gap. The gap is so small that there is not room even for the breadth of a hair. The response is spontaneous, harmoniously adjusted to circumstance. This state of affairs can only be achieved through study and practice.
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