Attitude towards practicing Aikido

As I promised earlier, with my blog posts here I try to follow the posts written in my two other Hungarian blogs. This is the first such post, and I'd like to write here quite often from now on. I'd like to invite you to discuss and think about things inspired by quotes from O'Sensei. I'd also like to share my own thoughts with you to start the discussion. My aim is not to simply tell you something but to kind of inspire you to think and discuss through which all of us will improve both spiritually and mentally. I think it's good to think some things over sometimes: what can work or happen and why and how. If we can understand something we will have made a step on our Path.

The first quote is about a question that often comes up from beginners, that is, how, how often, how much should we practice and when can we get to certain level of expertise.

And now a couple of thoughts from me:

All the people are different. There are some who have better coordination abilities, or are more talented to learn movements, some learn more slowly. Such is this world. We can't all be uniform or the same. There will always be people who can learn techniques more quickly but one thing must be remembered: it is not only talent that is needed to learn aikido but also, and mainly, perseverance.

If you ask me whether I'd spend more time with someone who is really talented but gives up thing more easily or someone with more modest motorical skills but perseverance, I'd choose the latter without hesitation.

Why?

Because a less quickly progressing person offers much more opportunities to learn and to improve myself as well. Don't take this as selfish thinking, such training is a greater challenge and it also requires more energy to invest into the process. A person with exceptionally good abilities applies the learned methods and principles more easily but they might not start thinking about how things work. Lack of thinking about techniques can slow someone down in the understanding of aikido. This might further lead to build a barrier in training, and someone might not be able to develop higher than a certain level (not technically but mainly mentally and spiritually).

Aikido is an infinite, continuously developing science. It can't and shouldn't be limited to between barriers. Also, the development of people practicing aikido should not be restricted either. If I recall how and what I said 2-3 years ago, how I explained techniqes, I can identify a lot of differences to the way I teach today. I don't say I taught different things, just that I explained things from different angles and viewpoints which corresponded to my experience and knowledge at that time. If I recall what I learned 10-15 years ago, I can observe a complete reformation. If O'Sensei could come back, maybe he wouldn't immediately recognise the techniques created by himself.  However, I'm sure he could catch up with the decades of changes within moments.

To finish, a couple of hints and recommendations to beginners: nothing needs to be hurried up, there is the appropriate time for everything. You will get all the knowledge and information when you are ready to receive and understand them. If these are taught too early, you may not even notice them or will not know what to do with them, how to interpret them. If you think you are ready but what you would like does not come, maybe it's because the Universe knows what else you need to experience in order to deserve or experience the "treasure" you are after.

I hope I managed to sparkle a couple of thoughts. If you want to share yours with us, you are more the welcome to do so.