Welcome to the Virtual Home of the Virtual Person - Larry Linux
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to my home on the internet. This is simply a
place to post my thoughts and opinions.
This is also a place
to post my
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digital photography and some of my favorite quotes.
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My
Most Recent Entry
"Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks"
I have
been intrigued by the martial arts for as long as I can remember. I
grew up as the films of Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris and eventually Steven
Segal became main stream. The control they displayed on screen,
although totally scripted, was fascinating to me. Their fluid and
powerful motion seemed as much of an art form as it did a display of
physical prowess. I would find out much later in my life, that this
interpretation was not far from the truth.
As a young boy I
was fairly small and easily intimidated by others of my age. I was
convinced that the "tough" guys I saw on screen derived a great deal of
that control I spoke of earlier from their physical stature. I often
thought, if only I was that big, I could be that tough. But as my
life progressed, I grew much taller but not much bigger. Instead of the
martial arts, I was drawn to a physical endeavor which seemed better
suited to my thin build - endurance athletics.
For many
years, even though I still enjoyed films and television that featured
the martial arts, I was just a spectator. My leisure time was instead
filled with hours of grueling training in a never ending quest to go
farther and faster than I had in the past. Race after race, and mile
after mile, the quest continued. But life eventually caught up to me,
and slowly but surely I reduced my pace.
As
I matured, I
began to enjoy the simpler things in life. I had a family to treasure
and a job I really enjoyed. Little by the little, my endurance goals
disappeared. With the end of that obsession came the complacency, the
obvious weight gain and all the other "joys" that go along with
maturity. I realized over time that the only thing I really missed
about endurance athletics was the feeling of being physically fit.
So
I decided to try and approach physical fitness from another angle and
answer a life long question - could I be a martial artist? Along with
this decision came a flood of doubts. Could I handle this new regimen
with my older and much stiffer body? Could I overcome the fears of
falling and hard impacts that grow with age? But most of all, I worried
about learning something totally new at what some would consider an
"advanced" age?
In addition to my initial fears and concerns
came the obvious question - what style do I pursue? Like most things in
America, there were literally dozens of schools to pick from in my
area. For some reason, I was drawn to fluid style of Aikido. Their
seemingly effortless movement which subdue their opponents fascinated
me. So I visited the local Aikido school and signed up. Finally, it was
time to take the plunge!
I would find out through the coming
months that I had made the right decision with Aikido and was blessed
with a local school which fit my needs perfectly. On the first day, my
"Sensei" made me feel right at home and reassured me that I would be
allowed to learn at my own pace. He highlighted the fact that there
were no trophies adorning the walls of our school and no competitins to worry about. The people of this
"dojo" trained for many different reasons, but seemingly missing from
all their rationales was the apparent testosterone driven rage of some
styles.
It has been almost two years now since that first
day, and though the beginning was quite rocky, I have never regretted
my choices. Although I am not as smooth and fluid as some, I am
beginning to see and feel the "art" inside the motion of Aikido. The
physical fitness which I missed from my younger days is slowly
returning. I have found a genuine camaraderie with my fellow
"Aikido-kai" as I place my safety in their hands and then they place
their's in mine.
I wish I could explain to you all the
intrinsic benefits of this graceful yet powerful style, but like many
things in life, Aikido must be experienced to be understood. It is not
just about self-defense or physical fitness, and contrary to what some
believe, for me it is not mystical or spiritual. It has simply become
one of those rare things in life, where you can't remember what your
life was like before you started, and you hope you never have to stop.
LL
Posted: 05/03/09
"Play Chess, Not War."