Despite it All

The best Aikidoists act despite it all.

Often, the average person waits and waits hoping that the ideal or right conditions will somehow arise. They are waiting to react to the right timing, condition, or situation in order to be successful. Aikidoist don’t react - we are proactive. A person who studies Aikido has come to understand that most times, the conditions, the timing, or anything else might not be ideal so regardless of what’s happening or how we feel, we act despite it all. "Despite it all" means “To do something regardless of all the difficulties, problems, or hardships that have occurred or are happening.”

It is said that every technique has its own unique rhythm or timing but grasping that tempo can be difficult. Being able to visualize or “see” the timing of the technique requires a developed eye and an understanding of the technique. Getting to this place should be organic in that it is an awareness that develops over time. Most students try to jump here by consciously “thinking” their way there. Instead, students should try to gain a feeling of the rhythm of the technique which only requires time and repetition on the technique. Grasping the feeling means gaining a subconsciously internal feeling for the correct timing which, at the beginning, can’t be consciously articulated.

Greek philosopher Aristotle said, "Well begun is half done.” Understanding this, knowing when to engage our partner or attack is a large part of grasping the timing of the technique. Beginners are typically on the late side while more intermediate students are usually too early. The beginner is late because they are in a sort of analysis paralysis. They think that timing is a matter of seeing the attack or engagement and moving but conscious thought is too slow, and they end up getting caught thinking and are always trying to catch up. The more intermediate students are often times too early because they are trying to anticipate. Both haven’t internalized the timing of the technique. Neither are right or wrong as both are just part of the learning process. When we go isn’t necessarily the problem as long as we go at some point because the only truly wrong timing is to not go at all.

Basketball great Jerry West once said, “You can't get much done in life if you only work on the days when you feel good.” In Life and Aikido, this is true as well. Most days, the doldrums can seem unbearable so we tell ourselves the story that the optimal conditions will arise and save us. So, we wait and wait for the opportunity to react to the right conditions or circumstances. That is not how Life works nor is it how Aikido works. Furuya Sensei would often quote his Zen master Bishop Kenko Yamashita as saying, “Nandemo omoidori ni ikanai” which means “Nothing goes the way you want it to.” This is one of those Zen sayings which is supposed to compel us to give up on perfection and act despite it all. Thus, because nothing goes the way we want it to, an Aikidoist is proactive.

Sometimes waiting is a good thing. Sometimes acting is better. Knowing which is which requires having an internal timing for the situation at hand. Most of us get caught up in the thinking and forego the feeling. Most times it is better to just go even if the conditions aren’t right. That’s why the best Aikidoists act despite it all.

Today’s goal: Don’t wait - tomorrow is not guaranteed.