Learning How to Learn Aikido
James Wong
“Extremely exhausted”, “overwhelmed with pain”, “gottenused to injuries”… are the phrases that I used to describe“uchideshi”, the apprenticeship program that I participated inAikido Kobayashi Dojo from May to July, 2014.
Seriously, being an uchideshi was tough. Lack of rest,
intensive trainings and disciplined behavior almost drove me crazyin the past 3 months. Sometimes when I got too tired, I asked
myself why did I decide to join this program; do I really want to bea professional fighter? Do I want to open an Aikido Dojo? Or do I really hate myself
so much that I have to find such a special way to torture myself like this? However,every time I asked myself have I ever regretted to join this program, my answer isalways “No”, because this is definitely a very remarkable experience in my life and I
really learned a lot throughout the program.
To me, the greatest achievement I have got from the uchideshi program is theexperience of being a full-time budo (Japanese traditional martial art) participant. Itgives me a better understanding of how to study Aikido continuously in a
professional manner, as well as an appropriate learning attitude that applies to both
Aikido and life-long behavior.
PRACTICE. We always say “practicemakes perfect”. It definitely applies to Aikido
training. If I have to modify this phrase more
specifically for Aikido, I would say “practicemakes basic”. Aikido is a martial art developedwith a sophisticated philosophy. The concept isvery abstract and all the techniques requireconsistent and corresponding movements ofdifferent parts of the body. It is impossible toexplain every little detail verbally. However, by repeating the same techniques times
and times, your body will get used to the movements and every part of the body will
start corresponding accordingly.
OBSERVATION. As mentioned above, it is very difficult to explain every
Aikido technique in details verbally. Even if the sensei (training instructor) explains,students would not be able to understand because their bodies have not gotten used tothe movements yet. In this case, observation is very
important. It is a must to observe the differences
between your sensei’s and your own movements,
so to improve the quality of the techniques.
Catching a very little difference can be a huge
improvement for yourself.
MODIFICATION. Every Aikido participant
repeats the same technique over a thousand times
to improve the movements and make it smoothly.

If you practice enough, your movements should besmooth and good enough to perform the technique ina presentable manner. However, the differences
between experts and normal participants are always
delicate. In order to improve the quality of thetechnique, Aikido participants should modify thedetails of the postures and movements from time totime.
ATTITUDE. It sounds pretty simple; practice, observe, then modify. However,
the most interesting thing of Aikido is that this cycle never comes to an end.
Participants have to keep practicing, observing and modifying endlessly, so toimprove little by little throughout practices and modifications of details. Aikido
participant should be dedicated to practice and be interested to discover the details. It
is important to have a good sensei; it is important to have good partners… However,
it is the most important to have an attitude to continue studying Aikido endlessly.
That is what I would call the “spirit”, which is the appropriate learning attitude that
we should have.
Frankly speaking, I did not end up to be an “expert” of Aikido after I went
through these 3 months. However, I have come to realize the most important element
to develop myself to be an “expert”, which is the spirit. It is difficult to keep up theinterest and attitude while we are repeating the same things everyday with an
exhausted body. However, if we take it really serious, we should know that it is alearning process to keep repeating, observing and modifying. And it does not only
apply to Aikido; it applies to the other aspects in our life, too. After all, it is very
grateful that I have a chance to understand all these by participating to the uchideshi
program, and I have no regret at all.