There's one thing I wanted to share more than anything else: the reasons why I started with the weird and funny and amazing art of aikido. Because - to those who know me & who know aikido - this would seem like the most unlikely combination. Here is the explanation.

Why did I start?  Good question. I certainly did not know what I was subscribing for.

I was doing some krav maga before staring aikido. KM is very pragmatic, very goal-oriented. Some say aggressive, which is certainly also true: the 'aggressive' is there for a reason, the reason being the need to deal with an attack as quickly and as efficiently as possible. It is also fairly easy and straightforward to learn. Which is why I like it so much.

But there was only one class a week in Manchester. I was looking for something else, something to supplement my KM training. And, for some reasons (karate is too much competition, taekwondo is too much high kicks which I cannot do, boxing was banned by the husband, etc. etc.), the choice of which martial art was soon reduced to judo or aikido

I chose to give aikido a try, because it was in a more convenient location and at a more convenient time of the week. I was like, if I don't like it, I can still go for judo or whatever. However, after the first class, I was so impressed that I stayed.

Karma? Maybe.

Why did I stay? For me, this question is far more complex than ‘why did I start’. Anyone can start – in the sense that they go for one or few classes and see if they like it. My initial plan was exactly this. Go for it, see how it goes, and if it’s b/s, never show up again. And go try judo instead.

But – there’s the magic. Maybe it is ki, and maybe not. I tend to think that the magic is actually physics. Biomechanics. How your body works, how it transfers forces, how it can act as a lever and how you can fix the position of your arms and move your body so that you actually move not only your body, but also the attacker's body. And how you can really use the force the attacker gves you to do things. Whatever it is, it is fascinating.

The truth is that during my first class ever, I was deeply impressed by the magic. We did this exercise which starts with the attacker grabbing both the defender’s wrists from behind (ushiro ryote dori? Whatever…) and continues with the defender lifting their arms upwards, turning their arms in a funny way to resemble something from Karate Kid, and bending the whole body forwards. And then – then, when the defender is in this funny position, and relaxes the shoulders, nobody can move them. However, as soon as the defender tenses the shoulders and/or starts fighting the attacker's force, the magic stops working, and suddenly everybody can move the defender whenever they want.

Sounds weird when described like this. But the fact that you are in a funny bent-over position and somebody pushes and nothing happens because all the force transfers via your arms and body and legs straight to the floor - I just immediately spotted something fascinating. The magic. Possibly the underlying principle - I don't know.

Anyway, I was impressed. I was so impressed that I immediately thought that I absolutely have to learn this thing, whatever it takes. So I came again. And again. And again. And… you see.

When I moved to London, this was the first thing I searched for - a suitable dojo. Not a GP or anything like that. Even KM was second to aikido. Funny, isn't it.

So, was it karma? I am not sure. I can say only this much: 

If I started any sooner, before I did a decent amount of krav maga and before my (earlier) dragon boat career, I would most definitely consider aikido the worst, purest Asian martial art b/s ever seen.

If I started anywhere else than in my beloved Manchester dojo (which is very ki-oriented and therefore does a lot of magic-related exercises), I would probably consider aikido the worst, purest Asian martial art b/s ever seen.

But I started in Manchester, and I started at the exactly right time, and now I just feel that while this is ridiculously complex and incredibly difficult, I still have to learn the stuff anyway.

Isn't it funny? I think it is. :)