It's been a year since I started practicing Aikido, and two years since starting the jab. At this recording I've lost nearly 26% of my previous mass, something that is very difficult to understand fully. (Like, I know I'm a smaller human but .... how much smaller am I? and, I'm like, really strong in ways I wasn't before.... who do I think I am having core strength?)

I've passed the first two gradings for Aikido - the first is really a demonstration that I won't harm myself or someone else while continuing to learn the kata. The second grading is to demonstrate that I have mastered the kihon for the basic set of forms - can you perform an entrance and a throw without adding steps or losing your balance - really a function of reps and time on the mat. (Ubes observation about kids baseball inspired me a bit to write about my practice because it comes down to reps and time on the mat)

The idea of joining a martial art practice with no experience whatsoever (save for a bit of time in taekwondo as a 12 year old) in my 40s seemed nuts. That I've kept going - rather ramped up the practice - seems even more nutty.

I spent a year and a half leading up to joining the dojo examining my life, looking to change something (anything!) because ennui had become my vibe. I read about heroic doses of psychedelics cracking open your brains and reorganizing you into something more you. I took two semesters of college chemistry (Ksp and pH can still get f'd IMO)(okay, by the end I got the math bit sorted, but it wasn't easy for my art brain to do the math brain thing.....)(I bailed on organic chem this semester but that's a post for the forbidden zone...)

Turns out that shedding some weight and joining a community of weirdos who like to throw each other to the ground in a peaceful way was enough to change a lot about my life. (Oh, I'm still me, but I'm not as quick to anger and I'm better at recognizing when I'm tense and how that affects everything around me (one of the greatest keys to Aikido is to remain calm when someone grabs you with intent to take your balance (think of this as someone wants to hit you in the face, but in the aikido practice it's done gently and without the intent to harm)) The physical side of things have been a delight, if not painful at times, to experience. I van roll over my shoulders both forward and backward from standing That is something I never thought possible again. From a seated position I can roll backwards to my shoulders and then forward to standing - on good days(!) - again, something I never thought possible when I started. I enjoy the physical growth, but the real reason I keep going is community.  I spend several hours a week focused on a practice that seeks to create harmony out of conflict and make our community more peaceful. (Young, angry, punk rock meat can't believe soft, old meat just wrote that....)

I've come to understand that we need more human connection and community across the board. Aikido forces you to grab someone else and try to hold on as they try to dissuade you from grabbing them. Willing partners in conflict and resolution. (As a friend put it, when you train to fight you'll find a fight.) This practice isn't for everyone, I get that, but what I've learned is that joining a community, and trying to sustain that connection, has been extremely rewarding.

What are y'all doing on the health front?