Aikido Journal

10/2/08 Aikido Journal
Sensei spoke tonight about the importance of keeping a journal of one's practice, to help with monitoring and increasing one's cognitive/conceptual framework of what we are doing. I know I haven't been keeping one and really need to do so. Seemingly in recent weeks, where I feel my technique is getting better and then at the same sucking to the point where I feel I haven't the faintest idea what the heck I am doing, this would've certainly helped. I try to practice very earnestly and come to class with great frequency, not be negatively critical of what I am doing, and just grow in practice. But this is seemingly not enough. As more and more layers unfold, clarity and refinement are crucial and the way I have been practicing needs to change. I believe that keeping a journal will help that, help me to remember what I need to remember until I can drop the remembering (which probably won't be for another couple dozen or so years.- Andy