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I love the library.
I say “The Library” because I find “The Library” to be more of a philosophy than a place.
-see : Library Sciences-
I found a video. Maybe 10 minutes long. Called “The Sword of Akido” in the VHS section. Mostly the video demonstrated how to hold a sword and a few basic motions.
From there I used the Library and the Internet to read and learn as much about the history and the culture that this martial art grew from. And like all martial arts, or any art really, it’s all about philosophy of life.
Think about it.
From Aikido I have learned :
To use the most efficient movements for my body to complete a task and minimize or mitigate as much damage to myself as possible while accepting that pain and injury are unavoidable in life.
Reinforcing many of the lessons I learned from both:
An elderly judo teacher, who I do not recall the name of, throwing me as easily as one might shrug off a shirt, then doing the same to my 6’ some odd inch friend with the same effortless grace.
And my wrestling coaches who, in a climate and region that was every inch the male dominated patriarchal midwestern/southern sport culture, created one of the most physically demanding environments I’ve encountered so far in my life. All while keeping the well being of the athletes both on and off of the mat at the forefront of their coaching.
Seriously.
If your grades were slipping then the coaches would sit and tutor those that needed it, during practice hours, so that they would keep their grades up honestly. And if a wrestler refused the assistance...well...there was always next season.
Some folks chose football and basketball after they learned this.
I can assure you, this was not the philosophy some of the other athletic departments at my highschool of over 2000 students had. -see : sports, wrestling, judo-
Now : I still practice with a sword almost daily, and take the philosophy of Aikido into my everyday life.
Fun fact: Morihei Ueshiba's goal was to create a martial art that practitioners could use to defend themselves while also protecting their attacker from injury.
The Sword philosophy is similar but accepts the fact that death could be an outcome if the opponent escalates it to that point. Accepting death as an outcome for yourself or the attacker but walking the path necessary to stop the violence, and protect yourself and your attacker from unnecessary harm or cruelty.
Defending one’s self and injuring or killing someone in such a situation is not a point of pride, but one of sadness.
Because: If things had worked out ideally, violence would have been avoided all together.
