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What does it mean to earn your black belt? by Heather Gawlick We celebrated watching one of our students earn his Shodan (first-degree black belt) this week. It was incredible to watch him transform from the first day he stepped foot in the dojo. He has truly learned a great deal in a relatively short amount of time. He has changed from an unsure white belt to a fully qualified instructor. It is not just his growth, either. The dojo has changed since he started. He stuck with us through the days of no mats, grungy floors, and unpredictable room arrangements. He has watched some people come and some go. He has helped teach them all. He supported us when we organized visits for master teachers. As a true friend, he was honest with us when we needed to consider making changes and improvements. Some people think becoming a black belt means you've mastered a martial art and there is nothing left to learn. That is a very sad misperception causing them to leave prematurely. To me, earning your Shodan means you have just arrived at a place where you can actually start to learn. You have been around long enough to have weathered the ups and downs of the seasons of change occurring in every dojo and probably outlasted others along the way. You have decided (consciously or otherwise) this is a way of life. You have learned this skill in your bones. It has become a part of you. You now move differently. You now have a glowing inner confidence you didn't possess before. You have trusted others with your life and others have trusted you with theirs. You are empowered with the love of the dojo. You have learned that teaching is a part of learning. Questions lead to reflections and experiments. They are not inconveniences or annoyances. They are critical to fully understanding why and how things work. You now know the basic movements, motions, and falls. You are now ready to learn some of the exciting stuff: the higher-level skills of off-balance and controlling others' bodies as you perfect how your body moves through time and space. The techniques you thought were impossible are now within your grasp and you have the confidence to try them. You have stuck around long enough to become a member of the club of people who make this a permanent part of their lives. There are no former black belts. You are a black belt. You will always be a black belt. You are now ready to start the real learning and transformation of your life. Welcome to the club, my friend. You did great! 
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What is different about our Aikido? by Heather Gawlick I've been pondering the question of who we are as Aikidoka. I've been asked a lot over the years who we are and how we fit in the Aikido world. It's a fair question. We aren't Aikikai, Ki Society, or pure Tomiki style. We don't belong to those groups. But, I don't believe we are on the fringes, either. Those of us who studied under the Karl Geis umbrella while he was alive became a part of a different group with its own merits. I learned before the Internet took off, so information about other Aikido dojos was limited and I really didn't know anything about what other styles there were. Now, thanks to YouTube and other resources, I'm starting to open my eyes and mind a bit more. The katas as I originally learned them look almost identical to what I see other Tomiki groups doing. It is very clear that is where we got our roots. Over the years since I started, we have slowed the techniques down, softened them, and rounded out the edges a bit. But, they are still clearly Tomiki techniques. One thing that is very different from the other Tomiki groups is we don't do the competitions they are famous for. Karl told me he objected to the competitions because when you are trying to score points, that becomes the focus and it changes things. Karl wanted to keep the self-defense aspects of our Aikido as the focus, which makes it too dangerous to do as a sport with competitions. When everything you do results in broken bones, no one is going to want to keep coming to class. Instead of competitions, Karl had us focus on randori, or free-style practice. The goal is to find the off-balance points and the places where one partner is in a terminal position. Randori done this way involves going so slowly the competition fades away and in its place is a focus on learning where your bodies can end up - spinal lock, arm bar, throw... It is practiced in the spirit of learning, playing, and safety - not winning. It is a tool for understanding that kata are your basic dance moves and they can be joined in an infinite number of combinations to make a full ballet. Later, Karl created a set of kata to take the basic moves and chain them together. I see it as a way to bridge the gap between the scripted set of moves that makes up a kata and the anarchy that is randori. Some teachers have replaced the Tomiki kata with these chains containing the old techniques. I like to use all three sets of tools. They each teach a different lesson as a student progresses in their understanding of Aikido. I think all the masters of Aikido have left their mark on this beautiful and graceful art, each one taking what Ueshiba invented and leaving a piece of themselves imbedded in their interpretation of how the body moves. Ueshiba passed his Aikido to Tomiki. Tomiki passed his Aikido to Karl Geis. Karl Geis passed his Aikido to me. I've picked up a few ideas of my own over the years and have passed them on to my students. I hope my students will pass their ideas on down to the next generation. When dealing with an art that involves movement of the body, there is no perfect technique. Each time it is executed, there is a little bit of a change. If there wasn't, it would be a dead art. Karl Geis has left quite a legacy for all of us who studied under him. I'll always be grateful to Karl and all my teachers over the years for everything they have taught me. I'm honored to walk in their footsteps. I'll do my best to pass the legacy and love we call Aikido on to others.  Making Friends with Strangers by Heather Gawlick During a recent trip, I took a shuttle from the airport to my destination. I asked the driver if he wanted me in the front seat to keep him company during the hour and a half drive. He looked happily surprised and said, "Yes!" We struck up a conversation about nothing in particular but made each other laugh. Laughing made the gridlock traffic disappear and turned the ride into a short one. I made sure to arrange for the same driver on the way back to the airport and we had just as much fun. I felt like I had made a lifelong friend in our accidental meeting. My husband's grandfather was always making friends with anyone he met. He only spoke German, but he never let a silly thing like a language barrier get in the way of making a new friend. My husband's family were always finding him carrying on and sharing a laugh when neither party had any idea what the other one was saying. My grandfather was like that. Once when I was a child, he was taking me to the playground when he met an old World War I soldier. My grandfather had served in World War II. I was in awe listening to them swap tales. My grandfather couldn't believe I wasn't playing at the playground. There was no way I was going to waste time playing when I could listen to those two trade stories. I knew this was a once in a lifetime conversation and I will always cherish the memory. Part of the reason I enjoy going to aikido seminars so much is because it gives me a chance to meet new people from all walks of life that I would never otherwise have a chance to meet. Doctors, lawyers, janitors, unemployed people, FBI agents, and mafia members have all been in the same room at the same time enjoying each other's company. People enrich our lives. It matters not if they are the dishwasher or the president. Take some time to listen and share stories with a stranger. You never know what gems are awaiting you!  Where does the name Shinju Dojo come from? by Heather Gawlick Ah, yes. The famous question. Well, there's a story behind that... When I first opened the dojo, I lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was the day to go down and get my business license, but I still had not come up with a proper name for the school. I was competing with the Teenage Mutant Ninjas who actually had a school near me and I wanted something a little less boring than "Albuquerque Aikido," although that would have put me at the top of the Yellow Pages listing. So, back I went to my little used Japanese language traveler's dictionary. (This was 1999 and the Internet was just starting to take off. People still used paper books for reference.) I was looking for something like Zen, tranquility, peace... All I kept finding were words that were way too complicated for me to figure out how to pronounce or words that either sounded like Spanish, or had the same spelling. There are a lot of people living in Albuquerque who are very fluent in Spanish. I had to be careful about that. I was getting frustrated. Finally, I came across "shinju," meaning "pearl." Well, at least it wasn't offensive and met the criteria. I like pearls. Every girl does. So there it was. Pearl Dojo. I got my business license, set up the web site, printed business cards, got a location, and off I went on my merry little way. Until... One day, years later I was at one of my favorite hangouts - the used bookstore. In big, bold letters sat a book with the name "Shinju." Of course I had to read it. To my horror, I discovered a new meaning for the word shinju. Apparently, the Japanese use it to mean double suicide. Like Romeo and Juliette, but with more drama and a very negative connotation. Oh no! Could this be the reason I was having a hard time getting students?... Please tell me it isn't true! So, I started scouring the Internet hoping to find some new meaning. A-ha! There it was! I found kanji (Japanese characters) translating shinju to mean self-defense. I was rescued. Whew, that was close! New business cards were purchased. A new logo designed, featuring the kanji to make sure all Japanese people would know I didn't mean joining my dojo would require suicidal or homicidal acts. T-shirts were made up. One day at work, a lady stopped me in the hall and commented on my t-shirt with kanji. She said she was Japanese and thought it was "interesting." My heart stopped as I asked her to translate it for me. She said, "protect yourself." Whew! I finally had it right. I was all set to go. Until... Ten years or so later, another instructor was visiting from out of town. His wife is Japanese and teaches it to us dumb English speakers. Being a very nice lady, she politely asked why we would choose shinju as the name of our dojo. "Ummmmm... It means self-defense?..." She looked at me funny. "Ummmmm... I also heard it means pearl?..." "Ah, yes," she said. "That makes much more sense! You don't have the bar over the 'u.' Because, with the bar over the 'u,' it means..." "Yeah, I know. Double suicide." I told her the story and asked her about the self-defense kanji. As it turns out, that kanji doesn't mean self-defense in the martial arts sort of way, more like in a political/hostile sort of way. Not at all what I was hoping for. So, back to pearl we go. New logo has been set up. New web site configured. New business cards are on the way. My husband says maybe a new name in English would be simpler. I know he's right. (Yes, dear, I admitted you're right. In print. In public. Stop gloating already!) But, then we wouldn't have the funny story to go with our name. What can I say? It's grown on me and I'm not ready to give it up. A friend of ours reminded us that our pearl is the love we share for one another in the dojo and that is the real gem. He's right, too. Someday, maybe I can get my other friend to tell you about how his dojo got the name "Frog School..."  For those of you in Vancouver with martial arts experience interested in being in the movies next week, please contact Elizabeth right away.
Have fun! -Heather --------------- Hi there! Andrea Brown Casting Inc is currently searching for MARTIAL ARTISTS to work as paid background performers for a feature film currently titled “Birth of a Dragon”. Scene: Martial Arts Competition Location: Vancouver Date: Wednesday November 25th All interested applicants will need to send a photo, current height, weight, and a little about their MARTIAL ARTS experience to couldwellbrown2cast@gmail.com ASAP! Please feel free to also forward this casting notice to anyone you think might also be interested. If you have any questions, feel free to directly message be on FB! Thank you, Elizabeth Assistant to Andrea Brown couldwellbrown2cast@gmail.com Why do I love the martial arts so much? by Heather Gawlick After last week's post, I thought the natural thing to talk about next would be why I love the martial arts so much. After all, I've been at it since 1994. The people. Yup. That's it. That's the whole thing. The people. Sure, I've done no-hands rolls flipping over lines of crouched people. Sure, I've let a giant Buddha-looking guy come at me full force with a wooden sword while I'm armed only with forgetting the technique to defend myself and lived to tell the tale. Sure, I've let guys at least a foot taller than me toss me face-first over their shoulders in the most nerve-wracking throw I know. Sure, I've grappled with some of the top judo guys in the United States and came up smiling... But, it all comes down to the people. These guys and gals have been family to me and more. They are the kind of people who give you great big hugs and make you cry with happiness when you finally get to show up after not being there ten years because life made you move so far away. They are the kind of people who always make you feel loved - no matter if your current life situation is good or bad. They love you even if you have done something stupid and will help you get back on track. They are the kind of people who take your son out for ice cream with a wink "behind mom's back," like a favorite uncle. They are the kind of people who make you smile and are always happy to see you. They are the kind of people who you can call if you are stranded on the highway. You may not even know them. You call saying you are a part of the family, and they would show up, rescue you, give you the shirt off their back, buy you dinner, insist you stay at their place for the night, then take you to class the next morning. They are the kind of people you can leave your purse or wallet on the front porch for days in a major city, forgetting about it only to find it exactly the way you left it. Heck, I've even watched some people leave bills on a table and it's still there hours later when they get back. They are the kind of people you willingly allow to put your body in some pretty serious positions where things could get broken in really nasty ways. They really are the kind of people you can trust with your life and they trust you with theirs. You become a part of the best kind of family on the face of the earth. If you ever find yourself in a group like that, hold on to those people for dear life. They will enrich you completely. Yup. It's all about the people. Thank you to all my dojo friends out there. I can never repay you enough for all the unconditional love you have given me. Come on over any time!  Where does the name Shinju Dojo come from? by Heather Gawlick Ah, yes. The famous question. Well, there's a story behind that... When I first opened the dojo, I lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was the day to go down and get my business license, but I still had not come up with a proper name for the school. I was competing with the Teenage Mutant Ninjas who actually had a school near me and I wanted something a little less boring than "Albuquerque Aikido," although that would have put me at the top of the Yellow Pages listing. So, back I went to my little used Japanese language traveler's dictionary. (This was 1999 and the Internet was just starting to take off. People still used paper books for reference.) I was looking for something like Zen, tranquility, peace... All I kept finding were words that were way too complicated for me to figure out how to pronounce or words that either sounded like Spanish, or had the same spelling. There are a lot of people living in Albuquerque who are very fluent in Spanish. I had to be careful about that. I was getting frustrated. Finally, I came across "shinju," meaning "pearl." Well, at least it wasn't offensive and met the criteria. I like pearls. Every girl does. So there it was. Pearl Dojo. I got my business license, set up the web site, printed business cards, got a location, and off I went on my merry little way. Until... One day, years later I was at one of my favorite hangouts - the used bookstore. In big, bold letters sat a book with the name "Shinju." Of course I had to read it. To my horror, I discovered a new meaning for the word shinju. Apparently, the Japanese use it to mean double suicide. Like Romeo and Juliette, but with more drama and a very negative connotation. Oh no! Could this be the reason I was having a hard time getting students?... Please tell me it isn't true! So, I started scouring the Internet hoping to find some new meaning. A-ha! There it was! I found kanji (Japanese characters) translating shinju to mean self-defense. I was rescued. Whew, that was close! New business cards were purchased. A new logo designed, featuring the kanji to make sure all Japanese people would know I didn't mean joining my dojo would require suicidal or homicidal acts. T-shirts were made up. One day at work, a lady stopped me in the hall and commented on my t-shirt with kanji. She said she was Japanese and thought it was "interesting." My heart stopped as I asked her to translate it for me. She said, "protect yourself." Whew! I finally had it right. I was all set to go. Until... Ten years or so later, another instructor was visiting from out of town. His wife is Japanese and teaches it to us dumb English speakers. Being a very nice lady, she politely asked why we would choose shinju as the name of our dojo. "Ummmmm... It means self-defense?..." She looked at me funny. "Ummmmm... I also heard it means pearl?..." "Ah, yes," she said. "That makes much more sense! You don't have the bar over the 'u.' Because, with the bar over the 'u,' it means..." "Yeah, I know. Double suicide." <Gasp.> <Blush.> I told her the story and asked her about the self-defense kanji. As it turns out, that kanji doesn't mean self-defense in the martial arts sort of way, more like in a political/hostile sort of way. Not at all what I was hoping for. So, back to pearl we go. New logo has been set up. New web site configured. New business cards are on the way. My husband says maybe a new name in English would be simpler. I know he's right. (Yes, dear, I admitted you're right. In print. In public. Stop gloating already!) But, then we wouldn't have the funny story to go with our name. What can I say? It's grown on me and I'm not ready to give it up. A friend of ours reminded us that our pearl is the love we share for one another in the dojo and that is the real gem. He's right, too. Someday, maybe I can get my other friend to tell you about how his dojo got the name "Frog School..."  How to find a martial arts school by Heather Gawlick Over the years, I've been asked by a variety of people for advice on how to choose a martial arts school. Obviously, my answer is "We're the best!" Joking aside, it can be a daunting task to figure out from the myriad of choices available which one is right for you. First, I would recommend doing a bit of self-reflection. What is it you are looking for? Some common themes include:
After you've considered what is drawing you to the martial arts, it's time to begin your search. Try using tools like Google, Yelp, and Facebook to help them learn what is available in their area. Search terms include phrases like "martial art," "karate," "aikido," "judo," "tai chi," "kendo," etc., plus your city name. Don't forget to check your local gym and community center listings of classes, too. You can learn a lot by the look and feel of the web site for each particular school or dojo. Does the school focus on friendliness or power? It is important to continue your search until you find a school whose atmosphere matches your personality. A good match can be worth a commute, as you may make lifetime friendships. Do they have photos and/or videos on their web site so you can see their ambiance, teaching style, and what the martial art looks like? Are the teachers confident, relaxed, calm, and patient? Look for the credentials of the lead instructor(s). Is the teacher a first-degree black belt whose been teaching for one year, or is it someone who has a tenth-degree black belt who has been teaching for fifty? Do they specialize in one art, or do they study and/or teach multiple disciplines? When you feel you are getting close to what you are looking for, call the school and talk to the instructor. (In Japanese arts, you may see terms such as sensei - teacher, or shihan - master teacher.) Are you comfortable with the person on the phone? Do you like the answers to your questions? Do they listen to your concerns? What is the safety record of the school? Do they focus on "pressure points" and "pain compliance" or do they talk about "off-balance" and "timing?" Are you comfortable with the answers? Would you want someone performing those techniques on you? Ask them if they allow you to participate in a first class for free or if you can at least watch on the sidelines before signing up. What kind of gear must you purchase and how often? What is the pricing structure for the classes? Do you need to sign a contract or is it on a monthly basis? Are there association/insurance dues you must purchase? What are the promotional standards? Are there fees for the promotions? Are they refundable if you don't pass an exam? (Most are not, but it is worth asking.) Are you required to attend seminars locally or otherwise? How often? What are the additional costs? Do you have to be in shape before joining? Is this a martial art for everyone or only for those who are fit? Does this work for you? Talk to the instructor about what it is you are looking for and why you called. This place may not be the right one for you, but perhaps he or she can make a recommendation. Finally, be sure to thank the teacher for the time on the phone (or by email if you choose that route). Most of the instructors I know are very busy people who work another job in addition to their martial arts school and teach because it is their passion. Very few make enough money to cover the expenses of running the school, much less earn any sort of profit. Joining a school with a good fit can lead to a lifetime commitment not only to the art itself, but also the people you meet. Most of my martial arts friends say their dojo community is more important to them than their own families. Good luck! I'm sure you will find the perfect fit!  |
AuthorHeather and Roy Gawlick love Aikido and have a passion for sharing it with others. They hope you'll catch the Aikido bug, too! Archives
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