After practicing Aikido for three and a half years I was forced to quit in March due to other obligations. This was one of the toughest choices I’ve had to make in my entire life. As I was walking to the dojo to let my sensei know about my decision my eyes were filled with tears and I felt devastated.
Aikido has brought so much into my life. Apart from the benefits of physical exercise Aikido has boosted my confidence and thought me valuable lessons about handling life situations. It is the hardest martial art to learn due to the fact that you must conquer your own mind and resist the “fight or flight” instincts imprinted in our genes. It is all about taking the neutral point of view, even when attacked, and making sure no one gets harmed, through applying various non-violent defensive techniques.
The bitter experience of letting go of Aikido has thought me a valuable lesson, though. I’ve managed to get over the mourning period relatively quickly and focused on remembering all I’ve learned in classes and applying the knowledge in real world. I still occasionally do the warm-up exercises in the morning to get my bloodstream going and regularly meditate through breathing exercises to clear my mind and release stress at work.
Someday I may or may not return to classes and pick up where I’ve left off, but the most important thing perhaps is that thanks to Aikido I’ve become a better person and I am very grateful for that.
