The word ‘Competition’ is an insufficient way to explain what happens when two individuals/ groups meet in a Shodokan Aikido tournament.

Most of the time, these groups have trained using the same syllabus and under the same senior instructors. There is also an understanding of etiquette, respect and common skills being honed, implicit in our training. This is usually lost to the onlooker.

As a tutor I use many tools to evaluate my teaching and students learning. Demonstration, being the major tool.

Kata (wiki) is a tool which informs both the student and myself that the knowledge has been absorbed, internalized (mastered) to an extent! Doing something once is Ok, doing the skill when necessary and under pressure is true mastery.

Kata by its nature cannot teach us everything, as there is usually a designated winner and a loser in kata practice. How difficult is it to train a student to react ‘proactively’ in a tense situation, where there is risk. How do I train someone to maintain mental focus under pressure?

Randori (wiki) is my method, as designated by the Shodokan Aikido syllabus, I could use other methods, but Aikido is what has brought people to me.

With students who have a basic understanding through kata practice, what’s next; a true test of application, demonstrating that they have mastered the skills they have been learning. We translate that description to the word ‘Competition’, insufficient as stated above.

The reasons for the poor state of men’s health in the UK and around the world are numerous and complex and this is primarily due to a lack of awareness of the health issues men face. This can largely be attributed to the reluctance in men to openly discussing the subject due to longstanding traditions, coupled with an ‘it’ll be alright’ attitude. Men are less likely to schedule doctors’ appointments when they feel ill or for an annual check-up, thereby denying them the chance of early detection and effective treatment of common diseases.”
Excerpt from http://uk.movember.com/mens-health/, really important health news.

Sporting skills help in everyday life

Increasing physical activity helps you think faster. Scientists asked a group of athletes and non-athletes to cross a busy ‘virtual’ street while on a treadmill. The athletes looked around more, processed information quicker and were best at getting across unharmed. This ability is honed by the myriad split-second decisions during a tennis rally or football game. (and we would expect from hours of Aikido training!!)

Meditate to live longer

It is well known that meditation has psychological benefits: studies show it reduces stress, which in turn lowers blood pressure and boosts your immune system. But a new study found that there’s also a direct physiological benefit: it can slow or reverse the ageing process at the cellular level. Researchers examined the chromosomes of regular meditators and found that, compared to a control group, their telomeres-which play a key role in cell ageing – were longer. Shorter telomeres make you more vulnerable to heart disease and diabetes. So stop what you’re doing and grab your lotus position. (yes, yes Aikido is sometimes called ‘moving meditation’!)