Can Aikido Begin at Sixty?

Carol Stafford (West Georgia Aikikai)

The catalog from Parks and Rec described Aikido using words such as "harmony, felxibility, non-violence and personal growth." Intrigued, I went to observe a class, and what I saw was a lot of falling down. Falling down and rolling. I thought, "Here I am, soon to be sixty, a woman who never mastered the somersault or cartwheel as a child; is this something I should do?" With great trepidation, I signed up. I liked the fact that my Sensei was a woman and I was strongly drawn to the philosophy of Aikido.

That was four months ago. I'm now sixty and have yet to master the roll. What Aikido is bringing to my life is an opportunity to practice balance, humility, flexibility, groundedness, non-judgement and overcoming my fears. When I finally learn the roll, I will have been able to get beyond my fear of injury; when I can flow through the moves, I will have moved through my fear of making mistakes. Aikido has so much to teach about being centered, stronng, compassionate and it all comes from a place of love and peace.

May I never stop learning.