Shoe Test

James Shell (Baltimore Aikikai)
jshell@Harford.edu

The "test" is an introduction to one of the imperial techniques in improving everything I can think of.

When you put your shoes on which one do you put on first, the right one or the left one?

When you take your shoes off which one do you take off first, the left one or the right one?

At the end of a shihonage movement are your hands at your chest level, belt level, or extended all the way down?

In doing a Kotegashi do you have your partners hand across your face, across your throat, or extended down and away from you toward the floor?

The above type of questions can be fairly endless and are intended only to serve as a lead into the technique I want to high light. The technique I am referring to is not an individual movement or personnel habit but awareness. Awareness covers many area of your life but here of course I am referring to our practice of martial arts.

There is a very real difference between doing a movement from habit and becoming aware of your movement. Everone practices at their own level and that is as it should be.

Next question:

When was the last time you really practiced awareness? I mean treated it as an important technique to your continued practice and development? Most people do not practice awareness unless it is forced upon them and then only for the smallest amount of time, such as crossing the street. Many if not most of us will continue to repeat our action(s) until we are forced to change or become aware and want to change.

Developing awareness does not mean looking for something wrong. It simply means becoming aware of what you are doing and how you are doing it. What you become ware of may be just right. Also if there is something you see you want to change it could be some item that is small and when you make a small change many other things will make the adjustment.

If you decide to practice awareness (which way are your feet pointing, are you looking out and forward , down, or no place in particular, are your hands next to your chest when they should be extended out, each of us can develop our own check list), I suggest picking one or maybe no more than two things at a time. Please remember what you are practicing here is awareness. We can practice in a room, a gym, out doors etc. but where ever we practice it is our "practice hall". To the best of my knowledge I have never been in a "perfect hall" or an "I really nailed it hall". Practice awareness and I am sure you will find a better and more productive use of your time.

I would like to end this writing with a big close but I do not have one, I guess I need to practice my closings.

P.S Please tell your friends about this web site as many people seem to not know about it.

Thank You very much for your attention.