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Hello, I am Sugawara, your instructor.
In this issue, I will write about how to improve your aikido.
Yoshinkan Aikido is said to have over 200 techniques.Many of these movements are not intuitive and require a lot of practice because they use muscles that are not used in everyday life.
For beginners, it is hard work just to learn the procedures first. However, it is after learning the techniques that aikido becomes fun. It is when you are able to co-create with the receiver of the technique accurately and effectively. So, how should we strive to learn the techniques?
Four Steps to Improve Your Aikido
To improve your aikido practice, you need to make the following four kinds of efforts, rather than just working hard at your practice.
- Watching and learning techniques = Mimikiri Training
- Drawing your movements in your mind = Imetrain
- Reproduce the movement alone = independent practice
- Practice with a partner = Practice at the dojo
Improve the accuracy of your own reproduction of what you see.
For just five minutes a day, replay the techniques you have learned in your mind and try to see if you can reproduce them as you wish. Just by doing this preparation, you will improve your Aikido by far faster.
Know your own interpersonal tendencies by partnering with others
However, when moving alone and in the presence of a partner, you will not be able to move as you expect (even if you are not resisted). You will notice that you become tense and shaky. This is your own interpersonal tendency that you can learn from Aikido practice.This is why Aikido is said to be close to yoga and meditation.
EN 
JA