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Sometimes, life hasn't caught up to thought.  Right now, I'm in one of those spots.  I'm waiting for my new dojo to take off (more on that later!), I'm waiting to get a library card at my husband's new university because I'm waiting to get some books, I'm waiting to get closer to my new friend group here which means waiting for our schedules to align in any reasonable type of way, I'm waiting to get in touch with the right people to send out feelers for future jobs...  It feels like almost everything in my life is on pause for now, and I can't do much but sit it out.

But this is ok, as long as I'm ready for everything to start moving again.  In aikido, there is a lot of waiting, though much of it is only for seconds at a time.

For example, in aikido, we follow the theory of "control the first move."  This means that a practitioner never hits first, but can do her utmost to make sure any violence happens in an expected way.  Thus, we learn to present an arm for a grab, because most attackers will grab a convenient target for example.  On a more basic level, controlling the first move without making the first move simply means waiting for the other person - knowing when the ideal time is to react, and ensuring that the rapid reaction will be there when that first move is made.  For me right now, this sort of thing translates to getting my job materials ready.  I don't know when I'll get to talk to someone about a future post, but whenever that is, I will have sample syllabi to hand them!

One major subset of throws in aikido are kokyunage throws.  I have heard this term glossed as "single breath" throws.  In general, though, these throws rely on timing.  Timing does not just mean knowing when to touch uke and act upon them, however.  It also means the space between those movements.  If nage acts too quickly, uke will have the chance to change the attack, or their momentum won't be in the right place for manipulation.  Similarly, some of our longer, showier throws ("mat techniques") such as katatetori kokyunage (wrist grab timing throw) involve a lengthy pause while uke is moving around nage's static body.  If nage moves, the motion of the throw will be changed, and it won't be as powerful.

What I see as the lesson here is that sometimes, waiting is useful, or at least not harmful.  Things have to happen in their proper order, and can't be rushed before that.  So, my challenge this week to myself and to you is to try to be more patient.  Accept waiting, while preparing for action.  This can make action more forceful, when it finally does happen.  It also makes the intermediate time much less stressful and tense!

Now, a quick change of topic: I have a new dojo!  Aikido Kokikai Orange County is just starting to become more official, so please look us up on various media, follow us, review us, and join us!  So far, you can find us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/aikidokokikaioc and https://www.facebook.com/groups/119960775015748/), Yelp (http://www.yelp.com/biz/aikido-kokikai-orange-county-newport-beach), and Meetups.  There will certainly be a lot of cross-talk between that experience and my blog, as I will be cross-promoting obnoxiously, and surely getting much of my blog inspiration from my new training friends.