I sometimes think that our dojo slogan should be “Abandon hope all ye who enter here.” No, not because we’re some hell dojo of Monster Energy Drink Brootalitay™, but because I firmly believe that hope and desire are poor training tools which is why we focus so much on intent. But what do I mean by intent and how is that different than desire or hope? According to the Oxford English Dictionary, hope is, “a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.” They define intent as, “intention or purpose.” I would expand on that and say that hope and desire are largely related to external things and events. I might hope to win the lottery, or desire a new car, or a taco. Hmm, tacos. Intent however is internal to ourselves and what we can personally control. My intent can direct my arm to lift, to shift my weight from one foot to another. Intent doesn’t always equate with success however. My intent may be to push my arms away from my chest, but faced with sufficient resistance, I may not be able to achieve my DESIRED goal (ie: to push my arms away from my body) regardless of my intent.
By focusing on intent rather than desired outcomes in the dojo, we open up a path to faster and more efficient progress. Because we know what we did within ourselves, we are more able to make meaningful changes and improvements. Rather than HOPING to be softer when performing kotegaeshi we can adjust our intent: changing where our weight was placed in our stance, or what drove our arm movements. This creates more repeatable patterns of movements while contributing to a fuller sense of self. Remember OSensei famously declared himself the center of the universe. Why then do so many Aikido practitioners orbit AROUND their attacking partners “getting out of the way”? By knowing yourself and being more specific with your intent you can begin to integrate your body into a single coordinated structure.
In summary, stop HOPING to get better or to throw someone but instead be mindful of what you are doing and feeling within YOU. Clarify your intent and then monitor how those changes affect the forces on and within you.
Interested in more specifics? We’re always open to visitors and would love to work with you.