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Train with a beginner’s mind.
Most of what you are about to learn will probably be new to you. If you have a glass full of water and you try to add more, the excess simply spills off. Likewise, If you come to Aikido with a head full of ideas and fixed beliefs, you may find it difficult to accept new ones. Aikido training and personal transformation go hand in hand. Aikido is a very natural art. Like any new discipline, it may not feel that way at first. The practice, however, is more likely to come naturally if you show up with a mind and body willing to be challenged.
Get the most out of your training.
Aikido is more of a principle than a set of forms or techniques. Form is a necessary element of our practice, because it is the vehicle in which we develop a progressive understanding of the art. It’s also Aikido’s gateway to the manifest world that we actually live in. It is only through direct experience of Aikido's inner principles, though, that a true personal transformation can arise. And so it must be understood that the principles of Aikido won't be found in our "normal" and mundane consciousness—a state dominated and driven by calculated thought, desires, fears, and conditioned behavior. Remember that you are here to learn and become an expression of Aikido, not to learn ABOUT Aikido. The best way to start is by focusing on characteristics that are receptive in nature—like listening, feeling, and observing. Fixating on more active qualities like asserting and throwing forcefully is putting the cart before the horse—especially as a beginner. It requires some patience, awareness, and discipline, but that’s the secret to effective Aikido training.
Understand Ukemi—the art of receiving.
Uke (literally, "one who receives") and Nage (the thrower) have a very special relationship. Unlike many martial arts that learn to train AGAINST an opponent, Aikido teaches to train WITH a partner. There is no competition in Aikido—no pitting of one person against another. Instead, each partner is half of a whole and each accepts responsibility for the learning experience. Uke’s first job, ironically, is to give something. That something is an "honest" attack to his/her partner. On the face of it, this seems quite simple. Actually, it is not. An honest attack does not mean holding as tightly as you can, striking as forcefully as you can, or trying your best to hit your partner. An honest attack is an aware and targeted attack. You should offer attacks with awareness of your partner's situation. Is there a major difference between partners in size and strength? In experience? You should also offer attacks targeted at the place where you partner IS—not where you expect them to be or want them to be. It is helpful to remember that as Uke, your primary responsibility is to receive technique, and serve the relationship with your partner (Nage) in a way that brings out the best in both of you. The better you understand the Uke-Nage relationship, which is to say Yin and Yang, the more effective and dimensional your Aikido will become. Indeed, the more effective and dimensional YOU will become.
Practice with both confidence and humility.
Trust yourself and be willing to step into the unknown. It’s where the good stuff is. Be mindful, though, of confidence that comes out of arrogance. It’s also a good practice in humility to stay away from "correcting" your training partners. As a new student, it shouldn’t even be a consideration to do so. As a more experienced student of any rank, it should only be done sparingly and on an as-need basis. Training partners should focus more on serving as the best models they can possibly be for one another, and leaving corrections to the instructor.
Have fun.
Aikido practice should be relaxing, insightful, powerful, and joyful. If you aren’t having fun, you may be treating yourself too seriously. Don’t be in a hurry to master anything. You have the rest of your life to enjoy your training, benefit by it, discover, and grow.
Be safety conscious.
Respect your body and the bodies of others. Protect it from injury. In time you will learn to receive technique and fall beautifully. However, if you choose to be impatient, you’re inviting injury, and a loss of training time. Never try to force a technique on your training partner. It’s dangerous and unproductive. Remember, also, that excessive pain is a sign that something is wrong. If you’re in pain, injured in any way, stop practice and consult with the instructor immediately. In the rare occurrence of bleeding, leave the mat right away to take care of yourself. Your training partner will keep others away from the blood while someone else brings cleaning supplies.
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