When flying a plane, one thing a pilot does, to be sure things are working correctly, on course, and safe, is to frequently scan the instruments. Check the altitude, check the heading, check the airspeed, etc. Look around for traffic, communicate if needed… Check the altitude, check the heading, check the airspeed, and so on. Scanning the instruments lets you detect little problems quickly, and fix them before they become bigger problems.
I’m finding that paying attention to each aspect of my Aikido would be a similarly good idea. Am I breathing freely? Does my posture have integrity? Am I centered, and grounded? Am I aligned with Uke/Nage? Try to work out the next step of that new technique… Am I breathing freely? Does my posture have integrity? Am I centered, and grounded? Am I aligned with Uke/Nage? Notice the little problems quickly, and fix them.
Inattention to one aspect or another in Aikido has similar consequences to inattention in flying. Going faster than you’re capable of going safely. Heading in the wrong direction. Unintentional flight into terrain.
Doing a frequent scan of a few key points could help keep me on course. It’s something I’ll play with, and see how it goes.
[Note: Thank you to Mark De Souza for a post on his blog, Mark’s Meanderings referencing this post.]
