This part of the journey began in October, when we moved from PA to the Bay Area in CA. Changing coasts has been an eye opening experience and brought some changes to my life.
My experience with knitting started numerous years ago, but only within the past year can I say I really began to fall in love with it. It's wonderful to have an art, something that you can show other people and say, "I did this." Having the ability to make something delicate and intricate or something durable and warm, makes me very happy. I've completed socks, shawls, scarves, hats, and arm warmers. I have plans to do much more, and have something constantly on the needles, and plenty of stashed yarn for a moments weakness to start yet another project.
But onto the newest part of my journey, which started a couple of weeks ago at a dojo in Oakland.
My boyfriend's coworker had been telling E (my boyfriend) about the dojo he goes to. He had invited us awhile back, but recently started urging E to go more adamantly. I said I'd happily go to watch. I sat to watch the end of an aikido class. The next class was japanese sword technique. I watched this class as well; I was left in awe at the sight of an older woman with her sword. . Her movement was true love to art of the sword and I became enamored.
I decided I wanted to see at least one more class of each. We ended up going the next Friday night and I watched my boyfriend on the mats with intrigue. There were three classes that night, that I watched. I decided pretty quickly that I wasn't interested in Jujutsu (or Jiujitsu) - at least not at the moment. Things could change in the future.
Last Saturday arrived and we went to the morning aikido class. I watched again, and pondered what to do. I had seen two sword classes, should I try? The older woman walks into the dojo and gets changed and comes out and sits on the bench next to me. In the sweetest, even voice that I've ever heard she asked how I was, and if I was going to join. I told her I was nervous and I didn't have a gi. She immediately smiled and took me back to pick a loaner. She told me to try it on, and if I wanted I could take it home to wash and join whenever. I went out to join the class.
Sword is interesting. Beside the fact that I can't figure out which side is the sharp side of the bokken, I get the cuts pretty well. The shuffle is still confusing, but I've never done this before and need to learn. We left the class an hour later, and I was bubbling over with glee. I wasn't the only one, as my boyfriend has been practicing martial arts for many years now, and it's now a shared interest.
I'll admit, I ached on Sunday. My everything felt like a bunch of small children with nerf bats had beat me for an hour. It was fantastic.
Many times during the week, we took the time to go through the practices and he showed me a few basic aikido moves. We joked that aikido is like water bending (AKA Avatar: The Last Air Bender and not the blasted movie).
Last night, E asked me if I was going to go this morning to the dojo with him. I said yes.
I woke up grumbly. I'm not a morning person of any sort and we needed to get going early in order to get there in time for the class. We grabbed coffee and were on our way.
I joined the aikido class today. It's baffling, getting used to the movements and how to do joint locks, but at the same time it is fascinating and empowering. I'm apparently flexible, which amuses me. My knees are complaining now, because of learning to move in a way that I don't normally move.
Sword, is a joy and completely alien. I really need to figure out my bokken, or I'm going have more embarrassing moments of being told from across the dojo that my sword was upside down (I laughed and corrected myself). I learned lunges, and practiced the basic cuts. Now I need to practice, practice, practice.
Having a moment of deep thought here: I noticed one thing that would have changed something in my life growing up. Had the people at the church I went to treated each other how the members of the class at the dojo treated each other, it would have been a much more meaningful experience. In the dojo you have to trust the other students and the sensei to have your well being in mind. In turn, you have to be mindful of their well being. We work together to learn, and that lacked not only in my church experience, but in my private high school experience, too. It left me looking for something more and I think I may have found it.
I look forward to the differences I notice in the weeks and months to come. This journal is my journey down that road. Welcome.
