We’ll start with you, Christine, bonjour!
Salut Claire🤸♀️!
How did you first hear about aikido?
I had a friend at the university who used to train in Corfu when she was a teenager. She talked about it very often, although she wasn’t training anymore as a student. Because of her, it kinda stuck in my bucket list until I finally finished my studies and had time for activities again. Then I decided to look for Aikido in Athens.
When did you decide to start practicing aikido?
I had been interviewed for my PhD in Norway in April 2022 and I knew I would receive an answer by May. As the time was closing in, I found myself getting obsessed with waiting for an answer, being on my phone, checking for emails the whole time. Then I decided I needed an activity to pull me out of this and Aikido was the first thing in my bucket list.
I googled for Aikido dojos nearby and found one 5 minutes walking distance from my then appartment in Athens. I started training Aikido on May 17th 2022 at the “Aikido of Athens” dojo with Eamonn Devlin and Janet Clift. Coincidentally, my supervisor contacted me on May 18th. I had a job in Norway.
Christine in an exotic double-lock, during a visit to Morito Suganuma Shihan‘s dojo in Fukuoka, Japan. Credit: Private
Did you train something else before / Are you training something else now in parallel?
I was never interested in martial arts, to be honest. I used to like dancing as a kid but later as a teenager, I became completely non-sporty. I tried Tai Chi at some point as a student but it did not suit me during that particular period of my life. I have also been in a mixed martial arts seminar at Sentrum Aikido, where I tried Nanbudo and Krav Maga. My brother trains Krav Maga, so I thought it would be worth exploring. Both martial arts were interesting but not the kind of budo I want to follow.
Oh, I’ve also been to one boxing class.
I’m happy with just Aikido for now.
How many times did you grade in the Norwegian Aikido Federation?
I have graded four times in total for the 5th, 4th, 3rd and now for the 2nd kyu.
At the beginning, grading opportunities are frequent enough to work as external motivation, but these become less frequent as time goes by (ref NAF requirements), what are your thoughts on this? What is your inner motivation?
Aikido is my most favourite thing in the whole world. That said, I like Aikido, despite its grading system. Every time I’ve graded so far has been for a different reason. For example, I felt a small change in my Aikido during the past year, so I wanted to seal it symbolically with the 2nd kyu grading.
However grading is definitely not a part of my motivation to train. If anything, it’s impeding because I feel I tend to focus on stuff I have to do, rather than the things I want to study myself. I feel like I’m taking a small detour from my original path, just to focus on the grading techniques a month before the grading. This was the first time I suggested I graded before my teachers did.
I train to get some behavioural tools for my everyday life and hang out with my friends.
You recently graded to 2nd kyu, what type of feedback did you get from the grading committee? Was the form and quantity of feedback satisfactory? Something in particular you see useful and will pursue in the coming months?
There were five people in the kyu grading committee and I got feedback from three of them that I feel know me the most. They all spend a lot of time talking to me, I had some very good individual discussions with them.
The general consensus was completely aligned with what I’ve been working on since December, that is to be a bit heavier and more stable. To have no fear of my strength. While being gentle at the same time. I was told to “add some spice in my chocolate” and I think that pretty much sums it up.
Did you feel well prepared before your grading? What do you see as the instructors’ responsibility and yours when it comes to preparing for a grading examination?
In general, yes, I felt ready, although I knew that I still had to work on some principles to be more ‘proper’. I was stressed about it, during the first few days of the camp. I was too serious and was trying to figure out ushiro ryotedori iriminage, all one million variations that were shown in the camp.
And then I trained with a friend and we started being stupid and giggling mid-technique and everything got clear: I should not worry about performing. I train to have fun and not to be judged. I stopped trying to cram for the grading and accepted that what I already had in my body was enough.
When it comes to the instructors’ side, I have all this time felt safe that when I was suggested to grade, it was the right time for it and I would not fail it. So I appreciate when my teachers know when it’s time. The rest of the preparation, I feel, is a blend of the student-teacher communication. I have to be aware of what I’m missing in order to communicate it to my teacher and then they can try to accomodate during class. I’ve felt that both Sentrum Aikido and OSI Aikido have offered an open, safe ground for wishes and questions and I’ve always felt very comfortable asking during training and beforehand. I was never dissappointed.
What is your training regime/frequency the past year? What makes you come to the tatami? Has your training frequency changed since you started?
When I first started in Athens and during the first few months in OSI, I was training three times a week, maybe four. I now train four to six times per week, depending on whether I’m attending a seminar or not. I would like to be strong enough to train everyday, currently a work in progress.
The training itself is what makes me come on the mat. I need my safe, happy bubble at the end of the day. I need to feel and explore all the juicy techniques with my friends that give me those fireworks in my brain!
Thank you, Christine!
