Aikido and the body tipe diference
It's funny how we perceive martial arts and the training of, we see in the movies and everywhere we hear the word KATA or KATI and how it is a magical group of movement that turns you into a master.
Please don't get me wrong, katas are extremely important and they get you far, very far.
But past that, there is the refinement that every martial artist seek, and in so many ways it lays in upon the knowledge of your inner circle that is your own body, not only that but how it interacts with the outer circles ~ your partner\rival\agressor's body and movement and finally the environment.
when you practice Kata, what you are doing is creating muscle memory, right? but we are also learning a whole lot, for instance, where are our point of balance, how flexible we are, what is our reach, how to modulate the breathing, and every practice we are getting comfortable with all those factors in our own body.
"Past" that stage, acknowledging our own body, we are ready to explore and enjoy how our movement connects with our partners.
*and if you are thinking about anything other than their martial arts, I have just one thing to say, you are not wrong, it applies to any kind of movement*
For the ones how are on the more visual side, let me give you an example, I m tall and heavy, 1,85 m, 110 Kg (not gonna use feet or pounds, fight me... please) and I have two partners, a short and light, 1,65 m and 55 Kg and an even shorter but heavy 1,55 m, 105 Kg.
So all 3 learn every kata and love their body as we all try and should... how you think this training session will go? is someone in advantage? will anyone get crushed? one of them will get tired before the others? will someone die?
To all those questions, the answer is no because aikido is cooperative and not competitive, and in martial arts that are, that doesn't really matter.
So you see all individuals are unique, so are their bodies and minds, therefore every artist is a whole art in itself, and should focus more on what works for themself than in "the correct form" within reason of course
if you don't believe me yet, picture this:
How is the training routine of a blind person on the dojo? how the sensei thought this person? what about kids, it is very different to practice with a respectful but very, very, very ancient sensei.
So there you have it! If you are a sensei or senpai who is having a hard time teaching someone, try to observe how different your student body type is from your own. If you are begging yourself, observe how the techniques fit you.
