Antonio saying goodbye to his “brown” belt
I started training aikido in 2013, in my last year of Uni. At the time, aikido was a great distraction from the studies, assignments and honours project. For that reason alone, I wish I had started training aikido a few years earlier.
Slowly, training became part of my routine. The art started growing on me and with that also grew my ability to control my thoughts and bring my mind to where I am … to concentrate. The opposite to what I experienced from other sports, in aikido you need to learn to relax and coordinate your mind and body with intention. Calming oneself progressively and keeping composure despite circumstances. It helps me to be present and to sharpen my thoughts and movements … on and off the tatami.
It has been 12 months, or about that, since I graded for my black belt but my aikido journey still in its infancy. The more I think about the similarities between the dojo and what happens in life, the better I understand myself and the fundamentals of my interaction with others. And as my aikido grows, the way I see the world changes …