From White to Green and everything in between!

I started Aikido in October 2011.  It's probably taken a lot longer than the average student for me to achieve green belt level but that's because I don't do things half-assed.  If I don't feel I would be able to do my best in the grading then I don't grade.

It took me a year to go for my grading to be a yellow belt.  It raised a few eyebrows from other practitioners and even some shocked questions such as "why are you not grading?" "why wouldn't you get off your white belt as quickly as possible?"  For me, it's not a race.  Yes, I want my black belt and I would love to have it already!  But I don't want my black belt when I've not been the best I could be at every other colour.  I'm never going to be perfect, but when people look at me and see my Green Belt, I want them to think "yes, she worked hard for that, she did her best and she deserves it."  Not "well, she's a bit rough around the edges but sensei passed her so it must be ok".  

Currently, I feel a sense of pride reflecting off of Sensei Wilson and that pushes me even more.  He knows I put in as much effort as I can and that I'm always the best I can be and he can see that I'm enjoying it.  That's how I intend to keep it and that's all Sensei asks of me.  The day I stop doing my best and can't be bothered putting in the effort is the day I stop Aikido (which will hopefully never happen).

While I was on my yellow belt, I got engaged and had a wedding to plan.  Looking back, I could have gone for my orange belt after 6 months but when I did get it, we moved house later that year (which was actually more stressful than the wedding) so I would have ended up delaying my green belt anyway.  

So, from my experience, I would advise everyone to take their time and enjoy Aikido.  Push yourself to your limits and be the best you can be but don't go so far that it turns into a task or a burden.  Everyone wants to be a Black Belt and your time will come soon enough but, to be a good Black Belt, make sure you pay attention to the journey because that's the important part.