Questions questions!

Following my post "life with a baby is a whole different ball game" a number of people who (very kindly) read my blog but don't pracrice aikido (why not?) Have asked "what are the answers to your mum's questions?" So, for those who haven't spoken to me or don't know me personally, here are the answers!

1. Who goes where in the line?
Mum was talking about lining out at the start and end of class when we bow to the Ki sign and Sensei. If you're facing the Ki sign, the line starts with the lowest grade at the left and moves up the grades to blue belt at the right. Brown belts make a line in front, then Dan grades (black belts) and then finally Sensei. If you have more than one person of the same grade (e.g 3 green belts), out of respect the person with the most experience goes furthest to the right. It sounds complicated but it isn't really. When you first start you'll be furthest to the left since you're the newest person. You then just keep moving to the right as new people join and you work through your grades. That's why white belts are so important. Every new white belt pushes the rest of us along the line and encourages us to keep improving.

2. How come sensei picks on that one guy?
Mum was talking about Uke here. Sensei used him to demonstrate techniques all through that particular class and there's nothing more impressive than Sensei and Uke doing kokinage. It's considered an honour to be Sensei's uke. It means he trusts you with his own safety and that of the class. It means he knows you'll follow the Ki principles and that the technique will be demonstrated accurately.

3. Who teaches sensei?
We do! Not in the same way that he teaches us but you'll find an earlier post on this blog that tries to explain how I was learning from white belt students even though I was in a teaching position. People learn in different ways, they interpret instructions in different ways and ask different questions so that Sensei always has to be on top of his game.

4. Why aren't some of the white belts doing that exercise?
I have explained in a previous post that your white belt is the most important belt you have. You'll have it forever (since all new Gis come with a white belt so you don't need to pass it down to anyone) and you learn the aikido basics which will be developed through all the grades so it's important to get a good basic understanding of the techniques and Ki exercises at this level. As people learn and develop at different paces  (and people start at different times) so you may find that, at all levels, some students will be doing slightly different things. On that occasion when my mum asked the question, students were practicing Kokyunage focusing on throwing partner outwards by using Ki. Some beginners have not yet been taught ukemis and so they have to continue to practice roll-to-stand. Others are new to ukemis and so nage has to be extra careful. Ki can be very powerful even if you don't realise you're using it! In fact, its when you don't realise how powerful it is that accidents can happen.

5. How come only some people wear the "fancy black trousers"?
With this question my mum was referring to the hakama. All the ladies wear them as, back in the old days, the Gi was peoples' pyjamas so its not very lady-like to be running around in nightwear! This may seem a bit old fashioned and, it could be argued, sexist. But its the rule. In addition to the ladies, all Dan grades wear hakama along with the black belt.

So I hope that clears up some intrigue. If you have any other questions just pop them in a comment and I'll do my best to answer!