There Is No Spoon

Do not try to bend the spoon — that’s impossible. Instead, only try to realize the truth: there is no spoon.

Only when you are able to stop thinking about what you are doing can you actually “do”.  Yoshinkan Aikido teaches you to react, not to think.  Once you are able to let go and flow with the technique you can achieve greatness.  I think back to Mustard Sensei’s last visit to Sendokan Dojo and he repeated this time and time again:  “RELAX!”  Now that I have several months to engrain this concept into my everyday practice I see the power it yields. 

If you want power, don’t use power.  Mystical words.  In simpler terms: Just do it!  When you are truely able to let go your body will move as it has been trained to do and the true power of Yoshinkan Aikido will be brought to bare.

This would seem easy but alas appearances are quite decieving.  It is easy to get caught up in focusing on why a technique did not work or in the case of jiawaza focusing on which technique will be excuted next.  This should not be the case.  It is hard but one must make their aikido more organic.  Just flow with the go.  Turn your mind off and do.  Realize the truth, there is no spoon!