I know it's been a long time since I blogged. Trying to change that. I've been living the good life in Japan, trying to get healthy, and many other things.
I did manage to have the opportunity to test for first degree black belt (shodan;初段) at my Aikido dojo (Fukaya Aikikai;深谷合気会).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJrCKgcbDULO01M-MwIjAPuPPerqb9mbUv_5ntVERs90Uw0YVulTpiu6hAiX9tZro5dVwKf7pMLHPYGkCQDvlmAO2UhtQM0ULA_aqVKoLqqyaX5VTx1QGOm3ZdRUKEj_k8M1AQQ/s400/Dojo.jpg)
Most of the action shots from the test were too blurry, but this video turned out well. (Also on my YouTube account.)
These cost me quite a bit, and I can begin to see why some of my sensei's didn't want to subscribe to certain aspects of Aikido politics. I had to register for the national Aikido federation (about 8000円/$80) and pay for the shodan test itself (about 10000円). Further dan ranks increase by another 10000円 each level. Luckily they paid for the belt/obi itself (which I'll have to take a picture of), which also has my name and Fukaya Aikikai on it (in kanji of course).
And then I had to buy my hakama (25000円). I did splurge on that and got the traditional indigo dyed cotton style (#6000 thread count) with extra long straps to tie it traditional style on my big hips. It was a serious pain to wash by hand (five times in the tub), but it looks pretty bad ass.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl9eCMxIgUir8oksFCnDRLItPWsqEYcaI5joNFMc5JbYCXhm8JRHH5SbEvMxOZeyyAywfFx9YvYlUkrUGHAyFLlaJrZh528tRXVXt5MVex-uinp7r7p9msR2q-njZ7xZKxoXZjVw/s400/ShindouraPointLarge.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGRsx-knrGdkS6ML7545rz82iOS_1JTBVdK57UU6TRr3Bv0FyeFcuesFtiYIVcg6_tUHp9124b9x0SuXIBjFUB-ihVAQ6VNcoiJOllP2nMr-Jp6H9x6ReHE6fjg4l8gu2ZbphAzQ/s400/ShindouraPoint.jpg)
So, Schindler, in this choice of kanji (of which there were many), means The Way of the Heart. The 'ra' is a phonetic place holder for words that need it, and often doesn't show up much in Japanese (save, Rashōmon, etc.; so far as I know--please tell me otherwise).
Now I get to wear a rather hot dress while I do my Aikido. Huzzah.
2 comments:
Hey Jason Leslie herre!
So was the kanji translation unintentionally or intentionally awesome? Because i think that is a pretty cool translation.
It's pretty literal, so, yes, it is intentionally awesome. Though, as a master of the art now, I'm just now starting on the path of Aikido. ;)
Post a Comment