Hi, my name is Linda Eskin. In May of 2009, at age 46, I came to Aikido to improve my horsemanship. It's become about much more than that for me.
I train with Dave Goldberg Sensei at Aikido of San Diego.
Everything I say here is just what I say. Don't believe me. Find out for yourself.
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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
A LITTLE ABOUT ME
Most of the posts here are duplicates of my posts from
my blog on AikiWeb.com, a very active and friendly community of Aikido students and teachers. If you are a member of AikiWeb, and would like to comment, please do so there.
I am a beginning student of Aikido, a martial art that, like horsemanship, takes a lifetime to master. These posts are only my own observations on my own experience. You should not rely on anything I say here. Any inept or incorrect information is my own responsibility, and should not be a reflection on others.
I am grateful to
Dave Goldberg Sensei for being an extraordinary teacher, and for creating an engaged, thinking, and compassionate community of students and teachers at
Aikido of San Diego. If you are in the area, visitors are always welcome to observe classes. If you are a student at another local dojo, keep an eye on
our dojo calendar for upcoming seminars and other events.
Copyright 2009, 2010, 2011, Linda Eskin. Please feel free to share any of my poetry, online, or in print, keeping my name and any other acknowledgments with it. I will almost certainly be happy to let you use anything else I've posted here, with proper attribution, but please ask first.
Contact me via e-mail
Linda Eskin
MORE AIKIDO READING
3rd Kyu Test Prep - Notes to Self
Test Date: Saturday, 9 July, 2011,
Test Time: Immediately following a 9 a.m. class
Dear Self,
You will have a happier day, and a more successful test, if you follow these instructions:
- Do laundry and cut your nails two or three days ahead.
- Go to class on Friday night, then go home.
- Set out gi, clothes for going to lunch, weapons, Gatorade, banana, & a protein bar.
- Review your Giant Spreadsheet of Technique Notes.
- Sit quietly and visualize doing your entire test beautifully. Twice.
- Go to bed by 10:00. Set two alarms. Put the iPad down. Sleep.
- Get up at 6:00. As in Out Of Bed. Feet on the floor! Make coffee.
- Eat a big 3-egg and cheese breakfast before doing anything else.
- Put the iPad down.
- Feed critters, shower, get dressed, and leave for the dojo.
- Listen to “Powerful Energy” playlist in the car. Visualize the whole test.
- Eat a banana and a protein bar.
- OK, OK, yes, you may check in on Facebook. Sheesh.
- Be on the mat by 8 a.m.
- Warm up. Stretch. Breathe. Explore the space. Your space. Relax.
- Drink a Gatorade, and refill your water bottle.
- No matter what happens on the way, or in class, focus, breathe.
- Remember your posture, your freedom, your happiness, connection, and the ground.
- Remember that you are well prepared for this.
Bow in with gratitude and joy.
Your Self
