On March 7th, about 6 days from now, I'll take my test for the rank of Gokyu. I can't say that I'm nervous at this point. Nomura Sensei has been kind enough to let all of the studdents practice with mock trial examinations to defeat the nervous feelings that cause us all to freeze up and forget the moves. I am embarrrassed to say that I requested Nomura Sensei repeat the name of the attack he wished to see, on the first trial examination, and on the second, a move was called out that I had been unfamiliar with and was actually demonstrated to me.

I have not seen much of my rival these past few weeks. Mizushima has been going on days that I have been unable to attend due to work, but I am curious to see if he performs as I do, or if he has surpassed me.

As I've mentioned before, I have limited time in this country, and I have set the goal to achieve the rank of Shodan before I leave. In order to do that. I must take and pass every single test that is available to me. Many of the people I practice with tell me that it can be done, but I am skeptical of my own abilities and progress. I have worked hard in these three months and have yet to really accomplish anything. I am told the accomplishments are there, but I don't see them. I wish to pass my tests and return to my country with a new sense of worth.

...

While writing the above, I walked a way for a few moments and considered it. One side of me thought how childish that I should want to train and take tests to achieve a rank. What does rank mean? I should be training for trainings sake and nothing more. Rank is nothing but someone telling me I've done a good enough job in their eyes. What about my own eyes? The other side responds that the shodan rank will bring me pride in myself. A grand accomplishment that anyone and everyone would be proud of. I am of split minds and am unfocused. I must be focused and clear and not consider such things if I am to progress in the martial arts. I will take a walk and go rent a kung fu movie to help me relax. Any suggestions?

My First night of Aikido was very stressful for me. A million thoughts ran through my head. The destructive gremlins of should not and can not were in full force that night. Let's face it... I am a gaijin (which has been brought up a few times and has been used to judge my abilities and potential in the martial arts, so it does matter), I have almost no experience in Asian Martial Arts, and I am wearing a navy blue jogging suit to start my first night. Also I am about as coordinated as a drunken child on riddlin. It was a long walk to the Ayukai Dojo.

I walked in and stood stupidly in the doorway as many, young and old, walked up and down the staircase next to the doorway. Now let me remind you that I am living in a tiny rural mountain town, so Gaijins (foreigners) are a bit rare to come by and even more rare are those that want to start a new Martial Art, so when I walked in and stood in the doorway, I attracted a lot of attention and stares from the regulars. I managed to mutter an "excuse me" to one of the higher ranked students marked by his black Hakame and asked him for Nomura-Sensei. He was very polite, nodded, guided me to the office that held my now present Aikido master.

I don't want to write too much about Nomura Sensei in case he ever sees this. I would be far too embarrassed to face him if he ever saw what I wrote about him. Nomura Sensei is a man who lives through his philosophy and his art. Every aspect of his life encompasses his believes. He is one of those rare human beings who has accumulated so much inner strength that he's intimidating and welcoming at the same time. The best way I can describe him is that he is like a mountain with a temple at the center and a path leading directly up to it. From the moment I met Nomura Sensei he has been kind and challenging. He truly has wanted the best for and from me.

Sitting in Nomura Sensei's office was another young man. This man is Japanese and Nomura Sensei introduced him to me as Mizushima-San. Mizushima, from what I have been able to learn, means "island of water." He's a very thin guy and I could tell he was very different from me, but similar to an old friend of mine. He has the kind of feminine long hair that has become popular especially in Japan. He has informed me since our first meeting that he initially joined Aikido because his girlfriend said he needed to get stronger. At that first meeting He was wearing a T-shirt and a blue pair of work out pants, and was a bit excited to see that someone else was joining the dojo on the same night. I admit I was also excited to see that I wouldnt be alone. We bowed and shook hand with each other and learned that not only were we starting at the same dojo, on the same night, but we were also almost exactly the same age. Both of us are at this moment 24.

I am a highly competitive individual, and find that I am at my best when I have an opponent who challenges me on as many levels as Mizushima has. He's someone who, if possible, makes me even more fired up to train at the dojo, and study at home the fine art of Aikido.

P.S. I am aware of the irony of a competitve person joining a martial art that is supposed to be completely non-competitive.

A lot of people have reservations about starting martial arts and I would be a liar if I didn't say that I was the same way. "Lessons are too expensive" "I'm still recovering from a previous injury" "Maybe next year". Believe me. I know what it's like. I procrastinated taking MArtial Arts for the longest time. BUt its strange how fate sometimes decides to give us absolutely no choice in the path we must walk.

I moved to the tiny Mountain Town of Takefu last October 09. At first I was so euphoric to be in Japan that I gave little thought as to what was actually readily available to me in this town. I work from 12-9 Tuesday through Saturday. Most businesses are closed on Sundays and the small group of friends I have made work on Mondays. It didn't take me long to realize that I needed to travel to some larger cities to do anything fun. Within two weeks, I had travelled to Kanezawa, Osaka, and seen all of the major tourist spots near Takefu including Tojinbo, the knife village, and the international soba center. I was getting bored fast.

I decided to go to my local international center for a little guidance as to some Japanese traditional activites I could take part in. BAsically I was looking for a hobby. The people at the center were very nice and had a long list of local clubs from cooking clubs, to calligraphy classes, and pottery classes. All very interesting in their own way, but I had little or no interest in most of them or the lady helping me would tell me that the teacher of the class didn't speak any English. Yes I moved to Japan without learnign Japanese. The company that I wanted to work for wouldnt have hired me if I had learned. Anyway she turned the page and the word "Aikido" lept at my eyes like they were old friends embracing each other. "How about this?" I pointed out. She told me that she hadn't even thought about mentioning Aikido to me, that she had just forgotten about it. She told me that Nomura Sensei spoke very good English and Russian and that he was an excellent teacher. My first night of Aikido was that next Monday night.