Waiting tentatively around the edge of the mat area for the lesson to begin, I have to admit that the fear I had felt, whether I would get injured or my size would disadvantage me, had gone. In its place was the desire not to let Andy or myself down. He had taken the time and interest to give me advice and assurance and I wanted to repay that with dedication and eventually proficiency. I didn’t have much time to worry about it as after a little banal banter with my fellow students to embolden me, Andy called us to attention and we began.

After a short introduction, which put me and I dare say a few others in the room, at ease we started our warm up exercises; some running, a few simple stretches – easy enough. That was until we got to the leg stretches. I’ve not got the most flexible of bodies and I struggled. As I tried to bend my legs, shoulders and spine in a direction they seemed reluctant to go, I couldn’t help a glance around.

Everyone else was coping, their limbs as akin to rubber as mine were to lead. Still, with each repeated attempt and subsequent lesson (I’ve had three sessions at the time of writing this journal) I feel a little more limber – so I reckon there’s still hope.

After a pretty vigorous warm-up, techniques followed. So far we’ve learnt Nikkajo Osae (wrist lock) and the fixing movements of the Kihon Dosa (basic sequence of movements).

Nikkajo (second control) was the first piece of Aikido we learned. It was a relatively simple hold that Andy had fore-grounded in the warm-up. This was fairly easy to commit to memory but even at this early stage it became clear that committing techniques to memory would be the key to my progression; that I would eventually have to condition my body to react instinctively.

While it was quite daunting that some of the students had some experience of the art (in some cases years of experience), this would also be of benefit to me as a beginner as they would be able to spot any errors I might be making and I could observe their techniques.

Andy made it clear from the start that this was a class for beginners, we would be treated as such and the pace would reflect this too – so there was no pressure. The name of our Aikido club is the Sho Shin Kai. Sho Shin means ‘Beginner’s Mind’ – this was definitely the place for me.

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