Aikido. The Art of Harmony

  In your practice always keep in your thoughts the interaction 

of heaven and earth, water and fire, yin and yang

Morihei Ueshiba, the Founder of Aikido

There is an engagement in everyone's life which reveals our identity. Our hobbies allow us to see the world not only as it is, but as we want it to be. The essential passion of mine is Aikido.

This Japanese martial art has been my hobby since 13 years. It was in 2000, and then my first Aikido classes were just an experiment, but it turned out much more important than I had predicted. 

Teenager's interest (ability to learn self-defense and to make new friends, Steven Seagal's great throws in films, Japanese count and terms, fascinating atmosphere of examinations, seminars and competitions) turned into new spiritual conception and growth. 

I've changed four dojos, three of them in my native town Zhytomyr, and the last is in Kyiv where I moved to before my marriage. I've been learning two styles of aikido: 'Aikikai' for 4,5 years with 3d kyu rate finally, and 'Yoshinkan' for 0,5 year.

The vibe of Aikido always inspires me. Due to it I can refine my spirit and train my body simultaneously. It is a marvellous art. Almost no effort is required to learn its techniques; the attacker's energy is used against him through the dynamics of movement. 

I appreciate my instructors, who always draw lively parallels with nature demonstrating techniques and speaking about harmony in Aikido; who keep pleasant and joyful atmosphere during our training, who help me to reveal my character, and who encourage my self-confidence.

"All the principles of heaven and earth are living inside you. Life itself is truth, and this will never change. Everything in heaven and earth breathes. Breath is the thread that ties creation together" (Morihei Ueshiba).

   

Sports Reveal Character

  The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a man's determination

Tommy Lasorda,

a former Major League baseball player

A lot of motivational speakers use sports as a metaphor for life. There are innumerable parallels between what it takes to be successful both at sport and in everyday life. The qualities of determination and hard work contribute to a man's chance of winning in both arenas. Leaders aren't born, they are made just like anything else through hard work, desire, and devotion − the price we'll have to pay to achieve any goal.

People don't go info sports just because it's fun. Most of sportsmen hate exercise, but they can't simply imagine their life without sport. It's part of them, it's what they live for − practice, cheer, integrity, competition, friends, long bus rides, invitations, countless trainings with members of their team who become a family, and coaches they appreciate.

We work hard to get good and then work to get better, because it's hard to stay on top. Winning in sport becomes the habit in life when we try to reach goals. All we should do is clear our mind of "can't".

Being engaged in sport activities we waste energy to renew it. We use our bodies in a marvellous and exciting ways. We undertake a kind of spiritual discipline that shapes our self-perception ("I'm a boxer", "I'm a runner", "I'm a rower", etc.), builds confidence, affects relationships and tests our will to endure trials. There are many obstacles in our everyday life that create adversity and cause stress. Sport is one of the greatest outlets for this stress, giving us something to get excited about, a sence of fulfillment and an escape from our everyday problems.

Sport makes us beleive that everything is possible. Trying to do our best, we can accomplish anything we want in life. The more you dream, the further you get.