Padawan_Ronin

Thanks everyone for your messages here! Sorry I haven't posted anything here: the fact is that my challenge got somewhat screwed up because the large leisure centre where my dojo is located changed its opening time this year and, unlike previous years, opened only in the beginning of September. So it's been only two weeks that I've been able to attend classes (instead of four weeks as was planned for the challenge). So... I've been attending classes regularly for the past two weeks. It feels great! The first week was difficult due to incredibly hot weather (37-40 C - that's 98 -104 Fahrenheit). But I survived I've also been pretty consistent with not buying wine. As for sticking to "normal" working hours, however, I failed... Well, I'll keep trying. Though this challenge turned out to be very short for me, I feel that I'm getting back on track with regular Aikido training, and I am really glad because I missed it greatly.

Good luck with your challenge as well! (So I see you study Shin Shin Toitsu Ki Aikido)

Hi Solunaria, Thank you for your message and your interest in my Challenge! What days of the week are you going to practice? And I would like to ask you the same questions (about your practice, style...) you asked me, in fact As for me, I passed my black belt test in June 2015, but while preparing for it I kind of let other things (especially work) slip quite a bit and then had to catch up... and almost didn't train for several months. I have been training for about 5 years in all, and I study traditional Aikido Aikikai (I'm in France, and my school here mainly follows Saotome sensei, Endo sensei, C. Tissier, etc.). So now I would like to find a more a balanced approach to my training and other areas of life, hence the title of my challenge. Well, for the moment nothing special to report, was at 8.30 at work today, didn't buy alcohol. Aikido classes begin tomorrow.

Greetings fellow Monks! As I wrote in the Rebels Introduction thread, I'm planning to continue my aikido practice after several months out of training. This time I hope to find a more balanced way... But the Dark Side is always there, so wish me luck, please ) The timing of this 4 Week Challenge is perfect for me, because the dojo reopens on the 23rd of August after the Summer holidays. So my 1st Challenge will consist of the following: Training: Attend 3 aikido classes a week (bonus points if I attend more) Nutrition: No buying alcohol (I really like good French wine... but I'd better use the cash for seminars and wellness-related things) Level up your Life: Begin working at about 8.30 a.m. (I work at home and I am a night owl, so my working/sleeping habits tend to get messed up) I'm intentionally keeping it very simple so as not to crash and burn as I have so often done in the past. Good luck to everyone else with their Challenges!

Hi Mistr, I'm new to the forums but I've already read quite a few of your posts. Began reading them because you're an aikidoka (like myself) and discovered your "saga" with a very interesting cast of characters Looking forward to learning about your adventures doing randori and everything else!

Hi Bread! Welcome! I'm also new to the forums (registered yesterday). It's great that you want to ameliorate your health, strength and stamina, and that you don't focus too much on your weight. I think it's the best mindset. Concerning weight lifting, have you taken a look at the free resources available on www.nerdfitness.com? Under the tab "Free tools and resources"? You can find some free bodyweight workouts and "Strength Training 101" which might be helpful if you're a complete beginner. Have you considered joining a local gym? It's really neat to have an instructor who can show you the right way to lift. Even if you join just for several months, it can be very motivating (in the past, I joined a gym and did strength training for about a year in complement to my martial arts training). Of course, you can begin training by yourself doing bodyweight exercises or using some basic equipment. Have you thought about establishing a training routine? Something very simple to begin with, like 2-3 basic strength workouts + 1-2 hours swimming per week, for example, depending on the time you have available. Hope this helps

Hi Butternut, Thank you very much for your reply and encouragement! I guess I will be hanging out with the Monks for this challenge (if they accept me lol) Cheers

Hi everyone, And thank you for creating such a warm and welcoming place here (as far as I can tell, having been reading the forums for a couple of months). I am looking to change my approach to training and a bunch of other things in my life, and joining your community seems like the right thing to do at the moment. I have always been more of a lone wolf in my life (and a lurker on forums and such), but it seems to me now that walking the way together is actually much more fun, so to speak... I am rather anxious now, trying to step out of my comfort zone, but that's the whole point of it, anyway To cut a long story short, in June 2015 I passed my black belt test in aikido after about 5 years of training. I had spent a year and a half before the test attending 4-6 classes per week (sometimes it was 7 per week when there were seminars on week-ends). I enjoyed it immensely, but in fact, without me really noticing it - giving all my energy to this all-consuming passion for aikido - I left a whole lot of work-related issues unattended (I am a freelancer), which led to quite a disastrous professional situation later on (meaning that I REALLY slacked on marketing my services and hunting for gigs, and at one time found myself almost without work for several months in a row). It took me some time to recover from that, find new clients, etc (actually, still recovering, but it's much better already). I've been almost completely focused on work for a year since then, and my aikido training suffered a lot. I've been out of training for several months (coming to the dojo 2-3 times a month doesn't count as training for me). It's obvious for me that I have to find some kind of balance between work and training, but my all-or-nothing attitude really makes it much more difficult than it should be, I guess. So I hope to establish some kind of accountability here which should also help me to see things in a different perspective (well, if I attend aikido classes 3 times a week, it's definitely not 6 as I would like, but already much better than 0! LOL). I will also post in the 4 Week Challenge thread - Monks Guild, I guess? Or should I post in the Rebels Guild since it's my first 4 Week Challenge here? I am definitely a Monk though, and an aspiring Padawan returning to the Temple... I mean, to the Dojo. Thanks for reading, and if any of you have aikido-related questions that I can answer (given my humble level), I will be glad to be of service P.S. Sorry for my English, it's not my mother tongue. P.P.S. Oh, and by the way, I am currently living in Southern France.