Reaching out

[klwilliams]

Last night at aikido, while I was doing randori (multiple people attack me, and I step past them and send them rolling on their way), the senseis watching pointed out that I was waiting for the attack, but not offering any energy to the attackers in advance. I've been thinking about this, and I think it's part of my basic personality. In emotional situations (which being attacked by several people at once certainly is) I tend to be contained, and wait for the other person to make the first move. I don't know if this is a good thing or not, but it's something to ponder.

Comments

[seainni.livejournal.com]

Sort of like this, only, when done right--more honest. You _don't_ go in intending to steer the other person in your direction. You go in to connect, figure out where both of you are coming from, and then try to find a solution that satisfies you both.

It's not verbal sparring, iow, but a finding of new ground on which you can both stand comfortably.

Which is I suppose why being either too active _or_ too reactive will keep it from working, which is a useful insight for me.

If you stay passive you let things happen too much on the other person's terms and not enough on yours; if you're too active you assert your terms but don't leave enough space for the other person's as well. Hmmm.

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

Of course the police would go in intending to steer the other person in their direction -- jail --- but I find it interesting that I start from the idea of steering the other person in my direction. Hmm. Or maybe I just hung out around Michael too long.