Aikido from Tomiki to Aikikai

I have always been interested in Aikido. In 2001, I joined a dojo for six months, which was Aikikai ( a later variation of Aikido). I quit because I hurt my hand falling to the mat, I made the mistake of trying to catch myself instead of falling correctly, and things were changing in my life. I had recently been laid off from my programming job, I had moved so that the dojo was a long drive, and it was easier to be on the couch.

In 2007 I started again. I joined a Tomiki Aikido dojo in Houston. It sounded interesting. This type of training can be very formal. I liked the people in the dojo and stayed long enough to be promoted to second level (nikyu), which is two levels below a black belt. I liked it but for various personal reasons I wanted something different.

In June I joined an Aikikai school. My experiences with Tomiki have helped me but it has also been a sea change.

Aikido has an emphasis on posture and using the large muscles. Working through it has improved my golf game.

Writing in the new year

OK, I am writing more for myself this year.

I have spent the past four years working as a technical writer for one of the largest software companies in the world, creating user manuals, white papers, and other customer-facing documentation. My team broke up last year and I am now the sole writer here, which is good and bad.

My buddy, Ian, has returned from Arizona. He and I play golf at least twice a month on the weekends. He's better than I am by about 10 strokes a game. I picked up a set of Callaway wide sole irons and a Cobra driver in the past six months, which have improved my game.

Now I'm working on the short game. I say that every year.

More on that later.

I changed schools in Aikido. That was a big change for me.