I'm Baaa-ack...For God this time.

As you can tell, I have been on a major hiatus from aikido.  When I got that new job in Miami, it made it really hard to get to aikido so...I sacrificed and stopped training for the sake of my career, gained a bunch of weight, accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, and I am finally, FINALLY working as an attorney.  I recently met a fellow attorney and Christian lady at church who is really stressed out - what attorney is NOT stressed.  But I didn't just suggested, I really encouraged her and brought her to the dojo to see what it is all about.  And guess what? She signed up! WooHoo! I signed back up as well.

The who physical and mental discipline really helps take the stress off a long work day.  So, I'm out of shape, although I have lost a lot of that weight I gain when I started that job in Miami.  I also have a new perspective on life - a Christian one.  So, my spiritual discipline I will be practicing and discussing relates to my Christian faith, not the Eastern philosophical beliefs you can find laced in aikido.  Throughout my blog I will be unabasedly refer to scriptures and my faith and also discuss the challenges of really going back to aikido with a whole new perspective.  It not about techniques or who taught what but how I can be salt and light to those around me.  It also means, aikido is not the focus of my life, but Jesus Christ will be.  It's God First not Aikido, Sensei, Sempai, Kohai, training, etc.

So, Welcome to my Christian Aikido Journey.  It is going to focus on glorifying God and taking care of my body as the temple of the Holy Spirit and how I as a Christian experience aikido.  Here's a verse to consider:

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁹ Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ²⁰ you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

May God Bless You Always...

Back in the Dojo

Well, I've been on a major hiatus since starting a new job. My friend came into town from Japan for a two week visit so I decided to pull my butt into the dojo and at least train on Saturdays and Sunday mornings. I'm really out of shape, though. Sensei just told me to take it slow and easy for a couple of months until I get back into the swing of things.

It was good to see everybody and we had M.G. visiting from Orlando. And it was a nice sized class. Afterwards we went to our usual haunt, Einstein's for brunch.

So, I'm finally back! Woot!

4th kyu and 2nd kyu Test Prep

Well, I met R.(5th kyu) yesterday before class and went over his test techniques. Mostly just details in needs to work on. D.(5th kyu) showed up and he helped out, too. D. will not be testing this time around, but he his going ahead and learning his techniques.

S.(1st dan) filled in for Sensei for the first class. He saw me working with R. and D. and also saw that D.(3rd kyu) was in class. So, he reviewed the 4th kyu and 2nd kyu techniques as well.

Not much to say, today. Just that the Olympic Opening ceremonies are tonight and I'm really excited about it. I can't wait to get home after class tonight to watch them! Go Team USA!!!!