The Horrible Awkwardness and Angst of Being a Beginner: In Aikido or at Anything

I’m sore all over. My Achilles heel is swollen up like a golf ball. My left knee aches. My shoulders have more knots in them than a sailor can tie — all from training intensely for my Aikido test next Saturday.

It’s for my first Kyu, the test before the Shodan or black best test.

When I tell people that I train in Aikido (Japanese martial arts), they typically get a look of admiration in their eyes, like I’m Xena, the warrior, even when I tell them it’s nothing to be impressed about. If you saw me throw a 200-pound guy you would NOT, I repeat NOT, be impressed.

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Source: The Huffington Post