What Odds the Big Guy Now?

What Odds the Big Guy Now? Well, 1997 was a hell of a year in more ways that one. I settled back into gainful employment after being a mature student and decided that as my life style was changing, I also needed to loose a few pounds having sat on my bum for three years (plenty of work for the mind, not so much for the body, apart from picking up a glass or two regularly as students do!). In May 1997 I was looking around Jarrow community centre and noticed a poster advertising a martial art called Aikido. About ten years ago I discussed starting the very same art with a friend during night shift at Westoe colliery, but did nothing about it at that time. I rang and spoke to a Mr. Stokoe, an Aikido instructor and explained that I was a bit of a large (fat) chap, he put me at ease and said that the art could accommodate people of varying abilities and fitness, I was invited to watch a class, at first I thought that I would never be able to do anything like what I saw, however after watching another lesson I decided to give it a go. This mainly came about because the members of the club made me feel very welcome and did not judge me (meaning they did not show any prejudice of me being overweight). I started attending regularly and asked how I went about learning which was my right foot and which was my left? This, I have to say still is a challenge to me at times! Shortly after starting, I ran into a young chap (thug) which I had words with when I had just moved into the area, this chap is now a 2nd Dan in our club and I know that he has changed for the better in his approach and respect towards others, this must of came from practising the art, or it may have been that we first met on an off day for both of us. We both get on really well and I have great respect for what he has accomplished and have had some laughs with him since we started to train together, he's a nice guy. Anyway back to 1997, in July my adventure in Aikido took a bit of a set back as I was involved in a serious road accident, I was unable to get on to the mat because of my injuries, this gave me time to read more of O-Sensei's writings on how the art was developed. It was also a time of frustration as I could not get on to the mat, instead I could only sit and watch. I attended a couple of seminars later in the year which gave a good insight to the art and the people who study it. That was certainly a funny year, the up side is that I found a wonderful art to study with an excellent club and a teacher with a great bunch of people, the down side, I realised that I should have done this about twenty years ago when I was a bit fitter and more supple. During 1998 I accompanied some of our club to South Wales to attend a summer school of the Shin Gi Tai Aikido society. It was a very long overnight journey, however Sensei Jones and his members made us all very welcome. It was an amazing experience for me, to all come together, no matter what grade with one aim, to practice with other without ego or varying degrees of ability getting in the road of the common goal of practising the techniques of Aikido. Incidentally, you may be wondering about the title of this short piece, well, I later found out that the rest of the class would lay odds to how long the new guy would last, so you are now probably looking for a lottery win before I pack in. I have some personal goals to conquer, but with a bit of luck and application they will be achieved. Trev Swanson 1st Dan CUA Aikido Union