Once you get your black belt it's easy to lose focus, to slack off, and take a brief vacation from the intense training that you did to prepare for your demo. In a word, "Don't". In another word, "Don't".

The basic difference between Shodan and Nidan is minimal and the time in grade (assuming that you get to class and train) is also minimal. The longest periods between promotions can fool you because the break-points in learning are not where you think them to be.

The first longest period is from first-night beginner to Shodan. This is simply due to the necessity to take someone with conceivably no athletic or martial arts experience and have them internalize the fundamental operating principles of the art form. Moving off the line of attack, blending and flowing, learning attack and defense timing (Sen-no-Sen, Sen-Sen-no-Sen, Ato-no-Sen), kuzushi (off-balancing the opponent), ukemi (taking breakfalls), the basic waza (techniques) of striking, throwing and joint locking, etc., etc., all mean a long road to internalize and make functional the base essence of the ryu (the school or style).

Shodan to Nidan is, in a very real sense nothing more than setting into concrete your intuitive understanding and ability to use the fundamental principles and waza of your art form. Shodan means you “got it” and Nidan means you “really got it”. Keep in mind here that I never intend to denigrate the achievement, only to set that achievement into its proper context within the larger picture and by doing so give a better understanding of the global concept.

Nidan to Sandan has another long period although not as long as beginner to Shodan. This is due to Sandan being a jump-point in understanding. In our ryu Sandan is where the deep understanding of flowing, merging and of taking control of the attacker the first instant when they cross ma-ai and begin the attack sequence (and then not letting them regain control until waza termination) begins to be acquired and internalized.

Sandan marks a demarcation as-it-were; the next really big progressive step in making a high-level Aikido player. The timing from Sandan to Yondan therefore, much like Shodan to Nidan is also fairly brief as Yondan is more material to learn and internalize but that material is essentially the same as that learned for Sandan; except “more of the same” with added sophistication applied.

So the first gap is beginner to Shodan. Shodan to Nidan is fairly close, then the next big gap is Nidan to Sandan. Sandan to Yondan is fairly close due to the similarity in the work required so the next big gap is Yondan to Godan with Godan to Rokudan being fairly close. Then the next big (I should say “BIG” gap is Rokudan to Nanadan.

I think you see the picture. The long and the short of it is to not lose focus, EVER!

The gaps between major progressions is really quite minimal so once you make Shodan just go for the Nidan and quit worrying about it. Once you make Nidan just go to Sandan; because you know that once you get to Sandan then Yondan is just around the corner.

Pretty soon you quit worrying about “just around the corner” and you just “become” Aikido.

Originally published July 23rd, 2008