Friday, November 6, 2009

Why I Know I Have Aikido Issues

  1. I plan my schedule around keiko instead of the other way around.
  2. Martial arts books have replaced fine literature on my shelf.
  3. When house-hunting, I first check the vertical clearance of the ceiling to see if it'll accommodate my jo katas.
  4. I'm not heartbroken over not yet being able to afford furniture because, hey, more room for suburi practice.
  5. I assess square footage of individual rooms by how many tatami mats will fit.
  6. Mop handles and hiking sticks make me think of jo's.
  7. I pass the lumber section of Home Depot and wonder which wood would make a good bokken.
  8. Going gi shopping fuels me with endorphins that most other women get when stepping into Macy's.
  9. I do laundry based on when I run out of fresh gi's.
  10. I consider purchasing future car models based on whether the trunk will sufficiently accommodate my weapons bag.
  11. I'm actually up at 8:00AM on a Saturday morning so that I can commute to weapons class.
  12. I've avoided certain fast food chains for years, and suddenly I'm burning enough calories so that those McDonald's golden fries are looking very tempting.
  13. I suck at sewing but would spend an entire morning hemming/altering/patching up my gi.
  14. I've never folded any article of clothing with such meticulous care as I do my hakama, and I do this almost on a daily basis.
  15. People look at me funny because I carry a litany of bruises on my forearms.
  16. I've sprained and twisted muscles and still have the desire to claw my way back on the mat.
  17. I've considered using a tenchi-nage-like blend to squeeze through automatic doors before they close.
  18. Trying highfalls make me paranoid that I'll break my neck and become a paraplegic, but I still want to practice and master them.
  19. My grip strength and wrists have gotten noticeably stronger.
  20. I subconsciously get into hanmi stance, like when standing or mopping the floor.