New Students Make the Best Teachers

Last year, one of my new practice partners said to me, “You probably wish you didn’t have to practice with me…”

Nothing could be further from the truth. I enjoy having new practice partners. Not only is it an opportunity to train with a new body type – different things work with different individuals and each technique must be adapted, however slight the variation – it’s also an opportunity to learn things about my own aikido.

Recently, we’ve had two new members join the dojo. Teaching them forces me to step back and think about the technique, to break it down into parts in my own mind, so I can properly show it to them. In so doing, it gives me a greater understanding of the mechanics and energy involved. By teaching them, I’m also re-examining my own methods and learning as well.

As Aristotle said, “Teaching is the highest form of understanding.”

I’ve discovered when I’m paired with new students that I see things about my own methods that need to be tweaked or refined. It creates moments of illumination. When I see someone else come in with a straight arm for iriminage, I can finally comprehend how it would work better if the person performing the throw lifted their arm and uke’s chin to the stars. This is something I’ve had to constantly remind myself about, but now that I’m showing it to others, I’m actually performing it better.

I can't wait to work with the next new student. Who knows what they will teach me.