Aikido
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Mark
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Mike
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Mark: Yeah, I started studying Aikido when I was about 15 years old.
Mike: And what got you interested in Aikido?
Mark: Well, I saw a demonstration at a church one time and I immediately fell in love with it, and it works out great because I'm not that big of a guy and Aikido is a kind of martial art where small people can throw big people.
Mike: Do you get a lot of chances to throw big people?
Mark: Well, not recently, but definitely when I was practicing, when I was studying, it would be interesting because some big guys would come into the class and they wanted to show that they were very tough, and, but usually they were the easiest to throw.
Mike: Because they have the extra weight?
Mark: Well, yeah, because they attacked and they, in their lives, they're so used to using lots of strength, so their attack would be very hard and in Aikido, the harder you attack, the easier it is to throw.
Mike: Now, what interests you, or what do you like the most about Aikido?
Mark: Well, I guess at first, like any martial art, I just like the idea of I can defend myself if someone attacks me, but later, I just really enjoyed the exercise of it, and you learn some really cool techniques that, how to take someone off balance or to throw them and it's really easy after you study it for awhile.
Mike: Interesting. Thanks.
fall in love
I immediately fell in love with it.
When we begin to feel love toward someone or something, we 'fall in love'. It can happen fast or slow. Notice the following:
- I fell in love with my computer as soon as I got it.
- I did not fall in love with my new Android phone, but now I can't live without it.
work out
Aikido works out great because I am not a big guy.
When a new, sometimes unexpected event occurs and the result is positive, we say it worked out. Notice the following:
- This new schedule is just not working out for me.
- My wife just lost her job which works out great because she can stay home with the kids.
The harder you attack, the easier it is to throw.
In Aikido, the harder you attack, the easier it is to throw.
The harder we do something the more effort we make which inreases our chance for success. Notice the following:
- The harder you work, the more successful you'll be.
- The harder you study, the easier it is to learn.
defend oneself
I can defend myself if someone attacks me.
When we defend ourselves that means we stop someone or something from causing us a problem. Notice the following:
- My dad taught me boxing so I could defend myself.
- He had to defend himself at the meeting for his poor performance.
off balance
I can take someone off balance or throw them.
Someone who is off balance can easily fall or be knocked down. Notice the following:
- The train suddenly moved and pushed me off balance.
- The object of sumo wrestling it to get the opponent off balance and push them out of the ring.
Vocabulary Quiz
defend himself • off balance
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