Toward the Ocean of Aikido

“Even being thrown to the ground brings joy.”

That sentence might sound strange to some, but to me, it captures the true joy of training.

I began Aikido in 2021, in the middle of the COVID pandemic, and in May 2024 I was granted my shodan (first-degree black belt). Now that I find myself preparing for my nidan (second-degree) examination, I realize that the sweat I’ve shed over the years has left behind lessons just as valuable.

Honestly, I’ve never been particularly athletically gifted. These days I even complain about feeling the limits of my stamina, but the moment I put on my dogi and step onto the mat, my whole mindset shifts. Repeating nage (throwing) and uke (receiving), being thrown to the mat again and again — my body may be drenched in sweat, but the stress and clutter of everyday life get washed cleanly away. That sense of refreshment I feel walking out the dojang door after training is a reward nothing else can replace.

The kata of Aikido feel new and remain difficult every single day. But rather than wanting to give up, I find myself enjoying the process of asking, “How can I find the answer myself?” Aikido has no sparring against opponents, no competition to determine winners and losers. Because of that, all your focus goes toward refining a technique that is simply better than yesterday’s. Training under our dojang head and alongside my dōyū (training companions), what I’ve come to realize is that we aren’t rivals — we are precious “companions” who make up for each other’s weaknesses.

I now stand once again at the starting line of a new rank examination. As my rank rises, rather than showing off any skill, I want to return to a beginner’s mind and take on a more humble attitude of learning and studying. In the long journey of my life, Aikido feels like a ship that has just set sail. Like a navigator facing a vast ocean, I want to knock on the dojang door each day with curiosity rather than impatience, and with affection rather than worry. Approaching training wholeheartedly, with an eager heart — that is the path of Aikido I believe in.

With gratitude

I want to express my deepest thanks to Chairman Yoon Dae-hyun, who laid the groundwork that allowed someone as unskilled as me to come to appreciate the true charm of Aikido, and to dojang head Lee Woo-rim and instructor Lee Jung-hee, who have always guided a slow-learning student like me with patience and generosity. And I owe who I am today to the fellow practitioners at the Chuncheon Dojang, who train and sweat alongside me every day with joy.

I hope that more people will discover the charm of Aikido and join this joyful journey, so that we can share that joy together. With a humble heart, I will keep knocking on the dojang door, today and every day.

May 7, 2026

Sim Gyu-hun, Chuncheon Dojang

(Rank promotion granted as of May 30, 2026)

[Traditional Hapkido / Aikido Chuncheon Dojang]

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