Why Aikido Feels So Confusing at the Beginning

🎁 Free resources 📬 Get a new lesson each week Join my Free Weekly Training Video Newsletter: https://www.lia-suzuki.com/newsletter... 📥 Eliminate inefficient or harmful movement patterns NOW. Body Alignment Checklist for Martial Artists → https://www.lia-suzuki.com/body-align... 📚 Grab my books 📘 The Teacher: https://lia-suzuki.com/book ⚔️ Mastering the Shoto, A Comprehensive Guide for Aikido Enthusiasts: https://lia-suzuki.com/shoto-book Almost everyone feels confused when they first start practicing Aikido. The movements feel unfamiliar. The timing seems counterintuitive. And many of the reactions we instinctively rely on in conflict—blocking, retreating, or fighting—don’t apply the same way in Aikido. In this video, I explain some of the key reasons why Aikido feels so strange at the beginning of training. From unusual footwork like Tenkan, to entering instead of retreating, to learning how to blend rather than block—Aikido often asks us to replace deeply ingrained reflexes with entirely new ones. This confusion isn’t a problem. It’s actually part of the learning process. If you stay consistent in your training, repetition gradually builds familiarity. Over time, movements that once felt awkward begin to make sense in the body first—and understanding follows. In this video we explore: • Why Aikido movement feels counterintuitive at first • The difference between blocking and blending • Why timing in Aikido works differently • How consistent practice transforms confusion into skill If you’re new to Aikido, keep showing up at the dojo. Confusion is often the first step toward deeper understanding. –––––––––––––––––– Train with me and continue learning: 📘 My books The Teacher https://lia-suzuki.com/book Mastering the Shoto https://lia-suzuki.com/shoto-book 📬 Get my Weekly Aikido Training Insights (Free) https://lia-suzuki.com/weekly 🥋 Train with me in person at a seminar https://lia-suzuki.com/seminars –––––––––––––––––– Thanks for watching, and I hope we have a chance to train together someday. 🧭 Train with me • In person (Seminars & Events) Japan • Taiwan • UK • Ireland • Los Angeles • Germany • More Schedule → https://lia-suzuki.com/seminars • From anywhere (Remote Training) Live classes, guided practice, and on-demand training Options → https://www.lia-suzuki.com/remote-mem... • In Los Angeles (Ongoing Classes) Adult intro & regular training Details → https://www.aki-usa.org/intro-options... Chapters: 00:00 Why Aikido Feels Confusing at First 00:10 Direct Entries and Circular Movements 00:23 Fight-or-Flight vs Aikido Movement 00:52 Why Footwork Like Tenkan Feels Strange 01:12 The Importance of Training Consistently 02:03 Why Blending Matters More Than Blocking 03:26 Aikido Timing Works Differently 04:14 Entering Without Fighting 04:40 Moving Earlier Than Feels Comfortable 05:15 Maintaining Balance and Alignment 05:23 Understanding Comes After Doing 06:30 Repetition Builds Familiarity 06:43 Learning from Sensei and Senpai 08:39 Training Opportunities Outside Class 11:06 Confusion Is Part of the Learning Process #aikido #martialarts #aikidotraining #budotraining #aikidobeginners