Roughly 30 years ago, I started doing aikidō. I can’t claim I practiced this sport for 30 years, as I paused multiple time, mostly when I was working at EPFL in Lausanne, going home by bike was quite an exercice, EPFL is close to the lake, and my flat in the upper part of town. I also did not train (much) in Japan, as there was no reasonable dōjō close to JAIST, so I ended up doing some Shōrinji Kempō.

While I practiced for quite some time, I can’t say I was a very good student, after 14 years in Zürich, I still have not passed a belt, I got a yellow belt just before leaving the club in Geneva, somehow I got stuck in the mode where I’m not a beginner, but I’m not doing things right, partially because there are different styles, different martial arts stuck in my brain, partially because I’m really not keen on the whole passing grade ceremony – which would involve somehow training more before the exam. Because of the kids, I only go once a week, which is not enough to make serious progress.

For me, aikidō is more a social and sport activity, a means to get some balance in my life, and a higher rank would not help much in that regard. The funny thing is that I started aikidō for some very different reasons: when I was at the university, there was a cute girl in the class that wanted to start, and asked if someone would go along. I did, but she hurt her ankle, so she never went. Years laters I learnt that she went because she was interested in some guy who was practicing. Somehow I liked it and continued.