HUMANS OF MARTIAL ARTS

Extremely thankful to humansofmartialarts for featuring our resident teacher ms Sanjukta Roy as  the first featured person in Aikido from India. We are humbled to have found a space among many other inspiring stories of martial artists around the world. @humansofmartialarts has brought together amazing people in one space. 

#REPOST @humansofmartialarts with @get__repost__app "I do not have any experience of sports or martial arts in my family and never did I imagine practicing any form of intensive physical training seriously. I witnessed Kobayashi Ryu Aikido one evening in 2012. At that moment it didn't affect me at all. My mind and body were too occupied getting over an abusive relationship. After almost a year I went back again with a friend who wanted to try a class. I couldn't stop after that first class, ever. I practice Kobayashi Ryu Aikido of the KAKKHR. The most moving thing that I have experienced in this Ryu is how all the teachers talk about kindness and empathy rather than simply finding a fighting technique to 'win'. In Kobayashi Ryu Aikido we learn to develop the correct reactions to any confrontations rather than defending, aggressing or fleeing from it. The style has been an evolving one since the beginning: every-time I discover a new key to a technique I learnt, or a variation to a technique I thought couldn't be any better. Today I run a dojo in one of the most sensitive parts of my city, Kolkata. The students come from extremely financially and socially disadvantaged sections of the society. Many of them drop out of schools to help their parents to earn daily wages. Most live in extremely dingy spaces without the privileges of privacy or access to 'own space' or free will. However it is surprising how they hold on to the Aikido sessions dearly. Aikido sets them free. There are no boundaries of class, finance or territory. Aikido teaches them that respect can be earned by working hard and by respecting others. Some of these students are showing will and curiosity in the world outside their alleys. Kobayashi Ryu Aikido has been a healing gift for me and it's time I share it with those who can make use of it." @kraik.india - India Pic by @senarijit