There's not a lot in common between Aikido, flying, and auto racing. The setting is different, the people are different, and the philosophies behind each are very different. It takes a different attitude to succeed in each, and each results in a markedly different understanding of the way the art is practiced.
But they all have two things in common. First, they're all money pits—but second, they illustrate the idea that motion is clunky and unnatural and that pressures are what make everything happen.
Those of you who have piloted light aircraft know that imitating an instructor's motions will often just get you pitched into the grassy end of the runway—similarly, simply remembering "brake here, turn there," is likely to get you in some sticky situations.
I think that if I didn't already really understand the distinction, I'd have a much more difficult time in Aikido than I do. And this is a good thing, because I've got enough bruises to show that I'm sucking at it fairly badly right now.
But the point remains: the next time you see a driver fling a wheel around as he drifts around a corner, a pilot pull the yoke back to ride through a stall, or a sensei bring their hands around like a tsunami to topple an attacker; do remember that the motion is merely a consequence of the pressures, and not the other way around.
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