【英语趣味课堂】合气道-Aikido

Mike: Now Mark, you study, or you do Aikido. Is that right?

Mark: Yeah, I started studying Aikido when I was about 15 years old.

 

Mike: And what got you interested in Aikido?

 

Mark: Well, I saw a demonstration¹ at a church one time and I immediately fell in love with it, and it works² out great because I'm not that big of a guy and Aikido is a kind of martial³ art where small people can throw big people.

 

Mike: Do you get a lot of chances to throw big people?

 

Mark: Well, not recently, but definitely⁴ when I was practicing, when I was studying, it would be interesting because some big guys would come into the class and they wanted to show that they were very tough, and, but usually they were the easiest to throw.

 

Mike: Because they have the extra weight?

 

Mark: Well, yeah, because they attacked and they, in their lives, they're so used to using lots of strength, so their attack would be very hard and in Aikido, the harder you attack, the easier it is to throw.

 

Mike: Now, what interests you, or what do you like the most about Aikido?

 

Mark: Well, I guess at first, like any martial art, I just like the idea of I can defend myself if someone attacks me, but later, I just really enjoyed the exercise of it, and you learn some really cool techniques that, how to take someone off balance or to throw them and it's really easy after you study it for awhile.

 

Mike: Interesting. Thanks.

 

重点词汇：

 

Learn Vocabulary from the lesson

fall in love

 

I immediately fell in love with it.

 

When we begin to feel love toward⁵ someone or something, we 'fall in love'.  It can happen fast or slow.  Notice the following:

 

I fell in love with my computer as soon as I got it.

I did not fall in love with my new Android phone, but now I can't live without it.

work out

 

Aikido works out great because I am not a big guy.

 

When a new, sometimes unexpected⁶ event occurs⁷ and the result is positive, we say it worked out. Notice the following:

 

This new schedule is just not working out for me.

My wife just lost her job which works out great because she can stay home with the kids.

The harder you attack, the easier it is to throw.

 

In Aikido, the harder you attack, the easier it is to throw.

 

The harder we do something the more effort we make which inreases our chance for success.  Notice the following:

 

The harder you work, the more successful you'll be.

The harder you study, the easier it is to learn.

defend oneself

 

I can defend myself if someone attacks me.

 

When we defend ourselves that means⁸ we stop someone or something from causing us a problem.  Notice the following:

 

My dad taught me boxing so I could defend myself.

He had to defend himself at the meeting for his poor performance.

off balance

 

I can take someone off balance or throw them.

 

Someone who is off balance can easily fall or be knocked down.  Notice the following:

 

The train suddenly moved and pushed me off balance.

The object of sumo wrestling⁹ it to get the opponent¹⁰ off balance and push them out of the ring.

1 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

2 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

3 martial   

adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的

参考例句：

• The sound of martial music is always inspiring.军乐声总是鼓舞人心的。
• The officer was convicted of desertion at a court martial.这名军官在军事法庭上被判犯了擅离职守罪。

4 definitely   

adv.一定地，肯定地；明确地，确切地

参考例句：

• The team will definitely lose if he doesn't play.如果他不参加比赛，这个队肯定会输。
• I shall definitely be home before six o'clock.6点以前，我一定回家。

5 toward   

prep.对于，关于，接近，将近，向，朝

参考例句：

• Suddenly I saw a tall figure approaching toward the policeman.突然间我看到一个高大的身影朝警察靠近。
• Upon seeing her,I smiled and ran toward her. 看到她我笑了，并跑了过去。

6 unexpected   

adj.想不到的，意外的

参考例句：

• I always keep some good wine in for unexpected guests.我总保存些好酒，用来招待不速之客。
• His promotion was unexpected.他的升迁出人意料。

7 occurs   

v.发生( occur的第三人称单数 )；被想起；被发现；（尤指基督教节日与别的节日）适逢同日

参考例句：

• It occurs to me that example is always more efficacious than precept. 我想到身教重于言教。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• When trouble occurs at one spot, help comes from all quarters. 一方有难，八方支援。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

8 means   

n.方法，手段，折中点，物质财富

参考例句：

• That man used artful means to find out secrets.那人使用狡猾的手段获取机密。
• We must get it done by some means or other.我们总得想办法把它干完。

9 wrestling   

n.摔跤；摔角

参考例句：

• There is a wrestling match tonight.今晚有摔交比赛。
• He defaulted in the wrestling tournament.他在摔跤比赛中弃权了。

10 opponent   

n.对手，敌手，反对者；adj.敌对的，反对的

参考例句：

• The boxer gave his opponent a punch on the nose.这个拳击手朝他对手的鼻子上猛击一拳。
• After a fierce struggle,he got a beat on his opponent.经过殊死的较量，他占了对手的上风。