Several times a week I walk past the haberdashery shop where I bought the bits and pieces needed to make the wedding cake and I am reminded of the conversation I had with one of the women working there at the time. Rather than introduce the unfamiliar word "aikido" into the conversation, I'd previously said I was making little "judo" figures.
But when I needed the material for the hakama (the black pleated skirts) it clearly wasn't that straightforward, and I was asked again what martial art it was for. Reluctantly, because I generally avoid conversations about the martial arts with martially uninformed (that is, normal) people, I said "aikido."
"Is that the one with the sticks?" the lady asked.
"Well . . . no, you're probably thinking of kendo," I replied, because on the balance of probabilities (and previous experience) that would be the case.
"No, I'm sure it's aikido," she said. "They always bring their sticks, but they never use them. They just stroke each other."
Yep, that sounds like aikido. 😉