You Budo yes, you Budo no, you Budo maybe...you get the squish, just like grape.
This is a modified quote from the Karate Kid.
When I see martial arts that are just not to my liking (through a lot of therapy and shock treatment I have learned not to say "those martial arts that suck") I have conditioned my brain to reflect on something that Niina Gosoke said once:
As long as they are having fun...but it's not Budo...
At the time he was watching a video and the participants were clearly enjoying what they do. He said nothing negative. He smiled and said it looks like fun!
But, it was not Budo.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Musashi
In reading "Musashi: His Life and Writings", I've learned something interesting about the training methodology of our completely unrelated Motobu Udundi.
In the book, there are excerpts of a Kendo Sensei's writings on how he relates the study of Musashi's "single cadence strike" to kendo. The author then does his best to translate some of the esoteric material into English.
Regardless, the talk of the relationship between your right and left sides, how the cadence is different with only a single hand weapon in your right hand, how that translates into having a two handed weapon, how the diagonal tension between the upper and lower body relates to cadence, maai, and speed/ timing, and the tanden/ koshi is all quite eerie when considering the esoteric training practices of Motobu Udundi. This will require some time and thought. I love finding something new to dive into.
In the book, there are excerpts of a Kendo Sensei's writings on how he relates the study of Musashi's "single cadence strike" to kendo. The author then does his best to translate some of the esoteric material into English.
Regardless, the talk of the relationship between your right and left sides, how the cadence is different with only a single hand weapon in your right hand, how that translates into having a two handed weapon, how the diagonal tension between the upper and lower body relates to cadence, maai, and speed/ timing, and the tanden/ koshi is all quite eerie when considering the esoteric training practices of Motobu Udundi. This will require some time and thought. I love finding something new to dive into.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
The Black Belt
Shodan, what is commonly referred to as black belt, 1st degree, does not mean first degree black belt. Black belt would be "Kuro Obi".
Shodan literally means 1st level. It implies that a student is officially at the first level, one is NOW ready to learn.
Too many young people receive their black belts and think they know enough to comment on martial arts. They think that the black belt is a huge accomplishment. It is only the beginning. These people need to just keep their mouths shut and train. As a shodan, you're not even shown anything of substance let alone have any authority to offer an opinion on anything.
Shodan literally means 1st level. It implies that a student is officially at the first level, one is NOW ready to learn.
Too many young people receive their black belts and think they know enough to comment on martial arts. They think that the black belt is a huge accomplishment. It is only the beginning. These people need to just keep their mouths shut and train. As a shodan, you're not even shown anything of substance let alone have any authority to offer an opinion on anything.
Supatsu Ryu
Supatsu is how you say "sports" in Japanese.
Sport Karate has now become traditional karate, and I f-in hate it.
The concept of "seitei kata" and tournament kumite and the intense focus people have on it nowadays is completely destroying karate. The hours spent mastering a seitei kata...a kata that is simplified and standardized simply so the judges have an easier job, could be spent actually practicing karate.
When asked for his endorsement for Karate into the Olympic Games, Morio Higanonna, Hanshi, 10th Dan, Okinawa Goju Ryu, refused.
The JKA dictated to the Okinawan karate federations what the rules for competition would be... It was argued that the JKA can dictate the rules for Kumite, as they invented that, but the standards for kata competition should be dictated by the Okinawans. The JKA over-ruled them.
When trying to determine the best way to apply kumite to karate, masters like Motobu, Mabuni, Haneshiro, Miyagi all determined that it couldn't be done. Just as the dangerous techniques were taken out of Jujutsu to make Judo and the sharp swords were taken out of Kenjutsu to make Kendo, the principles of Karate would have to be changed in order to allow competition. Many masters felt that this was not acceptible. They saw the trend of watering down everything down to make it aesthetically pleasing and competition friendly occuring in other arts. Taking the roots out of karate for the sake of competition could not be allowed for the sake of protecting the heritage of the art. But, again, the majority rules and we are where we are today.
As a side note, Kumite was taken out of the Okinawa World Tournament... why would they do that? Because sport kumite is not karate.
Competition is good. But it has to reflect the true heritage of the art.
Sport Karate has now become traditional karate, and I f-in hate it.
The concept of "seitei kata" and tournament kumite and the intense focus people have on it nowadays is completely destroying karate. The hours spent mastering a seitei kata...a kata that is simplified and standardized simply so the judges have an easier job, could be spent actually practicing karate.
When asked for his endorsement for Karate into the Olympic Games, Morio Higanonna, Hanshi, 10th Dan, Okinawa Goju Ryu, refused.
The JKA dictated to the Okinawan karate federations what the rules for competition would be... It was argued that the JKA can dictate the rules for Kumite, as they invented that, but the standards for kata competition should be dictated by the Okinawans. The JKA over-ruled them.
When trying to determine the best way to apply kumite to karate, masters like Motobu, Mabuni, Haneshiro, Miyagi all determined that it couldn't be done. Just as the dangerous techniques were taken out of Jujutsu to make Judo and the sharp swords were taken out of Kenjutsu to make Kendo, the principles of Karate would have to be changed in order to allow competition. Many masters felt that this was not acceptible. They saw the trend of watering down everything down to make it aesthetically pleasing and competition friendly occuring in other arts. Taking the roots out of karate for the sake of competition could not be allowed for the sake of protecting the heritage of the art. But, again, the majority rules and we are where we are today.
As a side note, Kumite was taken out of the Okinawa World Tournament... why would they do that? Because sport kumite is not karate.
Competition is good. But it has to reflect the true heritage of the art.
Feel 101
I get messages all day long about how to do stuff, usually related to Iaido. Unfortunately, they are questions about the "feel" of something.
I've said this repeatedly over the years. Westerners (me included...but not as often anymore...) need to know how to do a technique, every detail, before it is even attempted. If I have said it once I've said it a hundred times. Don't try to understand it. Just do it. Thousands of times. The practice combined with a little detailing by the instructor will produce a great technique.
For example, "I can't make my noto look like yours..."
20 years, hundreds of times per day... call me when you're done.
Seriously, I can't tell you how to feel something. There is a great story by Hakko Ryu Jujutsu Soke Ryuho Okuyama that rings true:
"You must tune three strings when you practice the shamisen. Most beginners cannot, so for their beginning stage, they ask their teacher to tune it for them instead of doing it themselves. But gradually, bit by bit, because they practice everyday, their feeling for the sound becomes sharper and sharper. Usually within a year or so, they have a trained ear for the sound and can tune it by themselves. So until then, teachers won't say anything very useful to their students. Teachers know there are no words to express how to feel the sound."
Amen
I've said this repeatedly over the years. Westerners (me included...but not as often anymore...) need to know how to do a technique, every detail, before it is even attempted. If I have said it once I've said it a hundred times. Don't try to understand it. Just do it. Thousands of times. The practice combined with a little detailing by the instructor will produce a great technique.
For example, "I can't make my noto look like yours..."
20 years, hundreds of times per day... call me when you're done.
Seriously, I can't tell you how to feel something. There is a great story by Hakko Ryu Jujutsu Soke Ryuho Okuyama that rings true:
"You must tune three strings when you practice the shamisen. Most beginners cannot, so for their beginning stage, they ask their teacher to tune it for them instead of doing it themselves. But gradually, bit by bit, because they practice everyday, their feeling for the sound becomes sharper and sharper. Usually within a year or so, they have a trained ear for the sound and can tune it by themselves. So until then, teachers won't say anything very useful to their students. Teachers know there are no words to express how to feel the sound."
Amen
Friday, December 18, 2009
Now Sensei...
It is not written anywhere that Sensei need to be nice. In fact, good students are those who do not feel bad when they receive a response for their shoddy work that is other than "positive reinforcement".
But, Sensei does need to be considerate to his students. He does need to be positive and reinforce good actions.
But, how is the student going to realize the seriousness of REALLY trying to get better or efficiently learn something without wasting everyone's time. "lighting a fire under your butt" sometimes accelerates the learning curve when it is apparent that the student is just being lazy. Constant positive reinforcement of laziness is going yield in more laziness.
A little sarcasm and a little pushiness and other wise slightly negative reinforcement lets the student know that there is a degree of seriousness required of him. The seriousness does not necessarily need to be emphasized in order to demand more respect for the teacher...which is often the case. The teacher brings the seriousness to the table to let the student know that it is their responsibility to BE SERIOUS... without the teacher always HAVING to push them. This is the beginning of self-discipline, self-respect, and integrity.
But, Sensei does need to be considerate to his students. He does need to be positive and reinforce good actions.
But, how is the student going to realize the seriousness of REALLY trying to get better or efficiently learn something without wasting everyone's time. "lighting a fire under your butt" sometimes accelerates the learning curve when it is apparent that the student is just being lazy. Constant positive reinforcement of laziness is going yield in more laziness.
A little sarcasm and a little pushiness and other wise slightly negative reinforcement lets the student know that there is a degree of seriousness required of him. The seriousness does not necessarily need to be emphasized in order to demand more respect for the teacher...which is often the case. The teacher brings the seriousness to the table to let the student know that it is their responsibility to BE SERIOUS... without the teacher always HAVING to push them. This is the beginning of self-discipline, self-respect, and integrity.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Omote Kage
In formal Japanese martial arts, the concept of demonstrating the application of a technique for the general public and general student population is called Omote. In karate, as it is Okinawan and not Japanese, the concept exists but it is simply called bunkai. Bunkai has different levels of understanding as the student advances such as "honto".
In Japanese Budo, what is hiding in the shadows of the basic techniques is called Kage or Ura. These techniques are only taught behind closed doors and a student must be at a certainl level of trust with the Sensei.
In Karate this concept is often referred to as Oyo, or as one of my Sensei also calls it Tichiki (literally "what the hand is doing", hogen, implying "what the 'hand' is really doing").
It is amazing that to this day, I can demonstrate this concept in the several koryu Japanese Budo I participate in and am met with high enthusiasm, yet, when I demonstrate the same concept in Karate, I am met with scepticism and a sort of "well, that's his interpretation of it."
While there is a certain degree of my interpretation laced in everything I do, I am doing so with an innate desire to keep things in context. I am not going to attend an FBI defensive tactics clinic and then try to reverse engineer the techniques into a kata. The techniques contained in kata must first be trained and understood within the context that they were created. With the principles in place, one can then adjust them to their needs, but it is important to maintain the tradition and the principles of an art.
The following video was forwarded to me and is a prime example of this concept and perfectly executed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M71Iev8Ix8c
A student asked me, "Is he following your methodology, Sensei?" I had to humbly reply that Teruo Chinen Shihan is not following my methodology... he was taught this methodology before I was born...funny
The concept of ShuHaRi is often ignored by my western brethren. They take to applying their own interpretation of the kata within their own perspective without learning even the most basic historical perspective. Compound this with the cycle repeating itself over several generations and what you get is the great majority of karate teachers in the world really missing the boat. The new minority, those keeping the tradition and those adhering to the concept of ShuHaRi, and nay doing it correctly (I know...baffling) are further sent into the minority because our view is no longer the correct view...it is the minority view, afterall, as history demonstrates, the correct view is the majority view.
To complicate things, our desire to continue to adhere to this tradition forces us to remain silent and let the idiots of the world propogate their own ego-driven perception of the martial arts. In the rare event we decide to interject into the silliness, we are looked on as the crazy minority view trying desparately to hold on to an archaic approach to self defense. Our inability to "change with the times" is actually a negative attribute of traditional martial arts today.
For those who don't know, Shu means to adhere, to follow the instruction and direction of your Sensei unconditionally. Ha means to break down or break away. With the teachings internalized, one begins to find their own way with the principles of the art as his foundation. The problem with most is that there is a misunderstanding of the timeline involved with the Shu and Ha stage. One is given permission to officially be on their own with the issuance of a menkyo, such as Shihan or some other official teacher certification. In a world where 16 year old 1st degree black belts are referred to as "Sensei", it is easy to see the confusion. Menkyo are typically issued at what amounts to 6th Dan, or approximately 20 years of experience. Bingo. Simply put, the methodology of transmitting the true martial arts philosophies involve staying with your teacher and the art/ style for no less than 20 years. The innermost teachings are not going to be taught before the Ha stage. Now, how many people do you know who have broken away from their teacher, usually due to ego, and go out on their own while still in the Shu stage? How many generations has this gone on? How many martial artists in the world think Karate is crap because they are seeing the "majority view" and not the minority view? This cycle is destroying karate's traditions.
Ri means to separate from. This is where most who are still in the uneducated Shu phase think they are. To put it in context, Ri is usually accompanied by a Hanshi, Kaiden, or if you want to go Dan level, about 8th Dan. And what I mean is 8th Dan achieved adhering to the ShuHaRi philosophy from an instructor who is transmitting the information of their style within this methodology.
Omote means front. Kage means back. For the student, this is a constant and poetic reminder that there is always something else to learn about a particular form. It is in the nature of Japanese and Okinawan Budo to always hold back the true meaning of something. The highest levels of understanding are always going to be reserved for the most dedicated members. The problem with most is that the ego convinces that perhaps our teacher or our teacher's teacher considered us to be the exception to the rule. Or, we, with our profound level of understanding and expertise, can figure out the true meaning on our own.
-I am not the exception. I am a novice. I know nothing. My abilities can not be forged on my own. I WILL NOT know the truth unless my teacher shows it to me. I am one within a population of a million other practitioners who lets my ego prevent me from learning correctly. The battle within myself is to stop trying to understand and to simply do, to stop thinking "I get it" and to start thinking "I'll do what I'm told". There are those far more experienced thanI am and infinitely more knowledgable... who still do not know it all. I am not special. -
Regardless of our experience and understanding of Budo, if we can all recite or just think to ourselves the above phrase, we might then be able to appreciate the value of tradition.
In Japanese Budo, what is hiding in the shadows of the basic techniques is called Kage or Ura. These techniques are only taught behind closed doors and a student must be at a certainl level of trust with the Sensei.
In Karate this concept is often referred to as Oyo, or as one of my Sensei also calls it Tichiki (literally "what the hand is doing", hogen, implying "what the 'hand' is really doing").
It is amazing that to this day, I can demonstrate this concept in the several koryu Japanese Budo I participate in and am met with high enthusiasm, yet, when I demonstrate the same concept in Karate, I am met with scepticism and a sort of "well, that's his interpretation of it."
While there is a certain degree of my interpretation laced in everything I do, I am doing so with an innate desire to keep things in context. I am not going to attend an FBI defensive tactics clinic and then try to reverse engineer the techniques into a kata. The techniques contained in kata must first be trained and understood within the context that they were created. With the principles in place, one can then adjust them to their needs, but it is important to maintain the tradition and the principles of an art.
The following video was forwarded to me and is a prime example of this concept and perfectly executed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M71Iev8Ix8c
A student asked me, "Is he following your methodology, Sensei?" I had to humbly reply that Teruo Chinen Shihan is not following my methodology... he was taught this methodology before I was born...funny
The concept of ShuHaRi is often ignored by my western brethren. They take to applying their own interpretation of the kata within their own perspective without learning even the most basic historical perspective. Compound this with the cycle repeating itself over several generations and what you get is the great majority of karate teachers in the world really missing the boat. The new minority, those keeping the tradition and those adhering to the concept of ShuHaRi, and nay doing it correctly (I know...baffling) are further sent into the minority because our view is no longer the correct view...it is the minority view, afterall, as history demonstrates, the correct view is the majority view.
To complicate things, our desire to continue to adhere to this tradition forces us to remain silent and let the idiots of the world propogate their own ego-driven perception of the martial arts. In the rare event we decide to interject into the silliness, we are looked on as the crazy minority view trying desparately to hold on to an archaic approach to self defense. Our inability to "change with the times" is actually a negative attribute of traditional martial arts today.
For those who don't know, Shu means to adhere, to follow the instruction and direction of your Sensei unconditionally. Ha means to break down or break away. With the teachings internalized, one begins to find their own way with the principles of the art as his foundation. The problem with most is that there is a misunderstanding of the timeline involved with the Shu and Ha stage. One is given permission to officially be on their own with the issuance of a menkyo, such as Shihan or some other official teacher certification. In a world where 16 year old 1st degree black belts are referred to as "Sensei", it is easy to see the confusion. Menkyo are typically issued at what amounts to 6th Dan, or approximately 20 years of experience. Bingo. Simply put, the methodology of transmitting the true martial arts philosophies involve staying with your teacher and the art/ style for no less than 20 years. The innermost teachings are not going to be taught before the Ha stage. Now, how many people do you know who have broken away from their teacher, usually due to ego, and go out on their own while still in the Shu stage? How many generations has this gone on? How many martial artists in the world think Karate is crap because they are seeing the "majority view" and not the minority view? This cycle is destroying karate's traditions.
Ri means to separate from. This is where most who are still in the uneducated Shu phase think they are. To put it in context, Ri is usually accompanied by a Hanshi, Kaiden, or if you want to go Dan level, about 8th Dan. And what I mean is 8th Dan achieved adhering to the ShuHaRi philosophy from an instructor who is transmitting the information of their style within this methodology.
Omote means front. Kage means back. For the student, this is a constant and poetic reminder that there is always something else to learn about a particular form. It is in the nature of Japanese and Okinawan Budo to always hold back the true meaning of something. The highest levels of understanding are always going to be reserved for the most dedicated members. The problem with most is that the ego convinces that perhaps our teacher or our teacher's teacher considered us to be the exception to the rule. Or, we, with our profound level of understanding and expertise, can figure out the true meaning on our own.
-I am not the exception. I am a novice. I know nothing. My abilities can not be forged on my own. I WILL NOT know the truth unless my teacher shows it to me. I am one within a population of a million other practitioners who lets my ego prevent me from learning correctly. The battle within myself is to stop trying to understand and to simply do, to stop thinking "I get it" and to start thinking "I'll do what I'm told". There are those far more experienced thanI am and infinitely more knowledgable... who still do not know it all. I am not special. -
Regardless of our experience and understanding of Budo, if we can all recite or just think to ourselves the above phrase, we might then be able to appreciate the value of tradition.
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