The paradigm shifted a long time ago... Those who achieve the highest of heights are those that tend to step outside the box, outside their comfort zone, risk criticism, risk ridicule, being the outcast for asking the tough questions and really looking at what they were doing.
You know what they found? Most of it was a joke. A huge joke. It is when we stop taking things so seriously or personally that we can actually get the work done and start enjoying what we are doing a bit more.
A quote I just heard on a show my children watch went something like this...
'How are we going to get out of this one alive?' One character asked another as they are being chased by a giant Dragon, chained and mistreated, the other character was laughing the whole time and responded, 'When you realize that we don't, then you can start having more fun!'
A pretty deep quote for a kids show, I laughed my ass off for a while over that one because the character was funny, but also because it made sense to me.
The point, here, is this... We spend all of our time worrying about who to please, what to do to get that next promotion, keeping our job so we can pay the bills, maintaining self images even in our home lives, doing what is expected... Saying and thinking what is expected... Expected of us by our bosses, our peer groups, our political affiliations, even our Martial Arts Organizations (or other hobbies).
Recognition or a place in the hierarchy is held over our heads to keep us in check, keep us on the path that has been determined for us... At the end of the day it is not something of our choosing, our words, our actions, our very thoughts and feelings tend not to be our own.
What do we do this for? A bit more money? A little time at the top before we die? A plaque or piece of paper with a title that is only good for as long as there are still people alive who remember you when you're gone? Yes. You can't escape death, so all the people pleasing in the world might get you a comfortable tomb at the end of the road, but what good is comfort to those too cold and brain dead to enjoy it? Then you die.
The previous post was regarding Methodologies... I do not propose anything new. What I propose is a return to the Classical way of doing things, the real way.
Cast off the shackles that tell you what you should do and do what you MUST do! Get into it. Make it your own, take back that passion, put your heart into it, go deep, get uncomfortable, come out the other side so much better, stronger, and wiser... Others will follow suit, many will not. Those that don't WILL put you down in so many vicious ways; and THAT is how you KNOW you're on the RIGHT TRACK.
In the beginning keep it on basics, if you are teaching, because you want to instill a solid foundation in your students.
What constitutes basics, though? That is not quite an easy question because you have to ask if it means walking up and down the floow endlessly, memorizing stances, specific ways to step, specific ways to turn.
Ultimately each of these has principles they are meant to impart, the mechanics are there, but the way they are trained does not illuminate what is actually going on, nor proper use of those mechanics, nor even explain the mechanics whatsoever.
It is often an endless line of 'just do this because this is how we do it.' That is a feature of Organizations, of group think, which is something outlined above... People pleasing. WHY are we doing these things? What PURPOSE do they serve? At what point do we drop these and start looking at flows rather than specific points along the line of the flow?
There is no such things as a stance or a technique anywhere in Karate, this is all beginner stuff, like training wheels on a bike, to be used in order to help the learner on their way, then tossed aside in favor of just riding... Although beyond this point it goes without saying the learning does not cease, but you get the point.
Karate is a modern art, having taken root in Okinawa as a combination of their indigenous fighting arts and Chinese Quan Fa (Kung Fu).
As a modern art it has barely even gained traction on its' own two feet, at least in its' modern form, and can barely lay claim to what came before it.
The stories we hear about the effective technical prowess of the old Masters, these were not referring to Masters of Karate... No... THOSE 'Masters' came after the fact, during the period when Okinawa was trying to seem more Japanese.
As previously stated, the forms, or Kata, are to be understood according to certain principles known as Kaisai, yes, but they are further understood in the context of Chinese Calligraphy. As a flow, not as specific lines. The WHOLE is greater than the some of the artificially created parts... Parts that were created to fit specifically within a certain mindset that breaks things down and labels them.
Takuan Soho said that the Mind should not 'stop at specific points,' it should not stop anywhere. The mind that is ever moving is the mind that is immovable, it cannot be trapped, it is unbeatable.
The mind that fixes on the cutting sword of the opponent has been defeated by the cutting sword, but the mind that ceases on nothing has defeated the opponent with their own sword.
Here you have a Japanese Monk pointing out the exact same thing in the prevalence of mindsets in his day and illustrating how a few great swordsmen remained unbeatable for so long, one that I know of even undefeated for his entire life until death finally took him from old age.
These were a rare breed, but this is exactly the same type of thing within Okinawan Arts that made their Masters so great, something that has been lost in Modern Karate, something that seems to have never truly carried over, save for a few individuals, and even then, they likely were training something far older.
The goal is to stop at points and study, then to forget points altogether, but when do we do this? Again, that is something to think about as a Teacher.
Do you want to instill some effective skill from the start? Or do you want your students to take the long road? It certainly IS possible... The way is in how things are done.
Start with instilling principles first, and NOT in endless line drills either. Work some partner drills, maybe do what the old ones used to do and start with some posture training in order to set up a good power transfer system through the body.
Study what muscles are naturally activated in each instance and what muscles are more relaxed. Where each instance seems to be flowing; forward? Backward? Up? Down? Sideways? Twisting? Twisting and Rising? Twisting and Sinking?
Chudan Uke is a prime example for this. There is a HUGE difference between Open Hand with palm facing away and Closed Fist with palm facing towards you. First, one utilizes a different part of the forearm than the other, one is more of a backward/sideways flow, the other is more of a forward/sideways flow.
Different muscles groups are activated in one as opposed to the other... All of this comes together to show that they are two entirely different sets of mechanical principles that imply two entirely different things, even though they look the same.
This is exactly what breaking things down to specific points is for, study, then forgetting.
An entire class COULD be focused on this, taking various portions of Kata and looking at them from this type of perspective in an effort to understand what is going on... I have done so myself and continue to do so (because I enjoy it).
Every class based on this, however, is a waste of time... One needs to be able to break away from this and start thinking about strategic flows and how to apply what they have learned. Even when breaking things down in a class focused on understanding these things it is going to be more useful to do so from a partner work and drill standpoint than it is from a specifically solo based Kata-centric approach.
Working conditioning is another way to spend some class time, some Daruma Taiso, some Hojo Undo (done properly), and some Makiwara work.
Incorporate some more modern things like heavy bags, make this stuff, along with partner work, a mainstay of the time in the Dojo. Punching air and listening to someone talk does NOT yield skill. Giving a lecture is fine every once in a while in order to get specific points across, but should be avoided for the majority of the time because this type of work is physical work, it needs to be felt and experienced... You can't talk an assailant to death... Well, maybe you can, but chances are very low that THEY will die before YOU.
Okinawan Arts were originally void of Kata. Kata are NOT to be viewed as the be all, end all, or even the primary source of anything.
THEY ARE A TEACHING TOOL LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE! Kata should be taught a bit at a time, it should be shown to a student how they can break things down and focus on specific principles utilizing movements from Kata for solo training outside the Dojo, in between classes, at the ending of class, and before class starts.
This will actually be done in the process of teaching Kata bit by bit, but later a Student should be shown how to string things together in different patterns and NOT conform ONLY to the basic pattern which they have been given to start with.
Principles of Kaisai should be given during every session and reinforced with every session, these are the primary principles from which we draw. Not necessarily Kata.
It is said, also, that each Kata is a complete fighting system unto itself, while others state that each Kata teach different strategies unique to that specific Kata.
Then there is the body type theory. I find all of this to be complete non-sense. No fighting system is complete unto itself, there is always something missing that can benefit from more training in another area unrelated to the first.
That being said, I also do not believe that each Kata teaches different strategies... They might teach different tactics, but the strategy remains the same. Most don't even teach different tactics, however, most are the same tactics repeated in different ways, sometimes even the same ways.
Each Kata contains the other, there are NO advanced Kata and NO secrets under the sun that one Kata is lacking which another might possess. These, again, are not the be all, end all, they are merely training devices.
That being said, one really does ONLY NEED ONE OR TWO because it is pointless, absolutely pointless to know twenty or thirty different Kata, unless that is something one enjoys doing, collecting Kata, or collecting Kata in order to collect Rank Certificates rather than actual skill... More people pleasing and ego stroking.
Finally, break away from the 'sparring' mindset. Point Sparring is a sport. So is fighting in a cage, albeit the cage has a lot more risk and realism than point sparring... Karate has done well in the cage by the way...
The idea is that this is NOT a sport, it is NOT about mutual combat. Utilize some drills that do work timing, distancing, fighting at various ranges, yes, but also work in some blitzkrieg stuff, where a person takes the initiative and trains to KEEP it in order to end the confrontation with a goal of getting the hell out of there.
Work in some situational stuff, some scenario training that might take you outside the Dojo for something that feels a bit more real world with varying terrain and environments. Work in utilizing the environment itself as a make-shift weapon to get the job done.
Work in some mindset training, switching from no-go to go, some focus drills, etc., along with situations where a student might start at a disadvantage... Like getting sucker punched from behind. Work on how to recover and TAKE the initiative, if possible.
Build the spirit from the start, the indomitable will. This is NOT a sport and it is NOT fighting. Fighting is a mutual thing between two people that ends up messy.
Break out of that shell, throw off those chains. It is NOT about loyalty to one specific Organization over another in an effort to preserve an Art (considering the Art has been changed, subtracted from, added to, over and over again in such a short period of time with no real explanation as to why), it is about passing on something valuable that might help others, and yourselves, when things go wrong.
It is also about enjoying what you do, which is not something that can be done if one is cow-towing and vying for a place in some imaginary hierarchy.
In the end, once those chains are broken and one becomes free they are ultimately in a better position to TRULY honor their Teachers and those who came before by actually breathing life back into what they are doing.
Ultimately another side effect is that one stops taking themselves so seriously and really starts to enjoy... That is when the real insights happen, then it is up to you, as a Teacher, to figure out how to impart that stuff, which is all sorts of fun unto itself.
Thursday, February 27, 2020
Breaking Labels.
In this day and age there is a disconnect between what we THINK and what actually IS, which leads us to a place where we think we know, but really don't know what we don't know.
Somewhere, lost in translation, is the key to the whole thing, or so we think, if only we would just keep at it, keep our noses to the grindstone.
Certainly there are benefits to this, but training for years and years should not yield benefits somewhere down the road... Things should be applicable in the here and now, not just in the Philosophical sense, but in every sense.
There are people who know this, too, people who have spent countless hours figuring things out and countless more bringing this stuff to public awareness.
The idea that 'something is missing' has led many to explore various options outside the box, drawing some very interesting conclusions, although not quite conclusions as these people are still working at it, as they should be, as everyone should be, to improve upon improvement... There is no end, there is no such thing as perfection or even a 'one size fits all' sort of answer to the question.
Some speak disparagingly of Karate as an art, stating that its' origins are less than we are being told while others speak highly of the art, claiming it DOES have all the answers insofar as practical street application is concerned.
Neither of these is the case, in my view, as the truth always lay somewhere in the middle, often proving to be a bit stranger than fiction in some areas, not so much in others. Again, there is that in between thing.
Some have gone to other arts to 'find' what was missing; in my view this is just guesswork and patching things one does not fully understand, although not always and at the same time it does yield some very interesting things while, at the same time, producing some very skilled Martial Artists that could likely mop the floor with most would-be assailants.
Is there REALLY something missing, or is it just a matter of properly framing our point of reference so that we can actually SEE what is already there?
Not for one minute do I buy into the notion that some group out there is hoarding all the answers, it never works out too well when a group makes such claims and, honestly, the people that buy into this sort of thing really should take another look at Jonestown, or Aum Shinrikyo, they are heading down the same path if they fail to practice any sort of discernment or critical thinking.
There is NOTHING WRONG with cross training and improving upon one's art, adding understanding and adding to the arsenal at one's disposal.
No one Art has all the answers, and no one group has the one true way. Everyone is different, mentally, physically, and emotionally. Yes, we all have two arms, two legs, a head, a neck, a torso, etc., but it should ALL be personalized, in point of fact, it used to be, and many of the arts that are presently being applied in places like 'The Octagon' and 'The Street' ARE personalized.
Going back to what I had stated about mechanics and principles being the only thing upon which we should base any sort of standard, this is already being played out in Judo, Jujitsu, Modern Combatives, and Boxing.
These things do certainly have a standard upon which they are based... That standard, the only standard, is what works.
We, as Karateka, get hung up on trivial stuff, much to our own detriment. Our methodology of training has taken a hit because of this focus.
Things have been 'lost,' yes, but that does not mean they are not there to be rediscovered. Certainly this might require looking at other arts, or at least thinking in a principles and mechanics mindset, these things can be uncovered and seen for what they are... So long as we know how to look for them and are not just practicing from a place of 'guesswork' and 'patching things up.'
Faster, stronger, harder, that is the mantra of patchwork. If we are trying to force something to work by going faster, stronger, and harder, what happens if we are four foot five? Faster, stronger, harder does not necessarily work then, unless we really ARE expecting to face someone approximately the same height and weight as ourselves?
No. If moving from a standpoint of proper principles and mechanics, whatever it is should work by way of good mechanical principles without the need to add anything to it or take anything away from it... Especially strength, speed, and power. All of that will be present without much effort if we are doing things correctly.
Our methodology needs to change, this change begins with how we frame things, especially as Teachers, we have to know where to begin, how to explain, how to demonstrate properly from a place of personal understanding.
This means it cannot be handed to us as a homogenized 'one size fits all' training curriculum where everyone is trained in exactly the same way with the exact same expectations as everyone else.
This means getting rid of the 'Cookie-Cutter Karate' where we answer one thing with something specific and expect that to work for everyone... 'Here ya go, if your opponent does X, then you need to the Y,' that simply is not how life works, especially in the chaos of violence.
There is no 'Bunkai,' Bunkai only means 'analysis' and once we start getting this through our heads we can really begin our training... Drills are drills, they are meant to teach things, they are not meant to be the 'be all, end all.'
If I tell you something is a 'Block' then that is stuck in your head. Most often people do not look much beyond the explanations they are given, whether it is due to their programmed notions regarding 'people of seeming authority' or just pure laziness I have no clue, but seldom do we look beyond this.
Specific techniques do not exist outside of being singled out as teaching tools, just as various drills are not meant to be actual applications, they are teaching tools, most times this is not illustrated to any real degree by the Teacher, so the fault necessarily lay with them.
In the beginning we learn in what I think of as a 'lego' fashion, or at least that is Traditionally how it goes for Karate... This is extremely flawed. All training is flawed to a degree for safety purposes, but Karate takes it to a whole new level and people live in a delusion that this is the way it actually is. It isn't.
After a while of training we SHOULD be moving on to something a bit more akin to cursive... With its' continuous motions blending together in an artful creation, but we don't, not in the present methodology, even in schools that seek to escape how things were done previously... Not all of them, but some of them.
To be honest, we should start with cursive, we should start from a stance that allows for free-form creation straight away... Readily applicable... Not something that takes years and an athletic physique to apply effectively... THAT is NOT how Karate was originally and THAT is NOT how Karate should be now.
Sport sparring is NOT self defense, Karate is NOT about fighting... It was designed to end confrontations, not fight an opponent in mutual combat.
The ball was dropped earlier on... Those 'Masters' we revere, those pictures hanging on the Shomen to which we bow in respect... THEY dropped the ball. THEY passed it on to you and I.
They certainly do deserve respect, but they were not perfect, they were certainly not saints, otherwise they would not have been schooled in violence, and many of them were kids, or at least very young when they 'founded' their arts, so save the reverence.
As far as an art containing everything? I hear it all the time, 'Oh yeah, we do that,' and 'that has always been there.'
No. No it hasn't. Very few people were thinking about ground work before the Gracies came along and literally started mopping the floor with everyone because they had never experienced anything like that before.
Some went back and made excuses, others sought to supplement their training by actually seeking the Gracies out and learning what they found themselves to be lacking... THEN they started to look in other areas that could be lacking and sought to fix those as well.
True respect is in building upon foundations... THAT is Tradition... Our methodology needs to change and it will not change is we find ourselves clinging to things that have no use or value beyond simply collecting dust. It does nothing for us and it is NOT a form of respect to those who passed it down to us.
Even having dropped said ball, they were attempting to improve upon what they knew, they were attempting to make it relevant, they were attempting to make it something that could help people improve themselves.
This is ALL good stuff, but NOT when it is to the detriment of the actual spirit underlying the thing in question... Be like them to a point, but don't, for a minute, allow the spirit to be stifled.
Somewhere, lost in translation, is the key to the whole thing, or so we think, if only we would just keep at it, keep our noses to the grindstone.
Certainly there are benefits to this, but training for years and years should not yield benefits somewhere down the road... Things should be applicable in the here and now, not just in the Philosophical sense, but in every sense.
There are people who know this, too, people who have spent countless hours figuring things out and countless more bringing this stuff to public awareness.
The idea that 'something is missing' has led many to explore various options outside the box, drawing some very interesting conclusions, although not quite conclusions as these people are still working at it, as they should be, as everyone should be, to improve upon improvement... There is no end, there is no such thing as perfection or even a 'one size fits all' sort of answer to the question.
Some speak disparagingly of Karate as an art, stating that its' origins are less than we are being told while others speak highly of the art, claiming it DOES have all the answers insofar as practical street application is concerned.
Neither of these is the case, in my view, as the truth always lay somewhere in the middle, often proving to be a bit stranger than fiction in some areas, not so much in others. Again, there is that in between thing.
Some have gone to other arts to 'find' what was missing; in my view this is just guesswork and patching things one does not fully understand, although not always and at the same time it does yield some very interesting things while, at the same time, producing some very skilled Martial Artists that could likely mop the floor with most would-be assailants.
Is there REALLY something missing, or is it just a matter of properly framing our point of reference so that we can actually SEE what is already there?
Not for one minute do I buy into the notion that some group out there is hoarding all the answers, it never works out too well when a group makes such claims and, honestly, the people that buy into this sort of thing really should take another look at Jonestown, or Aum Shinrikyo, they are heading down the same path if they fail to practice any sort of discernment or critical thinking.
There is NOTHING WRONG with cross training and improving upon one's art, adding understanding and adding to the arsenal at one's disposal.
No one Art has all the answers, and no one group has the one true way. Everyone is different, mentally, physically, and emotionally. Yes, we all have two arms, two legs, a head, a neck, a torso, etc., but it should ALL be personalized, in point of fact, it used to be, and many of the arts that are presently being applied in places like 'The Octagon' and 'The Street' ARE personalized.
Going back to what I had stated about mechanics and principles being the only thing upon which we should base any sort of standard, this is already being played out in Judo, Jujitsu, Modern Combatives, and Boxing.
These things do certainly have a standard upon which they are based... That standard, the only standard, is what works.
We, as Karateka, get hung up on trivial stuff, much to our own detriment. Our methodology of training has taken a hit because of this focus.
Things have been 'lost,' yes, but that does not mean they are not there to be rediscovered. Certainly this might require looking at other arts, or at least thinking in a principles and mechanics mindset, these things can be uncovered and seen for what they are... So long as we know how to look for them and are not just practicing from a place of 'guesswork' and 'patching things up.'
Faster, stronger, harder, that is the mantra of patchwork. If we are trying to force something to work by going faster, stronger, and harder, what happens if we are four foot five? Faster, stronger, harder does not necessarily work then, unless we really ARE expecting to face someone approximately the same height and weight as ourselves?
No. If moving from a standpoint of proper principles and mechanics, whatever it is should work by way of good mechanical principles without the need to add anything to it or take anything away from it... Especially strength, speed, and power. All of that will be present without much effort if we are doing things correctly.
Our methodology needs to change, this change begins with how we frame things, especially as Teachers, we have to know where to begin, how to explain, how to demonstrate properly from a place of personal understanding.
This means it cannot be handed to us as a homogenized 'one size fits all' training curriculum where everyone is trained in exactly the same way with the exact same expectations as everyone else.
This means getting rid of the 'Cookie-Cutter Karate' where we answer one thing with something specific and expect that to work for everyone... 'Here ya go, if your opponent does X, then you need to the Y,' that simply is not how life works, especially in the chaos of violence.
There is no 'Bunkai,' Bunkai only means 'analysis' and once we start getting this through our heads we can really begin our training... Drills are drills, they are meant to teach things, they are not meant to be the 'be all, end all.'
If I tell you something is a 'Block' then that is stuck in your head. Most often people do not look much beyond the explanations they are given, whether it is due to their programmed notions regarding 'people of seeming authority' or just pure laziness I have no clue, but seldom do we look beyond this.
Specific techniques do not exist outside of being singled out as teaching tools, just as various drills are not meant to be actual applications, they are teaching tools, most times this is not illustrated to any real degree by the Teacher, so the fault necessarily lay with them.
In the beginning we learn in what I think of as a 'lego' fashion, or at least that is Traditionally how it goes for Karate... This is extremely flawed. All training is flawed to a degree for safety purposes, but Karate takes it to a whole new level and people live in a delusion that this is the way it actually is. It isn't.
After a while of training we SHOULD be moving on to something a bit more akin to cursive... With its' continuous motions blending together in an artful creation, but we don't, not in the present methodology, even in schools that seek to escape how things were done previously... Not all of them, but some of them.
To be honest, we should start with cursive, we should start from a stance that allows for free-form creation straight away... Readily applicable... Not something that takes years and an athletic physique to apply effectively... THAT is NOT how Karate was originally and THAT is NOT how Karate should be now.
Sport sparring is NOT self defense, Karate is NOT about fighting... It was designed to end confrontations, not fight an opponent in mutual combat.
The ball was dropped earlier on... Those 'Masters' we revere, those pictures hanging on the Shomen to which we bow in respect... THEY dropped the ball. THEY passed it on to you and I.
They certainly do deserve respect, but they were not perfect, they were certainly not saints, otherwise they would not have been schooled in violence, and many of them were kids, or at least very young when they 'founded' their arts, so save the reverence.
As far as an art containing everything? I hear it all the time, 'Oh yeah, we do that,' and 'that has always been there.'
No. No it hasn't. Very few people were thinking about ground work before the Gracies came along and literally started mopping the floor with everyone because they had never experienced anything like that before.
Some went back and made excuses, others sought to supplement their training by actually seeking the Gracies out and learning what they found themselves to be lacking... THEN they started to look in other areas that could be lacking and sought to fix those as well.
True respect is in building upon foundations... THAT is Tradition... Our methodology needs to change and it will not change is we find ourselves clinging to things that have no use or value beyond simply collecting dust. It does nothing for us and it is NOT a form of respect to those who passed it down to us.
Even having dropped said ball, they were attempting to improve upon what they knew, they were attempting to make it relevant, they were attempting to make it something that could help people improve themselves.
This is ALL good stuff, but NOT when it is to the detriment of the actual spirit underlying the thing in question... Be like them to a point, but don't, for a minute, allow the spirit to be stifled.
Monday, February 24, 2020
Code of Conduct and Formulating A Plan of Action.
Strive to live according to a Code. No, a Dojo Kun is not enough and, more often than not, a Dojo Kun is simply repeated without any real thought as to what it truly entails.
Make a personal statement, make a Code of Conduct that you look to EVERY DAY and actually understand on a deep personal level, do not just strive to apply it in every aspect of life... APPLY IT WHOLEHEARTEDLY IN EVERY ASPECT OF LIFE!
What do you feel is important? What are some non-negotiable things you find virtuous that YOU and the WORLD could benefit from it there were more of it? What could YOU model to others and inspire more of the same in them?
Budo has the Code of Bushido, the Stoics have a code of conduct based on living according to what they find Virtuous, Reasonable, and Just, the Knights of Old had a Code of Chivalry they were to follow in all aspects of life, from home life to the Battlefield.
More often than not people just step onto the training floor (and out into the world) with no real purpose behind what they are doing, no reason, no focus, no intent.
Again, a Teacher can make a class recite the Dojo Kun every day, both before and after class, but it seldom sinks in and rarely has any effect on their lives when they step off the floor... Many do not even know the words they are repeating, especially if they are Children.
Perhaps a good exercise would be to have each Student (and each Teacher) come up with a personalized Code of Conduct that they carry with them everywhere, to which they can reference to the point of internalization, so that it manifests in the being from whence it came.
Follow this up with Daily Action Plans based around said Codes of Conduct, these Action Plans can differ depending on the needs of each day, but must include some Non-Negotiable things that MUST be carried out each day, like Meditation, Exercise, Chores around the House, Daily Journal Entries to seek improvement in one's character according to the Code of Conduct.
Essentially this is a contract with your inner self, to draw out that spirit within and really get to know it.
I have a Code of Conduct that includes three parts, the first part has to do with Character and Consistency, the second part has to do with Points of Action to carry out improvement according to the first part as well as on a physical level, the third part consists of Avoidances, things to refrain from in order to bolster the first part.
It is nothing fancy, but it is straight forward and personal, it is something that rings true for me and if I fail to live up to it on a daily basis it hits home because I am not letting anyone, but myself, down (although it improves my self, this ripples outward to all areas of my life, including those who are part of my life, so ultimately it does effect more than just myself).
My Sensei always said you can Bullshit everybody else in the world, but you cannot Bullshit the Bullshitter.
If you are fake and hollow, but give a good presentation to the rest of the world, YOU will still be fake and hollow at the end of the day and YOU will know that, regardless of how much YOU might deny it to yourself and those around you... Eventually it does also bleed out for the world to see and everything comes back to bite you in the ass.
Don't be that person... Be better than you were yesterday so that you are the best you can be today, in this moment, right here, right now... You may not have the ability to put this off until tomorrow, there may not be a tomorrow for you, so don't do tomorrow what can be done today... Right now. Get up and do it!
Make a personal statement, make a Code of Conduct that you look to EVERY DAY and actually understand on a deep personal level, do not just strive to apply it in every aspect of life... APPLY IT WHOLEHEARTEDLY IN EVERY ASPECT OF LIFE!
What do you feel is important? What are some non-negotiable things you find virtuous that YOU and the WORLD could benefit from it there were more of it? What could YOU model to others and inspire more of the same in them?
Budo has the Code of Bushido, the Stoics have a code of conduct based on living according to what they find Virtuous, Reasonable, and Just, the Knights of Old had a Code of Chivalry they were to follow in all aspects of life, from home life to the Battlefield.
More often than not people just step onto the training floor (and out into the world) with no real purpose behind what they are doing, no reason, no focus, no intent.
Again, a Teacher can make a class recite the Dojo Kun every day, both before and after class, but it seldom sinks in and rarely has any effect on their lives when they step off the floor... Many do not even know the words they are repeating, especially if they are Children.
Perhaps a good exercise would be to have each Student (and each Teacher) come up with a personalized Code of Conduct that they carry with them everywhere, to which they can reference to the point of internalization, so that it manifests in the being from whence it came.
Follow this up with Daily Action Plans based around said Codes of Conduct, these Action Plans can differ depending on the needs of each day, but must include some Non-Negotiable things that MUST be carried out each day, like Meditation, Exercise, Chores around the House, Daily Journal Entries to seek improvement in one's character according to the Code of Conduct.
Essentially this is a contract with your inner self, to draw out that spirit within and really get to know it.
I have a Code of Conduct that includes three parts, the first part has to do with Character and Consistency, the second part has to do with Points of Action to carry out improvement according to the first part as well as on a physical level, the third part consists of Avoidances, things to refrain from in order to bolster the first part.
It is nothing fancy, but it is straight forward and personal, it is something that rings true for me and if I fail to live up to it on a daily basis it hits home because I am not letting anyone, but myself, down (although it improves my self, this ripples outward to all areas of my life, including those who are part of my life, so ultimately it does effect more than just myself).
My Sensei always said you can Bullshit everybody else in the world, but you cannot Bullshit the Bullshitter.
If you are fake and hollow, but give a good presentation to the rest of the world, YOU will still be fake and hollow at the end of the day and YOU will know that, regardless of how much YOU might deny it to yourself and those around you... Eventually it does also bleed out for the world to see and everything comes back to bite you in the ass.
Don't be that person... Be better than you were yesterday so that you are the best you can be today, in this moment, right here, right now... You may not have the ability to put this off until tomorrow, there may not be a tomorrow for you, so don't do tomorrow what can be done today... Right now. Get up and do it!
Take Off Your Blinders!
It used to be that most things taught were functionally flawed, but a movement has been steadily gaining traction for well over a decade that has seen a change in the way things are done... For most schools.
Other schools cling to whatever it is they have been doing for many decades without question, though these things to which they cling ARE functionally flawed and serve no real purpose insofar as instilling functionality and applicability in the Student... In other words, it cares more for the Tradition that it does for each Student and their ability to utilize what they are learning (and in the majority of cases PAYING to learn).
Do I feel that my own lineage is free of this? As though I stood on a pedestal above all others looking down out them while lecturing and pointing a finger?
No. In point of fact the lineage to which I belong is especially guilty, although some individuals have seen the light, many have not, many remain closed, many cling to the idea that most of what they are doing serves a purpose and what they had learned is functional, applicable, practical.
I am not here to cow-tow to Tradition, it is my duty to burst bubbles and tell the truth, most of what is being taught serves zero purpose insofar as functionality is concerned, it only serves as something to memorize in order to have something for a testing board to evaluate on each exam... Most times they do not evaluate for functionality, but form alone.
Does it look crisp? Is it done to standard? Is it how one would expect it to LOOK at that particular level?
This is not going to sit well with many people, but frankly I don't care. Functionality is not going to look pretty, it is not going to look STANDARD, it is going to be functional, simple, and direct, working with principles that make it functional and this is going to change the outward expression a bit, that thing we call Form... It is not Form that determines things, it is Functionality.
There is not even a standard Bunkai or Drill that one can point to in order to say 'That is it!' No. Principles determine function, function takes place in chaos, it is not about memorizing responses, techniques, stances, postures, none of it... It is about training principles until they become so internalized that they arise to the occasion regardless of what comes your way.
Blocks, Stances, Strikes, Posture, Chamber, Kicks, Steps, Turns, NONE OF THIS STUFF EXISTS BEYOND THE DOJO FLOOR!
These are segmented out so that it is easier to point to principles and mechanics... Like Chinese Calligraphy, a character is a word, thinking as a whole rather than as pieces... There is no 'Block' and then 'Punch,' these are segmented out to point out specific principles and they have mistakenly been given names that do not necessarily apply, but CAN apply as a descriptor in some instances.
The uses or Applications are FLUID, the Principles are not... The Mechanics are not... Understanding things here, without names to bog things down in specific ways, is how one can take their Karate to the next level.
Drills should be formulated around principles... Specific principles to which a Teacher wishes to call attention... Specific Strategies, Tactics, Mechanics, ect.
None of this 'same drill, but with open hands and angles to make it seem different.' Kiso Kumite Shodan has some stuff that could work, but it would need to be reworked for Principles based training that leads to good mechanics and application.
Kiso Kumite Nidan is one of the most unique, and reworked slightly, it could be an excellent Principles/Strategies and Tactics based drill.
On the whole though, most of the Kiso Kumite Drills we practice are just the same drill with open versus closed hands and no real call out of what it is these drills are meant to instill, other than rhythm, timing, and 'distancing' (which is often not even the proper sort of distancing to an actual altercation).
This type of training can be achieved with two drills, there is no need for twenty of the same thing.
There is not even a need to have set drills for anything, drills can be created on the spot by the Teacher in order to Teach something (imagine that) meaningful rather than just focusing on specific requirements a Student needs for the next rank.
Rank itself is a huge obstacle for this sort of training and really has no place on the training floor. Everyone should know who the Teacher is, everyone should know who the seniors are, this should be apparent in skill, knowledge, and understanding.
Don't like what I am saying? Time to get over it and take a look in the mirror. Is what you are training giving you what you are looking for? Yes? Great! No? Well then it is time to rethink this whole thing and find out why, then fix it or find something that does.
Twelve Kata? Maybe that is a bit much? Thirteen? Twenty? Definitely going overboard there. It makes sense to have a number of different Kata one needs to learn for ranking purposes, but why would one have even eight Kata if one is focusing more on principles and practicality?
I have said before that two or three is more than enough, but one COULD justify having twelve if one is truly looking to diversify strategies and tactics, but even within a single Kata, if one were to truly come from a fluidic approach that was truly principles based, in a single Kata are contained all the others.... So even then, what would be the justification?
Kata should also be reserved for solo practice, at the latter part of class and outside of class, while class time should focus on learning the Principles, Mechanics, and Application of Principles and Mechanics through partner work.
No lecturing, no endless line training, just partner work in actually APPLYING and ANALYZING Principles and Mechanics via specific drills created on the spot by a Teacher with some understanding of what it is they are doing and what it is they wish to accomplish.
PRESERVING Tradition means that Tradition is now dead. A real testament to a LIVING Tradition is in its' constant growth and ability to carry on effectively.
A dead Tradition serves no purpose.
Other schools cling to whatever it is they have been doing for many decades without question, though these things to which they cling ARE functionally flawed and serve no real purpose insofar as instilling functionality and applicability in the Student... In other words, it cares more for the Tradition that it does for each Student and their ability to utilize what they are learning (and in the majority of cases PAYING to learn).
Do I feel that my own lineage is free of this? As though I stood on a pedestal above all others looking down out them while lecturing and pointing a finger?
No. In point of fact the lineage to which I belong is especially guilty, although some individuals have seen the light, many have not, many remain closed, many cling to the idea that most of what they are doing serves a purpose and what they had learned is functional, applicable, practical.
I am not here to cow-tow to Tradition, it is my duty to burst bubbles and tell the truth, most of what is being taught serves zero purpose insofar as functionality is concerned, it only serves as something to memorize in order to have something for a testing board to evaluate on each exam... Most times they do not evaluate for functionality, but form alone.
Does it look crisp? Is it done to standard? Is it how one would expect it to LOOK at that particular level?
This is not going to sit well with many people, but frankly I don't care. Functionality is not going to look pretty, it is not going to look STANDARD, it is going to be functional, simple, and direct, working with principles that make it functional and this is going to change the outward expression a bit, that thing we call Form... It is not Form that determines things, it is Functionality.
There is not even a standard Bunkai or Drill that one can point to in order to say 'That is it!' No. Principles determine function, function takes place in chaos, it is not about memorizing responses, techniques, stances, postures, none of it... It is about training principles until they become so internalized that they arise to the occasion regardless of what comes your way.
Blocks, Stances, Strikes, Posture, Chamber, Kicks, Steps, Turns, NONE OF THIS STUFF EXISTS BEYOND THE DOJO FLOOR!
These are segmented out so that it is easier to point to principles and mechanics... Like Chinese Calligraphy, a character is a word, thinking as a whole rather than as pieces... There is no 'Block' and then 'Punch,' these are segmented out to point out specific principles and they have mistakenly been given names that do not necessarily apply, but CAN apply as a descriptor in some instances.
The uses or Applications are FLUID, the Principles are not... The Mechanics are not... Understanding things here, without names to bog things down in specific ways, is how one can take their Karate to the next level.
Drills should be formulated around principles... Specific principles to which a Teacher wishes to call attention... Specific Strategies, Tactics, Mechanics, ect.
None of this 'same drill, but with open hands and angles to make it seem different.' Kiso Kumite Shodan has some stuff that could work, but it would need to be reworked for Principles based training that leads to good mechanics and application.
Kiso Kumite Nidan is one of the most unique, and reworked slightly, it could be an excellent Principles/Strategies and Tactics based drill.
On the whole though, most of the Kiso Kumite Drills we practice are just the same drill with open versus closed hands and no real call out of what it is these drills are meant to instill, other than rhythm, timing, and 'distancing' (which is often not even the proper sort of distancing to an actual altercation).
This type of training can be achieved with two drills, there is no need for twenty of the same thing.
There is not even a need to have set drills for anything, drills can be created on the spot by the Teacher in order to Teach something (imagine that) meaningful rather than just focusing on specific requirements a Student needs for the next rank.
Rank itself is a huge obstacle for this sort of training and really has no place on the training floor. Everyone should know who the Teacher is, everyone should know who the seniors are, this should be apparent in skill, knowledge, and understanding.
Don't like what I am saying? Time to get over it and take a look in the mirror. Is what you are training giving you what you are looking for? Yes? Great! No? Well then it is time to rethink this whole thing and find out why, then fix it or find something that does.
Twelve Kata? Maybe that is a bit much? Thirteen? Twenty? Definitely going overboard there. It makes sense to have a number of different Kata one needs to learn for ranking purposes, but why would one have even eight Kata if one is focusing more on principles and practicality?
I have said before that two or three is more than enough, but one COULD justify having twelve if one is truly looking to diversify strategies and tactics, but even within a single Kata, if one were to truly come from a fluidic approach that was truly principles based, in a single Kata are contained all the others.... So even then, what would be the justification?
Kata should also be reserved for solo practice, at the latter part of class and outside of class, while class time should focus on learning the Principles, Mechanics, and Application of Principles and Mechanics through partner work.
No lecturing, no endless line training, just partner work in actually APPLYING and ANALYZING Principles and Mechanics via specific drills created on the spot by a Teacher with some understanding of what it is they are doing and what it is they wish to accomplish.
PRESERVING Tradition means that Tradition is now dead. A real testament to a LIVING Tradition is in its' constant growth and ability to carry on effectively.
A dead Tradition serves no purpose.
Tuesday, February 18, 2020
Kata Only?
The idea that repeating Kata over and over, as is, will entrain the skills one might need to ‘defend themselves’ is a complete farce.
Some will say that this will work if one removes all doubt and is going against an ‘untrained fighter’ in a ‘civilian setting.’
Whoever says even THAT has never truly been assaulted in any way, shape, or form. There is simply no truth to that statement and no use for that type of training, even if one were to go back a hundred, two hundred, even three hundred years, regardless, it does not make the statement true and does not make that sort of training effective in the least.
If someone assaults you on the street without a second thought, chances are likely they have done it before, which gives them experience... It also means they likely pegged you as an easy target after observation.
Remove all doubt on this... If you do endless Kata with zero context and zero application of principles then you will have little to no chance against even an ‘untrained’ person (as of training trumped experience - sometimes the two do converge).
The notion that it is a ‘fight’ is also a flawed notion, if someone assaults you it is an ASSAULT, not a FIGHT, the two things are VERY different.
One is not mutual, the other is the mutual result of letting one’s ego get the better of them when they could have just walked away and avoided the whole thing.
There is also the notion that going against a trained fighter is far worse than going up against a Process or Resource Predator.
Is it really? Why would you be going against a trained fighter to begin with? What went wrong on your end to land you in that mess that could, quite possibly, have messy ramifications, legally, for the both of you?
Maybe when people refer to ‘trained fighters’ they mean people trained via the Military of Law Enforcement? Why? The same question above applies here.
If the meaning is ‘Military’ then one is NOT facing a trained fighter, but a trained Soldier or Operator and, like Predators, they are not trained to fight, they are trained to kill by whatever means necessary. Again, not the same thing as fighting.
I feel like people who promote a certain mentality and use specific verbiage have simply watched too many Martial Arts Action movies and people who say that memorizing and performing Kata again and again will work in specific situations if one ‘removes all doubt’ have no idea what they are talking about and could potentially cause harm even by mentioning such notions in the same breath as ‘this sort of thing works in certain situations, but not against a trained fighter.’
Even making such a statement to brush it off is pure bullshit because this is not, nor was it EVER how things were done to produce effective skills.
The ‘skills’ produced by this sort of training have always been crap, plain and simple.
Some will say that this will work if one removes all doubt and is going against an ‘untrained fighter’ in a ‘civilian setting.’
Whoever says even THAT has never truly been assaulted in any way, shape, or form. There is simply no truth to that statement and no use for that type of training, even if one were to go back a hundred, two hundred, even three hundred years, regardless, it does not make the statement true and does not make that sort of training effective in the least.
If someone assaults you on the street without a second thought, chances are likely they have done it before, which gives them experience... It also means they likely pegged you as an easy target after observation.
Remove all doubt on this... If you do endless Kata with zero context and zero application of principles then you will have little to no chance against even an ‘untrained’ person (as of training trumped experience - sometimes the two do converge).
The notion that it is a ‘fight’ is also a flawed notion, if someone assaults you it is an ASSAULT, not a FIGHT, the two things are VERY different.
One is not mutual, the other is the mutual result of letting one’s ego get the better of them when they could have just walked away and avoided the whole thing.
There is also the notion that going against a trained fighter is far worse than going up against a Process or Resource Predator.
Is it really? Why would you be going against a trained fighter to begin with? What went wrong on your end to land you in that mess that could, quite possibly, have messy ramifications, legally, for the both of you?
Maybe when people refer to ‘trained fighters’ they mean people trained via the Military of Law Enforcement? Why? The same question above applies here.
If the meaning is ‘Military’ then one is NOT facing a trained fighter, but a trained Soldier or Operator and, like Predators, they are not trained to fight, they are trained to kill by whatever means necessary. Again, not the same thing as fighting.
I feel like people who promote a certain mentality and use specific verbiage have simply watched too many Martial Arts Action movies and people who say that memorizing and performing Kata again and again will work in specific situations if one ‘removes all doubt’ have no idea what they are talking about and could potentially cause harm even by mentioning such notions in the same breath as ‘this sort of thing works in certain situations, but not against a trained fighter.’
Even making such a statement to brush it off is pure bullshit because this is not, nor was it EVER how things were done to produce effective skills.
The ‘skills’ produced by this sort of training have always been crap, plain and simple.
The Paranoid and Insecure.
"We do not do it that way here," Someone says, "We do it like this." They proceed to give a demonstration that is only slightly different with no real explanation as to why.
Okay, fair enough, it is fine to give the benefit of the doubt, but always delve in with research as the person giving the explanation is likely just repeating what they were told and does not have the answers either.
This is less about WHY things are done the way they are done and more about NOT moving from a place of blind faith.
Always verify, if things cannot be verified then it remains in the realm of 'suspect information' and 'pure speculation.'
Always remember that, while it is proper to show proper respect and gratitude, it is also best to remember your reasons for training; if those have anything to do with Self Protection, remember that the training is flawed, always, and YOU are responsible for your safety, not them.
If this is the case then your training should never be about preserving a relic, it should always question things, it should be about seeking what is the most useful and beneficial for you because, ultimately, it is your own ass on the line NOT theirs.
Yes, it is like beating a dead horse, but it is a horse that constantly needs to be beaten when people seem to overstep their boundaries.
Most people put hard earned money into their training, it is not like they are training for free, they are paying for the lessons and knowledge with money, blood, sweat, and sometimes tears.
The Teacher is not the 'be all' and 'end all,' yes, respect should be given, but it is never about YOU, it is never about the POSITION. A truly great Teacher will never have to demand respect or loyalty from their students, it will come naturally.
If a Teacher feels the need to silence a student that asks too many questions or calls their knowledge into question when it clearly is lacking and it is clear the Teacher does not practice an ounce of what they preach then it is clear that Teacher did not have much to offer to begin with.
When said Teacher demands that other students cut off all contact with a Student they have thrown out for said reasons then, it is clear, you are not running a Dojo, but attempting to subvert your Students into a personality cult.
If things do not make sense, seem to move against common sense, if the Teacher themselves looks, acts, and speaks a little suspect, throwing out giant explanations that talk in circles with no real answers, then trust your gut instinct, move on... It really isn't worth your time.
Just recently I was informed that this was happening in regards to myself and one other person. I was told that if we showed up to a certain training that certain people were informed not to train with us, regardless of what we were training.
It just shows insecurity on the part of the person making said demands. They assume an aweful lot and expect near blind faith from people that paid their way in respect to being part of a specific Association.
I am a Karateka, I have been training Goju Ryu for about three decades without much of a break. I have no association with this person in that regard, and the other things being trained have nothing to do with them either.
This has been something I have run into before. Schools that close and lock their doors during training, with no windows so no one can see in, no questions allowed, pure obedience.
When someone asks a question they are shown the door, then all communication is cut off with that person and anyone found to be communicating with them is blacklisted as well, serving as examples to the rest of the school.
Demands for absolute respect and obedience betrays severe levels of paranoia and insecurity. Beware, and always ask WHY things are done the way they are done... The response with which you are met will be extremely telling of their overall atmosphere of the school and the character of the Teacher.
My own Teacher never had to demand respect from me, he already had it. It was something that grew from training.
If I don't know you and we haven't shared the floor then your claims mean nothing to me until you can show them, until we have shared the floor together.
Showing me various stages of a punch that is common knowledge and acting like it is all mystical and secret, that just tells me the level of foolishness that is expected.
Okay, fair enough, it is fine to give the benefit of the doubt, but always delve in with research as the person giving the explanation is likely just repeating what they were told and does not have the answers either.
This is less about WHY things are done the way they are done and more about NOT moving from a place of blind faith.
Always verify, if things cannot be verified then it remains in the realm of 'suspect information' and 'pure speculation.'
Always remember that, while it is proper to show proper respect and gratitude, it is also best to remember your reasons for training; if those have anything to do with Self Protection, remember that the training is flawed, always, and YOU are responsible for your safety, not them.
If this is the case then your training should never be about preserving a relic, it should always question things, it should be about seeking what is the most useful and beneficial for you because, ultimately, it is your own ass on the line NOT theirs.
Yes, it is like beating a dead horse, but it is a horse that constantly needs to be beaten when people seem to overstep their boundaries.
Most people put hard earned money into their training, it is not like they are training for free, they are paying for the lessons and knowledge with money, blood, sweat, and sometimes tears.
The Teacher is not the 'be all' and 'end all,' yes, respect should be given, but it is never about YOU, it is never about the POSITION. A truly great Teacher will never have to demand respect or loyalty from their students, it will come naturally.
If a Teacher feels the need to silence a student that asks too many questions or calls their knowledge into question when it clearly is lacking and it is clear the Teacher does not practice an ounce of what they preach then it is clear that Teacher did not have much to offer to begin with.
When said Teacher demands that other students cut off all contact with a Student they have thrown out for said reasons then, it is clear, you are not running a Dojo, but attempting to subvert your Students into a personality cult.
If things do not make sense, seem to move against common sense, if the Teacher themselves looks, acts, and speaks a little suspect, throwing out giant explanations that talk in circles with no real answers, then trust your gut instinct, move on... It really isn't worth your time.
Just recently I was informed that this was happening in regards to myself and one other person. I was told that if we showed up to a certain training that certain people were informed not to train with us, regardless of what we were training.
It just shows insecurity on the part of the person making said demands. They assume an aweful lot and expect near blind faith from people that paid their way in respect to being part of a specific Association.
I am a Karateka, I have been training Goju Ryu for about three decades without much of a break. I have no association with this person in that regard, and the other things being trained have nothing to do with them either.
This has been something I have run into before. Schools that close and lock their doors during training, with no windows so no one can see in, no questions allowed, pure obedience.
When someone asks a question they are shown the door, then all communication is cut off with that person and anyone found to be communicating with them is blacklisted as well, serving as examples to the rest of the school.
Demands for absolute respect and obedience betrays severe levels of paranoia and insecurity. Beware, and always ask WHY things are done the way they are done... The response with which you are met will be extremely telling of their overall atmosphere of the school and the character of the Teacher.
My own Teacher never had to demand respect from me, he already had it. It was something that grew from training.
If I don't know you and we haven't shared the floor then your claims mean nothing to me until you can show them, until we have shared the floor together.
Showing me various stages of a punch that is common knowledge and acting like it is all mystical and secret, that just tells me the level of foolishness that is expected.
Saturday, February 15, 2020
No Spear, No Stopping.
Bunkai is a process, not a specific response to anything. The process of analysis, breaking things down to analyze their base elements or principles.
There is no real ‘Bunkai’ for ‘this’ or for ‘that’ in response to some specific thing. No X,Y,Z formula for dealing with anything.
In his letters to Yagyu Munenori the Zen Priest, Takuan Soho, said that the mind that stops and thinks only of responding to a specific thing comes to be stuck on that specific thing and ends up getting cut by it whereas the mind that does NOT stop on any specific thing is free and those who try to cut such a person down will end up being cut by their own sword.
There are no specific stopping points outside of learning, and no specific interpretations, there is only endless movement of principles so ingrained they no longer require a mind to guide them... The guiding mind and the principles are inseparable to the point that mind and principle cease to exist as specific points to which one can point and discern.
If a beginner is attacked they simply react, once they start to learn effectively their minds tend to get caught up on specific points, it is from this they should be guided in a manner leading towards an end that is the same as the beginning, thus coming full circle.
Breaking a student out of a point by point mindset by leading them THROUGH points so that understanding may be so internalized as to be consciously forgotten entirely.
In the beginning there are no techniques or principles, quite literally, in the process techniques and principles serve as the cart and horse through a vast array of things meant to show more efficient ways of responding until, ultimately, these are discarded and, in the end, there are no longer techniques or principles.
There is no such thing as Kata, no such thing as Kihon, nothing to Bunkai, just endless infinite movement backed by an immovable mind and spirit that does not get caught up or focus on any specific thing.
No response yielding infinite responses. There is no us versus them, our way or their way, there is just the way, which is found by abandoning the way and yielding to nothing at all.
There is no real ‘Bunkai’ for ‘this’ or for ‘that’ in response to some specific thing. No X,Y,Z formula for dealing with anything.
In his letters to Yagyu Munenori the Zen Priest, Takuan Soho, said that the mind that stops and thinks only of responding to a specific thing comes to be stuck on that specific thing and ends up getting cut by it whereas the mind that does NOT stop on any specific thing is free and those who try to cut such a person down will end up being cut by their own sword.
There are no specific stopping points outside of learning, and no specific interpretations, there is only endless movement of principles so ingrained they no longer require a mind to guide them... The guiding mind and the principles are inseparable to the point that mind and principle cease to exist as specific points to which one can point and discern.
If a beginner is attacked they simply react, once they start to learn effectively their minds tend to get caught up on specific points, it is from this they should be guided in a manner leading towards an end that is the same as the beginning, thus coming full circle.
Breaking a student out of a point by point mindset by leading them THROUGH points so that understanding may be so internalized as to be consciously forgotten entirely.
In the beginning there are no techniques or principles, quite literally, in the process techniques and principles serve as the cart and horse through a vast array of things meant to show more efficient ways of responding until, ultimately, these are discarded and, in the end, there are no longer techniques or principles.
There is no such thing as Kata, no such thing as Kihon, nothing to Bunkai, just endless infinite movement backed by an immovable mind and spirit that does not get caught up or focus on any specific thing.
No response yielding infinite responses. There is no us versus them, our way or their way, there is just the way, which is found by abandoning the way and yielding to nothing at all.
Monday, February 3, 2020
Everything In Its' Place.
There is a purpose to everything. Some may not believe this, but others feel it deep in their bones; I am among the latter.
What purpose is there? What is the reason for anything? This may seem off topic for a Martial Arts Blog, but it is my view (and I am joined in this by the likes of Marcus Aurelius, Socrates, Aristotle, Plato, and many others) that the Universe itself is reasoning and rational.
All of those mentioned above were also Martial Artists in their own right, and this was an extension of their practices in Philosophy.
My quest has never been for belts or titles; it has never been about gaining prestige or recognition within any given Community or Organization... It has never been my goal to go down in history books along side the greats, the Masters.
I maintain this run-of-the-mill blog on my corner of the Internet, most don't even know it is here unless I choose to share my views with a larger audience and I write irregularly, whenever something strikes me to write.
No. My quest has always been the truth, getting to the core, to the root, to the reality behind all the bullshit peddled about in one form or another and this has taken me to many interesting places where some very interesting things were shared... Some can be shared openly, some cannot, in the case of the latter it is because I gave my word in exchange for what was being imparted.
Holding true to my previous posts, no one claiming to hold the 'secret sauce' should be taken at face value, ever.
That being said, some of these claims have turned out to be quite enlightening, some have not. That is not why I am writing now.
The things I know are definitely outside the norm for most, definitely not mainstream, and definitely puts me at odds with most in any Mainstream Organization... This is nothing new to me, it has been this way for many years.
My Teacher used to say 'I give you three corners of the puzzle, I expect you to go out and find the fourth on your own,' which is something I have always taken to heart.
Certainly one can conform to the standards of an Organization, have them tell you how to do things the right way (read their way) which rarely translates to anything useful beyond the realm of the Organization itself.
This is not meant to be disparaging of Organizations themselves, there are fine people and very knowledgeable people within Organizations, and even here, there is a reason, a rationality behind these things, a starting point, a springboard. The first three pieces of the puzzle, maybe they lead to the fourth, maybe not, ultimately it is up to each individual to step outside their comfort zone and tread off the beaten path... This is NOT for the feint of heart, however, and certainly NOT for anyone wanting to make a name for themselves or any sort of position within an Organization because it requires one to question everything, most do not appreciate this.
In my life the rank of Godan, Yondan, or even Sandan may never be achieved. Off the beaten path these things don't matter in the slightest because rank is a piece of paper.
There is a reason for this as well and I feel it is along the lines of what T.T. Liang said in the book 'Steal My Art' when he gave a Teaching Certificate to an Individual that ended up leaving to form his own group off the reputation of the great Tai Chi Master, that individual only wanted prestige, not the actual Art itself, so T.T. Liang wrote him that certificate to make him go away so that he could focus his efforts on people who actually wanted to learn.
In most cases this may not be true, but the notion of Rank and all that seems to promote a spirit of conformity that is not conducive to actual learning beyond surface level stuff... The trivial stuff.
Do I feel that this is bad? No, not in the slightest, and as I previously stated, this is not meant to be disparaging as there are some fine individuals within Organizations and, indeed, VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE individuals with high rank. I have deep respect for these people and am always honored to train with them.
It is the people who seem to avoid the front of the class, who seem to stay off to the side simply working on what they are working on, that draw my attention the most and it is from these individuals, whom have been training for years and years on a single thing, from whom I have learned the most.
What is the purpose of all this? I am told I should teach, that I should open a school and share what I have learned, constantly told.
Truth be told I do have a school, but it is not the conventional school with wood floors, a Shomen, weapons, or even walls, per se, no, it consists of time, effort, and applying knowledge to whatever task one happens to be doing at the time.
There are no rank requirements, the only standards to follow are body mechanics and principles, sometimes there are parks involved, sometimes it consists of sweeping the kitchen or doing dishes, or doing a job to the best of one's ability.
If I had a school I doubt I would even include rank. My students would call me by my name or simply call me 'Mister so-and-so' and may not even include Traditional Uniforms.
My purpose for training is not to conform, it is to grow, it is to step outside of that box in which many willingly place themselves and look around, see what is there, maybe communicate that back to others, maybe not, depending on who is asking and whether or not there is interest.
The purpose of a school would not be in having people who simply conform to 'What Sensei says' but to help them explore themselves and learn from their own perspectives.
There would, naturally, be a bit of that as one cannot come to a Teacher and expect not to work for what they are asking, but ultimately what they are asking for comes from within, the outer stuff, the Kata, the drills, all of it, those are just tools... Tools serve a purpose... Once that purpose has been completed what is the point of keeping those tools? One is using the tools to fine tune oneself, once that has been accomplished the self outgrows the tools and begins to function as it should along the principles outlined by the use of said tools.
Ultimately one may never get to this point within their lifetime, but this idea that the tool is the main point of focus has permeated nearly every aspect of training and, I feel, the true purpose has been completely missed.
The meaning of the word 'Karate' is 'Empty Hand,' it is not meant to be a 'Style' in the usual sense of the term, it is a system of fine tuning oneself, a system that has not been utilized properly for a long, long time.
Some will say it is bullshit itself, and with this I tend to agree, given what I now know and what I had suspected previously... Then again, most things can be said to be bullshit, but this is not because they are bogus, it is because they are not being properly utilized... Like trying to unscrew something using a tack-hammer, it simply won't work.
Do I have all the answers? Hell no. Not even close. I have what I have and I know what I know, there is always more to learn and learning more will undoubtedly change my perspective as I go, but the root of this has remained the same, utilizing things properly for what they were meant to do.
The true meaning of the Empty Hand is the Hand that holds everything, this is not simply philosophical rhetoric, it is a teaching tool... It points to exactly the perspective one needs in order to start down the path properly... Do not become overly attached to things as they 'appear,' for one, appearances are deceiving and often outright wrong, especially if the appearance of something is the sole focus rather than that to which the PROPER appearance alludes... Function should determine form, not the other way around... Once this is understood then the actual method doesn't really matter because the function and principle are present.
Whether one knows One Kata or Twenty Seven, it does not matter in the slightest. The purpose is what matters, the Kata is not a relic to behold, it is something to be used and tools used often change over time.
There is no standard or 'right' way to do something beyond whether or not it is imparting solid principles, functionality, and applicability.
Ultimately Karate is about growing beyond Karate. Maybe this is not a very 'Karate' view on my part, but there it is... Take it or leave it, I really don't care.
What purpose is there? What is the reason for anything? This may seem off topic for a Martial Arts Blog, but it is my view (and I am joined in this by the likes of Marcus Aurelius, Socrates, Aristotle, Plato, and many others) that the Universe itself is reasoning and rational.
All of those mentioned above were also Martial Artists in their own right, and this was an extension of their practices in Philosophy.
My quest has never been for belts or titles; it has never been about gaining prestige or recognition within any given Community or Organization... It has never been my goal to go down in history books along side the greats, the Masters.
I maintain this run-of-the-mill blog on my corner of the Internet, most don't even know it is here unless I choose to share my views with a larger audience and I write irregularly, whenever something strikes me to write.
No. My quest has always been the truth, getting to the core, to the root, to the reality behind all the bullshit peddled about in one form or another and this has taken me to many interesting places where some very interesting things were shared... Some can be shared openly, some cannot, in the case of the latter it is because I gave my word in exchange for what was being imparted.
Holding true to my previous posts, no one claiming to hold the 'secret sauce' should be taken at face value, ever.
That being said, some of these claims have turned out to be quite enlightening, some have not. That is not why I am writing now.
The things I know are definitely outside the norm for most, definitely not mainstream, and definitely puts me at odds with most in any Mainstream Organization... This is nothing new to me, it has been this way for many years.
My Teacher used to say 'I give you three corners of the puzzle, I expect you to go out and find the fourth on your own,' which is something I have always taken to heart.
Certainly one can conform to the standards of an Organization, have them tell you how to do things the right way (read their way) which rarely translates to anything useful beyond the realm of the Organization itself.
This is not meant to be disparaging of Organizations themselves, there are fine people and very knowledgeable people within Organizations, and even here, there is a reason, a rationality behind these things, a starting point, a springboard. The first three pieces of the puzzle, maybe they lead to the fourth, maybe not, ultimately it is up to each individual to step outside their comfort zone and tread off the beaten path... This is NOT for the feint of heart, however, and certainly NOT for anyone wanting to make a name for themselves or any sort of position within an Organization because it requires one to question everything, most do not appreciate this.
In my life the rank of Godan, Yondan, or even Sandan may never be achieved. Off the beaten path these things don't matter in the slightest because rank is a piece of paper.
There is a reason for this as well and I feel it is along the lines of what T.T. Liang said in the book 'Steal My Art' when he gave a Teaching Certificate to an Individual that ended up leaving to form his own group off the reputation of the great Tai Chi Master, that individual only wanted prestige, not the actual Art itself, so T.T. Liang wrote him that certificate to make him go away so that he could focus his efforts on people who actually wanted to learn.
In most cases this may not be true, but the notion of Rank and all that seems to promote a spirit of conformity that is not conducive to actual learning beyond surface level stuff... The trivial stuff.
Do I feel that this is bad? No, not in the slightest, and as I previously stated, this is not meant to be disparaging as there are some fine individuals within Organizations and, indeed, VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE individuals with high rank. I have deep respect for these people and am always honored to train with them.
It is the people who seem to avoid the front of the class, who seem to stay off to the side simply working on what they are working on, that draw my attention the most and it is from these individuals, whom have been training for years and years on a single thing, from whom I have learned the most.
What is the purpose of all this? I am told I should teach, that I should open a school and share what I have learned, constantly told.
Truth be told I do have a school, but it is not the conventional school with wood floors, a Shomen, weapons, or even walls, per se, no, it consists of time, effort, and applying knowledge to whatever task one happens to be doing at the time.
There are no rank requirements, the only standards to follow are body mechanics and principles, sometimes there are parks involved, sometimes it consists of sweeping the kitchen or doing dishes, or doing a job to the best of one's ability.
If I had a school I doubt I would even include rank. My students would call me by my name or simply call me 'Mister so-and-so' and may not even include Traditional Uniforms.
My purpose for training is not to conform, it is to grow, it is to step outside of that box in which many willingly place themselves and look around, see what is there, maybe communicate that back to others, maybe not, depending on who is asking and whether or not there is interest.
The purpose of a school would not be in having people who simply conform to 'What Sensei says' but to help them explore themselves and learn from their own perspectives.
There would, naturally, be a bit of that as one cannot come to a Teacher and expect not to work for what they are asking, but ultimately what they are asking for comes from within, the outer stuff, the Kata, the drills, all of it, those are just tools... Tools serve a purpose... Once that purpose has been completed what is the point of keeping those tools? One is using the tools to fine tune oneself, once that has been accomplished the self outgrows the tools and begins to function as it should along the principles outlined by the use of said tools.
Ultimately one may never get to this point within their lifetime, but this idea that the tool is the main point of focus has permeated nearly every aspect of training and, I feel, the true purpose has been completely missed.
The meaning of the word 'Karate' is 'Empty Hand,' it is not meant to be a 'Style' in the usual sense of the term, it is a system of fine tuning oneself, a system that has not been utilized properly for a long, long time.
Some will say it is bullshit itself, and with this I tend to agree, given what I now know and what I had suspected previously... Then again, most things can be said to be bullshit, but this is not because they are bogus, it is because they are not being properly utilized... Like trying to unscrew something using a tack-hammer, it simply won't work.
Do I have all the answers? Hell no. Not even close. I have what I have and I know what I know, there is always more to learn and learning more will undoubtedly change my perspective as I go, but the root of this has remained the same, utilizing things properly for what they were meant to do.
The true meaning of the Empty Hand is the Hand that holds everything, this is not simply philosophical rhetoric, it is a teaching tool... It points to exactly the perspective one needs in order to start down the path properly... Do not become overly attached to things as they 'appear,' for one, appearances are deceiving and often outright wrong, especially if the appearance of something is the sole focus rather than that to which the PROPER appearance alludes... Function should determine form, not the other way around... Once this is understood then the actual method doesn't really matter because the function and principle are present.
Whether one knows One Kata or Twenty Seven, it does not matter in the slightest. The purpose is what matters, the Kata is not a relic to behold, it is something to be used and tools used often change over time.
There is no standard or 'right' way to do something beyond whether or not it is imparting solid principles, functionality, and applicability.
Ultimately Karate is about growing beyond Karate. Maybe this is not a very 'Karate' view on my part, but there it is... Take it or leave it, I really don't care.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)