FAKE

Facing the Makiwara the other day, as usual, I had a realization.

The Makiwara
Or
The Wooden mirror
As I like to call it...

I like to think of the Makiwara as 'the wooden mirror' .....you see things you don't always like and by the same token, recognise things found in those around us or indeed those we train or have trained with; often because you have seen and fixed these things in yourself.

The Makiwara doesn't ' let you off'.....sure you can go easier but should you do this then you know that you're only cheating yourself.....and you're a fake....

I once faced a Karateka in Ude Tanren ( arm conditioning) .....
The guy was a very unassuming kind of a guy
A fellow whom I had witnessed receive a Black belt based, on what appeared to me, to be mainly his Kata ability.
His Karate, on the surface at least, looked good. His Kumite was well rehearsed, his Kata sharp and with nice stances. His flexibility much improved....far better than mine.....but, and here is the kicker. I realised there was no depth.
He couldn't make his karate work and during Ude Tanren, when the point had been reached when it hurts a bit, the lack of depth showed.
Shying away and trying to go lighter is not where his head should have been.
Finding a way through to the end with the same consistency as the beginning is what should have been focussed on.......

My point....well, you can seemingly be the real deal on the outside, with what appears to be the necessary skills and rehearsed methods that you have honed and flogged within an inch of their life, and even fool some people, but being well rounded and adept in All areas is where it's at...an award, accolade certificate, or in this case a black belt is not a measure of depth and substance and indeed a good Karateka.

The Ude Kitae....
Conditioning about as hard
as it gets.....

Just as in life .... if you don't put in the hard yards then life itself will be harder.
Just like Ude Tanren....
For those who do, then
it doesn't take long to recognise a Fake.....

CLEAN YOUR HOUSE.....

This, the first post of many to come, will hopefully divulge a modicum of insight as to what karate is, but to more of the point, what it isn't.

I'm no expert, far from it in fact, as I have only studied karate, and before that judo, for a couple of decades. But this said, I do have experience of clubs and organizations as well of that of a small and relatively private Dojo.

Inside my Kaimokukan Dojo

Do not assume that a Club and a Dojo are the same.....more on this in another post.

And outside Dojo area

I used to write a blog a few years ago, which was viewed globally, and hopefully served as some use to people.
It was also a place where I could put things into perspective for myself through the written word. A place where experiences had to take a pit stop and be viewed for better or worse.

Karate is a very individual pursuit, usually done in the company of others in an environment where, at least in the beginning, say the first decade ( subjective as is all karate opinion ) where you are told what to do.
Later things become a little clearer. You see things for what they are and either roll with it, or not, remain complicit, or not.

Karate
Cleaning your own house

Mopping the floors of my house today (SOJI) was no different than that of my Dojo floor.....
My mind as always, though on the task at hand, began to wander.
I realised I had cleaned my Karate house....I had been training and practicing ( the two are different, but again, more on this in another post) on my own for nearly 8 years. Occasionally practicing with others and making a regular visit to my Sensei.
Now having left the small Dojo I was privileged to be a part of, my Karate House for the first time, was clean of any outside influence, clean of certain people I didn't really want any association with and clean of any rubbish my Karate didn't need.

I'm not saying I no longer needed a Sensei, my body was, when I left, in no position to carry on in the way I felt I had to.....
.....Now, with it for the most part healed I found myself in an unusual place....return or do something else.....

Once a decision to train in karate for the first time is made, all new karateka have already added, stuff and most certainly people they don't need to their Karate beginnings. This is natural and, there is really no other way.

For me, whilst mopping the floor, I realized in what a unique position I now stood.
I already knew 'how' to do Karate, so what next?...

Whilst no expert, My House is clean, and I intend it to stay that way....

If reading this, then you are probably part of something, karate or not, that from time to time causes you issues, anguish and/or problems.....
If this is a persistent trait, then really, you can resolve it. Like entering a Club for the first time, it only takes one step.