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.....