Walking the Middle Path

 I've been struggling with the title of this post for a long time......ever since I heard the phrase in fact, upon entering training in the Budo way. 

It suggests sitting on the fence so to speak. Not wishing to give an opinion either way. The way of being average, neither causing an issue or helping get out of one. I first heard the phrase as I began the way of Budo, and Karate that is trained in an original way. I have an issue with the Middle Path.....why?...well, quite often it just doesn't fit and is hypocritical. 

"Being sincere in your dealings with others....."

I heard this about the same time as the Middle Path....whilst I totally agree with this way of thinking, a different view of someone who purports this message is had when they are caught out in a lie. Oh dear. Be careful not just with what you say but, also with what you write....

The things I write about in the blog are based upon my own experiences. 

Unlike a psychologist ( for example) who will constantly rattle off quotes and doctrines of those they have had to study as a requirement. Umm. And not from personal experience. 

You will hear all kinds of philosophies, guidelines,ideas, whatever you wish to call them, that are supposedly connected with, or to Karate Do.....

But here's the go.... strive to be a good person and train diligently, and really it's all that is required. All the other shit that surrounds Karate, created by people who strive for control over it, is just that....shit....

Remember, most of what we have no choice about in life is because.....somebody somewhere at sometime said so.......

 

 

Not unhealthy training.....

 My last Sensei, Michael Clarke of the Shinseidokan Dojo, once said to me that, the real benefit of Karate training was for our health.

Of course, like many things Clarke Sensei talked about, he is right. 

When I was asked the other day, why do you train in Karate, my response was the same as it has always been since training in authentic Karate...

"I train for the fight I hope I never have to have". 

This statement runs deeper than the superficial street fight that many would automatically think of. I am of course, talking of illness. Authentic karate also breeds a tolerance to pain, which is why you don't see many of the Kigu (tools) of this type of Karate in the all to familiar family setting of a club. Some of the tools are positively brutal when engaged with on a higher level. 

It's not for everyone,  which is why less people practise/train in this way. 

You can pretty much  say that it harms the body and is thus is bad for your health, and this to an extent is true, but, and here's the kicker, once repaired the body and the mind are stronger. A transformation is taking place where by a higher resistance to, and a higher tolerance of pain has begun.

As I said the training isn't for everyone. 

Progress is slow, which is another good reason the type of training isn't popular in our 'need it now society. 

Being able to work the three areas of the forearm (inside, outside and back)  and back and side of the hands for hundreds of strikes cannot be had straight away....it takes time, a lot of endorphin release through continual practise and a desire to improve. 

For example, at strike/block number 45, your brain goes on the defensive to stop the exercise. It's easy to listen and go along with the notion that stopping is the best option, but so much more can be gained by carrying on. A true glimpse of yourself might even be had at this point.

Karate (or substitute any martial art here)  for health  is a great idea. And when you've been training for a couple of decades you have to ask yourself 'do I need a Sensei' ?... the answer will only probably be yes if you are one of those who are focussed on grades, belts and titles; but really, do they matter....? Not where your health is concerned. 

If your paying out  a couple of hundred dollars a year in fees, and not getting the person you're  paying for then there's not much point. 

So striking and hitting stuff can be done by anyone, and you don't need a Sensei, club or organization to do it, and contrary to some that you will hear  critique it, it's not unhealthy training. 

          

 

The Moral of the Story

 You can look fit and strong on the outside but still be physically weak on the inside....

Having a teacher that has little or no knowledge of anatomy and injuries that can be debilitating, will more than likely be detrimental to your overall health and your training. It's why some of the more reputable larger Karate organizations have educational training programs in place for their instructors. The KUGB for example and the AKF to name but two have such programs in place. How do I know? well, I've successfully completed the training of both.

Weight I was struggling to move around, walk with, lift and hold a couple of years ago, is now somewhat easier. My body has repaired from the tears it was suffering from. Had I have kept going along the road I was then my abilities today might be quite different. 

We have to recognize in our training as to what is good for us, but moreover, we need to recognize that which is bad. This includes the people around us, those we train with and even possibly the Sensei who expects that which we can not possibly give, or chooses to ignore limitations we have. 

Karate, among other things should be enjoyable, tough but enjoyable, once it isn't, then there's a problem. 

Being mindful of the job you do too must be considered when training. Doing manual work is quite different from pushing a pen around a piece of paper, working from a laptop or sitting listening to someone's issues. Training may have a greater impact on the manual work you do, yet the later not so much.

The moral......

It doesn't matter how good the Karate/Training is, if, over time you think it is a bad fit, look else where or simply leave.  

 

So you train in a Martial art....

 So you train in a Martial art do you.....?

Ever asked yourself what that actually means....?

Ever asked yourself what is Martial about it....? 

These are questions I asked myself back in 2012.  

Realizing the money making franchise I was a part of...for that is what most high street martial art schools are....had little or nothing to do with anything martial at all...... I left.

Yes, they are franchises. Clubs generate money for the person in charge of them. Often described as ' non profit' they all actually make money..... the money then going to the Head of the organization disguised as other things, such as grading fees and memberships, Uniform sales and expenses, some organizations even sell things like soft toys wearing a Gi......FFS.....is there no end to the money making.

          Not a Franchise

Personally I think a franchise has nothing to do with anything Martial at all. 

The penny dropped, so to speak, when I saw the prefilled grading certificates issued by the club i was then a member of.

Typical then of the Millennial era and a money making Karate Franchise where there was no opportunity to fail. 

Some groups even promote through their sales splurge that they promote a non contact environment. So there goes your locks, throws and pressure point training. But it's traditional Karate, right? 

Maybe you're not doing what you think you are, and it's very doubtful that there is anything remotely Martial about it......

But it is .....right ?

If the Karate fits.... wear it.

 Well, a bit of a hiatus with the blog.....but that isn't to say I haven't been training....I have, just not so much Karate, just some other stuff. 

Returning to the Makiwara the other day turned out to be a very humbling experience. 

Many of you who read the blog will already know that the variety of Makiwara I have are the nucleus of my training,together with just a few select Kata of Okinawan Karate 

Plenty to work on then. More than will last me another 30 years and see me well in to old age. 

For many Karateka, in my experience, there always seems to be a ' need more ' kind of attitude. With many whom I've met in the past constantly wanting to add more and more to the heaps that they don't already understand. 

I however, like the less is more approach.  There is more time to ' take a breath ' and study...

'Back in the day' as a guy in his late teens training 6 days a week in Athletics ( Discus ) , Judo and Basketball, I had to make a decision. Which would I focus on to achieve a higher level and, was I ok giving up the other two. 

I chose Basketball and as a Rookie was picked up by a Premier league team. For many years I honed my craft and the rest, well, that's part of my history.

At a Karate Gasshuku in April 2019, I realized I was never going to hone my Karate as long as stuff was continually added to it. Stuff like weapons and different exercise drills that would put my body under undue stress. I find it strange that I would be expected to do something that I had little opportunity in doing correctly without causing an injury. 

I digress...  I already had nearly two decades worth of content to work on, so adding other stuff also seemed odd. 

Of course I had been to other Gasshukus hosted by other groups where there would be a similar idea. Whether or not it was just about making the training different, I'm not too sure, but I do know an injury would often follow. 

Now making the training fit my body and not the other way around, injuries are now a rare occurrence in my training, and I remember my last Sensei explaining that this is how it should be with karate....umm

My point is just this, make the Karate fit your body and you will have longevity in your training...  If the Karate fits...wear it.

Not always obvious....

So, the weather has turned. It's cold here now where I am.
Of course it matters less if you train in one of those heated gyms or sports halls that cater for the masses and pseudo Karate people.

The bite in the late night air makes it harder to work with the Jari bako or Makiwara.
But then again if training in the original type of Karate were easy, then there would be more doing it.

Jari Bako....harder on the
Fingers during winter....

Gone now too are the array of small creatures that seem to like sharing the Dojo during the warmer months.
So there really is now just myself, basking in the serenity that the solitary way affords.

Injury though is always on my mind in colder weather.
I've only ever had one sensei that took any real notice of a student that was injured and yet still present in the dojo training. Realizing that although they were not 100% they would still give it their 100%.....Rob Welsh of the KUGB was like that.
Every other Sensei I have had ( there have been a few due to relocations) has just seemed to pay lip service in regards to injury. ....Its not always obvious...You can look as strong as an ox on the outside, but the inside can tell a completely different story. That so many are ignorant to this fact is quite amazing.

Better to train smart now the colder weather is here than not train at all, but don't let that be an excuse to not take advantage of the Winter weather.... it's good for the soul.

Training is everywhere....

Every once in a while, you come across somebody who inspires. Inspires without them really knowing that they do such a thing. I have been lucky, and have trained under three Sensei like this.

Character is regarded by many martial artists as a fundamental development process within any given art.
And yet so many let themselves down when away from the training they partake in.
Heaven knows, I've done it myself.
Character tested regularly and failed many times.

My Dojo Kun.....
It all adds up to Character
Development 

You do have to be open to failure though, because without it, it is impossible for character to develop.

I have been part of clubs and associations and taught Karate to large numbers during seminars and group gatherings, and was even a part of a small private Dojo once; moving on as soon as it no longer felt right to be there.

The schools Children attend from as young as 3 through to 18 do nothing to give the opportunity of failure. No, now all there is are certificates and gold stars for such silly things as simply rocking up on time.
Hardly any wonder that the world is becoming a mess.

But this said, I regularly come across 'adults' whom occasionally show their true colors and really let themselves down, as well as others......

Martial training is not just something to be done in the Dojo, club, school gym or wherever training might take place. It's about weaving it through all aspects of daily life, which of course is where it's real beauty lies.

I was asked the other day if I have ever used my Martial arts training on the street. The person was a bit perplexed when I replied
" I use it every day ".....