|
RSS |
|
Total Karate
|
Total Karate Feed Digest
|
|
-
Another August "Haiku"
Continuing the late summer theme...
August evening
Long shadows,
leaves on the bonfire -
Sweet!
-
Conditions, Conditions
Have you ever imposed yourself on others? Have you ever put someone into a tight corner by placing conditions on their actions? I got this fun message on Facebook....
Think about this for a min......
If I happened to show up on your door step crying, would you
care?
If I called you and asked you to pick me up because something
happened, would you come?
If I had one day left, to live my life; would you be part of
that last day?
If I needed a shoulder to cry on, would you give me yours?
This is a test to see who your real friends are or if you are
just some one to talk to you when they are bored . . . send this to
everybody on your list including the person who sent it to you. I just
did.....because you are my friend. If I don't get this back I guess your not
my friend.
(Yes I know it's just one of those silly little chain messages that do the rounds, but let's use it for a bit of contemplation...)
The message is basically "If you don't write back then I won't be your friend". Fine. What it's really saying is "I'm insecure in my life which is why I need constant proof and reminders that everything is OK."
Real friendship is UNconditional. Hey, delete the email with a snort of derision, but I'll still be your friend. Isn't that better?
We impose on each other all the time. We tie each other up... (not like that, unless you're into that sort of thing!) ... using social rules and conditions. You know, "do this job for me and you'll be my favourite", or "if you work hard you can be employee of the month", or any number of other things.
Shallow, spiritually devoid niceties don't make for good relationships. People are as they are. Accept them for that and let them live their own lives. You can still be friends, even if he/she doesn't tidy up "properly", or they vote for the other lot, or they are Black or Russian, or they laugh at your karate, or whatever.
Once we remove this kind of judgement from our lives we take a step closer to freedom.
-
Basic and Advanced Kata
"Pinan Nidan!" Kata time...
You can see the look on some of the seniors' faces. Oh crap, not pinan nidan again! "Why can't we do advanced kata instead?" Their eyes give their thoughts away.
Without a firm foundation "advanced" kata are useless. You have to keep working away on your basics. Walk before run, and all that. But there really are no advanced nor basic kata.
You can do any kata in a basic way, or an advanced way, but that doesn't make any difference to the kata. Besides, something is only advanced if it's new, or you don't know it.
Maybe chinto is more interesting than pinan nidan? But if you do a kata right you don't hold on to concepts such as boredom. Boredom is a result of non-focus. If you're not focused how can you have a chance with a difficult kata? (And yes, the kata is only difficult if you don't practice enough).
Let's talk depth.
You can learn the sequence of pinan nidan and leave it at that. You might even learn some basic bunkai, and leave it at that. OK, it's a basic kata. But after a couple of years' work on the kata a new world opens up. Rooting, softening, body management, mental focus, timing, feeling, the energy of the form... these things only show up way after you've learned the moves.
So you can do any kata in an "advanced" or "basic" way, but the best way of working the kata is by training it to your current level of understanding. That's why the whole class can do pinan nidan, and everyone regardless of experience, gets something out of it.
Anyhow, I think it's easy to show off with "higher level" kata. Chinto, Passai, Wanshu, etc impress people. You can hide behind the external performance of the kata.
But when you come to do pinan nidan there's nowhere to hide. The apparently simplistic katas blow your cover big time! I mean, if I can't root, flow, express power, understand application, relax, employ the correct principles, etc then my pinan nidan isn't too good. There are no flashy moves to hide my ineptitude from others!
To anyone who is a brown belt or above, next time the pinans are on the training agenda - watch your step!
Let's put another perspective on it, because now I'm reminded of a couple of sayings/anecdotes.
If you imagine the difficult as easy, and the easy as difficult then there is no distinction between the two. The illusion falls away!
And remember, it is said of Zen that mastery lies in the mundance things. You don't have to sit in a cave for 20 years to seek enlightenment. Zen is found is washing pots, cleaning the house, and sweeping the leaves.
-
Teaching Kids Kata (or anything else, come to think of it)
Our girls' dancing class is interesting. There's a section for the under five's, where they learn a variety of tap dancing routines for the summer competition season, and also for shows. How can you expect a bunch of 3-5 year olds to learn a tap dancing routine?
The kids line up and the dance teachers (there's a 3 or 4 of them helping out) perform the dance. No attempt is made to keep the kids up with the pace. If the kids just want to stand there, that's fine. They are not compelled to dance.
But over the course of a few sessions more of the kids are doing more of the dance, and when it's time to do the whole performance they've all got it. The routine isn't forced on them. They naturally pick it up as they observe the teachers and the other kids. It kinda "just happens".
That doesn't mean to say the teachers don't keep order, though. If the kids start to drift out of line or mess about they are brought back to order. And once everyone has made it through the dance they will spend some time on some of the finer detail.
I recently started using this same approach with kata. I don't "teach kata" to the kids any more. Instead we spend some time during training just going through the movements. Everyone does it, regardless of their ability, and over time the standard improves. I can later spend more time with those kids that "need" the kata for their next grades, and we can explore the form in a bit more detail.
Come to think of it, I might try the same approach with the adults too! Little and often, that's the trick!
-
Corrections
I was working with a couple of the guys the other day, helping them with their pairs work. I thought they were getting a little bit flustered because they were trying to fix everything at once. The problem is, the conscious mind tries to run the whole show. It's a bit of a control freak and wants everything just right.
The best solution is to stop trying and just practice. Allow your body to make it's own postures, and through corrections and observations over time it will correct itself. If that sounds familiar, it's what Tim Gallwey calls "the inner game".
It's an internal struggle or conflict between two inner selves, the nagging conscious mind and the passive subconscious mind that will, if left alone quietly, will "just do" what needs to be done.
I learned an interesting lesson a while back about corrections. The thing is, if you're being corrected by your teacher it means there's hope for you yet! Students are only corrected if it is worth the teacher's time to do so.
If you find yourself being corrected by your seniors all the time that is a good sign, because it means you've been noticed and you've been seen putting some effort and attention into your training. If, on the other hand, you never get corrected it's because sensei can't be bothered with you - not because you are so good!!
Being corrected isn't a punishment, neither is it because "you're stupid". You are simply being guided to the next level. There's no reason to apologise!
Next time you are corrected take it on board and practice a little more. Once you've got that right, you'll be given further corrections, and on it goes. Listen to your seniors and put some effort into incorporating their advice - it is respectful to them, and it also shows that they respect you by giving you attention in the first place.
|
|
Martial Arts Videos/DVDs, Books, and Workout Music. Click here!
|
RSS 