On being a "Master"...

A recent post on Shihan Doug Wilson's blog reminded me of something discussed at a recent seminar by Shihan Jack Hoban.

You can read Doug's post at http://henka.wordpress.com/2008/11/24/master-who.

At the seminar, Jack said at his seminar and in conversation. He spoke about budo having no beginning and no end and, if something has no beginning and no end, then there is really no real measurement, no rank, no "mastership". What is the goal? What are we trying to achieve? What is it that we "think" we're learning or gaining? Is it something, or really nothing. Or, is it simply a process, an experience, which shapes who we are as individual human beings?

We all begin budo training in our lives at a particular point. Some people take a while to "get it", some people "get it" right away, some never do and some come into it already "getting it". Yet, the art itself has already existed, being timeless. It's like a constant flowing river with no start or end, since any start or end would cause the river to stop - in other words, it has to be endless to be continuous. We just hop in wherever we are along it's path.

He talked about how, no matter the rank in the room, we really were all the same. If there was an end to achieve, then we could measure how much budo we "get". But since there isn't, we can't. The only measurement we have is in how far we have come since our own individual beginning. This is a purely personal thing, which cannot possibly be compared from one person to another, but only in regards to the individual.

This is why, no matter the rank of the person, we are all students first. There really is no "master", there is no "teacher/student" line. Simply put, we all are on our own personal path, as a student, never able to "master" anything because our path is never subordinate to us. Quite actually, we are the subordinate, we are the servant, of it. It is our "master". Because we are humble in knowing our place, we become students and the real learning happens. This is where humility becomes our yoroi (armor).

To "master" something means to take ownership of what we know, to hold on to it as some kind of tangible thing. Yet, we are admonished by Soke to "gambatte" (keep going/training). This means we must always keep moving forward, not to hold on to anything, but to just keep moving. We are not to sit back on what we've done and learned up to this point. We must always keep looking ahead. Jack spoke of things he learned in his early years and having thought he knew it, yet learned later that he really didn't understand at all. So, how many people think they "know" something now, but will eventually discover they didn't understand it? Does this ever end? Even Soke himself talks about constantly discovering new levels in his own understanding, that his teacher (Takamatsu Soke) is teaching him from the grave. Is there ever a time when we can safely say we "know" anything? Is there ever a time we can capture the river, yet still keep it flowing fresh and vibrant?

Anyway, I found this interesting. As I trained in the room with so many people, most of whom were dan grade, many of whom 5th dan and above, I found myself seeing each person as just another student on their own path. A shodan is on a different path than another shodan - their ranks are not the same because it represents something different for each of them. I saw people at all levels of taijutsu, of personality, of physical stature and of beliefs (one guy talked about having to behead goats for a recent religious ceremony!). Yet, we all came together under the flag of peace, of warrior friends, to put aside our differences and just train together as students, so that we may grow a little more in our own budo path. There were no "masters", believe me!

Yet, I see many claiming such things and often wonder, as Doug did in his blog and as Jack wondered at the seminar, "master" of what?

For me, I'm focused on just staying on the river and enjoying the journey to nowhere.

Another great seminar!

On Saturday, I attended a wonderful seminar taught by Gojudan (15th degree black belt) Jack Hoban. Just as all of Jack's seminars, it was absolutely wonderful! The location was a new dojo sharing a building with a karate school. The room was packed! Yet, the closeness was great to be able to spend time with Jack as he went around the room helping, guiding and sharing his great stories.

We spent considerable time just doing "basics". I say "basics" in quotes simply because there really are no basics, per se. Once you start peeling the layers, there are countless levels of detail, efficiency and tactics to make "basics" not so "basic" anymore. This is exactly what the seminar was like, much to my pleasure.

We started by looking at some rolling concepts. Since our Soke's theme this year has been Togakure Ryu, we looked at that influence in techniques and strategy. This year also has been the Year of the Rat in asian astrology, so the feeling this year has been indicitive of a rat - an efficient survivalist, being able to sense and avoid danger, and having an intuition to always find the escape route.

In Togakure Ryu techniques, especially in the beginning levels, the emphasis is to evade and escape, using strategies and tools made for that purpose. So, in the seminar we practiced rolling as a means of escape and avoiding danger.

We also looked at three basic kamae, or postures. The first, Ichi no Kamae (aka Ichimonji no Kamae), involved standing in an "on guard" posture and he went into detail about the importance of the lead hand in "shaping/conrolling the space". He did similar things with the other two kamae, which were Hicho no Kamae and Jumonji no Kamae. In Hicho no Kamae, he talked about the importance of not collapsing the space when drawing the lead leg back.

In fact, this concept of not collapsing the space was an important element in all his demonstrations. He showed the Sanshin no Kata as a method to practice this concept. For instance, in Chi no Kata, the tendency is to pull the lead hand back before the rear hand comes forward. This causes the mai ai or distance between you and your target to collapse, inviting an attack. The same was true for the other Sanshin kata, such as Sui no Kata, Ka no Kata, etc.

He also spoke about doing Jodan and Gedan Uke (blocking) without collapsing the space, which was a different approach than many basic ways I've seen of doing those techniques. It made total sense from a tactical point of view and was something I noted for my own teachings and training.

We didn't do much in the way of weapons. But, we did look at some sword work, in particular how to create an opening to draw in an attack. When you and an opponent are both in Seigan no Kamae (a kind of "on guard" posture, where the tip of the sword points at the opponent's heart), there is no space to enter. By shifting "off line", but keeping your sword "on line", you cause them to follow your body with their sword tip. This creates a suki, or opening, to lunge your sword forward. They can't bring their sword back fast enough because they are out of kamae. This was one such example he taught.

The whole seminar lasted for over 7 hours, with a break for lunch. Even the break was nice. Many of us went to a small Italian deli nearby. I had a great panini sandwich and sat outside by myself. Towards the end of my meal, both Jack and Dale Seago (good friend and 15th dan) came and sat at my table. We chatted for a while until it was time to go back. You just can't beat good fellowship time, even with all the great physical training.

After the seminar was over, Jack and many others went to go have dinner and fellowship at a local Mex restaraunt. Unfortunately, I needed to get back home, so I wasn't able to go with them. I'm sure the night was filled with good food, drink and "Jack tales".

I am very happy to have attended the seminar. It was a much-needed recharge to my budo!

Kurai Dori, Gambatte and Sutemi

I have been thinking much these days regarding my own budo path and struggles. At this moment, I will confess that my own attention has been off balance - I have been much more of a teacher than a student. This is shameful on my own part as a budoka and something I have been dreadfully aware of for quite some time. This is not due to my own laziness or lack of ambition as it is more of a choice of priorities in the limited time I have available to me.

I have friends who are great teachers and who have great dojos to train in. I can certainly get out there and train with them every week. But, each class they hold ends up falling on a day or night which is already booked with family events, work events or even my own Intel class (which is only on Tuesdays).

Then, there is the financial consideration. Some of these schools charge rates which would tap into resources used for family time, which is something needed even more.

So, I just keep going in training with my Intel group. I stay on task with what I have been taught and work on things which I feel need to be tackled. I am looking forward to a big seminar next month right here in Granite Bay with Gojudan (15th degree black belt) Jack Hoban and his yearly review of what he learned from our Soke's current teachings.

But, there are opportunities to train more with those I respect and hold keys to my budo growth, if I can find the time/space/finances to train with them.

In our budo, there is a term called "Kurai Dori", which literally means to "take position". But, the meaning of "dori" can also be to "seize" or "assume". Either way, it is an action, an overt act. But, consider the meaning of "dori". To "take" is different than to "create" something. Therefore, what exactly are you "taking"? If you move into a fighting position, for instance, what are you "taking" that position from?

My understanding of Kurai Dori is that it has much more to do with becoming the missing puzzle piece in the whole picture. You become the shape needed for the space. In combat, this can have many applications and purposes, all of which are designed around one concept - to adapt. However, Kurai Dori can also be to assume a space which limits or prevents the shape of the attacker in fitting properly, thus taking away or reducing the effects of their action. All techniques require both tori and uke to be at precise positioning and angling at just the right timing in order to work properly. The more any of those deviate from that plan, the less effective the technique becomes. Moving in Kurai Dori is to always "take a position" which deviates from what the attacker (or any threat) needs to be successful in their efforts.

Another regular term used in the Bujinkan is "gambatte", which basically means to "keep going". Normally this is meant as an admonition to just stick to training, be vigilant and never give up. But, "gambatte" also means something very basic, very vital and at the root of Soke's budo. It means to never stop moving, to "keep going" in your technique, to always be adjusting, shifting, positioning, adapting to whatever is happening or not happening, to keep your intent and purpose clear, to not get hung up on anything and to just live (as an action) life. This is important to training as well as combat. True Kurai Dori is Gambatte. It is always moving, always shifting, always adapting, always expressing and always on course.

This ties into something I've been meditating on all week, a concept called "Sutemi". This term is often interpreted to mean "suicide techniques", but actually is more about intent than techniques. It has to do with "letting go" of fear, doubt, hope, anything and just going for broke, acting as if you have nothing to lose - because you aren't holding anything in the first place.

An example of Sutemi is, while being thrown by your attacker, you "let go" of being thrown and continue to attack as your body flies overhead. Another example is when one's back is against the wall, with no retreat, and they have to fight their way out. It's what makes someone put themselves in the path of the bullet in order to save another. Or, maybe it involves that ferocity that comes from a bear protecting her cub.

Sutemi also has an ura, or reverse side. Knowing how a person can do incredible things when they feel there's no way out or their life is in imminent, unavoidable danger, it becomes important for you to not allow your opponent to feel that. They should be given a choice, a perceived way out. They need to feel like they have a chance. Give them a bait to trap themselves, but don't let the trapped mouse become a raging tiger! Eventually, in the right timing, their defeat will come, like the cat who plays with the mouse until the right time to finish it happens.

What this has to do with my current struggles in my budo training is still a subject for more meditation, but I do find the timing of these things appearing before me very interesting. I know I must "gambatte" in order to not stagnate my budo. However, I also know during these times I can lose my position, so I need to focus on "Kurai Dori" to adapt to what my challenges and opportunities are and to be patient with the timing. Lastly, I need to "let go" and have "Sutemi" to get past those internal things which prevent me from training as much as I should. I need to remind myself that I must lose or let go of seeing myself as either teacher or student and just train. Defining myself by any role means I will strive to operate as that role, when in fact I am many roles at the same time - sempai/kohai (senior/junior) and sensei/deshi (teacher/student).

As long as I Gambatte in true Kurai Dori, with the zero of Sutemi, then I am truly walking a budo path.

Easier said than done, eh?