Understanding the Difference - Part II

My last post was aiming to point out the distinctions between what is 'the way' and what is actually not the way and things that might be compromising the way.
This post is a continuation of this.


There is a difference between...


...just going through the motions and real training.
Some practitioners of the martial arts don't know how to put real effort into their training.
As Gichin Funakoshi said: "You may train for a long time, but if you merely move your hands and feet and jump up and down like a puppet, learning karate is not very different from learning a dance. You will never have reached the heart of the matter; you will have failed to grasp the quintessence of karate-do."
Real effort yields real development.



...striving to improve and expecting Sensei to do it for you.
If you are frustrated that you're not leaning or growing in your knowledge or ability, it's easy to blame the person imparting that knowledge and expect them to somehow do the work for you. As the saying goes, The instructor can only show you the door, you have to walk through it.
This a lesson for everything in life; if there's a problem, look at the part you've played before blaming others.



...choreographed routine and Kata.
All kata have many lessons to teach. There is a large range of different things about your Budo that you can learn from a single kata.
If all you do is memorise the pattern and moves of a Kata so you can perform it well, then you're missing out on the majority of what can be learnt from the art form.


...Kata and Bunkai.
Even if you're aware of a certain bunkai for a particular kata and even if you keep that bunkai in mind when you practice the kata, you still only 'know' the kata. You 'know' the bunkai when you can execute it at speed with control against an opponent's real attack.



...assumption of practicality and a technique that works.
People who 'know' the kata, quite often assume that they could execute the bunkai at speed with control against an opponent's real attack, even though they've never actually it. This is a dangerous assumption to make.



...ego and honour.
Your ego is how you view yourself - Honour is how the world views you. Problems arise when we feel we need to defend our ego, or prove some aspect of it. It's easy for someone with a hurt ego to claim their honour is insulted. Honour is something separate from our ego. It's not our self-image, it's the integrity of our spirit and virtues.



...doing ‘good’ for self-centred reasons and benevolence.
True benevolence (being a truly good person) is to be self-less. The sort of person that does something 'good' expecting people to owe them or expecting praise for their 'good deed' is not actually a benevolent person, in spite of how much they wish you would perceive them as such.



...justification and rectitude.
With a little bit of imagination it's possible to justify any action and say it was the right thing to do, but this doesn't make it so.



...equivocation and the truth.
Google defines 'equivocation' as: "the use of ambiguous language to conceal the truth or to avoid committing oneself." It is when dishonest people willingly allow others to be deceived even though the words they use are 'technically true'. This is basically no different to straight-out lying. 



...bravery and courage.
Put simply, bravery is to act without fear, but Courage is to be afraid and to be strong enough to act in spite of it. There is no skill or strength required to be brave.



...blind obedience and loyalty.
Loyalty has a specific purpose or point. There is logic, thought and reason behind it. Obedience demands the absence of thought and reason. An obedient person does as they're asked without question. True Budo requires Loyalty, not Obedience.



...showing respect and having respect.
Just 'acting' respectful doesn't mean that you 'are' respectful. A person who acts like a someone is amazing and says how great they are, but then will say the opposite behind their back, is a coward, dishonest and dishonourable. A true Bujin is always polite and is never 'disrespectful', but at the same time they aren't disingenuous with anyone either.
Be courteous with everyone, but 'have' respect for those who deserve respect.

Comment below to share any thoughts or opinions you might have. J

Thanks for reading.
Derm

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