一 Do something every day
Don't just wait until the next time you're back at the Dojo before you do anymore training. The best way to enhance your budo and make it a part of you is to be doing it regularly, the more regular the better.
Do something everyday!
The average person with a full time job and a family doesn't really have the time to spend 2 or 3 hours a day in the backyard, but it's very easy to use this as an excuse to not bother with any training in our own time.
The average kata takes about 1 to 2 minutes to execute. Imagine how much better you'd be if you spent just 15 minutes each day and did the kata that you're currently working on 10 times with everything you've got.
A set of 20 to 40 push-ups takes only 1 to 2 minutes. How much stronger would you be if you were doing 120 push-ups (in 2 or 3 separate sets) throughout every day? That would only take an extra 10 minutes from your day, only a couple of minutes at a time.
We all have the capability and time to do just a little extra each day. A little extra makes a big difference.
二 Regular Hojo Undo
The average Karateka might have done some occasional Hojo Undo, but the majority aren't doing it regularly.
Hojo Undo literally means 'supplementary training'
Correct regular Hojo Undo training can benefit your Budo immensely.
Be sure that the exercises you're doing are correct though. If you regularly do incorrect Hojo Undo exercises, it could cause lasting damage and injuries. Always make sure to ask your instructor which exercises would be of benefit.
三 Video Yourself
You can learn a lot from watching yourself on video, you are your best instructor.
A video is honest and tells you the whole story.
Don't just wait until a tournament or grading day before you have the opportunity to see your Budo technique on Video. Almost everyone has a camera on their phone, use it to work on your skill.
Video yourself (executing a kata or some simple drill) then appraise your technique and find things you should be fixing.
四 Reflecting on Your Art Form
Use your head. Think through your art form. Reflect on the effectiveness of the technique.
Are you able to use the technique at it's best?
What should you do to become better?
What is any particular technique (or entire section of a kata) aiming to achieve?
Someone came up it, is that what the original intention was?
It's all about seeking to gain understanding of what you're doing. Don't just take things a face value. Too many people simply just do as the instructor tells them and never give things a second thought.
(I'm sure lots of deep thought was probably involved)
五 Assume nothing
There are many assumptions in Budo practice.
One example is the assumption that exaggerated stances will automatically make your Budo more effective. The long low 'traditional stances' will make your legs stronger, but unless you consciously know to how to use that strength and when to apply it, that strength gained will only be useful in practice.
Another assumption is that the order of kata in a particular style's syllabus is an order of increasing complexity. While kata like Taikyoku and Sanchin are indeed less complex than other kata, it doesn't absolutely mean that this is the case with all kata in the order you find them in your style. Especially when you compare that kata that many consider to be 'Dan Grade' level, you're making a mistake to assume that any are better than others, as different kata are better for different people.
Another assumption is thinking the term 'correct technique' is an absolute term. What you consider to be 'correct technique' is relevant only to you at this time. As you learn and understand more, your idea of 'correct technique' will change. So no one can look at others (especially those form other clubs and styles) and judge their different technique as 'incorrect'.
Another assumption is that progression is linear and the same for all students. Why do people seem to think that their development and therefore progress through the grades will follow a straight path? No one's journey is a linear progression. There are slow periods and times of great advancement. Sometimes we learn much and sometimes we plateau and struggle. This is the true way of things and the expectation that you should be of a certain level (or that you will grade soon) is not only silly, it is a recipe for great frustration. Also, with the understanding that everyone's progress varies greatly, comes the understanding that comparing your progress to others it just stupid.
There are many more assumptions that I could list, the point being is that your preconceived ideas should stay as simple ideas, don't let them become assumptions and change your perception of things. Stay open-minded and understand that your current knowledge is not absolute.
六 Use Your Budo In Everything
Jesse Enkamp (of www.karatebyjesse.com) recently shared this on social media:
Gichin Funakoshi said: "Apply the way of karate to all things. Therein lies its beauty."
You can apply the lessons you learn in your training to almost everything you do in your daily life. For example, opening a door. Rather than just pushing from your shoulder or leaning your weight on the door, you can use 'Gamaku', keep your elbows in a apply force to the door the same way you would any Budo technique.
This is the same with almost all daily tasks. You can use and work on technique with the correct posture all the time - so effectively you can be 'training' all the time.
七 Question Things (respectfully)
There seems to be an attitude in many 'traditional' Budo styles (particularly styles from Japan), that things shouldn't be questioned. I've heard instructors say things like "Sensei is always right" and "Don't worry about that, just do as I've said".
Some places have a culture that treats questioning things as taboo or even disrespectful. As far as I can see it, an instructor that doesn't want to be questioned is an instructor that is too arrogant to face the fact that they might be mistaken, or they have no confidence in their own knowledge (and should not be teaching).
In any endeavour when trying to learn and understand something, we should always seek clarification and ask about things.
In some cases it's possible that the full answer is beyond the current level of understanding of the student, but in this case the instructor should be knowledgeable enough to provide guidance without being confusing.
Always remember to be respectful when questioning things though. Never act like you know better than the instructor and don't be rude. If you're disrespectful in your approach when asking about something, don't expect a very comprehensive answer.
八 Look Into Different Styles Variations
Everyone has different opinions and points of view regarding the application of techniques and bunkai. This is the reason why different styles exist. If there was 'one correct way', there would only be one style and we'd all be doing the same thing.
With the execution of kata, for example. It is best to avoid the mindset of being closed to all methods other than just the one style. You might train in one specific club and with just the one instructor, but don't be ignorant to other ideas and other versions of the same kata. If you only see one persons point of view how can you be truly informed? It's best to seek to understand many different interpretations. Look up how others do that specific kata and see if it leads to the same bunkai or maybe a different application. If there's a different application, would that be more effective? Can that application apply to your version? What possible reason is there for the difference?
To really study your art form is to seek as much knowledge about it as possible, analyse that knowledge and apply what you perceive as applicable for you.
It is a mistake to be close-minded about any knowledge, especially if it's different to your current way of understanding.
Comment below to share any thoughts or opinions you might have. J
Thanks for reading.
Derm
ϾDerm
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