誠 - Sincerity

I watched a video on Youtube (=PKLPplI5xo4) of a supposed test for Shodan for the style of Karate I trained in when I was in High School/early 20's. Having been in Japan for over 10 years and having access to legitimate masters, I was shocked, amused, and disgusted all at the same time from watching the video. What I thought was "the real deal" uber-traditional school is so far off the mark that it is laughable. It is not only that they don't know, they don't know that they don't know. Probably 95% of American martial arts studios might as well be dance studios, because they are teaching the moves without teaching the culture/thinking that gave birth to the moves. They are teaching brain surgery without teaching their students basic first aid first. The basic fundamental I see lacking is sincerity.

There are some serious, dedicated warriors in America, but the bread and butter students that pay for the "dojo's" strip-mall rent lack the level of sincerity that a typical Japanese person has. Part of this is of course cultural. Being raised in the same culture that produced the art you want to train in naturally helps one understand the core philosophies that are the real lesson of any art; courtesy, respect for others, justice, etc. However, most American "Sensei" have none of this background of understanding, which results in crap in, crap out.

Specific examples of this lack of sincerity in training/teaching include:
- The lack of precise focused techniques.
- The lack of the combat mindset in the techniques being taught, and the way the students perform them. Suzy Soccermom is basically doing martial-esque dancing 2/3 times a week thinking it is going to enable her to stop a rapist. When I started with this particular chain of studios, we were REQUIRED to choke someone out and BE CHOKED OUT for 1st(?) Brown Belt. Now, I have heard from my brother that they don't even do light contact sparring anymore, which means they are training in a striking art, but they don't actually strike anyone. I sincerely hope this works out on the street...
- The lack of the cultural customs and courtesies that even non-martial artists know, i.e. don't sit on your ass when talking to you instructor

I could go on and on, but the point is this: The true benefit of traditional martial arts ARE the TRADITIONS that they were developed in/with. Without a sincere attempt to learn, understand, and teach these, the martial arts become no more than teaching a hairless monkey how to kick and punch...insincerfe teaching and training leads to insincere people, and the world certainly has enough of those already...

礼 - Courtesy; how to win by losing

"Samurai have no reason to be cruel. They do not need to prove their strength. A Samurai is courteous even to his enemies...A Samurai is not only respected for his strength in battle, but also by his dealing with other men." **

I saw two guys arguing on the platform as I got off at my stop on Wednesday. More correctly, one guy was yelling at the other guy about whatever wrong, real or imagined, that he had suffered, while the older of the two basically looked at him, with a "You are such a dumbass..." look on his face.

It instantly reminded me of a maxim that is commonly quoted in realation to all martial arts in Japan, "武道は礼に始まり礼に終る" = "The martial arts begin and end with courtesy". In riding the trains here in Japan, I see it on a daily basis. The customs and courtesies of Japan are disappearing, and the presence of Western-style egos and an undeserved sense of self-importance are rising, which has led to more and more displays like I saw on Wednesday. Something that I have learned from living here is that, no matter if they are absolutely 100% right, the louder person is always seen as the asshole. Getting angry/pissed off earns you contempt, not respect, no matter how "right/righteous" you may be...isn't that right Christian Bale?

This concept is something I sorely wish the rest of the world would learn, and I hope Japan doesn't forget. Anger and ego never help in a conflict, politeness does. The guy on the platform could have "won" his argument by being calm and rational, instead of the loudmouthed dick he looked like to me. If he had let the other guy run his mouth, he would have won by letting people think, as I did, that the other guy screaming and yelling was in the wrong.

Win by "losing"...by losing your ego, by losing your need to prove your point/your righteousness, by losing your anger...

But of course this does not change the fact that some people just need a good ass kicking to 'enlighten' them... >:-)

** from The Last Samurai DVD

Focus...

極め ('kime'; pronounced "key-meh"), is a Japanese word that is often used in Japanese martial arts, and in which context it is usually translated as "focus"; ie the exact spot a particular punch/kick/attack is focused. However, the verb it comes from, 極める (kimeru), has a MUCH broader meaning: --> http://eow.alc.co.jp/%e6%a5%b5%e3%82%81%e3%82%8b/UTF-8/?ref=sa
It can mean "to master" "to assess" "to achieve" "to surpass" "to exceed" "to go far beyond"...

With the latter meanings in mind, I intend to both "focus" and "go beyond" what I have been doing up to now with this blog. Lack of focus/purpose results in lack of action, which can be seen in my sporadic posting. But after recently finding various blogs being written by non-Japanese living in Japan, most of which have a fairly specific focus, I realize I want to do likewise So, the main focus of this blog will be about training in modern Japan in ancient arts of combat, and how the old ways are still relevant to the new ways/society of today. 頑張ります！

Grandmother's Valentines day advice...

"Just love' em and leave 'em...!" - My 90 year old grandmother >:-)

Even MORE pics!!!

Shinken (real) top; mugito (alumi/zinc) bottom

Closeup of mekugi (pin), fuchi (collar behind the -->), tsuba (guard)

Gold Dragon menuki

More Pics:

Tsuba, Habaki, & Hamon 1

Hamon 2

Hamon 3

Hamon 4

Hamon 5 & Kissaki

....and just to prove that it is actually in *my* possession...Get the point?

A dream achieved...my REAL katana

After wanting one for 28 years, I am finally the proud owner of my own real-deal, 100% authentic katana (AKA a shinken --> literally meaning "real sword"), AKA the sword/soul of the Samurai. After Saturday's (1/31) massive "New Year's practice" with all the groups that fall under the Meishi-ha of Mugai-ryu Iaido, the only other two Japan based white boys in the organization and I dragged our asses out to Machida-shi to Hataya-sensei's sword shop.

Hataya-sensei is a shihan in Toyama-ryu, a different style/organization from the one I train in, but one that many of our people cross-train with because they are heavily into cutting. Hataya-sensei is The Man to go to if you are in the market for a sword to be used for serious training. A lot of other sword shops are mainly focused on selling the uber-beautiful 'art' swords; the ones that are nice to look at, but are too high-class to actually use for kata training/cutting practice. It is the difference between dating the stuck-up prom-queen, and dating the fun, out-going chick down the street. The prom-queen will stroke your ego, but the other girl will stroke your...>;-)

I had gone there a couple weeks ago with (kokusai-bu) Bucho and Elvis and had looked at a few swords, but he has so many, it would literally take all day to see/handle them all. Fortunately, he lists all of his available blades on his web page...I take this as a sign of Hachiman's assistance in my quest. I checked out the specs of the blades, and wrote down the stock #s of the ones I was interested in. My requirements/preferences include:
- Length: no shorter that 70cm, no longer that 73cm
- weight: minimum of about 750g, no more that about 1100g
- NO SHORTENED BLADES!! This abomination was usually done because the bureaucrat Samurai of the Bakufu found the length of their swords got in the way of their indoor paper pushing. I find any such deviation from the sword's original purpose-built design unforgiveable. This. is. Spartaaaaah!!!
- No Hi in the blade. Called a "blood-groove" by know-nothings, Hi is carved into a blade to lighten it or for decoration, neither of which I particularly desire
- a blade over 100 years old, because it is over 100 years old
- decent furniture/fittings. Not too plain, but not too guady either

Well, list in hand, I went there, and walked out the door with this blade:

Here's some pics:

The sword bag and cord that Hataya-sensei threw is as a 'freebie' --> which they call "sabisu" ~> 'service' here in Japan.

My new toy!!

With my zinc/aluminum mugito in my sword stand, a fan for decoration, and a book of Soto-shu Buddhist chants. --> The founder of Mugai-ryu was also Buddhist priest, so many of us also practice Zazen.

I finally need the second sword rack! Steel sword is on the top with the sageo that was also a freebie, zinc/aluminum sword is on the bottom (Sorry Hoss, there's a new sherrif in town...)

A close up of one of the two golden dragon menuki. They look identical, but are slightly different. This has the dragon holding a ball/jewel(?), in the one on other his hand?..paw?* is empty.
("Do dragons have large talons?")

More sword pics to follow... -->This is a also goo training for using my other recent purchase, my HD Sony camera (see below/the archives). I need to really pay attention to the depth of field of the close ups...it makes all the difference between a great shot and garbage.