Swords and Arrows

Post By: Deena Hucko 

Perhaps we had a touch of spring fever in Ken Jutsu class this week. Someone suggested we try knocking arrows out of the air with our bokken. Everyone agreed it would be an interesting exercise.

We warmed up by tossing balls into the air, then drawing our swords and "cutting" them. After honing our reflexes on the foam balls, we were ready for the real thing. Sensei Lee has a compound bow and a set of arrows with tips wrapped in red duct tape. As each of us took a spot at one end of the karate floor, Sensei Lee sighted her weapon and shot a series of arrows.

I took my turn with some trepidation. It seemed a little crazy to be standing there letting someone shoot live (albeit padded) arrows at me, and I had a flashback to when I was 12 years old. My brother and I were outside with a group of neighborhood children, in the fields behind our houses. One of the boys had a bow and arrow, and suddenly he aimed it straight up and shot an arrow into the air. His face turned to shock and fear as he realized what he had done, and everyone started to run. Except me. As the others ran, I felt a calmness that told me to stay still and watch the sky. Time slowed down, as it sometimes does, and I waited.

Back to the dojo, I was in place on the karate floor, waiting for the first arrow, fighting the sense of panic that was rising inside. Suddenly, I found that calmness. I was able to relax and wait for the arrow. While I can't claim to have knocked any out of the air, I was able to watch and step aside when the arrows approached.

Finding the calmness inside is an important part of martial arts training, where it is known as "mizu no kokoro" or "mind like water". To develop this calmness, we work on controlling our breathing, and on performing our techniques under duress in the dojo. Learning to face fear is part of that development, building confidence and courage. It is a lesson we are able to take out of the dojo and apply to our every day lives.

And that sky bound arrow of my youth? Fortunately, I watched it fall to the ground without harming anyone.

But What If...

Post By: Sensei Lee

I think one of the most common questions I hear as a Sensei is "But what if...?"

"But what if someone grabs you this way?"
"But what if the have a knife?"
"But what if they are on drugs and don't feel it when you hit them?"
"But what if they hit you with the other hand while you're escaping the grab?"

There are countless "But what if's...?" in life in general, and certainly these questions are bound to come up during training. In fact, it is good to be questioning. It shows that you are thinking about your martial art techniques and not simply following through the motions blindly.

Training in any martial art does not guarantee that you will conquer a gang of goons like Bruce Lee by delivering one perfectly executed technique to each bad guy. It means that should a threatening situation arise, that you are better prepared to handle it than the average person who has no training.

Lets say you are leaving a crowded theater when a fight breaks out. Suddenly an angry, violent, and out of control individual comes hurtling at you and your loved one. Your training can do a few different things for you. Perhaps because of your training, you heard the sounds of a fight and recognized it for what it was ahead of time. Martial arts training could allow you to get yourself and your loved one out of the situation before you inadvertently become stuck in the middle of it. Maybe you were able to get your loved one out of the way and divert most of the blow from this attacker while managing to subdue them with a couple of well timed strikes. Or maybe you heard the attacker coming and had enough time to meet their blow and throw them to the ground with an imperfect but effective Koshi Nage. Or maybe as they were coming at you...

There are thousands of scenarios you can work through. This is in part because of your training, you understand all the different ways a situation like this could play out. In contrast, someone with no martial arts experience would likely not even recognize what was going on until it was too late.

In real life, a self defense situation is never going to work the way it does in the dojo. An attacker will not grab you the same way, react the way you are used to, or necessarily respond to a foot stomp. However, after training for a number of years you start to develop a kind of martial arts 6th sense. You recognize what way joints move and what ways they do not. As openings present themselves you strike without really thinking about it. Awareness is what prepares you to react to an attack accordingly, even if it is not exactly like the way we practice in circle attacks.

This awareness comes from practice and time. One of my favorite Sensei told me something back when I was a green belt that I still think about today: "Cry in the dojo, laugh on the battlefield." I love that saying, and think about it often.

Photo By: Dan Hucko 

Board Breaking

Post By: S Lee

Board breaking is one of those iconic karate things that new students are often in awe over. It is a showy and strong example of sheer power as a hand or leg blasts through wood or even concrete like it was nothing. Reserved for seminars and belt testing, board breaking is also a "special" activity we don't get to do at every practice.

While breaking boards looks impressive, you may find that it is not at all as difficult as you first imagined. Some power, speed, and muscle are needed, however, most of the ability to break a board comes from your mind. Staying focused and hitting through the board, as opposed to ending your strike on contact will determine the likelihood of your success. Mentally, you have to imagine that you are going to explode through that wood board. Being afraid or timid will likely result in failure. Send your energy past the board and into the holders, as if the wooden separation isn't even there.  

That being said, there are other nuances to board breaking. Your Sensei will help you and explain what you exactly need to do. Listen to them! Some techniques are more difficult than others, and if a Sensei suggests trying something else, there is a good reason for it. There are many different techniques to use, including kicks and upper body strikes. It is best that you pick something you are familiar with, especially if it is your first time breaking.

There are different ways to go about breaking your 4 boards. Some students will go through them one by one, choosing one technique at a time to focus on. You pick your technique and find someone to hold your boards. After performing a few practice strikes, you then launch your technique and break. More advanced students, typically green belt and above, will do a series break. This is where you select at least two techniques to do in a sequence without a break in-between. After finding your holders, position them where you want. It might be with them standing across from each other or in a circle around you. Practice your entire sequence a few times. As soon as you are ready, break your boards in the order of your sequence. Another option is to break multiple boards at once. Pick a technique that is very strong for you, like an elbow strike. The holders will keep at least two boards steady, giving you a chance to break both boards at the same time with just one strike.

Enjoy board breaking! This is a fun way to challenge your mind and body. Those boards won't stand a chance this seminar!

This comic used to hang in the Kung-Fu studio. It always made me smile!

Photo By: Ken Smith 

   

Solitary Training

Post By: S Lee

We are all happy to get to practice and see a group of people ready to work hard! Their energy helps keep us going. Seeing people you enjoy working with is always a bonus as well. However, solitary training is also valuable.

Training by yourself can seem boring at first. You also may worry about practicing things incorrectly. But the benefits of this kind of practice outweigh the potential risks. Going through techniques on your own can give you insight you would not normally have gained working in  group. Your focus becomes internalized, forcing you to examine yourself more than you would in a class full of people. As we progress, this is also how we develop our own art, as opposed to doing a kata or technique a certain way because we were told to do so. This might mean seeing other possible applications of the techniques, such as transforming a simple side-block reverse punch combination into an arm break in Seisan Kata. Solitary training is also when you have an opportunity to be experimental. You can freely play around with weapons, techniques, and drills without worrying about possibly messing up and being embarrassed. I spent a week drilling the "suicide" nunchaku move by myself before attempting it in front of other people, not wanting them to see me bash myself in the head with the things. Committing to a seigan is a great outlet for solitary training. Unless you are able to make it to the dojo every single day for classes, you will end up doing some of your training alone.

Lone training can help you develop into a stronger martial artist. Overcome any trepidation you may have about practicing techniques incorrectly. Working on your own is an excellent opportunity to really examine yourself.

Photo By: Ken Smith

Outdoor Seigan

Post By: S Lee

During the Thursday class we have been challenging ourselves by having part of practice outside. The idea is to continue to do this, despite whatever weather conditions might arise. Though we have not been purposely adding time to our half hour challenge, it has been naturally happening. The first time out there we lasted half an hour, while last class we spent about forty-five minutes training outdoors. So why would anyone insist on this?

There are a number of reasons why outdoor training is beneficial. First, we did not pick the Thursday self defense class randomly. Using techniques on uneven ground, sometimes slippery ground, against people wearing layers of clothing, adds some needed realism to self defense. Chances are if you are ever attacked in real life, you may have to face these conditions. Even throwing a simple and normally powerful elbow strike is difficult if you slide on a patch of ice (which I found out last week.) It makes you realize that things like head kicks or spinning kicks are maybe not as good for self defense as you once thought. Plus, with the noise of the passing traffic it is almost impossible to hear your attacker approaching. This drastically cuts down on the time you have to react with something that makes sense.

Toughness is an element that is necessary in nearly every sport, and certainly in the martial arts. Forcing yourself to train in less than ideal conditions helps develop this inner sense of strength. It shows you that you can go outside in the rain or snow, do what you have to, and return relatively unscathed. I think anyone who has experienced this will agree that it feels good running up that hill. It feels good throwing your techniques and working through circle attacks as the wind rushes at you. There is a certain amount of satisfaction when you throw your wet and mud-stained uniform in the wash.

Personally, staying focused outside is the toughest thing for me. The rushing cars, occasional jogger, dog walkers, and the huge glowing Tim Horton's sign are all major distractions. Staying focused through kata and basics is even more difficult with all these other things going on.

I strongly urge people to join us outside. It is excellent training and you will feel good about it. Oxyclean and Tide are great at getting mud out of white uniforms.  

Photo By: Ken Smith

Awareness in Every Direction

Post By: Sensei Kris Green  
 
This is, I hope, the first of several posts related to a common theme: the 
karate code. And while the code is Okinawan in origin and derived from and for 
karate, it applies equally well to any martial art. Isshinryu’s founder, Master 
Shimabuku, adapted the Code of Karate from an ancient text on empty-hand 
fighting called The Bubishi. This code is a set of eight precepts that a 
karateka is encouraged to consider, interpret, and reinterpret as he or she 
develops through the art. 
 
1. A person’s heart is the same as heaven and earth. 
2. The blood circulating is similar to the moon and sun. 
3. The manner of drinking and spitting is either hard or soft. 
4. A person’s unbalance is the same as weight. 
5. The body should be able to change directions at any time. 
6. The time to strike is when opportunity presents itself. 
7. The eye must see all sides. 
8. The ear must listen in all directions. 
 
Here, I’d like to focus on the last two precepts: “The eye must see all sides” 
and “The ear must listen in all directions.” I want to consider them together 
because they are very similar, and yet that similarity often hides a much deeper 
interpretation. 
 
On the surface, these two seem to be very applicable to self defense. After all, 
how can one defend against opponents if you are not aware of their presence? If 
you only look forward, you cannot see the enemy hiding just beyond the doorway 
to the right. You may miss the sound of footsteps behind you as a malcontent 
approaches. Not to mention the threats that may come from above as someone drops 
from the ceiling, or below as the floor shifts, slides or falls out from under 
you. 
 
After reading many interpretations of these two precepts, it seems that most 
people stop there. And yet that ignores the profound philosophical side to these 
precepts. Lately, Sensei has been working with us specifically on developing 
awareness. Certainly these precepts speak to the importance of visual and 
auditory awareness of one’s surroundings. But there are two other directions in 
which we must see and hear. 
 
Notice that all the above awareness is focused externally, on one’s opponent or 
potential opponents. Basically, it teaches us to be productively paranoid. But 
we must also listen and see internally. Listen to our own breathing for signs 
that we are tense. See one’s stance and guard from the opponent’s perspective. 
Be aware of one’s awareness and where our attention is located. Listen to our 
intentions, and let go of them as needed. 
 
The other direction is one that normal people might not think of as a direction. 
But I’m a physicist/mathematician by training, so thinking of time as a 
direction is second nature. We must see the future and the past. I’m not talking 
about mystical mumbo-jumbo here. I’m talking about hearing and seeing our 
previous and possible future selves. What did the old me want to get out of my 
training? Have I accomplished it? What will the me of ten years from now want to 
be able to do? How can I help him get there? We are like the stream: the water 
is always changing, but the stream remains. Our self is always changing, and our 
perception of past, present, and future selves is always changing. We must be 
aware of these as well, for we train not just for now but forever. This applies 
every minute of our training – if throw a technique that is good or bad, we must 
move past it and look to the next technique, rather than getting stuck on what 
has already happened. 

Photo By: Idea Go