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.

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

Interview with Sensei Randy

1. How long have you been training?

I have been training in the martial arts for almost 19 years.

2. What martial arts have you studied?

I started in Aiki Ju Jutsu before I started training with Sensei Harp. The style (Kaze Arashi Ryu) was very rough. I was sore for 2 straight years! When I started with Harp, it was a new deal....the same art without the extreme pain in every class. I have studied and trained in Aikido, when I was living in Florida for a couple of years. I enjoyed it and learned a different perspective on the Aiki arts. The intent is totally different than Aiki Ju Do. I also have taken a few classes (when I was visiting my very good friend in Philadelphia) in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Those guys were crazy!! It was all about hurting the other guy and winning. They wouldn't tap.

3. What do you love most about the martial arts?

 Martial arts has given me strength, resolve and discipline. The ability to defend myself and those I love is just another added benefit that thankfully I have never had to use. It has taught me how not to get into bad situations as well.

4. What do you think is special about Harp Karate compared to other schools?

The people I have trained with are what makes Harp so special. Our Dojo seems to attract the best of the best. We all care about each other on and off the training floor.

5. How did you first become involved in the martial arts?

I had wanted to take up the martial arts since I was about 17, but after a severe knee injury when I was 18, I didn't think it was possible. But after my second knee operation at the age of 39, it felt good so I went for it!! I went to about 5 or 6 schools. When I watched Aiki being executed, I said "that's so cool!" so I started and have never stopped.

6. What is your proudest moment in the dojo?

Although receiving my first Black Belt was a very proud moment, I think I was even more proud when a couple of people that I helped to train for their Black Belts received theirs. And receiving my 2nd degree in Aiki and my 1st degree in Ken Jutsu when I was physically in sub-standard health really made me feel good about myself.

7. Who in the martial arts has inspired you?

Of course, watching Bruce Lee in the movies was the first inspiration for me. Another person who received his Black Belt in Aiki at the age of 63 or so, made me realize I could keep training for a long time. And of course, Sensei Terry with her 1000 day Seigan after some trying times in her life made me keep going when I wasn't sure I could.

8. Where do you see your training going in the next five years?

I am looking forward to working on improvement in my Aiki techniques and continue with my Ken Jutsu training. I love Ken Jutsu. The feeling of the sword in my hand has become so comfortable and satisfying.

9. What is your favorite technique, kata, or other activity in the dojo?

I would have to say that although I love Aiki and Ken Jutsu, the involvement with the exceptional people I train with is my favorite part.

10. How have the martial arts changed who you are?

It has given me confidence, humility and a feeling of strength that I did not know I had in me. It has made me realize that there really isn't anything you cannot do if you set your mind to it.

Photo By: Ken Smith

On drinking, Spitting and Sword

Post By: Sensei Kris

Welcome to the second part of my irregular series on the Isshinryu Code. In this feature, we’ll examine one of the strangest of the tenets:

The manner of drinking and spitting is either hard or soft.

At first glance, one might wonder whether we are talking about martial arts at all. But I think this one line from the code nicely sums up a lot of what we do at Harp Karate.

First of all, we need to think more closely about “drinking” and “spitting”. Both deal with the same idea: are taking a liquid into your body (drinking) or expelling it from your body (spitting). If we replace the word “liquid” with “an opponent’s energy”, we get something interesting: The manner of taking an opponent’s energy and returning that energy is either hard or soft.

After a small amount of training, especially in circle attacks or sparring, we’ve experienced this. Sometimes you charge in at the person in the center in a direct confrontation (spitting hard). They respond by either meeting your charge with direct force like a block or a kick that catches you before you get too close (drinking hard) or by moving slightly and redirecting your energy (drinking soft). At other times, you try to be sneakier and attack the person in the middle more indirectly, such as a leg sweep while they are trying to reset after the last attack (spitting soft). They respond either by solidifying themselves against the sweep (drinking hard) or by allowing you to move them and then continuing that motion to their advantage (drinking soft).

We’re all used to sparring combinations. This tenet reminds us that there is a higher level of combinations – sort of a “meta-level” – where we think in larger terms about how we are being attacked and how we are responding to the attack. So here’s where my mathematician’s way of thinking comes into it. We have two ways of drinking and two ways of spitting. That’s 2 X 2 = 4 combinations of responding. To summarize them, we can

Drink hard and spit soft

Drink soft and spit soft

Drink hard and spit hard

Drink soft and spit hard

In sword, we refer to this by a more formal concept of yin and yang. Your partner attacks with the sword and you either block with yang (force against force) or yin (redirecting energy). Your counterattack after the block is either yin (following their movement) or yang (against their movement). Further, sword has eight basic strikes and eight blocks, so the combinations start to grow: eight strikes X 2 blocks (yin/yang) X 2 counterstrikes (yin/yang) = 32 combinations. When you factor in the three different distances that might be involved (close, middle, far) and how that affects the way you perform the technique, we suddenly get to around 96 combinations. Those on the Aiki side of the dojo are familiar with this combinatorial way of thinking (whether they realize it or not). But the karate side tends not to think this way too much.

At any rate, we’ve now got a lot of movements to memorize and practice. And to try and recognize which of those 96 you need at any given split second of a sword fight would result in “analysis paralysis” for most people. So the goal of our training is not simply to memorize all the movements and perform them perfectly. It is more subtle (did we ever think it wouldn’t be?). We need to think about the basic components of each of the movements – build our understanding and ability to perform them strong – so that we can use them as Lego blocks and build an appropriate response in the heat of the moment. This requires us to be fully present in the moment of each activity in the dojo and our personal training, aware of each of the facets (distance, the attacker’s technique, our block, our counter, etc.) so that we can develop a feel for what is actually happening that goes beyond what is easily seen.

So as you train in karate, Aiki, sword, automobile traffic, assignments, or whatever, think about how you take in the situation and how your give back. After all, it’s the season of giving! So drink up, everyone! (Or drink down, or…)

Photo By: Ken Smith

Interview with Sensei Terry

1. How long have you been training?

In January of 2012, I will have been training for 20 years … I wish I had started sooner!

2. What martial arts have you studied?

I began my martial arts training at Harp Karate, studying Sensei Harp’s interpretation of Isshin Ryu Karate. I took a stab at Aiki Ju Do, but it didn’t work for me … I love the concept and principles of Aiki, but I have physical limitations that prevent me from pursuing the art. No worries though … Aiki Ken Jutsu and Ken Ai Do provide me with many opportunities to expand my horizons. These sword arts add depth to my training.

3. What do you love most about the martial arts?

So hard to say … there is always room for improvement and growth … there is the feeling of confidence … there is the satisfaction in helping others learn … I have never found a negative aspect to martial arts training …

4. What do you think is special about Harp Karate compared to other schools? 

 I have never trained at another school, but I have visited some … at Harp Karate each student is an individual, valued for their individuality and trained with that individuality in mind. Each student is encouraged to work and progress at the pace that suits them best, and each student is backed by the support of all members of the dojo.

5. How did you first become involved in the martial arts? 

My sons joined Harp Karate while I was undergoing radiation and chemotherapy in a battle against breast cancer. When I finished my chemotherapy, I decided I would “take karate” to regain my strength. My four year old son taught me to tie my belt! I soon discovered that one doesn’t “take karate” … okay … some do … but not me …I was hooked after the first few classes … after that I didn’t “take karate” …. I was on the road to becoming a martial artist.

6. What is your proudest moment in the dojo? 

I don’t think I can identify a proudest moment … there have been so many and there are so many more to come. The proudest moments so far have been when I have watched someone I have helped to train overcome all odds and attain their goals …

7. Who in the martial arts has inspired you? 

My brother was my first inspiration … then I joined Harp Karate and was inspired by many … Sensei Margot, Sensei Jennifer, and of course, Sensei Harp.

8. Where do you see your training going in the next five years?

As one of the senior members of the dojo (I’m old), I see my training continuing along the path I have been following … I work on making more of less

9. What is your favorite technique, kata, or other activity in the dojo?

When I enter the dojo whatever I practice is my favorite for that day … if I am the sensei I get to choose my favorite ,,, if I am not the Sensei, whatever I am assigned is my favorite for that time.

10. How have the martial arts changed who you are? 

The martial arts have made me an entirely different person …I am more confident (ok … confident at all) … I’m in the best physical condition I’ve ever been….I am happy and proud every day when I train and know that I have improved my life (and had fun doing it!)