Class Log: Kasumi no Ho + Shingitai + Budo

I’ve decided a couple of weeks ago that I was no longer going to regularly update this blog and turn over this responsibility to other buyu. Part of training is sharing. A good way to contribute to ones growth.

                                                                                      *Anthony Lucas*

 

This past Friday our focus was precision along with DAT (distance, timing, angle) work.  We covered a lot of basic material, and our effectiveness really came down to a tiny change or small shift in our movement.  We also explored interrupting uke’s flow as he is traveling through space. And finally we used all of that to try to have a continuous flow while practicing.

Here there was a sanshin.  The beginning of class was about training the body to precisely execute one technique.  We did this over and over again.  Then we explored different aspects of time and space, then we left it behind and tried to flow.  It was both kasumi no ho and shin gi tai themes at work.  At the end of class, we began some very basic biken jutsu, and Anthony spoke to us about our training. 

He stressed the importance of practice, of diligence, of having the will to continue. (Those aren’t his exact words, they’re mine).  And he spoke about what we all need to be doing, what we should be doing, what we aren’t doing.  This type of thing is always frustrating, at least to me.  I’ve been thinking about it all week in fact.  What is the reason for our frustration in training?  I think it has to do with frustration of the self and not being to be open to change.  These things were said with good intentions but sometimes they are as painful as the physical training.  I’ve had to step back and remember things like; ‘shinken haramitsu daikomyo.’ Every moment is an opportunity for enlightenment.  And the thing Nagato Sensei said about learning; that it doesn’t always feel good.  But then again it shouldn’t, right?  Anthony also reminded me of this story he once told me;

There once were three monks traveling together in the woods.  After going a long way they came to a river, wide and deep.  There by the river was a woman looking across to the other side, with tears in her eyes.  She told the monks she couldn’t swim and couldn’t get across the river, and then she asked each of them if they would help her.  The first monk ignored her completely.  His vows prohibited him from speaking with anyone outside of his brother monks.  The second one shook his head at the woman and ran to catch up with the first.  But the third monk smiled at the woman and hoisted her up on his shoulders.  He carried her all the way across the river and left her to continue her journey without taking anything from her in return.  When the last monk finally caught up with his two brothers, the first one reprimanded him, “You shouldn’t have done that!” He said, “It’s against our vows and you will be in a great trouble if anyone finds out.”  The second monk said nothing, but shrugged his shoulders standing between the two men.  To the second monk, the third monk shook his head and to the first monk he said, “My brother, I left that woman miles back by the river.  Why are you still carrying her with you?”

I know this probably wasn’t the exact story.  I couldn’t remember the small details.  But stories are like our techniques.  They change every time they are told, as is natural.  It’s the message, the feeling, the yugen of the tale that is the important thing.  And here the message is pretty clear. 

I will close with a quote I think is appropriate for this week.

“Treat a man as he is, and he will remain so.  Treat a man the way he can be and ought to be, and he will become what he can and should be.” – Goethe

                                                            *Merridith Allen, Yondan*