The importance of correct footwear
If you are practicing classical combat methods, including taijutsu, bojutsu long staff, and especially kenjutsu sword, wearing tabi will have a major influence on your movement.
Our practice of Sengoku Warring States era combat utilizes a type of footwork that resembles an eagle claw talons. Difficult to describe in words, but imagine an eagle’s claw gripping by pulling in and down from the front and back at the same time. You grip the ground with your toe tips and back edge of your heels pressing in for proper classical movement. This toe and heel action has an effect on the muscles and joints of the leg. This leg muscle and joint action affects the placement and movement of the hips. All this combined produces either authentic and effective classical combat movement, or that strange effect that the Japanese refer to by the phrase gaijin koshi ga takai – “foreigners with high hips”.
Tabi soles (rubber or cotton) flex to match the bottom of the foot exactly. This quality of fit is important, because we are studying a technique developed by people who wore that kind of footwear. Thicker soled wrestling shoes or even skinny soled kung-fu or martial arts shoes cannot flex like that, and you will move with either flat foot shuffling like a wrestler or – completely opposite of tabi wear – feet flexed with heel up and toes pushing down like a boxer. Consequently, it is then so difficult to learn good sword work because you end up with modern wrestler or boxer body dynamics due to misuse of the feet on the ground.
Sometimes the simplest things make a difference
I am reminded of a time when my movement just wasn’t quite right. I was working out at the dojo, trying to drop back into a deep ichimonji posture, every time I shifted back, I would feel tension in my body and a jerkiness that simply made the movement look completely mechanical. This was not only frustrating, but actually made me question my own ability. I continued to work on this for sometime without ever feeling that I was improving or in any way getting it. My instructor (a very senior practitioner) just kept watching and offered very little advise.
One day my level of frustration grew so strong, that I walked off the mat disgusted at my own inability to master something that appeared so simple. This time my instructor followed me and offered me the following advise. “Stop, let go of all that you have taken ownership for, and start again with the knowledge that you have collected” huh!! Let go of what I have…. and start again!!!. I thought about this for a while and then walked back onto the mat. Visualized everything I knew about water, relaxed my body and dropped back “fluidly” into ichimonji. My body was straight, my knees were bent, shoulders over hips. I had a new sense of freedom and knew that my mind had been the obstacle. I had pre-programmed my self into believing that I would never get it and with that mind set, I would get exactly what I asked for. By letting go of that and embodying all that I knew about water, I was able to re-write the program and erase the memory and effects of the frustration. Hmmm, Mind, Body, Spirit-Funny thing that!!
A word for athletes and warriors
This is from a Nike ad two decades ago. Still fabulous for Warriors at Newbury Park Martial Arts Center:
94 year old swimmers.
89 year old weightlifters.
99 year old marathoners.
The back of Sports Illustrated is full of them.
People who forgot to retire.
And never got old.
People who realized: It’s easier to keep going if you never stop. Get up. Get out. Build up muscle. Get rid of flab. Go back to school. Sell the TV. Master the curveball. Pound a bag. Rebuild an engine. Jump-start a career. Bench press four big plates. Dig for fossils. Bicycle across Canada. Save an endangered species-yourself. The only one who can tell you you can’t, is you. And you don’t have to listen.
Sometimes kids just get it.
While teaching a kids class last week, I posed the question “what could you promise to do”. I got the usual plethora of answers “Clean my room” “Help with the dishes” “study hard” etc. One kid offers another standard “I promise not to lie”. There was one student though, who had not answered, so I called on him. Now you should know that this rambunctious kid is normally not lost for words, however this time he though long and hard about his answer. He replied “well I really can’t promise not to lie. If I did and then lied, my original promise would be a lie. Wouldn’t it just be better to just not lie. Isn’t a promise just a way of saying you won’t lie” At this point I may have looked a little confused. He went on to add “If you have to promise not to lie, then you probably are a liar-right”
Hmm! being a person who is respected for their honesty and never being questioned on their truth-sounds like a quality of a Tatsujin. Sometimes kids just get it!!
I Am Dedicated to Making Martial Arts a Different Place
by An shu Stephen K. Hayes
Two men train to win fights. One of them fights to beat other men and receive glory and treasure. He fights for himself. The other man fights when forced to defend those who are wrongfully endangered. He fights for others. Both are fighters. Which is the more noble? It depends on the state of elevation of your culture.
There is certainly a place in martial arts training for testing yourself to taking martial arts to a different place. In my remaining years on the planet, I am passionately committed to teaching a method of intelligent personal combat that can be used effectively by a compassionate protector to make peace with the brutal and cruel wish to dominate for their exclusive pleasure or profit.
Some ask how we can tell how good we are without testing in the ring or cage? In my schools, trained instructors in padded armor simulate real world type assaults to let students test their techniques and spirits under high pressure. As a protector school, we train for situations very different from a contest ring.
Our goal is not to defeat competitors, but to develop the fighting skills and knowledge to establish peace when others might choose bullying, violence, or murder. We teach the kinds of awareness, attitudes, and techniques you need to end a fight with a larger attacker, or several attackers, or a surprise attacker, or an unfair fighter, or an armed attacker, and then get everyone to safety —very different from skills needed to win a prize in a mutually consented fighting contest.
I feel it is crucial to teach a code of ethical living right along with an elevated fighting system, and to be able to demonstrate that code of ethical living to my students in every move I make.
I would not hand a loaded rifle to a child who had not been taught to respect the power of the bullet. I will not teach skills of bone breaking, joint damaging, and organ injuring without teaching wariness for the potentially seductive, corruptive power of being able to dominate another man.
Are we just too busy to eat healthy?
Are we just too busy to eat healthy?
This is a good question! Many of us are just too lazy to eat healthy. We always seem to find time to shop for a new dress, go to the movies or watch the football game but not enough time to have a good healthy dinner. Grabbing a hot-dog and beer at the game is way too convenient. Yes, eating healthy cost a little and takes a little more time and energy to prepare, but what is more important; convenience or your long term health? If you do not have your health, you will eventually not be able to play!
Fast food chains have been one of the major contributing factors to our obesity problem here in the United States. In all major cities, you can find every type of food on every corner with a drive through window attached! Fortunately, many fast food chains have re-directed their efforts to become more health conscious for us busy people on the go! If you ask, most outlets have the nutritional specifications about their food. The things to be aware of are the fat content per serving, the sodium content and of course, the calories. Here are some tips when you decide to drive through one of these chains:
Order only grilled items- avoid fried
Order the small burgers without cheese instead of the large ones
Delete mayonnaise and stick with catsup and mustard
Avoid your “high sugar” drinks and milk shakes
If at a salad bar, anything “green” is a good start; do not add ham, bacon or high fat dressings
Order the low fat yogurt instead of the high fat apple pies
Eating out or driving through your favorite fast-food chains does not have to allow you to “break the laws” of good, healthy eating; follow the rules, search the menu and order smart.
The Uke “Sees” All
Another great post from our friend Dennis Mahoney, dojocho at Shinobi Martial arts
Have you ever watched your teacher demonstrate a technique and thought “I think I have it”, then when you try it with your partner there is something missing? No matter how many times you see the technique it just will not work for you. I suggest you look at the technique from a different perspective, that of the uke, or the one who initiates the attack and then receives the technique being practiced. The uke is sometimes jokingly referred to as the “fall guy”.
Ninpo taijutsu can seem complicated, and often times the principle of a technique is hidden from sight. But the uke “sees” all because he is in the middle of the technique, often gaining valuable information that can only be felt. The following are some suggestions to help when you are uke.
1. Listen To Your Partner
Make sure you are both on the same thought level. If the teacher is trying to demonstrate the specifics of a new technique, a full speed punch at your partner may not be appropriate.
2. Trike With Intent
Regardless of the speed a which you are working, you must mentally be committed to your attack. Feel like you are in a fight. Taijutsu practice is not restricted to the mechanical physical movements only.
3. React Realistically
Taijutsu takes advantage of the natural reactions of the body, so you have to build that into your training. If the defender simulates a rising shin kick to the groin and you do not bend over, you are not being realistic.
4. Study Your Reactions
As you react to the defense against your attack, you are acquiring information on how different techniques cause the body to move in different ways. Use this information to better your own technique.
5. Do Not Tense Up
One of the ideas associated with being uke is that of receiving. Practice relaxing when being struck or thrown. You will find that you can endure much more than you may have thought.
6. Apply Your Taihenjutsu
One of the first lessons of realistic self-defense is the importance of rolling and breakfalls. Being uke gives you the opportunity to apply what you have learned.
7. Provide Constructive Feedback
Let your partner know when something is working correctly. Or offer information that will help them do the technique more effectively. Remember this is not a competition. The goal is for everyone to improve.
8. Be Creative
When you are working on a technique, you can begin to concentrate so hard it is then difficult to consider variations. But as yo are being hurled around the room or twisted into some agonizing wrist lock, your mind is free to think of variations (more likely possible escapes).
9. Feel The Entire Technique
The best part of being uke is what my teacher calls his “gifts”, which were passed down to him and he in turn is giving to us. These are the hidden aspects of the technique that are not easily seen. They must be felt to be understood and learned.
So if you want to increase your knowledge about the specifics of taijutsu, jump up and volunteer to be uke. If you are lucky you may pick up some of these special “gifts” from the teacher.
The Exchange
If you exchange hours of your life, which are finate, for coupons (dollar bills) that’s the worst exchange you’ll ever make. Follow your dream. If you want to be a sheepherder, grab a bunch of those wooly mothers and head for the hills. But be a good one. When you do what you love, the money will take care of itself. Life’s way too short to squander on others people’s expectations of you.
Attitude adjustment
A winner says, “Let’s find out”; a loser says, “Nobody knows.”
A winner makes commitments; a loser makes promises.
A winners says, “I’m good, but not as good as I ought to be”; a loser says, “I’m not as bad as a lot of other people.”
A winner credits his “good luck” for winning- even though it wasn’t his good luck; a loser blames his “bad luck” for losing even though it wasn’t his bad luck.
A winner listens; a loser just waits until it’s his turn to talk.
A winner respects those who are superior to him and tries to learn from them; a loser resents the superiority of others and tries to find chinks in their armor.
A winner does more than his job; a loser says, “I only work here.”
A winner says, “I fell”; a loser says, “Somebody pushed me.”
Show your NPMAC Pride!!
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