dojo sunday
Headed to the Kudan Dojo just after noon to run the promotion exam. Four guys tested for shodan and did ok, one tested for nidan and failed, one tested for sandan and barely passed. Perhaps I am being too strict...nah, screw it. Nothing wrong with failing; it's the best way to learn, and you can always just test again, next month, every month, next year, every year...good to have goals but the goal isn't "to get promoted" it is "to get better than I am now", and therefore in that sense promotions are one of many reasonably useful tools.
But these days far, far too many people take their "rank" way too seriously. Especially in an old art like Mugairyu, the modern invention of dan ranks is totally and completely irrelevant. The only "rank" that matters is a scroll; the first menkyo. Until then we are all just beginners, and it would serve most people well to remember that.
After the testing we had a cutting session. I cut like crap, as always. But that's a good thing. I am much more relaxed about everything, and have more fun trying to figure out how to cut a nice clean hidari kesa then trying to pull off some crazy cuts from-the-draw. Basics are so much more interesting these days.
Also been reading another Japanese book on "nanba"; this one written but a bunch of teachers (elementary through college) and how they applied "nanba" principles of movement to their high school basket ball team, college orchestra, and junior high PE classes. Interesting stuff. Mostly things I already knew, but a few ideas in there that got me thinking more about how to utilize my back and shoulder blades more when walking, especially up and down stairs...good stuff to adapt to iai so I think I will have some fun playing around this weekend at the kumitachi gasshuku.
But these days far, far too many people take their "rank" way too seriously. Especially in an old art like Mugairyu, the modern invention of dan ranks is totally and completely irrelevant. The only "rank" that matters is a scroll; the first menkyo. Until then we are all just beginners, and it would serve most people well to remember that.
After the testing we had a cutting session. I cut like crap, as always. But that's a good thing. I am much more relaxed about everything, and have more fun trying to figure out how to cut a nice clean hidari kesa then trying to pull off some crazy cuts from-the-draw. Basics are so much more interesting these days.
Also been reading another Japanese book on "nanba"; this one written but a bunch of teachers (elementary through college) and how they applied "nanba" principles of movement to their high school basket ball team, college orchestra, and junior high PE classes. Interesting stuff. Mostly things I already knew, but a few ideas in there that got me thinking more about how to utilize my back and shoulder blades more when walking, especially up and down stairs...good stuff to adapt to iai so I think I will have some fun playing around this weekend at the kumitachi gasshuku.
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