|
|
|
What is karate or budo practice in general meaning for
you? Is it done for its physical benefits or as just leisure time? Is it
a part of your daily life? Do you live budo daily? The answers to these
questions, put to various martial arts practitioners, will bring
different answers, as it is natural with every human activity.
Almost
every martial arts practitioner claims that he is approaching his
practice seriously, even if he trains one or two times per week or he easily
skips training for a coffee or drink with friends. This is also human and
understandable. Serious and devoted practice, I am afraid, are not for the
many, is a privilege of the few. And requires three equally important steps.
1. Ketsui o suru – Take a decision.
The first step in the budo journey is
taking the decision to follow this journey. You have to decide f this
practice has a certain priority in your life or is something to fill some
empty hours in your life. Budo training is not a simple physical
activity, it is indeed a lifestyle, which will distinct you from other
people. Your whole approach to life will be from another point of view,
as after certain time your attitude and personality will change.
Obviously this decision will not be taken before you come in grasp with
your budo art, but if never taken, development cannot come. This decision
is the first step to a life time journey.
2. Kihon o manabu – Emphasize
the basic techniques.
Certainly a commodity in traditional martial arts
practice which, like gold, never loses value. Many practitioners are
tempted to complicate and spectaculars techniques and they want to train
in them. However without deep knowledge of the basic techniques there is
not a proper foundation to build upon. Many argue that basic techniques
are ideal techniques, performed under ideal circumstances. However their
practice will allow the practitioner to develop maximum power, kime,
speed, balance, efficiency. And then he will be able to adjust their use
under not ideal circumstances. It is wrong to consider that basics are
only for beginners. Emphasis and practice of basic techniques should be a
lifelong custom. Every great master, with no exception, had a passion to
improve his ‘’basics’’
3.
During this development different physical and mental levels
will be reached. This development will not be a serial or an accelerating
one, rather in many cases you will find your self holding back or slowing
down, while in other cases progress will be faster. It is important to be
understood that progress in budo goes upward but in a spiral way, so
expectations of quick results is not the case. Only serious and devoted
practice will make the garden to flourish. The understanding that this is
a part of your practice process will make you not to be discouraged, but
it will rather strengthen your will to keep practicing; the only way to
reach higher physical and mental levels. As Kase sensei used to say:
‘’Keep practicing””.