Insights
HAI SENSEI!
We must all still learn from those who have gone before us!
Question: When do we stop learning and understanding Martial-arts?
Answer: Never!
All those who are senior to us, both as grade and or experience, are still a great source of learning - they should all still be considered a ‘Sensei’. Very often we see those ‘junior’ ranked Yudansha ‘question’ those of the senior ranks. I have seen (and heard) 1st Dan’s ‘question’ 6th Dan’s over certain aspects of training, almost contradicting them bluntly. We all know, or should know, that the senior graded members ARE our SENIORS. Even though we may disagree with certain aspects, we DO NOT QUESTION these within the Dojo. I myself have come across technical contradiction but have found, through dedicated practise, that these concepts can be useful as time goes on. Very often we ‘mature’ into techniques. In Wado we use subtlety with our movement. Our techniques are relaxed and spontaneous. We do not hold our stances with tension and strength, but with a relaxed Kamae in readiness for explosive activity; this cannot be achieved with tension. So when I found myself being ‘questioned’ about the validity of our Wado-ness in our stances, in a Wado Dojo (thankfully not mine otherwise the term ‘ton of bricks’ and ‘falling upon someone from a great height’ would have been appropriate in this situation) I was a bit shocked.
We DO NOT QUESTION our seniors. We attempt to understand the meaning behind the reasoning of the teaching. Even 7th and 8th Dans are still learning. Even the ‘masters’ are still learning, which is why we still train every day. Martial-arts are not ‘one way’ - we have to train as much, if not more, than teach. We all need regular instruction to understand, otherwise we may fall into the trap of self-ness. Self-ness is dangerous, as we have a perception of what WE feel Karate is all about. This then becomes, or can be, blinkered and closed. We must all open our hearts and minds to all those around us, we must keep learning. Additionally, we can all still learn from our own students. Martial-arts knowledge comes from those who have trained before us, all those who are our ‘senior’ have the responsibility of passing down knowledge in the hope that YOU become better people. Additionally, an Instructor will attempt to make you better than himself as to improve the standard of both his ‘offspring’ and to improve the efficiency of the system.
Do not question what a senior has to say, just learn from it.. ’Hai Sensei’!
Gary E Swift Kyoshi.