Two Key Elements for Training in Budo
By Chuck VanDine
Yon Dan The Gi Yu Honbu Dojo
07/14
The last
several months have been very demanding in regards my training. Starting around March of 2014, I decided to start
focusing time to prepare for testing for Yon Dan, 4th degree black
belt. To say the least, Yon Dan is a
very unique test. There are over fifty
techniques to learn which encompass taijutsu, hanbo jutsu, jo jutsu, and bo
jutsu. This benchmark is also unique in
that it is the last major hurdle you have to overcome in order for the
movements to become your own. In other
words, Sensei Sandhu begins to allow you
to add your own spin to the kata as
they are taught at the Gi Yu Dojo. It is
the first glimpse in to the art form becoming yours!
Around the
same time I decided to pursue this challenge, several kohai from the Gi Yu Dojo
also decided to step up to the plate and challenge their next rank test as
well. So, as to help them prepare for their exams (as any good senior student
should do to help others in the dojo and community) I balanced my time at the
dojo between preparing for my test and helping others prepare for their test. During this period, I noticed two interrelated
elements required to passing Yon Dan and all the previous tests. Mimicry
and Intention.
The first element,
mimicry is defined as the ability to “copy” what is shown by the
instructor. Sensei Sandhu has mentioned multiple times, that
when one begins martial arts training, we
must attempt to completely mimic the movement of what is being taught. Regardless of whether you are shorter,
taller, smaller, larger, quicker, slower, weaker, stronger...we conform our
movement to resemble that of Sensei's.
Therefore,
when we are preparing to test for the next rank, we need to accurately compare our
movements to Sensei's movements. There
are several tools available to assist us in this task. First, we learn the movements by showing up
to class; asking a senior student for some one on one time; and reviewing the
student manual and rank review DVDs. We
can then use mirrors or videos of ourselves to compare our movement to Sensei’s. Yes, we can ask a senior student or Sensei
to review our movement which is highly encouraged, but we should also foster independence
in our martial art training. Being able
to genuinely review our own movement without being egotistical is an invaluable
skill and is essential in your personal ability to grow as a martial artist and
person.
The second
element, intent is defined as having purpose. We must foster our attitude within the
movement, a purpose for why we are doing what we are doing. This is a long process, a lifelong process
because our movement can take on any number of flavors. In the beginning though, developing our intent
resembles mimicry in that we should focus on making our techniques precise,
smooth, and powerful. The difference
between the two elements is that one is the honing of physical performance
while the other is the honing of mental fortitude.
For example,
when first learning a new technique we should focus on proper body movement
(mimicry). Once we become proficient in
the technique, then we start fostering a specific frame of mind to have while
in the movement (intention). That frame
of mind might be that your technique will be unyielding. Maybe it will be soft yet purposeful
(precision), efficient (smooth), or maybe unyielding or unstoppable (powerful),
After years
of training, these intentions can become ever so unique. For example, in one period of our lives we
may want all our movements to be fast and thunderous or maybe we want our
movements to be unbalancing and vague. Yet
in another, we may want our movement to embody the characteristics of a natural
element like water, the wind or a diving hawk!
When I think
of mimicry and intention I think of a gymnast’s balancing beam. On one end we have mimicry and the other end
we have intention. We must start our
martial arts journey on the side of mimicry and work our way to the intention
side. Once we get there, we will start
back at mimicking another idea and then work to putting purpose in to the idea
and movements. This long journey has
been proven time and time again, you can’t
”cheat” or jump ahead…you must stay in the “box” of strict learning and
once you have thoroughly learned the movements with the correct
intention/purpose…then you will be breaking out of the box and the technique,
the idea, the art is yours!