Article
The
Road to Karate – A Budoka’s Way To Live
By
Hiroshi Shoji. Shihan of the Japan Karate Association.
Part 17 - Chapter 3 - Unsu
“Foster the mind to make efforts” (from
the Dojo Kun)
Efforts
In many cases, while we are in a slump, we
are not aware that we are there. |
During a long
lifetime, people sometimes fall into various forms of slumps - slumps in work,
slumps in private matters or deep slumps. Quite often a slump is so shallow
that even the people who are in a slump are not aware that they are in a slump.
In many cases, while we are in a slump, we are not aware that we are there.
We try to solve the problem on our own and suffer alone and continue struggling
in the slump.
When somebody
like a Budo-ka who pursues the matter deeply in a very narrow field falls
into a slump, the slump is deep. The more struggle that is put up, the deeper
the slump gets. We think we are taking different angles and approaches to
get out of the slump. But when observed rationally, we are still standing
at the same starting point and the nature of the approach has not changed.
When we lack the awareness that we are in a slump, all we get is frustration
and we keep hovering over the problem. It means, during such a time, we lack
the ability to move forwards. Many people had this experience where by the
time when they realised that it was a slump they were in, they were already
out of it. The power generated and saved during the period of the slump will
work for a quantum leap.
There were about 200 applicants going for their first dan and I
was one of them. |
Although I was
not aware then, when I think back, I was in a slump around the time when I
tried first time for my first dan, which was in the autumn when I was in the
second year. Back then, the venues for the grading examinations were passed
around among universities and I believe that it was the dojo of Keio University
where I tried for my first dan. Members of the Karate clubs of various universities
who were going to sit for grading examinations gathered. There were about
200 applicants going for their first dan and I was one of them.
Three subjects were examined and they were Kihon*37,
Kumite*38 and Kata*39.
There was a minimum mark set for each subject and our total mark of the three
subjects needed to be above the minimum pass mark.
...only
about 10 passed for their first dan. I was among those who failed. |
In Kihon examinations we were required to perform basic movements of blocks, strikes, punches and kicks chosen by the examiners. In Kumite examinations we were required to execute the designated techniques against our opponents. In Kata examinations for first dan, we were required to perform a Kata chosen by the examiners from the six basic Kata. For favourite Kata, which is also referred to as free Kata, we were required to perform a Kata of our choice that was more advanced than the basic Kata. I had decided on Empi - the Kata which was swift like a flying swallow - as my favourite Kata and practiced it. It was a hard examination and of the 200 applicants, only about 10 passed for their first dan. I was among those who failed. It was a fifth dan system at that time - presently it is a 10th dan system, it was really hard.
I
failed this time again. As I was very confident, the shock that struck
me was so severe and beat me down completely. |
Grading examinations were held twice a year at that time, one in the spring and another in the autumn. I tried for my first dan again in the spring of my third year at university. I tried with the same Kata Empi again. But, as the unshakable self-confidence caused over-confidence in myself or due to the nervousness caused by the intention to overcome the failure that I suffered last time, I failed this time again. As I was very confident, the shock that struck me was so severe and beat me down completely.
“I have trained so hard, endured all the pain.”
The feelings of emptiness and self-doubts arising from the anger at myself crossed my mind. Even the thought of packing my stuff and going back home crossed my mind. In order to console me with my feeling very low, my colleagues gathered and had quiet drinks with me.
Probably
this was the first slump that I experienced in my Karate-do. |
Probably this was the first slump that I experienced in my Karate-do. I knew that when we were in a slump, there was no other way but to get back to the basics to overcome it. But, as far as techniques were concerned, I was always training with the basics. When I come to think, as I continued my training in Karate, my awe towards the strong people in Karate coupled with the desire to wear a black belt that brought about within myself when I first started Karate developed into the sheer determination that I would acquire a black belt. Without such a goal, hard training would become unbearable. Days of self-questioning and answering continued.
“Was I ready for my first dan? Did my strong determination to acquire a black belt cloud my judgement as to my readiness?”
“Was I concerned only with a result and did I forget to make efforts towards the goal?”
I trained with a deflated spirit and it was training by inertia. No strengths, no spirit - a total loss of confidence.
Fortunately,
I had no cerebral haemorrhages. I only had to have my nose straightened. |
One day I encountered an incident that made me realise that I should not have been training in such a state of mind. I received a hard punch in the face and was knocked unconscious. I could not remember how long I was unconscious, but recollected a few worrying faces looking at me from above when I was being carried to the hospital on a rain shield door which was serving as a stretcher. Fortunately, I had no cerebral haemorrhages. I only had to have my nose straightened. It boiled down to the loss of concentration on my part. If I had been fully spirited, this kind of incident would have never happened. Even if I had received a punch, at least I would have been able to avoid the shameful situation of being carried on a stretcher.
“If I want to quit Karate, now is the chance. Should I run away like a beaten dog hanging its tail between the legs? No matter how hard I train, I won’t be able to get a black belt. And look at what happened to me.”
“But, can I really run away from Karate? Can I really do it?”
“If I cannot not run away from Karate, then the only thing I can do is to wear Karate gi tomorrow again. If continuing with Karate is the only solution, I should stop troubling myself with worries. The only thing I should do is to do my best. And if I still fail in becoming a black belt, I will accept being a white belt for the rest of my life and will become the best white belt in the university circle.”
When I reached that conclusion, the penny dropped and I was re-filled with enthusiasm towards training. I could feel that I was making progress and power to spring forward.
I tried for my first dan for the third time in November 1952. In the centre of the examination hall was seated Funakoshi Sensei, flanked by old seniors from various universities who were high students of Funakoshi Sensei, sitting with their dignity, as examiners.
If you go to grading examinations three times in a row, it is inevitable that you will find many familiar faces.
“You too
are trying again.”
“Don’t be stupid.” “Better be the head of a cat than
the tail of a lion. It’s not good to pass last. I will pass top this
time.”
“What a joke. It’s me who will pass top.”
My conversations with my rivals mixed with some jokes were relaxed. Naturally, I was not nervous at all in performing the required techniques. To the contrary, I stared back at the examiners as if I were saying to them;
“Have a good look at my techniques and enjoy them.”
It was not surprising that I was successful in my grading examination. After one year since my first failure, I had achieved my original goal. I obtained my first dan at the third trial.
“Third time true!”
I
obtained my first dan at the third trial....I was filled with the satisfaction
that this was the result of my efforts. |
I was filled with the satisfaction that this was the result of my efforts. As my slump was long, the joy that I made it and the satisfaction arising from a sense of achievement of my goal was great. This made the black belt that I had just obtained more valuable and heavy in its importance.
Nothing can replace the feelings of satisfaction that derive from the achievement of a goal after hard efforts. The joy of achievement becomes greater when the path to it is hard.
After I managed through the slump and succeeded in my first dan, the power that had been built up during the trying time started bursting. The path from my first dan to my second dan was short. I passed my second dan grading examination in the spring of the following year. To be continued.....
Notes
*37 Kihon is the basic techniques.
*38 Kumite is sparring.
*39 Kata is a form consisting of a series of pre-set blocking and attacking
movements.