To recite “Osu” means the expression of your absolute submission to orders or instructions given by the leader or senpai. I believe that the spirit of “Osu” has somewhat made me what I am today in Karate-do. But, the Osu has some inconvenient aspects. It does not work in general society. My acceptance of the strict relationships of juniors and seniors, which was implanted in my bones at my early times of Karate and is still with me today, but it sometimes becomes a nuisance factor when I deal with a person who has nothing to do with Budo or martial arts.
...so
I am a psychological cripple like a frog in a small pond |
In addition to
this inclination of mine, I have lived my life in the Karate circle only,
so I am a psychological cripple like a frog in a small pond – a Budo-ka
or martial art practitioner in general seems to have a similar tendency, probably
because a deep concentration is required for the achievement of one thing.
I tend to become very tense and formal with a person older than me, whether
or not the person has something to do with Budo.
The other
day, a lady laughed at me.....
“Sensei, I am a mere housewife. Please don’t be too formal. It
will make it hard for me to talk to you”.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Whenever I see people older than me, my old habit
comes out”.
“Excuse me, Sensei. I am not that old, not much older than you”.
“Oh, I am sorry……, I did not mean……, I meant
an old person who is even just a year older than me, I …..”
It was
a blunder and a slip of the tongue on my part to call her an old person. But
I just mumbled the rest of my words in my mouth, and got out of the awkward
situation. As I am a reluctant communicator, I am not good at speaking to
people older than me. However, when I instruct Karate, the situation is different.
Even if the student is older than me, I am a senpai to him in Karate-do.
I
am concerned about the possibility of confining myself to demand that
those coming after us follow the way that we were taught. |
At the Karate
club of a university where I teach Karate, whenever I hear a 1st year student
announcing loudly in an attention posture at the door of the club room “It’s
such and such, may I please come in?”, it reminds me of myself when
I was a first year student of the Karate club. Whilst I feel comfortable with
my current position, at the same time I feel angry with myself who feels that
way. I quickly told the student in a jest that you would be left behind the
time if you keep saying “Osu”. This indicates that the spirit
of osu is still alive within myself. But I have a deep sense of self-warning
as a person who teaches others – I am concerned about the possibility
of confining myself to demand that those coming after us follow the way that
we were taught.
Respect
for elders is important, but I warn myself about teaching others only based
on my own experience – there may be much more appropriate ways which
I just don’t know. It is the task for the instructor to judge the unique
aspects of individuals or differences between individuals. Also, the instructor
must judge what technical levels each individuals are at and teach them accordingly.
When
the instructor makes a correct assessment, the student will make a quantum
leap in progress. |
The instructor
needs to have both an experienced eye and excellent techniques to appropriately
assess and teach the students. However, assessment is sometimes difficult.
When the instructor makes a correct assessment, the student will make a quantum
leap in progress. Otherwise the potential of the student could be wasted.
Therefore, we need to study by examining various people at various stages
and learn the lessons. I am not against Osu by any means. All I am saying
is that blind submission should be avoided.
During
my visit to the US, I came across a scene that impressed me. Even foreigners
took the initiative and polished the floor with the cloth. If the instructor
is inspiring and enthusiastic, even Americans will wipe the floor with the
cloth and will keep training even if they are hit with a bamboo stick from
their instructor. I think this is the spirit.
With a
group of people who seek different things from Karate – some seek Budo,
some aspire to become competitors and compete in competitions, some females
seek to learn Karate for self-defence, some managers in business seek to overcome
mental stresses and a lack of physical exercises, but there will be no progress
in Karate unless we put into practice the spirit of Budo or human being, which
can be taught comprehensively. It is important to get them to establish a
sense of achievement in Karate or to confirm that they have done Karate.
The
teachings of ‘Do’ or ‘way’ are the teachings
that need to be learned and acquired by oneself. |
The teachings
of ‘Do’ or ‘way’ are the teachings that need to be
learned and acquired by oneself. The humanity of those who teach and who are
taught interacts with each other. This is the spirit. With this spirit, I
would like to challenge what has been already accomplished as Karate-do. I
do not mean a challenge in terms of techniques to establish my own style.
I believe it is a challenge for me as a human to teach Karate. To
be continued...
Translated
from Japanese into English by Nishimura Takaatsu Sensei, Senior Instructor,
JKA Victoria
Read
our Tribute to Shoji Sensei from November 2003
Back
to Articles
Home
Copyright
© Japan Karate Association of Australia (Victoria) Limited 2005