Comments on: Sueyoshi – Cart Ride with a Kobudo Master

By: Swing Trading

Swing Trading — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 08:59:15 +0000

Nice one. I have stumbled and twittered this for my friends. My friends will enjoy reading it also.

By: Swing Trading

Swing Trading — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 02:59:15 +0000

Nice one. I have stumbled and twittered this for my friends. My friends will enjoy reading it also.

By: Matthew

Matthew — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 21:14:44 +0000

Mike – Thanks for commenting! You’re right, these men definitely did sacrifice for their arts. I would also agree that they eventually saw their efforts as a matter of doing what is right, rather than gaining something specific from it (at least we can hope).

John – Yes I believe that story is also told in Karate-do MWOL. It is definitely funny and getting a glimpse at these guys quirks really humanizes them.

By: John

John — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 17:25:02 +0000

Interesting story. You have to admit, Funakoshi trying to steal a glance at the mystery driver while trying to relieve himself is a bit funny. Another story about Funakoshi with some unintentional humor (maybe in the book you mentioned? I don’t have it) involves someone approaching the master one day about taking karate. Like Sueyoshi, Funakoshi was working at some day job and immediately excused himself before discussing anything related to the martial arts. Only after he returned wearing a formal kimono did he feel ready to talk business.

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 00:58:07 +0000

Mattsan – Don’t usually comment on posts but this one got me thinking. I can’t help but notice what many would consider great sacrifice on the part of both of these men (esp. when you consider that Funakoshi also wasn’t wealthy and the amount of time he spent away from his family). I wonder if either would view it that way or if at some point what most consider sacrifice just becomes a way of life and of doing what needs to be done.
On a side note, I was just reading that the majority of folks in my profession do not own any books on the subject nor brush up on skills outside of work. I’m sure the same holds true for many martial artists. Keep up the great posts.

By: Matthew

Matthew — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 07:12:00 +0000

BBM: You’re right, character is certainly a consideration. Although, interestingly, that can get tricky. Acceptable vs unacceptable character traits can be a really gray area, and you also have the idea of accepting “bad” students in order to train them into “good” students. Sometimes students really do become better people, and sometimes they just get better at lying. Tricky tricky!

Rick: Agreed, that is certainly at the core of all this.

MAM: This book is so short, yet so valuable! I also find it encouraging.

Branden: Thanks! It really is from the past that we learn about our present and our future.

By: Branden

Branden — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 17:00:30 +0000

This is perfect Mattsan!

For us traditionalists (as much as we can be without living in our country of martial art origin) I feel like this is the only way we can truly train correctly. It’s only when we step into the shoes and figure out WHY our past sensei of sensei of sensei etc. did things to truly understand the movements and reason for the way we do things to this day!

Awesome post Mattsan!

By: Martial Arts Mom

Martial Arts Mom — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 15:04:07 +0000

I read this book as well and loved it too. It combined two of my main interests – Martial Arts and biographies. I think I especially love this m.a. biography becuase it lets us see that above and beyond everything else, that even the masters were real people with real feelings. They made mistakes just like we do. It makes me feel like if they could do it, so can I, or at least die trying…

By: Rick Matz

Rick Matz — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 01:57:58 +0000

What strikes me about this story is that our martial arts study is of an intensely personal nature. At the end of the day, we have to stand on our own two feet and walk our own path.

By: Black Belt Mama

Black Belt Mama — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 15:50:18 +0000

Great post, as usual. I think that you can also take something else from that story too, when you think about the people who walk into a dojo each week and decide they want to learn the martial arts. While some schools may train and promote anyone because of the obvious monetary gains, there is another issue there as well. What are the person’s intentions? Are they there to learn how to beat everyone up and (so to speak) use their power for good or evil? Spreading the knowledge offered through the martial arts is great, but one should also take into consideration the character of a person before teaching them certain things.