Today’s Mind
The other day I revisited a cartoon I used to watch as a kid. After about 10 minutes I realized I was gritting my teeth and wondering what the heck was going on.
The plot was nonexistent and the voice acting made me want to find the mute button in a hurry. Nevertheless, when I was young this cartoon made all the sense in the world and I loved it.
Was I wrong as a kid to hold it up as greatness? Am I wrong now for seeing it differently? No. I simply have a different mind today than I did all those years ago.
Of course, growing out of a cartoon isn't a very monumental personal development. But there are more subtle examples of how the mind can develop year to year, week to week, and day to day.
Books, in general, are read once and then filed away. Every now and then one stands out to each of us in such a way that it demands closer inspection. Most prudent martial artists have a few specific books about the arts that they deem exceptional, and have revisited them from time to time.
The important thing about special books isn't the raw information but the complexity of the concepts; the depth of the insight that reveals more over time, and improves as the reader's experience improves.
The cartoon of my childhood was entertaining, but it lacked depth. On the contrary, I can watch certain movies that I grew up with and experience them like they are brand new, filled with powerful emotion and drama.
The Point
I'm not suggesting you should go reread old books (although you should). Nor am I suggesting you should revisit old movies (although you could). What I'm saying is that every day you have a new mind. Sometimes the difference between yesterday and today is infinitesimally small. But of course, the depth of that development is entirely on you.
Every time you step into the dojo you are bringing a new set of experiences, a deeper wisdom, and a broadened outlook. Just how much of that growth you supply is dictated by your desire to learn new things and keep an open mind.
This reality is critical when practicing the fundamentals of your system, sometimes called "basics" or "kihon". Every time you execute a technique you have a chance to see it in a new light with new context. Your mind today can see with better potential than you could yesterday. Of course, not every repetition will result in spontaneous enlightenment, and if you get entirely lost inside your own mind you'll soon feel mental fatigue. As in all things there should be balance. Indeed, sometimes quieting the mind through pure physical expression can be more valuable than analysis. Regardless, the decision should be conscious and aimed at higher goals.
If you find yourself settling for "knowing enough" or going through the motions, then you've allowed yourself to become stagnant. Participation without thought and emotion is a waste of Today's Mind, and a disservice to yourself.
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STORY:
After a hard evening's workout, a sweat drenched student approached her instructor. She shuffled her feet for a moment, then asked, "Sensei why do we always do our blocks the same?"
The sensei replied, "Because that is how my sensei always taught them. We are carrying on tradition."
The girl asked, "But why did he do it that way?"
The sensei replied, "Because that is how his teacher taught him! You know, I've explained the fundamentals of our blocks, the physics of our movements and how each block compliments our stances. I'm surprised you don't know all this already! Certainly by your rank you should know."
The girl responded, "Yes, but I was just wondering if there is no better way to do it. Are we sure we are doing it the best way?"
The sensei replied, "Yes of course. This way has always proven effective for me and those that have gone before me. Are you doubting your own system?"
The girl responded, "Not doubting, just curious."
The sensei learned a valuable lesson that evening.
Seeing is Believing, But Feeling is REALLY Believing
For centuries, being the uke of a skilled instructor has caused cold sweat and second thoughts in students. There's something about bowing and walking toward your impending doom that seems like a bad idea.
Times have changed somewhat, and with the increase in school sizes and seminars students are more likely to watch techniques from an expert rather than experience them. In fact, a lot of students get good at melding into the background when the instructor gazes around the room for viable volunteers.
This begs the question - what do you get out of watching a technique vs experiencing it?
Back in the 'ooool days, teachers didn't do a lot of active discussion. They mostly demanded repetition from students and then tossed them around to demonstrate technique. There's something intangibly effective about this method (just watch the old masters for proof).
However, we've learned a lot more about pedagogy since then and the ways in which we can maximize human learning.
It's silly to ignore the value of discussion, explanation, and cognitive science. That's why western style teaching has ultimately influenced martial arts all over the world. A dominant part of the western teaching philosophy is watching and listening (just imagine any given classroom).
When you watch a martial art technique performed, you get a big picture sense of what's happening. You can observe the distance between the two opponents, the way the engagement occurs, and the way it concludes.
A detail-oriented teacher can explain the ways in which he/she is using physics to maximize force or leverage. They can show how and why they are disrupting their opponent's timing or balance.
This is all very valuable input, but not a complete learning experience. Think of it this way: You could watch Xgames skateboarders every day for ten years, including every instructional video made. Armed with all that knowledge, what do you think is STILL going to happen the first time you step onto a skateboard?
You might think to yourself...well yea Matt, your point is obvious - a student has to train to get better. That's why we do partner drills after an explanation, so that we can try the technique!
Not so fast.
Two people that don't know the technique can help each other improve...but are either truly doing what the instructor is doing? Is it as good? How do you know?
Being the uke for an experienced instructor, while often regrettably painful, offers a unique learning experience. You get to feel exactly where the pain is supposed to focus, how the body's balance is broken, where the points of relaxation and emphasis are placed, and what rhythm is needed to optimize effectiveness.
In addition, you get to feel the energy and spirit pressure placed upon you by someone at a higher skill level.
Of course, there's a flipside. When acting as uke during intense techniques, your mind is often narrowed and sometimes blanked by the intensity of the event. You can certainly feel things, but recalling exactly how it happened (and why) is another story. There have been many occasions where I've been uke for an instructor and shortly after their demonstration I've walked back to my training partner in order to ask what happened.
Receiving high level technique is critically important...but not independently ideal.
The Best of Both Worlds
Maximizing your learning potential requires a little bravery. First, you have to take your best blending-in-with-the-crowd tactics and stuff them in a box under your bed. Get up there and experience the real thing. On top of that, you can't be afraid to ask questions, even if it means going through another round of demonstration.
On the other hand, you don't want to get too caught up in the action. Give yourself a chance to slow down and really look at what's going on. Analyze the science in order to get to the art.
Remember: technique speed and physical strength are the go-to methods of students who are trying to breeze over the finer details of a technique. Do things slow and relaxed until you get it right. Pay attention to the small things like foot placement, body movement, angle, timing, etc.
If you have a teacher who tends to discuss technique while relying on partner pairing, politely wait for him or her to become available and ask to see the technique a bit closer. Every teacher I know is happy to oblige such requests.
There's no question that caution and common sense should always guide your training, and I'm not suggesting you throw yourself headlong at every teacher you see (that would be impolite, and some teachers should genuinely be avoided because they lack control). But if you are with a good, kind teacher that also happens to be very skilled...it's in your best interest to experience what they can do first hand.
Deadly Shugyo in Persuasive Hands
"A self-help author who led a sweat lodge ceremony in Arizona was found guilty of three counts of negligent manslaughter on Wednesday...Jurors in the case against James Arthur Ray began deliberating after a four-month trial.
More than 50 people participated in the October 2009 sweat lodge that was meant to be the highlight of Ray's five-day "spiritual warrior" seminar near Sedona. Three people died following the sauna-like ceremony meant to provide spiritual cleansing, 18 were hospitalised, while several others were given water to cool down at the scene." - The Gaurdian
James Arthur Ray is a rather well-known and successful self-help "guru". He has published bestselling books and has appeared on multiple television programs including The Today Show and Larry King Live.
On top of that, James is CEO of James Ray International and allegedly went to South America to study "traditional methods" like sleep deprivation and glass walking.
So to sum up. Ray's got:
- Traditional training in exotic locales
- Hollywood appearances on TV and in movies
- Success in business
- Published books
- Tough-nosed approach to personal success
That's a thick, powerful resume. Given his natural charisma is it any wonder that people in need of guidance fell into step with him?
The shocking thing is how such a seemingly robust career could be built upon a lethally flawed mindset, supported by questionable credentials revolving around "tough love" and "spiritual warriorship" . The bad part is that this isn't a one-time misstep for Ray:
"Critics say Ray is a charlatan who preys upon the insecurities of the rich who are looking for meaning in life. They say he operates without regulation or oversight to verify accurate claims or safe methods.[11] According to Grant Cardone, James Ray consulted him for methods in 2000 to increase sales at business seminars, and was warned to teach only sound business practices. After this time, Ray began incorporating sleep deprivation, fasting, fire and glass walking, and sweat lodge methods after studying in South America.[13]
Former attendees of Ray's seminars have reported unsafe practices and lack of properly trained medical staff in 2005. A New Jersey woman shattered her hand after she was pressured by Ray to participate in a quasi-martial arts board-breaking exercise. After several unsuccessful untrained attempts, the woman sustained multiple fractures during the seminar that was held at Disney World.[14]
Participants of a Ray's "Spiritual Warrior" exercise in 2006, after signing waivers, were told to put a sharp point of an arrow used in archery against the soft part of the neck and lean against the tip. A man named Kurt sustained injuries during this exercise as the shaft snapped and the arrow point deeply penetrated his eyebrow." - Wikipedia
Now the Obvious Question...
Does any of this seem familiar?
Ray is playing off of a concept known as "shugyo" in Japanese. Shugyo refers to a polishing of one's spirit through considerable effort, pushing through self-imposed boundaries and finding deeper levels of enlightenment. Shugyo is sometimes an event that an individual undertakes, such as running a great distance or training in kata for hours until a new level of understanding reveals itself.
Different cultures express shugyo in different ways, but the core concept is an important part of many ancient societies.
What Ray did was collect what he thought was shugyo concepts and carelessly thrust individuals into the middle of them, creating a sink-or-swim environment that all too easily led to disaster.
The Martial Version
Ray's transgressions are extreme, but this kind of behavior is more prevalent that you might suspect, especially in the realm of martial arts.
Uber-tough guys (and girls too) can be found in any given martial system. Glance around and you'll find some gnarled old guy ready to tell you about how he used to knock people out, fight for 12 hours, sign blood oaths of dedication, etc etc. Look the other way and you'll find some young guy with everything to prove, talking about choking people out, training until he pukes, etc etc.
These examples pale in comparison to Ray, but are still symptoms of the same ego-driven perversion of shugyo.
Pushing oneself hard during training is a critical part of growth, but can quickly become mentally and physically dangerous without proper guidance and a healthy amount of experience. Things truly become problematic when individuals take dangerous, misguided habits and attempt to apply them to others.
Even the most thickheaded martial artist has an idea of his/her own limitations. When they apply fierce training to themselves, they instinctively know when to pull back. What they don't realize is the incredibly different needs and abilities of every single individual they come into contact with. Martial art schools are not Marine boot camps. The individuals coming into a dojo are not all going to be excellent physical specimens, carefully tested and guided to withstand extreme conditions.
Sure, you'll find one or two pure athletes that can handle just about anything; but you'll also have a whole bunch of people with full time jobs, kids, health conditions, fears, weight problems, social anxiety, injuries, and more.
The dojo can easily become a pseudo boot camp as led by the alpha-dog, weeding out the very individuals who need training and guidance the most.
Worse yet, the dojo can become a base of operations for a persuasive leader who hides behind things like shugyo to manipulate and abuse students, sometimes for money and sometimes for personal satisfaction.
When persuasion meets perversion we find situations like that of Harry Cook, a famous European martial artist and author who was arrested on multiple sexual assault charges (facts here, opinions here).
Stopping It the Only Way We Can
We can't control the minds of other people, but we can control ourselves. It's possible (with careful introspection) to identify when we allow ego, greed, and other natural human elements to creep up and influence us. We can observe cases like that of Ray or Cook and carefully learn from them.
Once we identify what the martial way is not, we can more easily guide our own training and assist those around us.
