Japanese Sojourn.

I have recently returned from my first trip to Japan. I spent ten days in the country and my first impressions of the land and people was very positive.

For years I have dreamt of going to Japan. I have studied Japanese Martial Arts since 2002 and have followed certain cultural customs in the dojo without having the full context of what I was doing or why. I had read about Japan, eaten the West's version of Japanese food and worn a keikogi and hakama. However, I had not immersed myself in the culture of the country...until now.

I had read differing stories about how the Japanese treat westerners, some stories spoke of subtle and deep-rooted racism, others spoke about having the best time of their lives over there. I went with an open mind and with great excitement. From a martial arts point of view I have heard that you can't truly experience koryu bujutsu without living in Japan. I have heard that this is not necessarily the case as well. Having been to Japan I now have a better understanding of why living in Japan would enhance some aspects of koryu training. However, the modern Japanese person does not train in this archaic pursuit anymore than a modern westerner. As mentioned by Threadgill sensei, Takamura sensei believed that modern Japanese culture is almost as divorced from Japanese feudal culture as is modern western culture, therefore the location of training is irrelevant. With this reasoning in mind, provided you have a good teacher that follows key cultural customs then it can probably be done outside of Japan. Being immersed in the culture, even for a short time like I was certainly helps though. 

The reason my family and I went to Japan was due to my wife, Ricci, and her research in physiology education. She had been asked to create a science poster of her results and present it at an international conference in Kobe, Japan. Of course, I said that if she is going to Japan, then I am coming as well. We had already discussed taking our two daughters overseas when they were eleven and eight which was this year. So very quickly we decided that Ricci's two day conference would turn into our family's ten day holiday.

We decided to do most of our holiday prior to the conference so we started in Tokyo and stayed two nights. We then took the shinkansen (bullet train) to Kyoto and spent three nights there. While in Kyoto we did a day trip to  Kurama. After Kyoto we went to Kobe for Ricci's conference and then we took an indirect route back to Tokyo via Fuefuki (near Kofu) for a night in a traditional Japanese room with onsen.

There were many highlights to the trip and the experiences exceeded my expectations. To actually see things and try things that I had read about for years was hugely satisfying and in some cases affirming. The walk up Mount Kurama was of particular significance as this is the same pilgrimage Takamura sensei would do on a regular basis over the years to pray at Yuki Shrine which is on this mountain.

Shrine Gate of Yuki Jinja

To pray at the same shrine as Takamura sensei was an honour and a privilege. The area is charged with energy and the day we went it was quiet and peaceful amongst the trees of the surrounding forest.

Near the top of the mountain is a large temple called Kurama-dera. Many smaller shrines can be found during the climb to the top and I also prayed at a shrine dedicated to a water kami right beside the main hall of the temple. It really is a spiritual experience climbing this mountain.

Kurama-dera main hall.

One thing that really became clear to me, beyond a mere theoretical stand point is how Buddhism and Shinto are so entwined in Japanese life. Even in the most densely populated urban areas of Tokyo, temples and shrines can be found alongside hyper modern buildings. In fact, the first shrine I prayed at was a very old shrine called Shiba-Daijinju shrine in Tokyo. At Atago shrine (also in Tokyo) we even had the luck to witness a Shinto wedding. Our guides said that was unusual as most Japanese get married with a christian ceremony.

The steep stairs are a famous feature of Atago Shrine.

The importance of bowing, the kamidana and the Japanese terms used in the dojo were put into context in Japan. It is a society built on politeness and rules as well as spiritual practises related to Shinto and Buddhism. Experiencing life in Japan (even for the short time that it was) made things I have been doing and thinking about in my martial arts practise fall into place like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. I feel proud to be carrying on these traditions in my own way in my small dojo here in Te Miro, NZ.

What was also very clear is that my martial practice follows a very old way of thinking. The traditional parts of Kyoto and Kurama village speak to my heart. It is here where I feel most at home. The modern Japanese landscape is a different experience altogether. 

The Japanese people are incredibly polite. Despite the large population density in the cities, we were never bumped or pushed in large crowds. We learned the Japanese phrases to greet people and say thank you. These phrases were very useful. 

I happened to be sitting next to another kiwi while travelling on the shinkansen and he lived in Japan ten years ago. He said the place had changed a lot in this time. When he lived in the country there was no English signage and hardly anyone spoke English. Japan wasn't interested in foreign tourism. However, since the bubble of their economy has burst they realised that the foreign tourist can support their economy and change began to make Japan more friendly to the western visitor.  I certainly felt welcomed as a tourist in Japan. 

It is a place I hope to travel back to some day.

Hitting the reset button

So it is 2019.

As usual this is a time to reflect on the year that has been and the year to come. For me, it feels like I'm hitting the reset button on parts of my life. I have had a very busy year in my teaching career, too busy to think at times. This year that changes and it will give me space to be creative in my job. Personally, I was faced with the death of my mother in August and that month was pretty much a write-off. As far as my martial arts endeavours go, I still train, I still get on the mat but I have an ongoing injury that is becoming more and more of a nuisance and needs dealing with. Things are feeling a little stagnant on that front.

I started 2019 by getting up early (as I always do) and exercising. Then I changed the offerings at the kamidana and cleaned my sword and re-oiled my bokken, setting up for the year ahead. I am going to see an osteopath for my back in two days and hopefully I can make some progress. 

I am happy with my life right now, with my family, my nutrition, my lifestyle but I know that will change when work kicks off again. So I am thinking about how I can incorporate some of the good lifestyle choices of today into the more hectic lifestyle of tomorrow. 

Its time to reset my life. 

I have been reading a book called "The Okinawa Way" written by Bradley Willcox, Craig Willcox and Makato Suzuki. It is based on a 25-year study of centenarians in Okinawa. It reveals the diet, exercise, and lifestyle practices of these long-lived people.

Book Cover

It is well-researched and has been an amazing read for me. It has helped me evaluate my own lifestyle and I have made some small changes. One of the key components that these researchers believe contribute to these people living a long time is their ability to manage stress. They strongly advocate for people to have good social networks, meditate and get outside. The lessons for me here are around being social. As a school teacher I am forced into intense social interactions daily so that when it gets to the end of the day or week, I can be very antisocial. I am naturally introverted so I am drained after a day of teaching. However, it is good to have close friends and those relationships must be fostered. So moving into 2019 I need to find ways of keeping my social network strong. 

Of course, TSYR is an important part of maintaining friendships. My fellow deshi are very important to me. So I head into 2019 with a bit of a plan. 

Train safe.

Dean.

Aikido: the next generation.

For those of you that have been following my blog for a while you know that I have a private, 12 mat dojo on my property. This is a space used for my own TSYR training but for over two years I have also taught aikido to children in this space.

Recently my daughter and another local girl graded for their 6th kyu (yellow belt). I invited my own aikido teacher, Clyde,  to be on the grading panel. This was a proud moment for me as I have not spoken to Clyde, face-to-face for a long time. TSYR has become my focus these past years and although aikido is dear to my heart, I don't have the time to practise both martial arts. However, by teaching aikido once a week in my own dojo it is keeping my aikido waza fresh and I feel like I am passing on what my own teacher has taught me and in this way, aikido moves on to the next generation.

The girls were nervous on the day but so was I!

How the girls performed was also a reflection of my own teaching and I didn't want to let my own aikido sensei down. As it turned out, both girls passed their test and Clyde had some positive things to say about their performance. 

My proud yellow belts and Clyde Sutton sensei

One of the things he mentioned was how both girls moved from their feet. What he was saying was that the girls had good posture and moved strongly using the ground rather than focusing on their arms and shoulders which beginners often do. I was very proud of this comment because I have tried to instil solid principles into the girls' training and not only do I want them to know the appropriate waza for the grading I want to know that principles are being internalised. The fact my sensei could see this was a great achievement. 

I also asked sensei for critique and areas we could work on. This became the focus of my next scheduled training session with the girls. Each girl had a point to consider. My own daughter moves very well and this would mostly be from her ballet training (I can't take all the credit for that one) but sensei asked for a more martial approach, ensuring kuzushi at first contact and making her waza more positive. The other girl naturally rounds her shoulders forward, and although she has worked on this she was advised to keep thinking chest up and forward during her practice. 

What I really liked was how focused our next normal training session was. The grading had re-set their minds and cemented what they were doing well. The girls moved strongly across the mat with good posture and positive technique. 

Now considering these girls are only 11 and 12 years of age, I have the opportunity to turn them into magnificent martial artists provided they keep at it for the next few years. 

Mindset.

I originally had this piece of writing in another blog post I am drafting but then I realised it deserves its own post. I wish to write about the mindset of our koryu ancestors.

Samurai Mask.

There is an excellent article written in this book "Koryu Bujutsu - Classical Warrior Traditions of Japan" Where the mindset of the Japanese combatant is discussed. Ideally the mindset of a warrior should be cool and calm, with a predator's focus. A story that highlights this mindset well is one told to me by a fellow TSYR deshi. He works for the Australian military and he volunteered to be a "hostage" on a training exercise where he and others were on a bus taken over by "terrorists". The Special Forces guys had to take the bus back. This was one of two activities he was involved with. A  prior activity found my friend seated in front of one of these SF gentlemen who looked like he had not had much sleep and had circles under his eyes but was completely focused and ice cold. Upon starting the siege of a grounded plane these soldiers dominated the space with precision, aggression and speed. When it came time for the exercises it was like the special forces guys exploded into action and while things were done quickly there was no discernible haste, just well-practised actions performed without hesitation. To give you an idea of just how aggressive and uncompromising these SF guys are, my friend experienced being "arrested" so quickly and so aggressively he thought he had broken his arm and cheek bone. The SF men are a perfect example of the modern day warrior who still faces the reality of dying suddenly. They still have the warrior's mindset. 

The Japanese term to describe this cold-blooded mindset is fudoshin. It describes the ability to overcome the typical reactions to sudden violence and stay calm under stress. Where many of us may panic, freeze, or be overcome with rage, the trained warrior remains calm and doesn't hesitate. This allows the warrior to continue to access the movement patterns that will keep him or her alive. When I read about fudoshin in modern budo, it sometimes seems to me that the concept has become romanticised or diluted. Words that are often used are; staying strong in the face of attack, retaining composure or a quality that lets no outside influence affect your mind. While I believe this is true and is a great way to describe the concept to the modern budo practitioner, I don't think it is exactly the same thing to a true combatant that must face the reality of sudden violence and death. If I am to understand the mindset of the feudal Japanese warrior then the uglier, cold-blooded version makes more sense to me.

I know some of you reading this might say, "Hold on a minute. TSYR and many of the koryu founded in the Edo period were founded in times of peace. The Japanese warrior-class did not face death on a daily basis." I would argue that they still faced the prospect of death in the form of ritual suicide or seppuku. To face killing yourself by disembowelment would have required an incredible strength of will. Although killing yourself to follow your lord into death was banned during the Tokugawa period, seppuku could still be ordered of you by law and was often held in the presence of officials. 

The well-known samurai classic, Hagakure (written sometime in the early 1700s) has this to say,

"The Way of the Samurai is found in death. When it comes to either/or, there is only the quick choice of death. It is not particularly difficult. Be determined and advance."

It is clear to me that Fudoshin still very much applied to the 'peaceful' samurai.

Fudoshin is not the only component to the mindset of a budo practitioner. To be able to keep a relaxed vigilance in everything you do is important for a warrior. The Japanese term for such a state is zanshin and can be explained as being constantly aware of your mind, body and surroundings while remaining calm. Zanshin can be practised by being alert from beginning to end of a kata. It can be practised in the simple art of bowing. Zanshin would have had to be highly refined in the Edo period samurai as the society of the time demanded knowledge of many daily rituals. Should this etiquette not be observed, the samurai could find themselves in trouble quickly. By being constantly alert and observant, he or she was watching what others are doing, watching body language and looking at their surroundings to make sure they didn't act in an impolite manner.

Even a person who has trained their minds to exhibit fudoshin and zanshin would still not have the complete mindset of a warrior without one last component. In my martial study I have heard it called "intent", in the article I referred to earlier, it is called "volition" I would go further to say it is "permission" (a term from this article). It is the motivation the combatant has to see his or her actions through. In samurai stories it is common to have two swordsmen square off. Neither attacking, both waiting and watching. Suddenly one withdraws and bows, knowing he would have lost the encounter. This rather dramatic scenario illustrates that if your intent is stronger than your adversaries, then you will win. For me, this is one of the most challenging psychological lines to cross. To intentionally harm another person is difficult when you have had years of societal conditioning about what is right and wrong. It is against the law to assault someone. Yet, a warrior's mindset must allow a time for a switch to be flipped, a moment when you give yourself that permission to do harm without hesitation.

In the dojo environment, my training partners have given their consent for me to practice on their limbs and bodies. Yet we all know no one is out to really hurt the other. No matter how good I think my waza is getting, no matter how much I train fudoshin or zanshin, we all know that this is not a fight to the death. This is why it is up to me and my training partners to increase the intensity. To challenge the other person so they build skill under stress. Only then can we get a glimpse into the mind of a feudal Japanese warrior.

Training Day!

I have just finished a great training session with Pete and Chris. Pete had spoken for a while about working through all the waza in the Shoden Mokuroku, both weapons and empty-hand. So I invited Pete to my dojo for a Saturday morning training session. We bowed on sharply at 9 am and set my phone timer going. Then we proceeded to work through every kata one time each to see how long it would take. We managed to do all the kata in 1 hour, 16 minutes. This included idori, paired weapons sets, the works. It was great to pressure test ourselves to see what we really knew. We managed to remember all the kata even though for a few of them we had to stop and think or work out certain parts, but we got there. Not bad considering there is something like 90 or more kata to learn. It was great to get the heart pumping and my limbs warm. It is a mild winter's day here and it felt good to get to that magical 'training warm' feeling.

Kumitanto!

Not long after finishing the whole Shoden syllabus, Chris arrived. He had just flown into New Zealand early this morning and wanted to work out some of the swelling from a long flight. So he joined us on the mat as we slowed down and looked at some key points on the idori kata. 

Chris emphasised the right attitude in the techniques, an attitude that presses an opponent and takes the initiative immediately. It was just the right amount of fine tuning we needed after blasting through the techniques. 

Overall Pete and I were happy with our progress. Despite the speed at which we worked, the main points of each kata remained intact (despite the odd technique not being our best). It certainly showed us what we need to work on now for future training sessions.

Pete suggested we do the whole Shoden set some time again to see if we have improved overall. I know it will be a blast. 

Training through/around injury.

So I have injured myself.

I woke up one morning to intense pain and aching in my right hip. I had trained the night before but had not noticed any problems before I went to bed. As I got up I found my right leg wasn't weight bearing without pain. I knew I had landed hard on that hip a couple of times during training and assumed I had bruised some part of my hip. After gently pressing different parts of the problem area I discovered the pain was coming from a protrusion of my femur known as the Greater Trochanter. I think I had bruised it and the area had become inflamed overnight as I lay on it. I was pretty sure I had damaged some of the soft tissue around the area as well because certain lateral movements caused me pain as well. After a quick bit of research online and talking to my wife who teaches anatomy and physiology to nursing students, it was quite probable I had tendinitis of the medial glute as well. This made sense as the same day as I had training I had a therapeutic massage appointment. The massage therapist had worked on my medial glutes as they were quite sore.

So here is what I think happened.

Last week I participated in the staff Tug o War (I'm a high school teacher). Now, due to a busy schedule with work and family I have only been getting to training once a week and teaching aikido once a week. Therefore my mobility and activity had dropped considerably over the winter months. Then to suddenly participate in some pretty serious isometric movements (Tug o War) didn't do my body any good. I had also stopped seeing my massage therapist over this winter term due to being too busy. Last year I made sure to see her at least once a month. 

This week I finally got back to my massage therapist and my body was a wreck. She did her best to iron out muscular kinks but more still needs to be done. I had that massage at 10 am of the same morning I had training. I then went to training that evening. Here is where I think my problems started. I had a fairly vigourous training session and pushed myself physically. I got home tired but not really sore. However, the massage therapist would have stretched and loosened muscles around my hips which, I believe, reduced my stability leading up to the training. In fact I believe that having a deep tissue massage PRIOR to training was my down fall. Nothing I did at training was unusual or new, other than increasing the intensity. Therefore the only thing I did differently that day was have a deep tissue massage earlier on. Also, knowing that the therapist worked on my medial glutes and that is the very tendon that is inflamed now seems to support this idea. 

Its my second day with the sore hip and it is healing quickly. It is most painful when I lie down so I slept with a pillow between my legs which reduced the tension on my hip tendons. Plenty of Deep Heat (Menthol cream) has been applied and I did take Ibuprofen yesterday to help with reducing inflammation. I am annoyed with myself for getting injured. However, it is in these moments that I find myself reflecting on my practice and what I can improve on. I will still go to tonight's training session but I will train around the injury. I know what planes of movement I can do without pain and I will stick with those. 

It goes without saying, that I will not be getting a deep tissue massage before training in the future.

Brazilian Jiujitsu Experience

Yesterday I my wife was talking to a guy who use to teach our children at their primary school. He told her he was competing in his first BJJ tournament as a novice. When I heard this I was interested in going along and seeing what it was all about. My knowledge of BJJ is very limited. I have not practised it myself and all I know of it is based on the Gracies and the UFC. I wasn't sure what to expect but I wanted to be among New Zealand BJJ practitioners and get a feel for the type of people they are. I also wanted to see my daughter's ex-teacher having a go.


So I managed to get to the tournament after my daughter's soccer game and watch not only Adam's novice bouts but many others as I was waiting around. The first thing I noticed was the great sportsmanship shown by everybody there. Not only the practitioners but also members of the crowd. The crowd always applauded the winner, no matter who they supported. Credit given where credit is due.

I had a great conversation with a guy I met there. He was a father and his whole family was involved in the MMA gym there. He and his daughter practise BJJ and his son goes to parkour which is also attached to this gym. His family had tried BJJ and then left for awhile to try other sports but had come back because the of the great atmosphere.

During the bouts, the competitors shook hands before and after and during one of the more elite bouts where only two men were in the division, they were smiling and chuckling as they were rolling.

This was a real grass-roots competition at an amateur level and the atmosphere was chilled out and friendly. I was pleasantly surprised. There was no posturing because you spoke with your actions out on the mat. You won or you lost...end of story.

The guy I went to see did well for himself. He won both his bouts. First with an arm bar and secondly with a choke. He was really humble about it all, but man, he could move. He was fast and he was balanced. I don't know if he will continue with tournaments but he certainly has potential.

All in all it was a very positive experience.