A Foreword.
I was told the other day my blog
thoughts had been seen by someone in one of the Dojos Kik and I attend. This comes as something of a shock since my blog was intended mostly for personal reflection rather than public consumption. Of course this is an absurd thing to write considering anyone could stumble
upon it wading through the millions of blogs out there. Luckily, few stumble into it and I'm certain the subject
matter would discourage reading much beyond the first lines. Michael, if you have nothing better to do
with your time than scour blog sites then you must work for the Civil Service….
2. The Nationals and after.
Nagayama Sensei’s drive to
fastrack me towards some “Assistant Instructor” (his phrase) status thankfully
didn’t happen. Common sense would tell
even the least diplomatic person that having a Nidan Jodoka tell more senior
ranks what to do is not a sensible (nor desirable) approach. He’s still pushing, though, and I’ll give him
credit for his persistence. Of course, his
cause is now helped by my recent promotion to Jodo 3rd Dan status
and, by a cat’s whisker, winning the day before’s 2nd Dan Individual
Championship. First some thoughts on the
seminar itself.
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| A Hobbit hiding in the back row |
The entire week appeared given
over to practicing only those Jodo kata your grade-group should be practicing in
order to pass the next grading. For the
2nd Dan group (my grade-group) this was kata 3 through to 7 (Hissage
through to Kasumi), ad nauseum. Apart
from the embarrassing time Nagayama Sensei asked me to teach Ran-Ai (the last and
by far the longest of the 12 kata) to a bunch of newly promoted 4th Dans,
that is all I did during official dojo time.
Of course, outside official dojo time one could find a willing partner
and practice higher and lower kata: fast and with confident spirit or slower
and with intensity.
From my perspective there wasn’t
enough focus on the never-ending process of trying to perfect one’s Tandoku
Kihon. I was just about to write that
there was also not enough effort placed into improving individuals kata but, on
hindsight, there was: but only for the kata they need. And only then just enough to justify getting
them over the line on grading day. Including
myself, my grade group (those challenging for 3rd Dan) contained 6
people. One or two looked competent, two
average and one or two looked borderline – but all passed. When I asked Nagayama Sensei about the
grading and if he passed everyone he said “yes, because they all improved
during the seminar”. I remain unconvinced. OK, it’s easy for someone who’s received more
high-level training than he can shake a stick at for being too hard on people
but, in the end, if 3rd Dans begin edging into the “role model” territory,
then setting the bar too low doesn’t help the art at all. It’s occurred to me, now I can sit on grading
panels that may create 1st Dans, if my convictions to help further my
art will remain or if I will help the enthusiasm of the candidate instead.
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| "Taka" my shinken (suguha hamon) and "Mumeishi" (iaito) |
My Iaido, however, is
lacklustre. It’s sat on the back seat
while I’ve been really thrashing Jodo and it shows. I wasn’t at all worried about being bundled
out in the semis by Ben (the eventual Iaido 2nd Dan winner) as he’s
a class act. I am concerned, however, my
3rd Dan Iaido grading will probably take place in the UK this August
and my focus now has to change a little.
A lot, in fact. Add to that the UK ’s Iaido
scene demands a higher standard and performs their Iaido kata with some
differing timing emphases and, well, you get the picture. Nagayama Sensei said to me I must come to Sendai this year to take
my Kendo Nidan test because he knows all the people on the grading panel. My answer to that is the same I have to give
to an Iaido grading panel in the UK :
it doesn’t do the art any favours if the performer can’t perform.
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