{"id":70,"date":"2016-01-07T02:14:37","date_gmt":"2016-01-07T06:14:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mainetraditionalkarate.com\/blog\/?p=70"},"modified":"2018-10-02T12:26:27","modified_gmt":"2018-10-02T16:26:27","slug":"anger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mainetraditionalkarate.com\/?p=70","title":{"rendered":"Anger"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"mindwandersmall\"<\/a>On the first and third Tuesday<\/span> of every month, our Sensei (or his Senior Student) conducts a focused training class just for Brown Belts.\u00a0 The need to be vigilant in maintaining one\u2019s own proper actions served as a prominent theme during last night\u2019s class.\u00a0 As the most advanced of the kyu rank (non-Black Belt) students, Brown Belts are expected to model proper technique, intensity, attitude, and protocol to a greater extent than students of other kyu ranks.\u00a0 A Brown Belt\u2019s position at the front of class during training means that he or she is always on display for other students (and teachers) to observe.\u00a0 Despite their own and others\u2019 high expectations, Brown Belts are fallible like everyone else.\u00a0 An interesting thing happened in class last night.<\/p>\n

Ippon kumite (one step sparring) comprises an important part of our training.\u00a0 A specific sequence of punches, kicks, and blocks\u00a0 are practiced with a partner.\u00a0 Among many other benefits, ippon kumite helps one\u2019s body develop almost an automatic response to a stimulus ( e.g., a punch to the head) such that very little conscious effort and processing time are required to respond to the threat. \u00a0We took turns demonstrating the 10 Brown Belt Ippon Kumite techniques in front of the class last night.<\/p>\n

My partner and I positioned ourselves in front of the group for our turn.\u00a0 I brought the punch.\u00a0 My partner performed the block\/counterattack.\u00a0 WHACK! (Think Batman graphics and sound effects from the 1960s and 1970\u2019s show).\u00a0 The sound from the strike caused a collective \u201coooooh\u201d from my classmates.\u00a0 What you have to understand about ippon kumite is, as the initial attacker, you end up in a position of severe disadvantage and wide open for counter-attack.\u00a0\u00a0 As Brown Belts, we are expected to have developed sufficient skill and control to make contact or near contact when counter-attacking, but not hard enough to cause serious injury.\u00a0 My partner struck harder than I expected (enough to leave a bruise), but not excessively hard.\u00a0 I kind of raised an eyebrow, but more at everyone\u2019s reaction than to anything else.\u00a0 We moved on to practice the same technique to the other side of the body.\u00a0 Punch, block\/counter-attack \u2013 WHAMMO!\u00a0 Geez, another loud contact, another bruise.\u00a0 The Senior Student made an interesting remark \u2013 something to the effect of \u201coh, payback is always a possibility in ippon kumite.\u201d<\/p>\n

It is.\u00a0 You see, it was now my turn to practice the counter-attack.\u00a0 We often will joke with our partner by making the type of comment made by the Senior Student when any technique is performed by a partner with a little bit too much enthusiasm.\u00a0 Think of it as kind of a light hearted way of communicating with your training partner that a little less force would be appreciated.\u00a0 The fact of the matter is that my training partner is an amazing karateka and a great person who has my complete trust.\u00a0 I consider him a friend.\u00a0 The thought of intentionally harming him in response to being accidentally hit a little too hard (not that I was) did not even cross my mind.\u00a0 \u00a0I completed my turn with the exercise without incident, and we moved on.<\/p>\n

We later stepped in for our next turn.\u00a0 I am the lower rank so I always serve as the first attacker and ultimately victim.\u00a0 I punched.\u00a0 My partner blocked and struck.\u00a0 POW!\u00a0 Yet again, the contact was clearly audible and exactly in the same spot as where the first bruise had been left.\u00a0 On the one hand, kudos to my partner for such precision.\u00a0 On the other hand, I experienced enough discomfort to cause me to open my mouth to offer some verbal feedback.\u00a0 No one will ever know what was about to be said.\u00a0 To be honest, I am not sure what I was going to say either.\u00a0 But in that split second, I took a deep breath, shut my mouth, and kept it shut.\u00a0 I turned and took two steps away from the group.\u00a0 With no exaggeration, in almost movie-like fashion, a visualization of one of my favorite stories jumped to mind \u2013 The Story of the Samurai and the Fisherman. …<\/p>\n

Centuries ago, a samurai set out to collect money he had loaned to a local fisherman.\u00a0 Arriving in the village and finding no sign of the fisherman, the samurai travelled to the shore to find the debtor mending his nets.\u00a0 Distracted from his work by his colleagues scurrying out of the way of the approaching samurai, the fisherman realized his day of reckoning had arrived.\u00a0 The fisherman threw himself to the ground, bowing his head in the greatest show of respect he could muster.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cGet up,\u201d commanded the samurai.\u00a0 \u201cYour grace period of one year has now passed.\u00a0 The time has come for you to repay your debt to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

The fisherman rose to his feet but kept his gaze focused toward the ground.\u00a0 \u201cI understand our agreement,\u201d trembled the fisherman, \u201cbut the seas have not been kind to\u00a0me and it has been a very bad year.\u00a0 I fear I do not have the money to repay you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?!\u201d bellowed the samurai.\u00a0 Despite his position of stature, the samurai was not known as a man of patience.\u00a0 The large group who had gathered all turned away at the distinctive sound of a sword being expertly drawn from its sheath.\u00a0 The silver blade flashed in the sunlight as the samurai prepared to strike the fisherman down where he cowered.<\/p>\n

\u201cWait!\u00a0 Please!\u201d\u00a0 cried the fisherman.\u00a0 \u201cI am nowhere near as skilled as a noble samurai, but I have been studying the martial arts for some time now.\u00a0 My master teaches that one should never strike when angry.\u00a0 I beg for your mercy and one more year to repay my debt to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

The samurai carefully considered the man\u2019s words.\u00a0 \u201cI have studied my art under the finest masters of the sword,\u201d said the samurai as he slowly lowered and sheathed his sword.\u00a0 \u201cYour master is wise.\u00a0 My teachers also instruct that to wield one\u2019s sword in anger is a defect in character.\u00a0 I am very angry with you, fisherman, but I will not turn to violence in vengeance.\u00a0 You shall have one additional year to fulfill your agreement.\u00a0 Should I return next year and you not have the money to repay me, I will take your life instead.\u201d<\/p>\n

The samurai made the long journey home, only to arrive well after nightfall.\u00a0 He quietly entered his home so as to not disturb his wife.\u00a0 As he entered his bedroom, he saw the silhouette of his wife and an unknown person, fast asleep, side by side.\u00a0 The clothes of the stranger, however, were unmistakably those of another samurai.\u00a0 Enraged, the samurai drew his sword and prepared to slay them both.\u00a0 Before he delivered the fatal blow, however, he remembered the words of the fisherman, \u201cnever strike when angry.\u201d\u00a0 Upset that, twice in one day<\/span>, he had nearly dishonored his own masters by not following their teachings, the samurai stepped back in haste, accidentally knocking over a chair in his chambers.<\/p>\n

The loud noise caused the samurai\u2019s wife and the stranger to startle.\u00a0 The samurai\u2019s wife quickly lit a candle.\u00a0 The flickering light revealed the stranger to be none other than the samurai\u2019s mother.<\/p>\n

\u201cI almost killed you both,\u201d screamed the samurai.\u00a0 The samurai\u2019s wife quickly explained that she feared for her household\u2019s safety when the samurai had not returned home by dusk.\u00a0 The samurai’s mother had dressed in the samurai\u2019s clothes so that any intruder who dared enter the bedroom would think the powerful samurai still at home and would run away frightened. It was at this moment that the samurai realized that his tendency to strike out in anger without thinking nearly cost him the life of his wife and his mother.<\/p>\n

One year later<\/span>, the samurai returned to the fisherman\u2019s village.\u00a0 The fisherman excitedly approached the samurai. \u201cMy Lord, the sea has been very good to me this year.\u00a0 Here is all of your money plus interest.\u00a0 I thank you for your generous mercy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dwarfing the fisherman with his size, the samurai placed his massive hand gently on the fisherman\u2019s shoulder. \u201cKeep your money old man,\u201d replied the samurai softly.\u00a0 \u201cYou repaid your debt to me long ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2026 When I turned around, the Senior Student had stepped in to replace me.\u00a0 I\u2019m not sure if he thought I was going to retaliate or if he was just annoyed that I had caused a brief pause in our training.\u00a0 Ultimately, it makes no difference.\u00a0 I thought of the wisdom of my Sensei who, less than an hour earlier, spoke of the need for Brown Belts to always be mindful of their actions as they are explicitly and implicitly observed for guidance.\u00a0 I glanced at the three youth Brown Belts in the class, all of whom were looking at me perhaps wondering what I would do next.\u00a0 All three of them outrank me.\u00a0 All three of them surpass me in skill.\u00a0 Consequently, they have nothing to learn from me in terms of martial arts technique.\u00a0 Nevertheless, as an adult, I must express great care to not model unacceptable responses to frustration.\u00a0 I simply said, \u201cNo, I\u2019m good Sempai,\u201d as I finished the drill with my partner.\u00a0 With eyes upon me, I made a very conscious effort to make sure I brushed my partners gi with my punch but made no contact to the body.<\/p>\n

I hope someday to be more like my son, Isaac.\u00a0 He is a second degree black belt currently.\u00a0 He handles things with an outward calmness and compassion well beyond his years.\u00a0 If I were more like him, I wouldn\u2019t have felt the need to consciously make sure my punch made no contact.\u00a0 I wouldn\u2019t have felt the need to take a breath.\u00a0 I wouldn\u2019t have had any reaction at all to what was simply a normal part of training in karate.\u00a0 But, like I said before, no Brown Belt is perfect.\u00a0 Sometimes though, how we choose to express our imperfections is as much a valuable lesson to others as if we had done things right the first time.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On the first and third Tuesday of every month, our Sensei (or his Senior Student) conducts a focused training class just for Brown Belts.\u00a0 The need to be vigilant in maintaining one\u2019s own proper actions served as a prominent theme during last night\u2019s class.\u00a0 As the most advanced of the kyu rank (non-Black Belt) students, … <\/p>\n

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