Master Toyotaro Miyazaki - RIP

body of text 9-25-44 to 8-11-21

Our Students Are Gassy

Could we go back into our dojo at this time? Technically, yes. So why haven’t we? It seems our students are very gassy. Huh?

Gas molecules spread to fill out whatever size container they’re in. When we have 8 students in the double classroom (800 sq ft), they stand far apart and fill the space. When these same 8 students are in the buffet room (1,200 sq ft), they stand farther apart, filling that space. When we go outside on the patio (a few thousand sq ft), students stand faaar apart, trying to fill the vast space. What’ll happen when we go back into a 350 sq ft dojo?

After 9/11/2001, all flights were grounded nationwide. Once flying resumed, people were startled whenever they heard a low-flying plane. This lasted for a while until ‘normal’ became routine again. I understand everyone’s concern. Masks, social distancing, and non-contact have us gun shy. It’ll take a while before we feel ‘normal’.

Once we go back into the dojo we’ll try to keep minimum 6 foot social distance. In order to do so, we’ll need to restrict how many students come to each class to avoid overcrowding. So far, our gassy students don’t seem ready for this close distance. So when will we go back to the dojo on a regular basis? Soon… soon.

Renshu (練習) vs Keiko (稽古)

Here are two similar Japanese terms: RENSHU and KEIKO.
- RENSHU (練習) is to practice on your own, rote repetition, polish your technique.
- KEIKO (稽古) is a lesson in class under the sensei’s guidance. Keiko implies study for a deeper understanding of your technique. It often involves hands-on training, working bunkai (analysis; disassembly; examination) of fighting techniques found within your kata.

We have been unable do to hands-on training during COVID. No kumite… no ippons… mostly basics and kata, and for change of pace, kata and basics. We have grabbed sticks to simulate arms and legs. We have discussed how a move works. As someone once said: It’s like trying to fill your hunger by reading a menu. You get it in theory, but it’s not really satisfying.

On the positive side, we polished our basics, learned new kata, and honed our techniques. Now that pandemic restrictions are lifting, we can take these new, improved techniques and start applying them on each other in more realistic scenarios.

Our restricted training and Zoom effectively served a limited purpose. It kept us from rusting or forgetting our Karate. The best news is that better days are ahead. To be ready, to stay ready, follow what I usually shout out at the end of class: PRACTICE!

The Herbert Rule

At the old Baldwin dojo we had a sharp kid named Herbert Kwok. He was a good student, very intelligent, who made it up to Brown Belt in April, 2006.

One day we were working the three Tekki katas and one of the Brown Belts posed this question: Why does yame in Tekki Sho step in halfway with the right foot as your hands come out, step in the rest of the way with the left foot as your hands come together, and step out with the left foot to finish yame. Then Tekki Ni yame steps in halfway with the left foot, the rest of the way in with the right foot, then out with the left foot to finish yame. Then Tekki San ends like Tekki Sho – in halfway right, in left, out left. Hmmm… good question.

Other schools may yoi and yame different from us, but we have always been consistent since at least 1972. We yoi stepping in with the left foot, and then out with the left foot. Yame, with rare exception, ends the same way, stepping in and out with the left foot. A notable exception is Heian Sandan. The last stance being a wide kibba dachi, we step in halfway with the right leg, then do a regular left-left yame. Back to the question posed: All three Tekki katas end in kibba dachi, so it makes sense to step in halfway before doing a standard yame. Why is Tekki Ni different from the other two? I dunno… to be different? Maybe to keep you alert?

That’s when young Herbert piped up: It’s determined by the final kata attack. Whutchu talkin’ ‘bout Herbert? He then proceeded to show how all katas through San Kyu yame with the leg on the attacking side. Aha! But what about Heian Sandan? You throw a left punch, but yame with the right leg, so there! Herbert said it’s a left hook punch over the right shoulder, making it a right side attack, so yame starts with the right leg. The kid had an idea, held his ground, and proved his premise correct. This may not be the reason for yame, but it’s a great way to remind you which leg moves in for yame. Since that day, I refer to this idea as the ‘Herbert rule’.

The Very Definition of 'Osu!' 押忍！

A couple of days ago a very high ranking, important Black Belt in Japan posted a video on Facebook showing his students’ fine performances at a Tokyo tournament. They did extremely well, but barely missed taking runner-up. He lamented that this was because of lack of practice due to COVID shutdowns. He further commented that he, too, could not practice as he wanted. He is a national tournament champion, and feels that his inability to train as he did previously has exacerbated his back pains. It is upsetting to not work his kata more than a few times before the pain becomes intense.

The last thing this wonderful Karate master needs is advice from lowly little me, but that didn’t stop me from commenting on his post. I thanked him for posting the video of his students’ excellent competition. I then brashly added the following:

We knew an American competitor, Jim Smith. If he did not make at least runner-up he would say, “The answers are back in the dojo”. This is difficult when pandemic has closed your dojo. Stay strong, COVID will end soon. I, too, have back pain (and knees, and hips, and shoulder). Keep a strong positive attitude; it does help. I believe the correct phrase for pushing forward against great adversity is: Osu! 押忍！

Why Can't I Test?

We had a small Shinsa (rank examination) last month for one student. COVID has prevented us from training in contact elements like kumite (sparring) and ippons (self-defense). I have allowed any ready members take one test, giving them conditional rank which will be certified once COVID restrictions lift and we can certify these contact elements.

One brown belt student asked me if he could test. I said ‘no’ for several reasons, one is he already had a COVID promotion. Once a student reaches 4th Kyu purple belt, they have a minimum wait requirement and must be invited to test. As my Sensei often said, if you ask permission to test, you show you are not ready. Many intangibles are taken into account, not just the physical ability to perform new kata. The student must show mental readiness, which includes the patience to be invited to test.

The biggest reason this student was told ‘not yet’ is because he still hasn’t learned his fact sheet given out to all white belts, told to learn, and quizzed on at each rank examination. This consists of one page of history and Japanese terminology we use every day in class. “What’s the big deal? I know my new kata, and I know how to fight.” He may know the sequence of the kata, but has very limited understanding of the techniques. “What good is learning the fact sheet? I ain’t never gonna need it.” We train more than the body, also the mind and spirit. Learning the fact sheet takes some discipline and dedication – two important traits for higher ranks. As a brown belt, he should set an example for other students. If a yellow belt asks him for help on a history or terminology question, it looks bad if he says “I don’t gotta know that stuff.” When the class is going through basics, it looks bad when he has to watch what others do because he doesn’t know his Japanese commands, or worse, slow us down as I must say and demonstrate the term he should already know.

Did I mention this brown belt is an adult in his 40s, a college graduate, and successful business owner? I put it in collegiate terms he should understand. To get his degree in business, he was required to take liberal arts courses. Were they useless, or did they help him by rounding out his thought process, helping him think faster on his feet? If he wanted just business classes, there are schools that offer certificate programs. If he wanted the degree, he was required to pass all the non-business courses as well. If he wants to just learn fighting, he could enroll in boxing, or MMA, or jiu jitsu. (And don’t yell at me how those arts are mental as well as physical. I know that, but try to convince my brown belt of that) You want rank in a traditional Karate dojo? Meet all the traditional requirements of that dojo.

A higher ranking student should never ‘ask’ to test. His technique, knowledge, and attitude should necessitate his being told to test. “So, can I test yet? Pleeeze!!!” No, not yet.

Adjust - Adapt - Apply

A US Marine Corps unofficial motto is: Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome. Similarly, we've been following a motto: Adjust, Adapt, Apply.

We are still out of our dojo thanks to COVID. Fortunately, there are other areas available within the Temple that hosts our dojo. We sometimes use an 800 sq ft double classroom, or the 1,200 sq ft buffet room, or outdoors on the patio. These are harder surfaces than our padded deck, making turns, pivots, kicks, stomps, etc more punishing on our feet. We wear shoes or sneakers, but even that affects our kata, timing, rhythm, and general movement.

Moving and pivoting on various floor surfaces can take a toll. Some members feel it in their feet, or ankles, or knees, or back. A few members felt achy side effects from COVID vaccines. We all learn to adjust our techniques, adapt to our difficulties, and apply our Karate to the best of our ability. That shows great attitude and spirit. Ganbatte! Osu!