Hi KT. This is for you, then you will know me better, or not. G
Forms are formless and formlessness are forms. Awareness is most essential.
To study any martial art successfully you must be able to perform what you are practicing, not on your superior teacher (is your teacher to teach you), or are you just a tool for him/her to learn the art more?
To accomplish something in a few moves or are they there to teach you in as many moves as they think?
Will this goal save your life? By reversing the action would you be the teacher?
Because they are a black belt can they teach, How many hits in the neck and groin area will it take to take them out? (teacher)
Footwork is essential moving out of harms way, is one of the first I can think of. How about that, just stay out of harms way, can you do that?
Are you the victim or are you the attacker? Will reversing the situation help?
Is it a need to know tech, to confuse you? Or is it a needed (trick) move to counter the next move by them (attacker) if you miss on the first tech, to counter this next move to counter the fourth movement. To reverse that, will it help?
This is the art in a nutshell, get out of harms way and while doing that, take the necessary action to do it. By reversing that, will it help?
Motobu, a great fighter, had one kata many others had one kata, Think of that, one form with numerous techs to save you, practiced over and over.
(I know they taught more to their students).
Now they had conditioning, (my thoughts with the bags) push ups, sit ups etc. It is a Dojo, not a resort. Not a place to gather to talk about your wounds, but a place to practice what your teacher practiced and then taught you.
Forms, techs, exercise, movement, footwork, strikes, tricks, kicks below the waist. All very important.
Once taught do you need to learn more, maybe, maybe not.When taught do you go looking for trouble are do you learn to avoid it?
Is everyone on this board who they purport, LOL..
Why is this EPAK board so well monitered? Why do they go and run to a moderator when someone disagrees with them and then put a red mark on your name? Or you bring up something they are in their own mind insulted?
Is that how it is in the dojo. Good luck, if it is for you, you need to get a life and find a new dojo. Are you as humble as the next or are you arrogant
Do you sign a contract and pay money not to be taught a working system, within a few months and then work up to the next level of competence.
You are not instructed how to save your skin in a few months and have to wait till you are a black belt?
You are not learning enough so you need something to wonder about that will not help you in respects to what you are learning now? Find a new Dojo.
But see, that is my thoughts, do you try to win the arguement with big words or fancy footwork, both are necessary in the real world but the real word is just a warrior fantasy and in the dojo it shoud be the same. I don't think so.
Does your teacher have to be the best, or do you do the best you can be, then learn more from them, is your teacher good for you?
Is it a nice work place? Do you have the desire to learn or are you just there because of desire? Are you there because you are fearful and need to feel more secure? Will they be able to instill security, or will you still be fearful?
Are you somebody who buys DVDs and then tries to work with them, do you work in your garage, or with others to test your skills, are you a learner or the learned.
I hope you are happy with what you are doing and not worrying if you are getting your monies worth. Why learn to kill when you are still not taught to defend with empty hands? Should you use a knife, can you use a knife?
Why are you on this board? to learn, who are you learning from?
Are they who they purport. Do they make smart remarks and find fault with your spelling or the fact that you have a typeo. By reversing that tactic will it help?
Should you wait till level four to learn how to strike nerve areas? Should you strike to kill? Do you have the right to kill? Do you want to be a forms expert or a fighter? Do you have the mentality to kill? Do you need to kill, do you want to hurt just to be able to do it? Buy a gun become proficient. By reversing that will it help?
It is in your court, no one else will experience the indecision or the fear when the time comes to practice what you are learning, hope you are in the right Martial Art.
Ok, does that help?
Regards, Gary