On Surviving the Second Class & Nakayama’s Best Karate Series
Posted in Karate, Research on Jul 9th, 2008 No Comments »
Class in Review
To use one of Bunny’s phrases, “My arms and legs are all wiggly.”
I did it. Made it through two classes tonight. And I didn’t even get sick.
At the last class I attended two weeks ago, Senpai KunÄne introduced a series of techniques that occur in the next form we’d learn. I was really excited about that, really anticipating learning a new kata (form), since I’d been working on the first one since summer began. I practiced the new techniques at home, hoping I’d have them down pat by the time we put them together into a pattern, but then, the trips began, so I never got back to class to learn the form.
I figured everyone else had already moved on without me, everyone else would know the new kata by the time I returned, and I would be “that student” who would need to either be taken aside to catch up, or shove her brain into high gear in order to absorb the information as quickly as possible so as not to hold up the rest of the class.
Thankfully, I saw neither scenario. We picked up right where we left off, and now, I’ve learned the new kata. Yay!!!
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Couple changes in the weeks of my absence.
1. Sensei Sunshine got a haircut. One of those short, classy-sassy layered ‘dos, like Meg Ryan’s shag (right), only Sunshine’s style doesn’t come off as “tousled,” but rather chic. And Sunshine’s not blonde; she’s a green-eyed brunette, and the cut looks absolutely fabulous on her.
2. The only other female beginner in the class hasn’t been back since before I left, which means I’m alone again in my rookie-ladyness. Bummed about that.
I was told many students who join the dÅjÅ don’t stay beyond the initial three months. They don’t expect training to be so difficult and demanding, so they drop out.
It’s frustrating for the staff, because they want students to succeed, but encouragement can only go so far. At some point, a student chooses either to push past the fear and pain, or not to. The senseis can’t make that choice for us.
So, permanent membership is modest. But, the good thing is that–if a student sticks it out, then that’s evidence she’s dedicated and won’t give up on account of hard work or the few inevitable setbacks. Dedicated students means a dedicated dÅjÅ, and that’s the stuff of a school’s longevity. At least that’s what I think.
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Masatoshi Nakayama’s Best Karate Series
Sensei Sweet tipped me off about Nakayama’s series of books, Best Karate. I believe the entire collection of (at least) eleven volumes is–in Nakayama’s own words–”Dedicated to my teacher GICHIN FUNAKOSHI.” I think that’s beautiful and fitting.
Purchased:
The covers of each Best Karate book feature a black and white photograph of the Master Nakayama.
It’s really interesting to me to see relatively modern depictions of these founders. I guess in my mind, I’ve thought of the founding fathers as rare and elusive, like the photographs of Dad that I know exist, but cannot place. I guess I overlooked the fact Master Nakayama was alive and still very much active in my own lifetime. I was thirteen years old when he passed.
I aim to finish reading all three books by the end of the month. Another really cool thing about getting my hands on the Nakayama books at this particular time–I’ll be studying Nakayama’s biography as I read his written works, so in a sense, it will feel like he’s teaching me from his place in the past.
I’ve gotten the same sense when reading Funakoshi’s Karate-DÅ, like Master Funakoshi is sitting with me in the same room, reaching way back into memory and recalling pivotal experiences of his youth.
Speaking of which, I still haven’t finished Karate-DÅ. I planned to read some tonight, but I had to WILL myself to stay awake long enough to record my thoughts from the day. Still don’t feel like I’ve sufficiently expressed myself.
