Japan update 2!!!!!
2010-07-29 14:29:09
Above center pic: Sensei was requested to stands directly next to Nishioka Sensei of the Kodokan, he is a 9th Dan! A true honor. Other pics: Training BJJ in Japan. Group pic: Suita Japan with Shinkawa Sensei
Hello everyone once again, I'm still alive and well. The training level has surely increased. I have been on a steady diet of Judo at the Kodokan. I had the great honor of meeting Nishioka Sensei who is one of only 20 9th Dan's at the Kodokan. The Judo at the Kodokan is simply the best in the world. Once again the training was the way its suppose to be.... grueling, arduous, intense and borderline cruel... i love it. Nishioka Sensei emphasises the importance of body connection in all movements, his top students who i did randori with showed that the "gentle art" is in the subtle movements, a very soft approach with maximum impact. The young gun competitors were just looking to launch someone to the next planet with a major throw, we fought randori (live sparring) for one hour straight, switching partners every time Nishioka Sensei called time. My Gi literally felt as if on fire. Kodokan members complemented my Judo and asked me if I can stay in Japan to join them...
I have learned so much not only about the Martial Arts but also about myself along this journey.
Courage is one of our 7 principles. This courage is not only the courage required for warriors
on the battlefield or fighters in the ring. This courage goes a little deeper. Once Kuro Obi or Black
Belt is achieved it often feels as though you have "arrived", like some sort of "satori" or
"grand awakening "through achievement. This sense of achievement can sometimes be a
little dangerous because it can often make one complacent or feel like "yea, I know, I know,
yea, I know that already, oh yea that? I know that too, I got this! I seen that before, I SAID i got this"!
Mastering Budo is mastering your ego.
You must learn to free your ambitous mind and learn the art of dying.
It takes tremendous courage to look inward, to journey inward, to assess your
strong and weak points, to fortify your soul. Oh, but thats just step one.
Now once you have recognized this you must act on it, make powerful efforts to
improve, seek out whoever that may be to help you in those areas, please remember
this is not only physical, the physical is the most easy to deal with.
Shu Ha Ri or Shuhari is the Japanese concept of the learning process. In short, it translates to obey, detatch, seperate. In the Shu phase this is when you just joined the Dojo, truly a beginners mind, remember that? Ha is the phase where you diverge from the kata, lots of questions, lots of frustrations and success, Ri is to trancend the kata or go beyond all that you have learned. At this point we must have courage to return to shu to maintain hibi shoshin or "each day beginners mind". I hope I can lead by example over here in Tokyo, after receiving my First Degree as you all can see Im overseas laying it on the line, training with the top bulldogs and testing my abilities, please remember this at your next promotion and forever. Shuhari.....shu
I'd like to give a shoutout to the Martial Professionals who have been holdn it down at the Budokan, Coach Kevin "Pierre" Smith, Peyman "The Pain" Nabatkhorian, Kyle "The Griffin" Antonelli and Matt "the terra not Serra" Culley.
I'd also like to give a special shoutout to all my junior Instructors as well, you guys are the best.
Big thanks to all the warriors who continued to train hard and maintain a strong Dojo spirit,
you are the lifeline and the blood of the Dojo.
Keep up the great work, I'll b back soon.
Also our Budokan BJJ Gi got great reviews in Japan.
Train smart & I'll c u on the mats
Osu
