tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14230162.post8594754354423399412..comments2008-03-31T14:14:40.037-05:00John Vesiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04434740196022601040noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14230162.post-11499046220155933702006-11-14T02:32:00.000-05:002006-11-14T02:32:00.000-05:00KFG:<br />Actually I had the yin and yang concept in mind for this post. It's interesting how many things are dependent on their opposite to be defined or even exist (e.g. good and evil).John Vesiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04434740196022601040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14230162.post-28409352117876223052006-11-13T13:01:00.000-05:002006-11-13T13:01:00.000-05:00Great post. Loved the concept of apparent contradiction. Yin and Yang are actually part of the same whole - I think that gets forgotten sometimes. Rick - loved what you said about understanding being the ulitmate goal, not necessarily answering a single question! Thanks for that.kfgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14230162.post-22291684271654354432006-11-11T01:26:00.000-05:002006-11-11T01:26:00.000-05:00Pavel:<br />I agree with most of your statement. It's true that budo is more than just the art of fighting (bu<i>jutsu</i>). But I believe that to say budo is "not fighting" or "not about fighting" is somewhat misleading, even though its aims are ultimately peaceful. I admit, it's a weird dichotomy. Thanks for your comment.John Vesiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04434740196022601040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14230162.post-40941959457625671712006-11-10T20:15:00.000-05:002006-11-10T20:15:00.000-05:00I believe Budo is not a fighting, it is the way to improove your Spirit.<br />and the purpose to study Budo is the way to understand How to prevent a fight.<br /><br />I practice Aikido :-)<br /><br />"Solving problems before they form is the way of the warrior." - O'SenseiPavelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15751562865668605192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14230162.post-10534700687194147142006-11-10T09:51:00.000-05:002006-11-10T09:51:00.000-05:00Regarding the last paragraph, seeing as many sides as possible - I received some very good advice from one of the senior managers in our company. He told me not to be in an unnatural hurry to reach a conclusion. While we always have to keep our deadlines in mind, when we can, try to slice up a situation into as many different angles as you can. Turn it inside out. You may not come up with answers, but you are likely to come up with understanding, which in the long run, may turn out to be more important.Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00142405234557420238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14230162.post-46524276545246004002006-11-09T10:50:00.000-05:002006-11-09T10:50:00.000-05:00Well, I made it through my first Tai Chi class. Some pain involved but, I'm taking it class by class to see how my body holds up.Miss Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919962859301719781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14230162.post-9594544037257493052006-11-08T01:04:00.000-05:002006-11-08T01:04:00.000-05:00Thanks Colin.<br /><br /><i>...an unquestioning mindset is an accepted part of training.</i><br /><br />It used to be like that. There was a time in traditional karate (probably other arts as well) when it was actually discouraged to ask questions; as if doing so was bad etiquette or disrespectful. Maybe it was so the student would figure it out on her/his own terms. Fortunately that's all changed. The sign of an enthusiastic student is one who does the asking.John Vesiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04434740196022601040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14230162.post-34316614939425644452006-11-07T20:58:00.000-05:002006-11-07T20:58:00.000-05:00Much too often do I see martial artists accepting simplistic and basic ideas wholesale. It is as though an unquestioning mindset is an accepted part of training. In the last 15 years developing my women self defence program, I have found asking the right questions not only improves the quality of what the student receives, but also clarifies the existence of many misconceptions regarding martial arts and self defence. Good post. ColinColin Weehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07701510957988576961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14230162.post-66105962298803565992006-11-06T17:50:00.000-05:002006-11-06T17:50:00.000-05:00Eddie:<br />I agree. There's no such thing as boring kata, only boring practitioners.<br />----------<br />Mat:<br /><i>what's important is the use of (kata)...Train how you want it to be.</i><br /><br />Well put.<br /><br />Sartre was a warrior in his own right.<br /><br /><i>My father's stronger than yours.</i><br /><br />Reminds me of a nice story. Don Nagle ran an Isshinryu dojo in New Jersey for 40 years before his death in 1999. He's credited with saying to every youngster in his school: "I can beat up every man in the world. Except your father."<br />----------<br />Miss Chris:<br />Actually, its much easier to remember techniques by rote (as in kata), than if you tried learning all the moves separately. In my opinion, this is one of kata's finer points.<br />----------<br />Perpetual Beginner:<br />Arguing or defending one's point of view is fear-based and egotistical. I like your response.<br /><br /><i>Most real truth is only expressible in circular paradox.</i><br /><br />That's a nice one. If you get a chance, find out who said it and get back to me.John Vesiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04434740196022601040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14230162.post-43478576513967529982006-11-06T17:28:00.000-05:002006-11-06T17:28:00.000-05:00My favorite response when someone starts arguing for one or another of these points of view is to tell them: "I'm not an either/or person, I'm a both/and person."<br /><br />Or to quote somebody (I have no idea who anymore) "Most real truth is only expressible in circular paradox."PerpetualBeginnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06501739428262166232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14230162.post-29881392325203469002006-11-06T15:22:00.000-05:002006-11-06T15:22:00.000-05:00I've never thought of katas as boring. I'm too much of a perfectionist, I guess. But there was always work to be done on them. I found the memorization great exercise for my brain as well.Miss Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17919962859301719781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14230162.post-32004912553507980062006-11-06T09:01:00.000-05:002006-11-06T09:01:00.000-05:002.<br />that made me smile. My father's stronger than your's. It also reminded me of self-defense drills that are repeated and repeated and repeated until it becomes a reflex in the army. Kata or no kata, what's more important is the use/utility of the thing. Or... the actual training done with the tool. Loosely done partner drills give the same result as loosely done kata... Train how you want it to be.<br /><br />"I believe in seeing as many sides to an issue as possible."<br /><br />That reminds me of my philosophy classes. Love of wisdom. Great pov.<br /><br />Can't help but think os Sartre: "there is always choice"<br /><br />Good day[Mat]http://www.blogger.com/profile/05083745360324061390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14230162.post-1622204677733481402006-11-06T00:55:00.000-05:002006-11-06T00:55:00.000-05:00well written, you forgot to capture it's spiritual essence.<br /><br />I love kata, people who thinks it's boring probably don't understand it.Eddie 哥哥http://www.blogger.com/profile/05060225742136401941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14230162.post-31460250879670946662006-11-06T00:53:00.000-05:002006-11-06T00:53:00.000-05:00Thanks Brittney. <br /><br /><i>I've seen alot of people come and go...Our school promotes ranks slowly</i><br /><br />Actually, that may be an indicator you're in a good school. One way schools (<i>McDojos</i>) retain high memberships is to promote students through rank quickly and to gloss over material so students don't get frustrated and/or bored. Admittedly though, training at times (in the right school) can be difficult and tedious.<br />----------<br />Mr. James:<br /><i>Kaho</i> - that's a new word for me. I'll check out that post.<br />----------<br />Rick:<br />The dragon is a recurring theme in the martial arts. The Isshinryu symbol - <i>Mizu Gami</i> - is half woman/half dragon.John Vesiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04434740196022601040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14230162.post-74697175895988535992006-11-05T21:14:00.000-05:002006-11-05T21:14:00.000-05:00"The purpose of our study is for natural instinct resemble the dragon."<br /> - Wang Xiang Zhai, the founder of YiQuanRickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00142405234557420238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14230162.post-52220971997250764052006-11-05T18:10:00.000-05:002006-11-05T18:10:00.000-05:00Hi, John<br /><br />You hit the two sides of the coin quite well. <br /><br />You should read this issue of:<br />Journal of Asian Martial Arts Volume 15 Number 3 - 2006<br /><br />It has an article on Kata (Kaho) you would find most interesting. I have a shorter post just on some aspects I felt relevant at my blog.<br /><br />Have a great day and keep up the great posts.<br /><br />CharlesCharles Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13812618556413423872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14230162.post-88057553309205970102006-11-05T12:58:00.000-05:002006-11-05T12:58:00.000-05:00I enjoyed your compilation of thoughts. We discuss these topics before class a few times a month, and I enjoyed reading someone else thougts on the subject. <br /><br />I find forms/kata one of the best ways to learn, although I know quite a few people who find them <i>boring</i>. I think it depends on how you are approaching your style. If you approach it as a sport, then forms/kata can seem like a waste of time. Since I have been studying Taekwondo for the last five years, I've seen a lot of people come and go from our dojang becuase of this. Or so it seems. Our school also promotes ranks slowly, which could be another cause.Brittneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08099836825339635369noreply@blogger.com