User:Jmcw37/Training

Training methods through a lifetime John McWilliams, May 2012

Karate is a do: a method of development. It is a process that spans many years of life. The motivation for years of practice must come from fulfilling needs and must fit into the budget of time and responsibilities. These needs and responsibilities change priority over time.

In our entertainment-oriented culture, karate is seen as a competitive sport. One can start training karate at 15 years, enter competition by 18 years old. By 38 years old, one has reached one's peak. Karate can be practiced from 15 until 75 : the years in competition are only one third of a karateka's training life. What are we doing the remaining 40 years when winning in competition is not the goal?

Self-Defense
Many people are drawn to karate with a need for self-defense. It can be as simple as "If I am going to train a sport, it should have a useful side effect". It might not only be a physical danger that makes us feel unsafe: our fast-paced competitive society confronts us daily with physiological pressures. We associate with others with opposing view; we might wish to convert others to our view. "Although these encounters rarely progress beyond the verbal expression, their impact on us is not without its physical side. Knowing that we could physically hold our own ... provides the confidence that is necessary if we are to avoid intimidation."

Krav Maga is a training-time efficient art for people who need practical self defense skills (police, prison guards). Krav Maga is not a do: itself does not inspire the motivation to come to practice year after year. Ku Shi Kai has made several Krav Maga weekend trainings: one easily recognizes that it is efficient self defense. The KM instructor said that "KM is too ugly to want to practice 3 times a week" (he himself practiced Escrima).

Physical Exercise & Health
In our youth-oriented culture, karate is seen as a competitive sport: there is one winner and everyone else loses: the concept of do is lacking. But there is more than winning a competition - in our sedimentary office jobs, we are left with a hunger to move and sweat. It is generally accepted that one must have aerobic activity 3 times a week to have a healthy body that can avoid heart disease and recover from illness.

Our every day lives have conflict that generate stress and pump adrenaline. Rather than having a detrimental effect on our health and rather than merely 'burning' these frustrations, karate training positively uses this energy to improve ourselves.

As we train for years, we become aware of our bodies function. We do not think of health as something for which our family doctor is responsible. As we become more sensitive to our bodies, the effects of food and drink become more clear. The regular practice helps us find a balance. By noticing the stress from life, we begin earlier to look for alternatives that bring us back to balance.

Social Interaction
To advance in karate, one needs a good training partner. This is a special relationship because of the dangers involved. In Western society, each person is responsible for their own safety. When two karateka "cross arms" (kumite), the safety is divided according to rank. When a yudansha trains with a 9th kyu, the yudansha is responsible for 99% of the safety - the beginner must trust their partner. The ritual of bowing signifies the entry into this special relationship.

Some people we can train with easily but others are difficult. Our fears and the partners fears interact in partner training. Some people fear injury. Some people who are used to using the words to control their world can feel very uncomfortable in a non-verbal relationship. Some people fear the intimacy of partner practice - they are used to role playing and hiding with words. Some people look to us to play a role to satisfy their needs but the role is unacceptable to us.

In order to practice with a partner, we must develop a sensitivity to the discomfort of ourselves and of our partners. We must extend tolerance in their areas of discomfort and to react less to our own prejudices. As we spend years in karate, we develop a feeling of the network of yudansha with similar ideals. We can trust this network to try to get beyond the limits of our 'normal' social relations. We can carry this tolerance to our daily lives and to our general society.

The Ages
From Shakespeare's "All the world's a stage" monologue in "As You Like It", there are seven ages of man: infant, child, youth, teenager, father, senior, old age.

Infant, Child
An infant and a child have no need for a do: they actively learn their world, its structure and its rules. Their safety, health and social life come from their family.

Youth (10-14)
A youth begins to live outside the family structure. Safety and therefore self-defense gain their first meaning. Exercise is still fully play. In karate, a youth can learn about their own value and to balance their worth to the activity of the group. The training for youths should be quite playful but the teacher must give clear expectations about behavior.

Teenager (15-19)
A teenager gains autonomy. The challenges of entering society and for young men, the development of testosterone-oriented thinking need more skill at social interaction. The body has developed and can begin adult-levels of exercise. The training for teenagers should be vigorous, that they learn to overcome inhibitions at physical movement. The teacher should encourage competition but must emphasize dispute-resolution skills. In Goju ryu, Go is important.

Adult (20-50)
An adult is finding/making their place in the world. This is the time of competition and career development: the need to achieve teaches the need for self-control. The duties of an adult in business and the duties of a father/mother make demands on time. The camaraderie of the dojo is valuable in a life with time demands. Exercise take an important role in balancing the stress of life. The teacher should encourage continuous exploration and to push personal limits. In Goju ryu, Go is important but Ju is in ascendancy.

Senior (50-75)
A senior has their place in society. There is a confidence in their social skills that give them insight into self-defense and conflict resolution. The body needs regular exercise to resist the changes of age. It is time for the karateka to become a teacher. In Goju ryu, Ju is important.

Old Age (75+)
In old age, the challenge is to continue. Self-defense is health. The body is Go, the spirit is Ju.