Dedication...without distraction

What does it mean when we say we are dedicated to our training in Keichu-Do? Is it possible to become distracted, even while we think we are devoting ourselves to becoming the best we can in Keichu?

These are things that I've been mulling over.

One thing that has struck me over the past couple years is the importance of returning to the basics. What exactly is Keichu-Do? As a martial art, what sets it apart? What are we supposed to emphasize in our training and in our teaching?

Soke and I discussed some of these issues recently, and I feel that I've emerged with a better focus on what is truly important in our art, and what constitutes the foundation and the crux of what we are supposed to be teaching to others, while training in ourselves.

Over the years, as I've observed students come and go, and as I've observed trends in the martial arts community at large, I've noticed how easily even martial artists can become distracted. In many martial arts traditions, there was a great emphasis on teaching kata (or forms) as the main vehicle for training in fighting and self-defense, and as the main means of passing on the art to others. Yet today, many modern American martial artists do not realize the value of kata and, instead, emphasize the sport aspects of sparring as being somehow more "real" and more valuable.

Then there are those who have forgotten that kata is more than an art form, and who have turned the practice of kata into a wild display of acrobatics and gymnastics---what we sometimes refer to as "flash and trash". On some of the martial arts competition circuits today, there is little left of self-defense training...the "martial" aspects of the arts are pretty much lost amidst all the excitement and spectacle. (Not so with the USKA, which is one of the reasons we compete on that circuit.)

Other well-meaning instructors overemphasize the mental and character training of children to the point that they are learning little of value in the physical realm...and, again, the "martial" is lost or ignored. I've observed one such class---where most of the hour was spent in discussion circles and story time and such activities, and very little of what went on actually resembled karate.

Then there is the trend towards afterschool programs, some of which so emphasizie fun, fun, FUN, that there is little in the sense of serious training. In order to make martial arts appealing to the largest number of parents, many of the traditions are removed, and a curriculum is put together that contains limited aspects of a few styles taught pretty much in isolation. There is no systematic training, and the techniques taught are chosen mostly for their "kid appeal".

Even the most traditional martial artists can become distracted. No one teaches exactly as taught. One instructor, for example, may stress kata, while another may emphasize self-defense. Even within kata training, one may emphasize power and intensity, while another may emphasize precision of technique. One may emphasize training for competition, while another may emphasize the application of kata.

As students, we are often more drawn towards certain aspects of our training than others, and we may choose to emphasize what we most enjoy, or what we find most valuable.

I've noticed another distraction that can crop up in Keichu, and this is something that Soke and I have discussed of and on for quite a while---much more seriously recently. Our "requirements" can actually become a distraction, both to instructor and student. While the requirements sheets we use in class are meant to be a tool for learning our martial arts system, they are not the system. Nor should they become our entire goal for training. We are not in Keichu to earn the next stripe or to advance to our next belt rank.

The requirement sheets are not carved in stone, handed down from Mount Sinai. (I actually asked. Haha.) They have not been with us since the beginning days of Keichu. They are not universal within Keichu. They have been adapted over the years.

And, although it may sound like heresy to some, they do not truly reflect the art or the way in which we teach it. At least the ones we've been using at Bethel don't.

It's time to get back to the basics. Keichu-Do originally started as a self-defense system, and then Soke developed it into a multi-faceted, comprehensive martial art. Some instructors have never lost their focus, and have always given kata and self-defense training the top priority, even while enjoying and teaching the many other aspects of our art. Over the years, a number of Keichu schools have made sure that their rank requirements have been tools that would systematically present Keichu as they understand it.

All of us who have come up within the ranks in the Santa Maria dojo have noticed some quirks with the rank requiremtns. For example, although all of us were using the "snap kick, backfist, reverse punch" combo since we began sparring, it didn't appear on the requirements sheets until we were intermediate students. We were using corner throws in self-defense before encountering them in the requirements. There were technqiues and stances we learned as white belts which we didn't actually use until much later---yet, at the same time, we were using techniques such as elbow strikes that we weren't tested on until we became brown belts.

We've corrected some of these "quirks" and have made some modifactions to the requirement sheets to better reflect Keichu-Do. No one has changed the system; we have just corrected the requirement sheets to bring them more in line with the system of Keichu-Do as we understand and teach it. This will really not be as big of a change as it may sound. No one's progress should be effected negatively.

At Bethel, our goal is to train our minds, bodies, and spirits---and to focus on what it truly means to be Keichu warriors, without distraction. The requirments are a tool to that end. On a practical level we will be using the kata more effectively as teaching and training tools. We will try not to teach any techniques in isolation, but teach them when they are needed and used. And, when skills are learned and mastered, they will be recognized and rewarded---you won't have to wait to advance several ranks before you can earn your stripe for elbow strikes!

In addition, as always, we want to reward diligence and dedication. At each level, we will begin introducting "bonus material". This will provide an opportunity for additional learning and training experiences and an opportunity for extra recognition and reward during belt tests.

We're excited about sharpening our focus, avoiding distractions, and becoming truly devoted to our training and teaching as Keichu warriors!