I recently had a revelation that put me a little in thoughts … I don’t like what I discovered on myself, but I want to share this experience with you. To better understand the context I will jump over time.
Flashback
1990. 7 years. After doing gymnastics for a year, I started practicing Shotokan. I have always wanted to practice «martial arts». I liked it so much that for 10 years I have not stopped. I was lucky enough to have an excellent sensei. In addition to the formation itself, he talked about Japanese, of Chinese, brought us books that at the time we devoured (I remember that I was also reading pleasure Martial arts dictionary). This is how I learned that there are many other martial arts styles. Through the class A testament, my father suggested me to try to practice Aikido. He tried to discuss, but I ignored him mercilessly. Aikido?! This is with the sockets … boring! For me, Shotokan was life. There I hit the fist, with my foot … I was just learning to hit the jump. Nothing could be compared to that! In addition, I was appreciated during training.
It is true that, after seeing many films, cartoons animated and read the books recommended by Sensei, I had fixed a new purpose in life: Practice the ninjutsu. In my mind, it was what it can be clarified: the costume of a ninja is the most beautiful, and uses an hand of unconventional weapons (Stelte, Nunchaku, Sabie, etc.), see in the film that warns you on your place that pluteau on the water, era acrobați … how I don’t doresc să fac ayond cava?! Bad, though! In Calarasi nobody practiced the Ninjutsu. But the dream remained with me.
In the last two years of high school, after having moved from Calarasi, I looked for a place to continue training. The first option was the Ninjutsu, but there was not practiced there. This is how I arrived Shorin Ryu. A kind of Shotokan, but not so elegant. I think, however, that it was a little more practical, more applied. Next, I dream of making ninjutsu.
Present
2022. Returning to us again, I have the impression that everything I told you above happened in another life. I am aware that he helped me a lot of practicing martial arts. First of all, He gave me confidence, he regulated me, he taught me to be patient, to be calm, to check me. Even if I have never been involved in a conflict, I have always had the belief that I can manage, that I know, I can. I can say that I had an excellent opinion of myself and my ability to react to a possible conflict/attack … I don’t know what I was entrusting …
Pandemia determined me to mobilize and realize my dream of practicing Ninjutsu. At the beginning of the year I found the perfect place: Raiden Dojo Bucharest. I once again had the good fortune to meet a special sensei, on Cristian Deiber. I received books (for which thanks to the heart), moreover, Each training is also a cultural journey. It’s quite fascinating!
Ninjutsu: the first workouts
I will never forget the journey to the Dojo for the first training. Enthusiasm as it includes, feeling of floating and that feeling That I know, I have a «base». At the first training I had the first shock: It is equipped with sockets! But … I am a mature man and I have no problem making fun of me for my ignorance. For all my childhood I refused the idea Aikido Because he has the sockets and it is boring and now … he has a humor in this life … something frightening! I deserved this moral palm and I accepted it with a smile on the lips.
After doing some practice, I had the impression I was leaving the outlet. I was still asking my friend if he lets me go or run away. After all, I asked her to keep me closer. And he kept me tight that for about two days I had small bruises on the wrists. But I still ran away. It still seems to me that it is too easy to get out of the outlet and I think maybe they let me go (both my friend and my senses), so much encouragement (or pity). Choose you!
revelation
I told you I had a revelation. Well, in one of the training, after Sensei showed it to us About 3-4 ways to get out of an unpleasant situationWe repeat together and head towards the other colleagues of the Dojo. While I looked at it I had a moment of panic. In a fraction of second, the following thoughts crossed my mind: Wait, where are you going? You showed me 4 procedures and you didn’t tell me I do them! How do you dare give me the freedom to choose ??? How can you ask me to use my brain?!? Go back and tell me what to do !!
That was the moment when I realized it In the 12 years of karate, I have never had the freedom to decide how to train with a partner. Sensei always told us: Attacks like this, you defend yourself like this. Of course, he told us, among other things, that on the street, in a real situation, it will not be so, but this goes to «and others» at that moment. Only now I understand everything. So upset I was thinking that I had to decide what I would do, that I forgot everything that had shown us 2 minutes earlier. It seemed that nothing had remained and suddenly I had two left -handed hands.
At the shotkan it was «safe» because The Sensei said and controls everything. There I went for sure and I already knew who he would win. The problem with the «safe» version is this It leaves you the impression of knowing it. Swell your ego. You start believing that you are the best, which was not born to beat you, etc … Of course, your trust increases (this is normally a good), but without having real bases. And we all know that without a solid «base» you have great possibilities to collapse.
I think the thing that has frightened me most is that now I have to rely on my speed of reaction, on the spirit of observation, on intuition, on my presence of spirit … Me. This made this me think I walked on the street with the headphones in my ears and my head in the clouds. What spirit of observation?! What distributive attention?! What speed of reaction?! In a fraction of second my whole existence it seemed anapoda to me.
For 12 years I have performed well (often very well) both kata and exercises with partners. But I did it like a robot and this is very difficult to digest. In a sense, it was like in the real school, where I learned a lot of things that I will never apply in real life (for example, resolve full and derivatives in mathematics-????). I believe my real challenge is to be able to free myself from automatisms, learning again to breathe and start from scratch. I am aware that it is very difficult to correct the wrong things learned, especially when some movements entered my reflection.
I don’t know if I will be good in the ninjutsu how much I was in the Shotokan (most likely not!). Enthusiasm and passion have certainly not been diluted over time. I will engage, that’s certain! Let’s see what will come out. 🙂
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