'How to get good at it' by Duncan Mitchell
Originally posted on kutaki.org
Some ideas I thought were important noted more for myself than anyone else.
Train as if you are a boxer
Something you’ll often hear in the Bujinkan are terms like “kata collector”, “reporter” etc used in a negative manner regarding people’s approach to training. I think this relates to a mistake in people’s approach to study, particularly in western countries. The root of this problem is in a difference in perception between oriental and occidental martial arts.
I think many people treat budo as a search for knowledge. Looking for some secret knowledge that will empower them beyond their contemporaries, like finding Pai Mei’s secret “five point palm exploding heart technique”. Knowledge does come into the equation but it rates a poor second to skills. You may know a certain kyusho and strike but to get into the position to deliver it is quite another matter.
It is my opinion that too many people search for as many kata and waza as they can get their hands on but don’t spend a fraction of the time necessary to be able to apply them.
This requires a shift in approach. My idea is to approach training as if you are a boxer.
We all have a fair idea of the training grind of a professional boxer. The day in day out grind of training, working endlessly on the fundamentals and the discipline of doing many of the same things every day without complaint.
The benefits of budo are many but they are all achieved through the discipline of budo rather than any special knowledge. For example the two most basic benefits are heath and self defence, both of these can only be achieved and maintained through consistency and discipline over the course of many years.
Avoiding getting sidetracked – the discipline of budo
One of the hardest things, in my opinion, is consistency; it is easy to allow your mind to drift onto the next thing. I have seen this with people getting caught up in adding all sorts of different martial sports and fads into their training without spending the time getting good at what they are doing.
How many people do you see today drifting from one martial arts style to the next, never spending enough time in anything to get benefit from it.
To get good at it I think you need to find what you need to do and work on that consistently, even through those times that you feel bored, and resisting being pulled into any other martial art that you are unwilling to give an equal amount of your time and commitment to.
Dojo training
You need to find a good dojo. Have a look at all the people teaching in your area and study their taijutsu. There are many teachers in the Bujinkan now but while some of them are outstanding a large number aren’t worth a pinch of shit. You have to have good teachers or you will never get any good yourself – I think this is important.
Once you are in a good dojo you have to decide how many days a week you can commit to training there and stick to that religiously. Too many people treat training as something to do if there is nothing better on. To get anywhere you need to train at least once a week but twice or three times a week is much better.
If you can’t commit to training once a week, then don’t train – this is my opinion.
If you decide to commit to the dojo twice a week, then make sure you schedule all other commitments to make sure you are there twice a week. If you miss a session one week make it up by doing three sessions the next week.
Everyday training
Like a boxer you need to commit yourself to everyday training. One Japanese shihan told me that he still practices Sanshin no kata every single day. I was surprised since he must have been doing this now for thirty years to which he replied “It only takes ten minutes”. I said “but still ….” To which his answer was “I guess its just a habit now.
I think everyday training should be like this, so ingrained that it is like brushing your teeth, work that you would think about missing even for a single day.
Fitness
One thing I’ve seen with all the Japanese shihan I train with is their dedicated approach to fitness. Some walk, some run, some do callisthenics (all stretch) but they all have a solid, consistent and dedicated approach to this regardless of their age.
A strong, flexible body provides a strong measure of safety against injury. Without going overboard and sidetracked into becoming a bodybuilder or marathon runner I think to get good at this everyone needs to approach fitness like a boxer. Do the work you need to do and remain consistent in your approach.
Find something you can continue with your whole life.
Bag training – striking
You need to know how to hit well. Relaxed and strong. This can only be developed though dedicated daily training. Have a look at the hands to Takamatsu-sensei, this is testimony to dedication and you can bet despite his small frame and advanced age he could still hit like a truck.
Because of the fitness boom heavy bags and the rigs to support them are relatively cheap and plentiful. If you don’t have the space to hand a bag then have a look at the various gyms, universities and boxing clubs around. Many of these will allow you to train on their bag circuit for a small fee. If all else fails then just throw your strikes in the air.
I believe in practicing your basic strikes and kicks over and over again. There is no need to waste dojo time on this – it should be homework. If you do no other solo training at least practice striking.
My advice in hitting bags is something we were told by Hatsumi-sensei. Only hit with 70%. The reason is if you throw everything at the bag you will do the same when using a strike in a real situation. It is always better to have a little bit of slack.
Of course as your technique improves your 70% will be a lot harder than a novices 100%.
Keep you body very relaxed. If you hit a golf ball as hard as you can it doesn’t go as far as hitting it with good relaxed technique.
I think an hour of bag work everyday is excellent training.
Learn Ukemi
If you want to practice for longer and harder without injuries you need good ukemi. To develop strong counters to throws you need good ukemi. I was told years ago you know when you are getting good at ukemi when you enjoy it (rather than loath it).
You can’t spend too much time working on this and there are no shortcuts. Study and training.
Basic locks and throws
Spend enough time on each of the basic locks and throws until they become automatic reflexes. To absorb these into your muscle memory you need to do each of them ten thousand time. Of course it’s no good doing them ten thousand times the same way – you have to learn them for every conceivable angle and situation.
Too many people think it’s good enough to “know” them or to be able to do them well enough to pass a test. You don’t know them until you can do them automatically and correctly without thinking about it.
This requires a LOT of practice.
Learn the kata
Know the basic kata. I believe this is important – and they are not that hard anyway. What is important is that it doesn’t matter how many you know but how well you can do them. Practice them in their basic form but quickly work to breaking them apart and studying many variations until the concept embodied in the kata is a part of you. It was said to me that over the course of a whole year it is only really necessary to study twelve kata.
Learn them – don’t collect them.
Relaxed and loose
The biggest problem I see is people being stiff and unresponsive. Trying to force techniques that aren’t working for them. The more relaxed you are the more able you are to adapt to changing situations. Spending a lot of training time making sure you have a relaxed body, light footwork and a responsive mind can be more important in my opinion than knowing a lot of technique.
The ability to make adjustments as necessary.
Harden Up
I believe the founder of judo, Kano-sensei, once said “After you learn judo you should learn jujutsu”. In the same vein I think it could be said “Before you learn jujutsu you should learn judo”. It is my belief that skill in a fighting sport such as judo, kendo, boxing, mixed martial arts, wrestling etc goes a long way in producing a base to work from.
The negative is you have to also unlearn some bad habits but the advantage is you gain some sport fighting experience. Obviously someone in a occupation such as the police with a lot of real fighting experience always starts with an advantage in learning budo – for the average person the only substitute is the sporting world.
You will have to be young enough, have enough time and be willing but there are advantages. I think Hatsumi-sensei and several of the shihan with judo backgrounds have this advantage.
Some people try to add various forms of sparing, mixed martial arts and “pressure testing” to their Bujinkan classes but I think this is a big mistake. If people feel it is necessary they should find a good gym and train there, separating this training from their Bujinkan classes.
Adding sporting methods to our training is becoming sidetracked.
So while I hold a maybe controversial belief in training in fighting sports as a supplement and a way of hardening yourself – I still hold a strong belief in keeping on track with training in the Bujinkan.
If you don’t have the time, inclination or are too old to start a sporting style then just persevere with the Bujinkan but it is important to “harden up”. Focus your mind on getting tough as this spirit is just as important as technique in winning. I think this can also be developed though consistent training and the discipline of training day in and day out.
Duncan is the senior instructor and founder of the Bujinkan Brisbane Dojo
