By Sempai Genevieve New
Completing my training for my nidan grading in Perth presented a large challenge for me. The largest challenge did not reside with the techniques themselves, although this was a significant component, it was motivation and confidence which became my greatest challenges.
I have trained with Tai Shi Kai Karate since 1998 and undertook my shodan grading in late 2004. Training during this period consisted of three sessions a week: two sessions mid week focused on techniques with personal instructors to assess techniques, and one (Saturday) session, which focused on fitness and personal improvement. These classes also allowed for socialization, which developed and maintained relationships and within itself encouraged training through attendance and also working together as a group.
In March 2007 I moved to Perth to start a new job. The change included packing up a house, temporary accommodation, the search for new accommodation and unpacking. The new job changed my lifestyle dramatically from being available for training seven days a week (after hours week nights), to twelve hour work days, four days a week, with little time for much else, and three day weekends, which were spent predominantly on unpacking and setting up the house. A late visit from Sempai Robert helped my technique and assisted in getting the house to a point where I could ignore further unpacking and focus on my training.
Group training and scheduled sessions provided stability and a form of security: whilst in the end the final result is up to the individual, working together developed confidence, and the group worked together to achieve the final outcome. If there was some difficulty with a technique due to inability, the group was aware of the issue and accepted it.
Training on my own was a stark contrast to the above. After nine and a half years of karate training, my main motivations had become simplified to group support and socialization. Underlying motivations included physical fitness, continuous improvement and self defence.
On my own in Perth, my focus changed, with my new job a dominant factor. I needed to re-evaluate my reasons for training. What were my motivations away from the karate group? The most outstanding of the factors was the reality that my nidan grading was in three months time, and it was something I had been working towards in Melbourne for the past year. As I thought further I realized that two factors which had been less dominant but present previously as motivations for training suddenly became very important: I wanted to improve my level of fitness, and I wanted to improve my techniques. I was no where near the level and quality of what I thought I could achieve in my karate training. There was no ceiling, only sky.
So I realized that motivation is essential to how I view my training and how I train as an individual. Development of my techniques and fitness was the next step.
Many of the techniques for my nidan grading formed part of my shodan grading. The shodan grading focused on techniques, many of which were new for that grading, as well as on fitness - that grading was physically demanding. The nidan grading material also includes higher level kata (three additional kata), an additional set of ten self defence, ten knife defence and additional kihon kumite (seven total). This material was covered progressively in the years that followed the shodan grading with some final techniques learnt earlier this year.
So I had been trained in all of the techniques required to complete my grading. Upon moving interstate from the group, further development of these techniques was required by myself, however, an avenue of opportunity also existed to record (on DVD) my training and provide this to Shihan Linc Hibbs for review.
Recording of my grading material allowed for review of my training by myself and by Shihan. Review from Shihan was provided back in the form of comments on specific techniques requiring amendment and or improvement. This was undertaken on two separate occasions. Recording also provided the added benefit of undertaking the entire grading material in one sitting and placing ones self through the stress typically associated with a grading. From a review perspective, taping the grading material enables time to pause and review each technique and note errors that can sometimes be so small they would not normally be identified.
Two visits from Sempai Robert provided significant additional support, predominantly with my partner work (self defence, knife defence and kihon kumite). This training reinforced these techniques, and were the only times during my three months in Perth when I could review this component of training effectively. Whilst I could train the techniques myself, a partner is what provides the dynamic component and teaches the skill of management of opponents at close range.
To effectively analyse my own techniques, aside from practicing them, the most invaluable tool was a mirror. I believe this is the most under utilised tool and yet the most valuable as it allows for self-assessment and correction. I firmly believe that if a student is unable to undertake a self-assessment of a technique and provide a correction if required, then they need to be re-trained in the components of the technique. With open eyes and mind we see, with closed eyes and mind we are blind.
Confidence in my training came from the nine or so years of karate training, repeated practice of the techniques, and from revision of techniques based on reviews by Shihan and Sempai Robert.
Upon returning to karate class in Melbourne I found my confidence reduced slightly. I had become used to training on my own in silence. The distractions in large class seemed enormous compared to the peace of the outdoors to which I had become accustomed, and seeing others training made me question my own techniques.
Over a period of one week prior to my grading, my confidence improved with partner work, and also to a certain extent with kata. I hope that the outcome of the grading displays my development in my techniques and fitness.
If I were to be asked why I train in karate, my immediate response based on
this self reflection is for continuous improvement and fitness, with a motto
of there is no ceiling, only sky.