I was reading some of the old and new thoughts and the three years of sanchin only talks from all the respected people who shared what they do and how they see things. I want to say that I respect them all and what they do and how they do it. My humble thoughts here are not to take away from anyone or anything and they are simply what came to mind when considering those discussions and topics.
In my humble opinion only it's not so much the time that something is done but the level of concentration in that time when it's done and the quality of that time. I feel as my teacher always says that practice makes permanent. Practice only makes perfect when something is done correctly as taught with full concentration. Otherwise time is passing but little is gained and what is gained may not be worth gaining.
In other words one student may do sanchin with half a heart for three years while another does it with a whole heart for three years. One student will be superior in his sanchin but not because of the factor of time. It will be because of the factor of effort and concentration. Time is a factor but it's just one piece of the puzzle and shouldn't be looked at solely I feel.
As for the new and old style discussion it seems to only be talked about in America and chuckled at on Okinawa from what I've read. It seems the masters have said that they perform their Uechi as taught by their respective fathers and teachers and most don't subscribe to this whole new and old style talk. It seems they have a standard they keep set by Kanei Uechi that they feel is the same now as it was then. Everyone has their opinions and thoughts but this works for me and it's how I like to view it all.
Time
Moderator: Available
-
Bill Glasheen
- Posts: 17299
- Joined: Thu Mar 11, 1999 6:01 am
- Location: Richmond, VA --- Louisville, KY
There's a saying I call upon quite a bit when I teach.
Practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect.
As the resident "dojo nag" for good technique, I see the Platonic ideal in my head and then note how most people execute with respect to that. The most difficult thing I confront is people who seem satisfied to do things incorrectly, so long as they put in the time. The problem we have here is lots of time wasted on programming something that later on will need to be de-programmed at twice the effort.
To some extent, we need to let people take the Nike approach - just do it. The goal in working with Sanchin and other endeavors then is to peel away the details that take away from optimal performance, one at a time. That approach works particularly well with kids who don't have the patience to do things to perfection. You give them the opportunity to do something in no-minded fashion. Then you stir up the dust every once in a while, and strip away something that is between what they are and where they can be.
Bringing that heart (spirit) into it all is ever important. Sometimes a teacher can inspire it. Sometimes a student brings it. And sometimes in our quest for perfection we kill it. So we seek some kind of balance where all aspects of the body/mind/spirit equation are engaged, but there is clear direction in the study.
Patience truly is a virtue in this kind of practice. To some extent, I think the "extra material" is appropriate. Someone who understands the Sanchin approach can still see all that needs to be worked on. When approached in the right way, the teacher can show the lowest common denominator element of an "opportunity", and fix it at the ground level. Then (s)he can demand the connection be made at other levels. Meanwhile, there's something to show for all that time. The obsession with something that can seem frustrating (to our culture) is removed, and the student is allowed to proceed without undue concern about when he or she has "arrived."
It's a unique process - one that an educator can appreciate. Everything ultimately gets down to proper execution of basics under the worst of conditions. Sanchin happens to be one of many ways to do that.
- Bill
Practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect.
As the resident "dojo nag" for good technique, I see the Platonic ideal in my head and then note how most people execute with respect to that. The most difficult thing I confront is people who seem satisfied to do things incorrectly, so long as they put in the time. The problem we have here is lots of time wasted on programming something that later on will need to be de-programmed at twice the effort.
To some extent, we need to let people take the Nike approach - just do it. The goal in working with Sanchin and other endeavors then is to peel away the details that take away from optimal performance, one at a time. That approach works particularly well with kids who don't have the patience to do things to perfection. You give them the opportunity to do something in no-minded fashion. Then you stir up the dust every once in a while, and strip away something that is between what they are and where they can be.
Bringing that heart (spirit) into it all is ever important. Sometimes a teacher can inspire it. Sometimes a student brings it. And sometimes in our quest for perfection we kill it. So we seek some kind of balance where all aspects of the body/mind/spirit equation are engaged, but there is clear direction in the study.
Patience truly is a virtue in this kind of practice. To some extent, I think the "extra material" is appropriate. Someone who understands the Sanchin approach can still see all that needs to be worked on. When approached in the right way, the teacher can show the lowest common denominator element of an "opportunity", and fix it at the ground level. Then (s)he can demand the connection be made at other levels. Meanwhile, there's something to show for all that time. The obsession with something that can seem frustrating (to our culture) is removed, and the student is allowed to proceed without undue concern about when he or she has "arrived."
It's a unique process - one that an educator can appreciate. Everything ultimately gets down to proper execution of basics under the worst of conditions. Sanchin happens to be one of many ways to do that.
- Bill
Hi Bill
Thanks and very interesting as always. I agree with you 150% and as I said my teacher also uses that philosophy of perfect practice making perfect and I always loved that since I heard it years ago now and think of it every time I go to do a kata or work on anything in our art.
I always say silently in my head to not just go through the movements but to really put forth effort and care in doing so in order to make the time practicing time well spent where something is gained.
I feel in general it really takes a special type of person that really has to love the art and it's history and future. They have to repeat things over and over and then over again as taught and concentrate and care while doing so. Some people like the idea of studying martial arts simply for the sake of it or they enter with an idea that martial arts is some kind of romantic endeavor where there is a set schedule for promotions and progress.
Having been involved for a good while now and loving it as much as the very first day I have to admit that I really loved an old story that I read about a college professor going to visit a karate master. The professor already had many preconcieved notions about karate. While pouring tea for the both of them the karate master kept filling up the professors cup until it began to overflow. The professor interuppted the masters pouring and said master my cup is full and tea is spilling out on the table. The karate master then said that the cup was like the professor and all of his preconcieved notions and that if he wanted to learn karate from the master he had to empty his cup.
I adore the art of Uechi and always will for life and I look forward to my cup being filled with knowledge as I go and as time dictates. With hard work and care under the direction of my sensei I'm sure it will continue to be a great journey. I love in the Real karate video clip from Yoe Inc. where Kiyohide Shinjo says something to the effect that the secrets of Okinawa Karate are simply hard work and dedication.
It does take a special person to give that dedication and put forth that hard work. I happen to be one who loves every bit of Uechi and can't get enough of every aspect of it so I hope I have a lifetime of study ahead.
Jeff
I always say silently in my head to not just go through the movements but to really put forth effort and care in doing so in order to make the time practicing time well spent where something is gained.
I feel in general it really takes a special type of person that really has to love the art and it's history and future. They have to repeat things over and over and then over again as taught and concentrate and care while doing so. Some people like the idea of studying martial arts simply for the sake of it or they enter with an idea that martial arts is some kind of romantic endeavor where there is a set schedule for promotions and progress.
Having been involved for a good while now and loving it as much as the very first day I have to admit that I really loved an old story that I read about a college professor going to visit a karate master. The professor already had many preconcieved notions about karate. While pouring tea for the both of them the karate master kept filling up the professors cup until it began to overflow. The professor interuppted the masters pouring and said master my cup is full and tea is spilling out on the table. The karate master then said that the cup was like the professor and all of his preconcieved notions and that if he wanted to learn karate from the master he had to empty his cup.
I adore the art of Uechi and always will for life and I look forward to my cup being filled with knowledge as I go and as time dictates. With hard work and care under the direction of my sensei I'm sure it will continue to be a great journey. I love in the Real karate video clip from Yoe Inc. where Kiyohide Shinjo says something to the effect that the secrets of Okinawa Karate are simply hard work and dedication.
It does take a special person to give that dedication and put forth that hard work. I happen to be one who loves every bit of Uechi and can't get enough of every aspect of it so I hope I have a lifetime of study ahead.
Jeff
Jeff
-
maxwell ainley
- Posts: 1690
- Joined: Sun Jun 24, 2001 6:01 am
- Location: england
Hi Mills,
Good points on time.
When the subject is raised old/ new ,by the way I don't walk around and say I do uechi-ryu old way ,allthough on here it sort of identify's what I am doing .
With a three year sanchin a confrontation with time will appear ,concentration is subject to time ,so is interest ,a opposite of interest is non other than boredom .
This is why I moniter ,attention span ,we each have our favorite ways of using our attention span ,this comes under the heading of habitual way, such as I hear you , but don't see much ,or I see a lot but tend not to listen .
These are just simplyfied examples ,if you slow down and observe you would spot more, thats why travel was slower ,if we go out on a nature walk and travel slow keeping up vigilance we will eventually hear more see more know more in those two channels ,yet now if we introduce a third channel ,such as our sense of smell ,imput will be thrice . with practice this becomes a route to perfect practice .
Good points on time.
When the subject is raised old/ new ,by the way I don't walk around and say I do uechi-ryu old way ,allthough on here it sort of identify's what I am doing .
With a three year sanchin a confrontation with time will appear ,concentration is subject to time ,so is interest ,a opposite of interest is non other than boredom .
This is why I moniter ,attention span ,we each have our favorite ways of using our attention span ,this comes under the heading of habitual way, such as I hear you , but don't see much ,or I see a lot but tend not to listen .
These are just simplyfied examples ,if you slow down and observe you would spot more, thats why travel was slower ,if we go out on a nature walk and travel slow keeping up vigilance we will eventually hear more see more know more in those two channels ,yet now if we introduce a third channel ,such as our sense of smell ,imput will be thrice . with practice this becomes a route to perfect practice .
max ainley
