In speaking with a couple different Sensei's I noticed that some of them refered to other Sensei's "specialties" or a certain "focus" to their dojo- such as- "so n so focuses on teaching the children" or "so n so really focuses on the mind" etc. etc.
Curious- Is this a regualr thing? Where people/Sensei's "focus" on one main aspect- say the physical- or spiritual sidee of Uechi- is it something that is excepted without hesitation? Is it something that might happen "naturally" say you might find that as a teacher you just "tend" to focus on a particular part-
Is it something you should try to avoid? Having a "specialty" focus in class-
I ask because I so find myself leaning toward the emotional/spiritual benefits of Uechi-Ryu, not just teaching, but in practicing, and I'm curious as to if that is a good thing- or a bad thing- hesitating to say this because of the jokes I can hear already- but- I am becoming an un-balanced persay- practioner? Should I re-align my focus- or just "go-with-it" and possibley shoot for having a portion of classes dedicated soley to that part of the style maybe-
(i.e. I take 15 or so minutes durring a class to talk about how doing sanchin benefits meditations etc etc. ) or is that a bad idea and things should all be kept together so to speak?
Any comments?
K
Specialties
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Bill Glasheen
- Posts: 17299
- Joined: Thu Mar 11, 1999 6:01 am
- Location: Richmond, VA --- Louisville, KY
Maybe... 
Sometimes people get "pegged" as having a particular specialty by others, even though they are balanced practitioners. But that's a relative thing. It's like nobody would notice I was "white" unless I was in rural Japan or China, where nobody is white.
It's all been sort of funny for me and my martial path. As a young lad, I was allegedly a specialist in kicking and sparring. Well that was true because I was the best kicker in (first) a Japanese karate dojo, and (later) in a Uechi ryu dojo. As a young lad, I happened to be good at kicking people in the head. But in a taequondo dojo, my kicking ability wouldn't be noticed.
And as for the sparring thing, well all we did in my first dojo was spar and fight. Kata was something we had to train to pass a test. Then we would go back to sparring and fighting. Later when I studied Uechi ryu, I actually quit sparring for a few years just to give the Uechi style a chance to take. That's a difficult concept to understand if you've never studied other styles, but MMA's would know what I mean there. Over time I became pegged as a kata specialist. Go figure...
Here's the world according to Bill, Kerry. (Turn off the lights, turn on the lava lamp and black light, strike up the funky music.) But seriously...
I think it's imperative that you master and continuously work on your fundamentals. Do you have a weakness? Work twice as hard on it. Hate to spar? Go visit Gary's or Steve Perry's dojos or work out with Ron Fagen or spend time at The Hut on Saturdays. Do your kata stink? Ask the most recent Uechi kata champions to look at your forms. Make it a point to teach them to others (heaven forbid...). Then go enter a tournament and compete in the area where you ******.
THEN...
You should allow yourself to drift in a unique direction. You may have a unique perspective and unique abilities, and be capable of breathing a kind of life into the style that others don't see right now. Then when you gravitate to a plane not occupied by others - and have mastered all the fundamentals so you have respect and the ability to communicate - then you can be a leader in the style. You will be one of a team of people pushing the envelope and making those that follow you better.
But that's only what I think.
- Bill
Sometimes people get "pegged" as having a particular specialty by others, even though they are balanced practitioners. But that's a relative thing. It's like nobody would notice I was "white" unless I was in rural Japan or China, where nobody is white.
It's all been sort of funny for me and my martial path. As a young lad, I was allegedly a specialist in kicking and sparring. Well that was true because I was the best kicker in (first) a Japanese karate dojo, and (later) in a Uechi ryu dojo. As a young lad, I happened to be good at kicking people in the head. But in a taequondo dojo, my kicking ability wouldn't be noticed.
And as for the sparring thing, well all we did in my first dojo was spar and fight. Kata was something we had to train to pass a test. Then we would go back to sparring and fighting. Later when I studied Uechi ryu, I actually quit sparring for a few years just to give the Uechi style a chance to take. That's a difficult concept to understand if you've never studied other styles, but MMA's would know what I mean there. Over time I became pegged as a kata specialist. Go figure...
Here's the world according to Bill, Kerry. (Turn off the lights, turn on the lava lamp and black light, strike up the funky music.) But seriously...
I think it's imperative that you master and continuously work on your fundamentals. Do you have a weakness? Work twice as hard on it. Hate to spar? Go visit Gary's or Steve Perry's dojos or work out with Ron Fagen or spend time at The Hut on Saturdays. Do your kata stink? Ask the most recent Uechi kata champions to look at your forms. Make it a point to teach them to others (heaven forbid...). Then go enter a tournament and compete in the area where you ******.
THEN...
You should allow yourself to drift in a unique direction. You may have a unique perspective and unique abilities, and be capable of breathing a kind of life into the style that others don't see right now. Then when you gravitate to a plane not occupied by others - and have mastered all the fundamentals so you have respect and the ability to communicate - then you can be a leader in the style. You will be one of a team of people pushing the envelope and making those that follow you better.
But that's only what I think.
- Bill
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Bill Glasheen
- Posts: 17299
- Joined: Thu Mar 11, 1999 6:01 am
- Location: Richmond, VA --- Louisville, KY
Ooooo, that's a tough one.
Mention 4 guys that are allegedly "specialists" in one thing and you tick off another 6 that are probably just as good and/or just plain do things differently.
The only safe thing to say here is mentioning "specialties" where there clearly are no peers. For example,
* Raffi is known for his Filipino fighting skills, and his ability to integrate them in the Uechi style.
* Joe Pomfret is (today) "the man" when you want to talk about Uechi applications in the UFC ring.
We have a lot of great sparrers, fighters, and kata practitioners among us...
- Bill
Mention 4 guys that are allegedly "specialists" in one thing and you tick off another 6 that are probably just as good and/or just plain do things differently.
The only safe thing to say here is mentioning "specialties" where there clearly are no peers. For example,
* Raffi is known for his Filipino fighting skills, and his ability to integrate them in the Uechi style.
* Joe Pomfret is (today) "the man" when you want to talk about Uechi applications in the UFC ring.
We have a lot of great sparrers, fighters, and kata practitioners among us...
- Bill
I second that.
Raffi and Joey are true "reality" purveyors.
These are the guys that will quickly strip you from your delusions of grandeur in a few seconds, and send you scampering back to a corner of your dojo and have a good cry.
If you don't believe it, just go up to them and test yourself in a friendly way.
" Yeah but in a real fight I would..yada..yada..yada.."
Welcome to the meat grinder.
Raffi and Joey are true "reality" purveyors.
These are the guys that will quickly strip you from your delusions of grandeur in a few seconds, and send you scampering back to a corner of your dojo and have a good cry.
If you don't believe it, just go up to them and test yourself in a friendly way.
" Yeah but in a real fight I would..yada..yada..yada.."
Welcome to the meat grinder.
Van
Certainly don't want to know what to tick anyone off, just curious as to what resources are available for the inquiring mind.Bill Glasheen wrote:Ooooo, that's a tough one.
Mention 4 guys that are allegedly "specialists" in one thing and you tick off another 6 that are probably just as good and/or just plain do things differently.
"Dying ain't much of a living boy." J. Wales
Well, I don't cry... but any delusions of grandeur I may have had dissolved in sweat a while ago. No illusions here, just gingerly navigating the meat grinder.Van Canna wrote: These are the guys that will quickly strip you from your delusions of grandeur in a few seconds, and send you scampering back to a corner of your dojo and have a good cry.
If you don't believe it, just go up to them and test yourself in a friendly way.
" Yeah but in a real fight I would..yada..yada..yada.."
Welcome to the meat grinder.
"Dying ain't much of a living boy." J. Wales
I like your style Mr. G Sensei- I don't have a lava lamp, but vividly pictured one before continueing to read your post. LOL
I heartely agree with the- figure out where you ****** and work your ass off on it. I've considered going to tourney's recently also- just to get over the fright of participating if nothing else! LOL I have always held this same attitude though- about the working on what you hate- The most recent thing I noted was accuracy and speed- once things got moving too quickly- (more quickly than I'm used to) I flubbed up- got flustered. I HAVE to get over that before I test or I won't feel- within myself- that I'm ready to take on the black journey. I'm the worst kind of perfectionist. And if I discover too many ways that something can be done correctly- I want to be able to do them all before claiming the ability to be able to do it.
So basicaly what you are saying is master the basics- then see if a "specialty" emmerges"? Correct?
Makes sense-
After I wrote the post I sat thinking- maybe that area is the area I have a weakness I haven't noticed/realized as of yet, and that is why I find myself so focused on it. At the same time, when I experience growth- that's the first place I notice it. Something changes inside and then it coinsides with something changing physically.
Then again- anything you can't see/explain has facinated me- since I can remember- psychology- parapsychology, spirituality etc.etc. I love it- study it just for fun...
Thank you for the insights.
K
I heartely agree with the- figure out where you ****** and work your ass off on it. I've considered going to tourney's recently also- just to get over the fright of participating if nothing else! LOL I have always held this same attitude though- about the working on what you hate- The most recent thing I noted was accuracy and speed- once things got moving too quickly- (more quickly than I'm used to) I flubbed up- got flustered. I HAVE to get over that before I test or I won't feel- within myself- that I'm ready to take on the black journey. I'm the worst kind of perfectionist. And if I discover too many ways that something can be done correctly- I want to be able to do them all before claiming the ability to be able to do it.
So basicaly what you are saying is master the basics- then see if a "specialty" emmerges"? Correct?
Makes sense-
After I wrote the post I sat thinking- maybe that area is the area I have a weakness I haven't noticed/realized as of yet, and that is why I find myself so focused on it. At the same time, when I experience growth- that's the first place I notice it. Something changes inside and then it coinsides with something changing physically.
Then again- anything you can't see/explain has facinated me- since I can remember- psychology- parapsychology, spirituality etc.etc. I love it- study it just for fun...
Thank you for the insights.
K
