It’s Just a Flesh Wound

One more tiny step November 16, 2009

The longer I practice Kendo the more I grow to understand and appreciate the fact that the art mimics life in many ways.  I suspect it is probably true in other martial arts as well.  However since I don’t have much experience in other arts I have to use what I know, even at the risk of sounding like a zealot.

I have to admit failing Nidan last year was a very difficult thing to overcome.  I questioned my desire and drive to continue, and once I overcame that I still had to overcome why I had failed.  While I did get good feedback on what I needed to improve, I struggled with getting it to fit and really understanding it.  D Sensei talks about it like a puzzle,  we are given pieces at a time and sometimes we don’t have a clear enough picture in order to fit the piece in.  So we set it aside and then one day the picture comes into focus and we know where that piece now fits.  I really can not say for sure if I had enough pieces put into place to pass yesterday or not.  I can say however that while warming up for the tournament on Saturday K Sensei was giving me some instruction on continuing to move more from my hara.  Something he has probably shown me and taught a hundred different times,  I already had the piece  he just clarified the picture and turned it to give me a different perspective!  It was still rolling around in my head by the time the individual matches began.  I had the luxury of K Sensei being one of the shimpan (judges) for my court.  After losing a very tough match in the second round he was there to give me even more advise on being even more purposeful in moving from my hara as well as always moving forward and using seme.  Again things I knew but I didn’t (and still don’t totally) grasp until that moment.  It was truly an ah-ha! moment for me.  I had the chance to apply and work on putting the new piece into place during the team matches with some success and felt very positive after the tournament.  This carried over to the the test on Sunday.  While I had some nervousness it was not near as bad in the past and I felt confident.

I will admit I would have had some disappointment had I not passed, however it was more important in the long term development of my Kendo to have that picture become just a bit more clear.  Nidan while important for me is just another small step.  Having that bit of clarity not only will help my Kendo grow today, but will seed further growth for the future, laying a foundation for more pieces to be given and placed in the tapestry of my Kendo path.

Passing was just icing on the cake.

I can’t begin to thank D Sensei and K Sensei for having the patience and willingness to give me the pieces and guiding me when I try to put them in upside down.  Also to all the other Sempai and Kohai in the club as well for encouraging and pushing me.  You are all like family.

Gambatte!