Tradition and Traditional Martial Arts
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Everyone in Juko-Kai is very proud and quick to state the fact that we are a “traditional” martial arts organization. Yet so many of us fail to practice or fail to understand the essence of this tradition. I hope to point out what I think is meant by a traditional organization, and hopefully point our some of our responsibilities as members of a traditional organization. It is very easy to practice specific types of tradition, like bowing, kneeling, and respect for hierarchical structure in the dojo.
1. An inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior (as a religious practice or social custom).
2. The handing-down of information, beliefs, and customs by word-of-mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction.
3. Cultural continuity in social attitudes, customs and institutions.
4. Characteristic manner, method, or style.
Each of these four definitions applies to martial arts. Number one and two can be grouped together, but three and four are more specific.
An inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior (as a religious practice of social custom). The handing-down of information, beliefs, and customs by word-of-mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction. These two items cover the teachings handed-down from the Dai-Soke to the Shihan and Headmasters. Exposure to this information, to me, is the most important aspect of being a high-ranking martial artist. These teachings can be very direct as in technique training at a clinic, or a training session. They can also be very indirect, through small talk, casual suggestions, and stories the Dai-Soke shares. It is our responsibility to seek out this knowledge, recognize it, and appreciate it. The Dai-Soke has shared many facts about his years of learning the martial arts and his relationships with his instructors. We should all seek to have the same kind of relationships with our Soke.
I believe my entire life has been affected by martial arts. There were two decisions that occurred to me in my martial arts career: One was to start learning Karate, the other was to become a martial artist. As a martial artist, our personalities and minds are trained as well as our bodies. All of the personality attributes we learn in the dojo should follow us when we leave. If you are humble in the dojo, be humble outside of the dojo. If you are humble in the dojo, increase your training, or come to a Combat-Ki clinic; you’ll be humbled!
If you are respectful of others in the dojo, be respectful of others outside of the dojo. If you are tolerant of others in the dojo, be tolerant outside of the dojo. Getting the idea? To be truly traditional, we must carry these teachings with us always. Not just when we are Gokyu or Yonkyu, but when we are Yodan and Godan as well. We should all be striving to learn the closed systems that Juko-Kai has to offer. We should be diligent in maintaining their purity and integrity. It is our responsibility to maintain contact with the Central Hombu to review these arts, and continuously perfect our technique. We should strive to perform our techniques, throws, kata, breathing and teaching to be as close to the Dai-Soke’s arts as we possibly can. Why wouldn’t we? Who could honestly say, with a straight face, that they have a better way? I would not want to study under that individual. No one should ever add, modify or take-away anything from one of the Dai-Soke’s arts without his specific written approval. This would go against the concepts of tradition.
Conclusion: We have the best teacher, the best arts, and the absolute best organization. Let’s appreciate the heritage, the lineage, the Dai-Soke and the work that has gone into making Juko-Kai what it is today. When you hear someone say “I am doing everything that is required of me”, realize that they are really saying “I am doing only what is required of me.” There is a big difference. Happy training.