The car at the bottom of the hill needs a sustained gas pedal to move up and get to the top.
Tapping the gas pedal once or twice won't get the car up the hill.
Our martial arts practice, when sporadic also moves nowhere. Whatever we are practicing. In bujutsu, our waza needs almost constant input from our bodies and minds. At the beginning of learning bujutsu, we must repeat physical waza often. At least a few times a week. It is easy to put it off until next week or month.
Thinking of the car and the hill is helpful. We need sustained effort to go up the hill and get to the plateau. Even after surmounting the hill we need to have the energy for all the other hills. Plateaus as well are often more dangerous places to reduce the energy of the training. Practicing when we do not want to is part of our shugyo.
We do not need to rush, but we do need sustained commitment each day and week to move past the obstacles. Sustained application of thought is crucial. When in a negative mind that hinders progress, we must be aware of it and use energy to move out of such a state. Hindrances should be observed and overcome with mindfulness.
Learning in the dojo requires commitment. Learning iaido or kenjutsu online requires even more. We must try our best even during times of mental and physical duress.
ラジカスキー真照
館長Saneteru Radzikowski is the head sword instructor of Shinkan-ryū Kenpō. He lives and teaches Iaijutsu and Kenjutsu from Nara, Japan.
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Equanimity Of A Bushi
The End of Training & Boredom In Martial Arts
Martial Arts and The Path: Strive for the truth
Koryū Menkyo Kaiden & Classical Martial Arts Proliferation
Speed, Martial Arts and Samurai Theater
thank you Sensei, consistence in training is always a big challenge, so much things to do that distract us from practice, that’s never ending and we have to overcome it
Thank you Sensei for reinforcing what I have believed from the start that regular daily training is the best way to progress in this art.
Thank you for the reminder sensei. It is difficult to keep my foot on the gas but I will keep trying! :)
Thank you for this Sensei.
This is a useful image for thinking about my training, Saneteru-sensei. It resonates with me right now especially. A steady, sustained push on the gas pedal will serve me better than a couple of hard bursts.
Thank you very much Saneteru sensei for this reminder :)
A very apt analogy; thank you, Saneteru-sensei.
It was this Blog that made me ask the questions I have asked about the focus, I know as some of us are not in the dojo, and we should be even more attentive to our training, how can we really make the maximum effort each training.
A helpful thoughtful for me to think on today. Consistent practice is more important than “perfect” practice!
This is great a analogy for practice. I get discouraged getting stuck on Joge Suburi but I know if keep up sending you practices I can work out all the kinks.
Thank you Sensei. Good reminder, consistency is key, it’s hard but we have to!