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One thing I've always found interesting is how folks classify their own study and participation in the martial arts. It's actually quite illuminating and gives you an insight into how they regard the martial arts and also themselves.
For instance, some folks will say:" I train in Aikido" or "I train with Sensei so-and-so" or "I train at blah-blah Dojo." Regardless, the operative word here is "train." It implies action, something that is done by one's own initiative, a chosen activity. More importantly, it implies something that the individual does on their own terms. This not in the sense that they follow their own rules, but rather that they do so only as long as it interests them.
Another concentric circle within budo: "I study Aikido" or "I study Aikido at blah-blah Dojo" or "I study Aikido under/with Sensei so-and-so." Again, the operative word is "study", which implies a degree of commitment but also relationship, since the commitment is made partly on an emotive level.
Then there's finally the core of budo training: "I am a student of Sensei so-and-so." This here is the heart of it: the student-teacher relationship. This is how budo evolved and survived for several centuries. This is the soil in which the seed that are the koryu arts were and still are cultivated. It also bears true for the gendai arts...particularly Aikido, since you can't learn Aikido on your own or from books or video.
For me, I recently began studying Shinto Muso ryu Jodo. However, I a
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Well, had my first class in Shinto Muso ryu yesterday. Koryu is most certainly different, I'll say that much. Obsession over minute details, that's for sure. The instructor is "old school," which adds to the difficulty level.
Also, nearly got my front teeth knocked out...accidentially walked into a 1/3 speed tsuki that I shouldn't have (couldn't clearly hear my partner's warning over the kiai of the other students). He just grazed me. One of my teeth is a bit crooked now.
I begin Shinto Muso ryu Jodo here shortly, with the "possibility" of Yagyu Shinkage Kenjutsu in the future (entirely up to the instructor's discretion). Regardless, there's an entire sword curriculum within Shinto Muso ryu, so I'm happy.
The best part: I no longer need to drive several hours to receive koryu weapons instruction and I have the opportunity to learn from a renowned budoka.
Just like any other martial art, it's important to "shop" schools and instructors before making a decision to train. That's pretty easy to do with gendai arts, but not koryu arts. First, gendai arts are much more prevalent. Second, many of these dojo have more or less commercialized themselves. Important: I say "commercialized" not in the sense of "selling out" or McDojo. Rather, commercial in that they are open to the public and have, with certain exceptions, pretty much of an open admissions policy. To be crass: you pay, you play...and as along as you play nice and follow the rules, you stay and eventually earn rank.
Koryu arts are much different, as I found out. Perhaps the major difference is the emphasis on the student-teacher relationship. A close second is the emphasis upon tradition. You are carefully interviewed by the instructor just as you are interviewing them. In the end, it is purely and entirely at the instructor's discretion who he chooses to teach. Money isn't a factor...most koryu instructors teach for no monentary compensation.
So far, I have visited with two koryu instructors and will be visiting the third this next weekend. The arts represented: Muso Shinden ryu (and Battodo); Yagyu Shinkage and Shinto Muso ryu; and Muso Jikiden Eishin ryu.
With the exception of Dave Lowry who's here in my hometown...I must drive 4 hours one way for these other instructors. Is it worth it? Depends upon you. It is for me. Something about the sword captivates me
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It's always interesting how one thing leads to another in life. That whole "chain of causality" thing.
In a previous dojo I trained at, we did weapons training early Saturday mornings, 9:30am (not really that early, but anything before Noon on a Saturday qualifies as "early" to me!). Oftentimes, it was just the instructor and myself and perhaps one or two others, so I got a lot of personal attention, which is always nice.
I took to aikiken with earnest, I really liked it. Dare I say that it was fun! Aikijo was ok...I enjoyed it better than the taijutsu. However, there was something about the sword that I really liked, can't explain it. It just seemed more "natural" to me. I practiced (and still practice) at home several times a week, first with a fallen tree branch that has very similar proportions to a bokken (but much heavier), then with a bokken proper.
[A brief aside: before you start jumping to conclusions and to the stereotypes of the angst-ridden, pimply-faced teenager wanting to swing a sword around (presumably because "it's cool!"...as well as making "light saber" noises while doing it) or the 20something fantasy warrior (presumably still living in his parent's basement and addicted to video games, Japanese anime and Mountain Dew)...I'm a 35 year old man with a job and a life.]
However, I wanted more. I wanted to learn more about the sword arts. Aikido and the sword arts have a very close association, and I wanted to learn more about that. Whatever it was, I just wanted to learn more...wherever it took me.
I first did some preliminary research on the internet and lurked in all the martial arts forums looking for instructors in my area...nothing. During one class I asked my instructor at the time if he knew of any sword instructors in our area. Being that he is well-connected and knows a lot of folks, his answer was in the negative, also. There just isn't anybody in our area...l
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One should always be careful about posting on internet discussion boards. You never know who will read your comments and what the outcome might be...you might actually run into them in real life. You might be "called out" and held accountable for what you write.
All too often, we internet denizens post on these discussion boards with little thought as to the wider implications, convinced of our anonimity and banking on the fact that we'll never meet the other guy and have to "put up or shut up." We all do it from time to time...let's be honest, now. All the brazen posts here on AikiWeb , or any other internet martial arts discussion board for that matter, are rooted in this sort of foolishness.
Lest we forget that we all are real people here. Every one of us is a real person with real feelings with some of us presumably having real martial arts experience. Not all of us talk out of our ass. Some of us actually have a clue. Some of us have been around the block a few times. I know every Aikido instructor I've ever had, past or present, has. No ridiculous internet claims.
I should know, I was just "called out." Nope, no cinematic drama or tall tales to tell. Someone just simply held me accountable for what I've written.
11-30-2007 10:53 AM 
