The true meaning of Budo was lost.
I see a lot of people talking abou
training in martial arts, however,
when one looks closely inside, there
is no substance to what they are doing.
Sekiguchi Takaaki
I have seen many dojos in which the kids will give a quick head bob for a bow before getting on the mats. This is done so quickly that it almost appears as if someone simply smacked the student in the back of the head. There is no thought given to this action; there is no true respect in merely going through the motions without actually involving the mind in the action.
The mind is vitally important when it comes to the martial arts, whether we are talking about showing respect or any other aspect. If you recall, in an earlier chapter I referred to students screaming at the top of their lungs in place of a traditional kiai.
The kiai is supposed to be used to focus one’s energy into whatever technique is being used. Do you really think that the students who are screaming at the top of their lungs are focusing their energy into that kiai or are they simply screaming as loudly as possible in an attempt to influence the judges and win the kata competition?
What makes the difference is whether or not the mind is engaged in focusing their energy. Screaming is simply going through the motions and has no true meaning or purpose, other than to impress the new generation of tournament judges who have forgotten what a kiai is supposed to be.
The kiai, on the other hand, has a specific purpose, and it is not simply for show. It actively engages one’s energy and focuses that energy into the technique, making the technique much more powerful. Comparing a real kiai with the screaming I see in today’s tournaments is like comparing apples and oranges.
Thank you,