I keep wondering what people think about in the short mediation after each training session. But, then the other question is "do we know what Mokuso is really about"?
Firstly Mokuso roughly translates to "quiet reflection," or "to breathe". The aim of practicing mokuso is to clear the mind of all thoughts, to control your breathing and allow the body to relax and return from the intensity of training. It is also meant to be used to reflect on the training, what you have learned, what you have achieved.
Unfortunately, there is never any clear instructions from instructors about what you are supposed to do in Mokuso. I was taught and definitely believe it to be the meditative part of martial arts. In previous generations this was practiced for much longer than the 30 seconds we tend to give it and it is "performed" more out of routine rather than rigger. Nevertheless it is indeed a real key part of any martial art.
My understanding and way is to use the "breath" meditation. This is when you focus on your breath and the process of breathing. You body relaxed, but not hunched. Your back straight and your head tilting forward a little, mouth slightly open.
You breath in slowly and "watch" the air entering through your mouth and and you follow it in to your lungs and continue watching it as it enters various parts of your being. A slow inhale followed by a slow exhale once again watching the air gathering and drifting out of your mouth/nose. You hold this thought in your mind and this alone to help clear the mind of all the other thoughts; other diversions.
In fact I was taught not to fight other thoughts of coming into my head as this then diverts attention and concentration and defeats the object of mediation. You can allow the thoughts enter, but watch them as a spectator, not engaging with them but letting them drift away like helium filled balloons drifting into the horizon until they are no longer visible.
The effort you make with your mind is that of bringing it back to focusing on your breath. Everytime your thought drifts and engages in "conversation" then you gently let go and bring yourself to focus on your breath.
Sounds easy? First time I meditated it was less than 5 seconds before I was bombarded with a myriad of thoughts all vying for my attention. But with regular practice and relaxed perserverance I finally hit the 1 minute mark!!! And it does have a great calming, relaxing effect.
As with all things the more you practice the longer you will be able to meditate. But if you want to practice for more than a few minutes, I suggest you set aside another time in the day as it is unlikely that it will happen at the end of a training session!!
Wednesday, 13 October 2010
Tuesday, 12 October 2010
Warming up before training
What is the best way to warm up before a Karate session?
This is particularly relevant as the weather draws in and gets colder here in the UK. The dojo or training hall will be cooler or even cold as the weeks take us into Winter. It always concerns me when i see students walking into the dojo and "hanging around" waiting for the class to start. As they are told to line up, the adjust their gi and stand upright wating for the premlinary "Oss" and bow before being handed over to a senior grade who does the "warm up" and stretching.
It is at this point i get even more worried, as i watch the pained expressions on peoples faces as they streeeeetch their tendons, muscles and funny faces! Is this really the best way to way up and stretch for a testing all body karate session?
No, i think not. The first and foremost thing about stretching is that you really should not do this from a standing cold start. The tendons and muscle are probably tight and most damage can be done by stretching them in this state.
The best thing to do is to arrive a good 30 minutes early and after a quick change, start with your own warm up. A gentle warm up. This could simply be walking around the dojo just to get the blood flowing, raising the pulse rate and getting the bigger body muscles (your thighs!) flexed - these are are at the heart of your body's heat generation.
Walk at first and then start to speed up into a slow and gentle jog. You should feel your legs and body warming up even if you haven't broken out in perspiration.
If room is limited and you cannot get into the dojo, then walking up and down the corridor or even in the changing room will help. You need your body warm and ready for a fuller workout. At this point you can start some arm movements., circling them gently forward and backward. Only when you feel good and warm should the whole stretching part begin.
Everyone has their own routine of stretching, so do what you are comfortable with or what you feel you need. One thing to watch for is that you do not over stretch at this point, just take it easy and work through your whole routine and body. The big thing to avoid, which i see a lot, is the "bouncy" stretch particularly of the legs. STOP. Bouncing up and down simply pulls and "twangs" your tendons unnaturally like a guitar string - which also break! It is better to stretch slowly and hold for a few seconds, move to the other side of the body and then come back and repeat. Work your way through your own routine and get ready for the session warm up and stretch.
Below is siome suggested reading for a making sure your warm up is effective.
If you have your own recommendations for a good safe warm up, please comment.
Be Safe!
This is particularly relevant as the weather draws in and gets colder here in the UK. The dojo or training hall will be cooler or even cold as the weeks take us into Winter. It always concerns me when i see students walking into the dojo and "hanging around" waiting for the class to start. As they are told to line up, the adjust their gi and stand upright wating for the premlinary "Oss" and bow before being handed over to a senior grade who does the "warm up" and stretching.
It is at this point i get even more worried, as i watch the pained expressions on peoples faces as they streeeeetch their tendons, muscles and funny faces! Is this really the best way to way up and stretch for a testing all body karate session?
No, i think not. The first and foremost thing about stretching is that you really should not do this from a standing cold start. The tendons and muscle are probably tight and most damage can be done by stretching them in this state.
The best thing to do is to arrive a good 30 minutes early and after a quick change, start with your own warm up. A gentle warm up. This could simply be walking around the dojo just to get the blood flowing, raising the pulse rate and getting the bigger body muscles (your thighs!) flexed - these are are at the heart of your body's heat generation.
Walk at first and then start to speed up into a slow and gentle jog. You should feel your legs and body warming up even if you haven't broken out in perspiration.
If room is limited and you cannot get into the dojo, then walking up and down the corridor or even in the changing room will help. You need your body warm and ready for a fuller workout. At this point you can start some arm movements., circling them gently forward and backward. Only when you feel good and warm should the whole stretching part begin.
Everyone has their own routine of stretching, so do what you are comfortable with or what you feel you need. One thing to watch for is that you do not over stretch at this point, just take it easy and work through your whole routine and body. The big thing to avoid, which i see a lot, is the "bouncy" stretch particularly of the legs. STOP. Bouncing up and down simply pulls and "twangs" your tendons unnaturally like a guitar string - which also break! It is better to stretch slowly and hold for a few seconds, move to the other side of the body and then come back and repeat. Work your way through your own routine and get ready for the session warm up and stretch.
Below is siome suggested reading for a making sure your warm up is effective.
If you have your own recommendations for a good safe warm up, please comment.
Be Safe!
Wednesday, 1 September 2010
What does it take to excel?
Apparently it's a number, which is 10,000 - that is 10,000 hours of training!
It appears Mozart spent 10,000 hours learning to compose, Bill Gates spent 10,000 hours learning to programme, and the Beatles spent 10,000 hours learning to play together. Not withstanding some level of luck, it seems that it takes around 10,000 hours of hard work/training to really achieve and reach the top of your sport, business, sector, profession.
It isn't just about gifted individuals, it applies to everyone. It isn't just about raw talent, but the willingness and determination to practice again and again and again.....to achieve the perfect punch, kick, block, foot movement and that most elusive - balance, will inevitably pay off and propel you to the top..
But how long is 10,000 hrs? Firstly, you are not going to do it in a year! Simple math says 24 hrs x 365 days = 8,760 hrs - a shortfall of just under 1,300 hrs. Even in 3 years you need to be practicing 9 hours per day EVERY DAY to reach 10,000.
I think shows that total commitment and immersion in what you like, enjoy and believe in is fundamental to reaching the pinnacle of whatever it is that you do.
Talk a look at the book OUTLIERS from Malcolm Galdwell, which exlores the success of a variety of people. So now when your Sensei tells you to do a thousand front kicks, you may respond differently. Have fun....and i am sure you can do your own math to see how it will take you to master your art..
It appears Mozart spent 10,000 hours learning to compose, Bill Gates spent 10,000 hours learning to programme, and the Beatles spent 10,000 hours learning to play together. Not withstanding some level of luck, it seems that it takes around 10,000 hours of hard work/training to really achieve and reach the top of your sport, business, sector, profession.
It isn't just about gifted individuals, it applies to everyone. It isn't just about raw talent, but the willingness and determination to practice again and again and again.....to achieve the perfect punch, kick, block, foot movement and that most elusive - balance, will inevitably pay off and propel you to the top..
But how long is 10,000 hrs? Firstly, you are not going to do it in a year! Simple math says 24 hrs x 365 days = 8,760 hrs - a shortfall of just under 1,300 hrs. Even in 3 years you need to be practicing 9 hours per day EVERY DAY to reach 10,000.
I think shows that total commitment and immersion in what you like, enjoy and believe in is fundamental to reaching the pinnacle of whatever it is that you do.
Talk a look at the book OUTLIERS from Malcolm Galdwell, which exlores the success of a variety of people. So now when your Sensei tells you to do a thousand front kicks, you may respond differently. Have fun....and i am sure you can do your own math to see how it will take you to master your art..
Thursday, 26 August 2010
Tokaido Japan and Tokaido International
There have been many questions about the various products and quality of the Tokaido range. For some time now, some of the Tokaido products have been made in China and not in Japan. A few weeks ago it was confirmed that Tokaido has formed an alliance with a China based martial arts goods manufacturer and the alliance will go under the name of Tokaido International. So what does this mean to Aregato and the traditional martial artists who want to buy the genuine Tokaido products?
The first thing to say is that when you buy your Tokaido uniform or belt from Aregato, you are buying the traditional Tokaido product made in Japan. What the Tokaido allaince means is that Tokaido International (China) will make and provide uniforms, blets, and other Tokaido products under licence from Tokaido Japan. In effect they have agreed to specifications set by Tokaido Japan and then are able to attach the Tokaido label/logo to all items included in their agreement.
So, are these "fake" products? The answer is NO. They are "genuine" as the the manufacturer is legally entitled to use the Tokaido label on any agreed and manufactured product.
Therefore TOKAIDO JAPAN is the only source for Tokaido products made in JAPAN
Aregato only deals with Tokaido Japan. We order directly to Japan and receive all our products from Japan, usually flown from Nagoya Aiport in Japan. We use a Japanese freight company who picks up the goods direlty from the Tokaido factory. Also, we only provide a small handful of authentic Japanese made Tokaido products as you can see from our website. So when you buy your Tokaido product from us you buy the authentic Japanese item.
Below is a lis of items that are made by Tokaido Japan and by Tokaido International (China).
Made by Tokaido Japan (made in Japan)
TSA Heavyweight (plus WKF approved) - imported by Aregato
SAW Heavyweight (plus WKF approved) - imported by Aregato
TAW Medium Weight
KTW Medium Weight
AW Medium Weight
BW Light Weight
NST Ultra Light
SAB HeavyWeight (Black Gi) - imported by Aregato
BLC Cotton Black Belt - imported by Aregato
BLS Satin Black Belt - imported by Aregato
BLH Silk Black Belt - imported by Aregato
Kumite Master WKF Approved
Kata Master WKF Approved (12oz & 14oz)
Tsunami Blue
Tsunami Silver
Tsunami Gold
Arashi (12oz & 14oz)
Kumo
Kaminari
Tokaido Silver
Tokaido Gold
Tokaido Elite Belts
Tokaido Black Belt
Hope this helps and now you may be better informed about which Tokaido is made in Japan and which is not!
Wednesday, 25 August 2010
Karate Suit or Jedi Robes
What is happeing to the karate suits? They seem to get long and longer every year. Watching a competition recently as well some videos on YouTube the jackets of the competitors are longer than ever. They are now down by the knees resembling jedi knight robes!
The sleeves are flapping around, the gi bottoms are just as baggy, flopping about like flags in the breeze. This is a long way from the close fitting gi's seen on some old grainy films of masters performing katas.
What is it about the baggy look? Am i missing something?
The sleeves are flapping around, the gi bottoms are just as baggy, flopping about like flags in the breeze. This is a long way from the close fitting gi's seen on some old grainy films of masters performing katas.
What is it about the baggy look? Am i missing something?
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