Post by shugyo on Jan 1, 2014 23:50:18 GMT -5
Traditional MA, for nowadays, seems to no longer be respected, for one reason or another.
Traditions based on way-back then were respected, but as we look at traditions that surround the MA in a whole, respect for the old-ways are scorned away. It seems that those that scorn said traditions, aren't respecting their core beliefs, both on and off the floor.
Traditional MAists are placed on shelves just as only another type of antique; dusty, and with not much value outside. Trying to keep said traditions alive, imho, isn't a wasteful life because without traditions, then what can one hope for in and out of any MA.
There are those who believe that traditions are ineffective, therefore, useless, without value for those who are serious minded MAists. Those who want to keep the traditions alive, are scorned as though they are still living in the past, accusatory tones that speak that those same traditionalists refuse to come to the modern age.
Just because one's a traditionalist, it doesn't mean that their, for example, Karate-do, isn't effective in today's MA world. Change is important, and it must be embraced, in that, a traditional, for example, karateka's, techniques are as effective yesterday, as they are today, and as they'll be tomorrow.
Methodologies surrounding ways of training might be old and outdated, but that method that was old, is still new today. Training in the three K's is laughed at, both inwardly as well as outwardly as methods that don't address todays attackers. This, imho, is nothing more than an assumption, and it drags me into said summation without cause. How I train today isn't much more different than yesterday. In that, my techniques are even more so effective because of my applied effective knowledge. Knowledge that's spanning over 49 years!!
If it works, then why should it be criticized and lampooned by those who don't agree. Possibly, they are laughing at themselves because they don't understand, in that, they disagree with the ways of a traditionalist MA, thus, MAist.
Traditions, whether they're agreed upon or laughed at, should be appreciated one way or another because without traditions, then there can be no future comprehensions and/or improvements in said betterment.
Not to repeat myself, but what saddens me is the outwardly opinions that "traditional" MA is ineffective in todays modern world; and in that, "traditions" were for yesterday, and not for today.
However, yesterday's style's of the MA are still being taught, and in that, they are still being learnt today by an untold scores of practitioners world wide.
Not being taught and learnt with just the mindset of today only, but what was taught and learnt with yesterday in mind. Just what is still being shared with students today, is still keeping yesterday alive on and off the floor.
Change is inevitable, and in that, change must be accepted by MA practitioners day in and day out. Amending and/or adapting what was from yesterday for todays approach of the MA is critical if one is to improve ones MA betterment.
Just what is traditional MA? Is their a definition that's written in stone, that's accepted by all MAists? Is it decided by "you" and not by me/us? Is it discovered by our perception, therefore, real?
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines "Tradition" as...
1) an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought or action, 2) the handing down of beliefs and customs by word of mouth or by example without written instruction; also; a belief or custom thus handed down.
If by this definition, are we to accept it or discard it? That choice, imho, is up to the individual. However, the dictionary explanation that I've provided, is something that should be weighed as worthy of our consideration as MAists.
If my traditional ways are offensive in some how, my decision to uphold the values of yesterday, and/or my choice to practice it wholeheartedly, then let that be my sin, and if it's a sin, than let me be darned for doing so. I believe in both yesterday and today, but before I reject yesterday, I'd rather be without either in my life, especially as a MAist.
I should be free to choice either without condemnation and/or reservation; whether it be traditional ways or modern ways, they are my ways to choice because my journey, my path, my desire is to be complete in my MA totality.
I believe, I train, I teach that which is my interpretation of traditional MA. My Soke and Dai-Soke were from the yesterday world of the MA, but, as they improved/changed their own MA betterment, they never forgot where it was that they came from, and in that, they embraced both times, yesterday and today, as though they were one and in the same.
I'm judged by those who've never meet me and/or trained with me as inferior because I wear the traditional MA badge proudly. It's as though my cover is tattered in their eyes, and that tattered cover reeks of yesterday, as though yesterday was a really bad thing.
I embrace both yesterday and today because they sustain my training! My knowledge as well as my experience is the product of both era's, and what was then, is still for now, in that, what today is, is for yesterday as well.
So much so, is that what I learn from other styles of the MA is from both worlds; yesterday and today, both are in concert, and what I hear, taste, smell, see, and touch in the MA are from both times, not to be cast away, but to be appreciated as though they sustain me...and I'm sustained!!
Imho, traditions from both yesterday and today are effective. However, at times, it's the practitioner who's ineffective. Without traditions of yesterday being appreciated, how can traditions of today be appreciated.
Aren't the traditions of the founders the cornerstone of all MA??
Your thoughts, please!!
Traditions based on way-back then were respected, but as we look at traditions that surround the MA in a whole, respect for the old-ways are scorned away. It seems that those that scorn said traditions, aren't respecting their core beliefs, both on and off the floor.
Traditional MAists are placed on shelves just as only another type of antique; dusty, and with not much value outside. Trying to keep said traditions alive, imho, isn't a wasteful life because without traditions, then what can one hope for in and out of any MA.
There are those who believe that traditions are ineffective, therefore, useless, without value for those who are serious minded MAists. Those who want to keep the traditions alive, are scorned as though they are still living in the past, accusatory tones that speak that those same traditionalists refuse to come to the modern age.
Just because one's a traditionalist, it doesn't mean that their, for example, Karate-do, isn't effective in today's MA world. Change is important, and it must be embraced, in that, a traditional, for example, karateka's, techniques are as effective yesterday, as they are today, and as they'll be tomorrow.
Methodologies surrounding ways of training might be old and outdated, but that method that was old, is still new today. Training in the three K's is laughed at, both inwardly as well as outwardly as methods that don't address todays attackers. This, imho, is nothing more than an assumption, and it drags me into said summation without cause. How I train today isn't much more different than yesterday. In that, my techniques are even more so effective because of my applied effective knowledge. Knowledge that's spanning over 49 years!!
If it works, then why should it be criticized and lampooned by those who don't agree. Possibly, they are laughing at themselves because they don't understand, in that, they disagree with the ways of a traditionalist MA, thus, MAist.
Traditions, whether they're agreed upon or laughed at, should be appreciated one way or another because without traditions, then there can be no future comprehensions and/or improvements in said betterment.
Not to repeat myself, but what saddens me is the outwardly opinions that "traditional" MA is ineffective in todays modern world; and in that, "traditions" were for yesterday, and not for today.
However, yesterday's style's of the MA are still being taught, and in that, they are still being learnt today by an untold scores of practitioners world wide.
Not being taught and learnt with just the mindset of today only, but what was taught and learnt with yesterday in mind. Just what is still being shared with students today, is still keeping yesterday alive on and off the floor.
Change is inevitable, and in that, change must be accepted by MA practitioners day in and day out. Amending and/or adapting what was from yesterday for todays approach of the MA is critical if one is to improve ones MA betterment.
Just what is traditional MA? Is their a definition that's written in stone, that's accepted by all MAists? Is it decided by "you" and not by me/us? Is it discovered by our perception, therefore, real?
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines "Tradition" as...
1) an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought or action, 2) the handing down of beliefs and customs by word of mouth or by example without written instruction; also; a belief or custom thus handed down.
If by this definition, are we to accept it or discard it? That choice, imho, is up to the individual. However, the dictionary explanation that I've provided, is something that should be weighed as worthy of our consideration as MAists.
If my traditional ways are offensive in some how, my decision to uphold the values of yesterday, and/or my choice to practice it wholeheartedly, then let that be my sin, and if it's a sin, than let me be darned for doing so. I believe in both yesterday and today, but before I reject yesterday, I'd rather be without either in my life, especially as a MAist.
I should be free to choice either without condemnation and/or reservation; whether it be traditional ways or modern ways, they are my ways to choice because my journey, my path, my desire is to be complete in my MA totality.
I believe, I train, I teach that which is my interpretation of traditional MA. My Soke and Dai-Soke were from the yesterday world of the MA, but, as they improved/changed their own MA betterment, they never forgot where it was that they came from, and in that, they embraced both times, yesterday and today, as though they were one and in the same.
I'm judged by those who've never meet me and/or trained with me as inferior because I wear the traditional MA badge proudly. It's as though my cover is tattered in their eyes, and that tattered cover reeks of yesterday, as though yesterday was a really bad thing.
I embrace both yesterday and today because they sustain my training! My knowledge as well as my experience is the product of both era's, and what was then, is still for now, in that, what today is, is for yesterday as well.
So much so, is that what I learn from other styles of the MA is from both worlds; yesterday and today, both are in concert, and what I hear, taste, smell, see, and touch in the MA are from both times, not to be cast away, but to be appreciated as though they sustain me...and I'm sustained!!
Imho, traditions from both yesterday and today are effective. However, at times, it's the practitioner who's ineffective. Without traditions of yesterday being appreciated, how can traditions of today be appreciated.
Aren't the traditions of the founders the cornerstone of all MA??
Your thoughts, please!!
