Relations Between Martial Arts Schools

Those of us who grew up watching Bruce Lee and other actors in martial arts movies sometimes believe that dojos in the same town are always in conflict. In fact, Ann Arbor is a mecca for martial arts training, and the relationships between schools are usually quite cordial. When we interact with instructors and students from other schools, it is important to be respectful, open-minded, and helpful.

Respect: regardless of whether you happen to like the martial arts taught at another school, there are good people who have chosen to dedicate themselves to those arts. They may have different reasons for training, different physical needs, or find the school more convenient than the one you have have chosen. It is important to treat them with respect, since they may be very decent people who have simply made different choices than you have.

Open-Mindedness: there is always something more to learn in martial arts. The idea that martial arts mastery takes an entire lifetime is more than a cliche, it is a verifiable fact. As a result, there are many facets of martial arts, such as fine points of physical movement, character development, or quality teaching skills, that one can learn simply by paying attention to others who are devoted to martial arts excellence.

Helpfulness: it pays to be helpful. The martial arts community is a fairly small one, and nowhere is it more true that "what goes around comes around." Even if you are not a great competitor or master teacher, people will remember and respect you if you are helpful to them. One obvious situation in which this happens is when you tell a fellow student about a martial arts school that he or she might find enjoyable. It may not always be your own school, because that person might not be looking for the things offered by your school, but if you send a person to a dojo that they love, they will always be thankful for it.

JMAC would like to thank the many Ann Arbor businesses that support this blog,
both martial arts-related and others, including: Network Services Group,
Art of Japanese Swordsmanship, Shudokan Martial Arts Association,
Budo Mind and Body, Art of Judo, Iaido Dot Com, Lorandos and Associates,
Oxford Companies, Bluestone Realty Advisors, Portfolio Ann Arbor,
Invest Ann Arbor, and the Law Office of Nicklaus Suino.

Tradition in Practice

What does it mean to teach "traditional" martial arts? It can mean many things, some obvious and some not so obvious. A few of the major aspects of a traditional dojo include: a verifiable lineage in a recognized historical style, a respectful atmosphere, reasonable training fees, and observance of basic formalities.

Lineage: the instructor at a traditional dojo should be able to tell you the name of his or her teacher, and to explain the line of teachers from the recognized founder of the system. This information helps to show that what is being taught has legitimate historical roots and is likely to be respected internationally. Moreover, a teacher who respects and preserves his or her traditions is probably the type of person who will pass on positive character traits to students.

Respect: respect is the foundation of long-term development in the martial arts. Students must respect the instructor, recognizing the effort and sacrifices the teacher has made to earn his or her credentials. The teacher must respect the students, recognizing their positive qualities and helping them to become stronger, more successful people.

Reasonable Fees: a martial arts school must charge training fees in order to pay the rent and utility bills, and to compensate the teacher for his or her time teaching and keeping the school running. However, our experience has shown us that a sincere instructor usually charges reasonable fees. This may be because he or she loves the art and wishes to pass it on without regard to financial gain, or because he or she wants to avoid excluding those who can't afford high fees. Whatever the reason, it is important to recognize that high training fees alone are not an indication of quality.

Formalities: bowing, saying "hai!" and referring the instructor as "Sensei" are important aspects of tradition in the dojo. Besides adding a cultural flavor to practice, these formalities create the respectful atmosphere we discussed above. They validate the teaching hierarchy that is a natural part of learning the martial arts, and help to avoid causing offense - whether between student and teacher or between student and student. A humble student who is diligent about the formalities is one whose "cup is empty," meaning that he or she is open to learning and ready to work hard to master new skills.

JMAC would like to thank the many Ann Arbor businesses that support this blog,
both martial arts-related and others, including: Network Services Group,
Art of Japanese Swordsmanship, Shudokan Martial Arts Association,
Budo Mind and Body, Art of Judo, Iaido Dot Com, Lorandos and Associates,
Oxford Companies, Bluestone Realty Advisors, Portfolio Ann Arbor,
Invest Ann Arbor, and the Law Office of Nicklaus Suino.

Power of the Positive

In our martial arts training lives, whether we study aikido, karate, kendo, or some other martial art, we must learn to use the power of the positive. This means that whenever there is a choice about how to act at the Japanese Martial Arts Center, we should choose the positive action: when teaching, when preparing to demonstrate or compete, and when communicating with others in the dojo.

Teaching: Studies of neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) have shown that the subconscious mind absorbs information however it is presented. Thus, if a teacher says "don't do it this way," the student may remember the error better than the correct method. However, if a teacher says "do it this way," and demonstrates the correct method, chances are good that the student will remember the proper way to do the technique, whether the technique is found in jujutsu (jujitsu), judo, or iaido.

This doesn't mean that a teacher should never point out student errors. It does suggest, however, that advice should be presented in positive terms whenever possible. This approach will help to maximize the student's exposure to correct examples, and make the whole experience of learning martial arts more enjoyable.

Preparing for Demonstrations or Tournaments: Adrenaline is one of the biggest obstacles to success in demonstrations, tournaments, or tests. Overcome by nerves, many of us begin to focus more on what not to do than on what we should do. Once the mind starts repeating "don't screw up, don't screw up," the most prominent mental image we end up with is one of screwing up.

A better approach is to mentally rehearse the performance, visualizing ourselves executing each technique correctly, and imagining the satisfied feeling we will have once the routine is completed. Having mentally rehearsed our performance successfully many times before actually stepping onto the mat, we are much more likely to do well.

Communicating with Others: Our dojo in Ann Arbor is a place of learning, not a place of perfection. Because we are learning the martial arts, we have to make ourselves vulnerable. Encouragement, therefore, is the order of the day. It is not necessary to speak falsely in order to encourage others, however. The truth is that every student who puts forth effort is worthy of praise, and an alert instructor or fellow student can always spot opportunities for praise.

"Kengaku" means "visual study" in Japanese. It has a two aspects: (1) to spot mistakes made by others in order to avoid them; and (2) to spot the areas where others excel, and to try to emulate them. The second aspect has unlimited potential to make us better!

JMAC would like to thank the many Ann Arbor businesses that support this blog,
both martial arts-related and others, including: Network Services Group,
Art of Japanese Swordsmanship, Shudokan Martial Arts Association,
Budo Mind and Body, Art of Judo, Iaido Dot Com, Lorandos and Associates,
Oxford Companies, Bluestone Realty Advisors, Portfolio Ann Arbor,
Invest Ann Arbor, and the Law Office of Nicklaus Suino.

Japanese Words You Should Know

At the Japanese Martial Arts Center (our "dojo"), we use many Japanese words and expressions. These help create the cultural atmosphere for serious training, and express some concepts that are important in training in iaido, judo, or jujtsu (jujitsu). Among the important Japanese terms you should know are: hai, rei, onegai shimasu, arigato gozaimasu, and sensei.

"Hai!" means "Yes!" or "I'll try!" when used in response to an instructor's advice. It is more energetic and polite than the English expressions "Okay," or "Yeah."

"Rei" means etiquette or bow. Although you usually only hear the term when asked to bow during the opening and closing ceremonies at each class, the entire experience of training at a traditional dojo should be one of courtesy and joy.

"Onegai shimasu" is used when we bow to one another, and is a request to cooperate in training. In some schools, the expression is shortened to "Osu!" and can be used to express one's enthusiasm for training.

"Arigato gozaimasu" is a polite way of saying thank you. We generally say it to the instructor at the end of the last bow when closing class. "Arigato" by itself is too casual for this setting. "Domo arigato gozaimasu" means thank you very much, and is also acceptable to use when addressing the instructor.

"Sensei" means teacher. Append it to the end of an instructor's last name, as in "Smith-Sensei." The suffix "-san" is appropriate between peers ("Smith-San"), but should not be used when addressing a teacher.

More explanations of these words can be found in the December 8, 2006, post entitled "Your First Day in the Dojo."

JMAC would like to thank the many Ann Arbor businesses that support this blog,
both martial arts-related and others, including: Network Services Group,
Art of Japanese Swordsmanship, Shudokan Martial Arts Association,
Budo Mind and Body, Art of Judo, Iaido Dot Com, Lorandos and Associates,
Oxford Companies, Bluestone Realty Advisors, Portfolio Ann Arbor,
Invest Ann Arbor, and the Law Office of Nicklaus Suino.

Scraping Off the Polish

When we get a new bokken (wooden sword) at the Japanese Martial Arts Center in Ann Arbor, we take time to scrape off the shiny finish applied by the manufacturer. Once the finish is completely removed, we immerse the bokken in linseed oil for 24 hours or more. The wood absorbs the oil, helping to make the bokken much more resistant to cracking. In a quality bokken, the natural finish is much more attractive than the shiny look of polyurethane. This process is not totally dissimilar to what happens to students at our dojo in Ann Arbor.

Out in society, we tend to put on clothes (and make-up, for some) that reflect the image we hope to project. For various reasons, this image is not always completely aligned with who we really are. Like a bokken with an artificial finish, we crack easily and reveal ourselves when subjected to stress.

Inside the dojo, every student in class wears virtually the same clothing. We then must distinguish ourselves by our words and actions. How we perform our techniques and interact with our training partners reveals our natural personalities, even if we try to project a more idealized image. In a kind or generous person, the personality is often simpler and more naturally compelling than the one we might meet in street clothing.

Martial arts technique can evolve in the same way. Students new to karate, aikido, or judo are often rigid and use much more strength and tension than they need. Subjected to the repeated "scraping" of rigorous practice, they gradually lose the shine of inexperience. Their inner strength develops, and they relax and find ways to use their skills efficiently. Their strong, natural interactions are much more attractive to a trained eye than the personality they may have worn like a coat of paint at the start of training.

From the outside in, our practice of physical technique makes us calmer, more centered, stronger, and more efficient.

From the inside out, our calm, centered, strong and efficient spirit generates a powerful and attractive appearance.

JMAC would like to thank the many Ann Arbor businesses that support this blog, both martial arts-related and others, including: Network Services Group, Art of Japanese Swordsmanship, Shudokan Martial Arts Association, Budo Mind and Body, Art of Judo, Iaido Dot Com, Lorandos and Associates, Oxford Companies, Bluestone Realty Advisors, Portfolio Ann Arbor, Invest Ann Arbor, the Law Office of Nicklaus Suino and the ITAMA Dojo.

Repetition

There's no getting around it, martial arts requires repetition. You have to practice your techniques over and over again to get good at them, whether you train in aikido, iaido, judo, jujutsu, karate, kendo, or kyudo. That's probably why, in the long run, the people who get to be best at martial arts are those who enjoy the practice for its own sake. Some of the benefits of repetition are: conditioning, learning, meditation, and spiritual forging.

Conditioning: one of the obvious benefits of repetitive training is conditioning. By repeating physical techniques over and over, we strengthen our limbs, improve our cardiovascular systems, and cleanse our bodies by sweating.

Learning: by practicing over and over, we gradually come to understand how techniques work. This is true on a technical level - repeated practice allows us to think about our skills and refine them - but it is also true on an intuitive level - repetition allows us to develop a "feel" for how to move in certain techniques that helps with strength and efficiency.

Meditation: repetitive practice helps to calm the mind. This may be because the material we practice is limited, so our mind can relax, or it may be that there is some direct relationship between physical exercise and mental calmness. Whatever the case, experience has shown us that long-term, repetitive practice leads to greater calmness.

Spiritual Forging: dedicated practice over a long period of time has many benefits when it comes to making us stronger in spirit. Our weaknesses can be gradually overcome (if we practice with the right positive spirit, always trying to get a little better every day). Our strengths can be developed. Our intuition can become sharper. Our will to succeed can be honed.

Practice, practice, practice! Always enter the dojo with a feeling of pleasurable exhilaration. Strive to improve yourself in every training session, keep at it for years, and you will be delighted with the results!

The Japanese Martial Arts Center would like to thank the many Ann Arbor businesses that support this blog, both martial arts-related and others, including: Network Services Group, Art of Japanese Swordsmanship, Shudokan Martial Arts Association, Budo Mind and Body, Art of Judo, Iaido Dot Com, Lorandos and Associates, Oxford Companies, Bluestone Realty Advisors, Portfolio Ann Arbor, Invest Ann Arbor, the Law Office of Nicklaus Suino and the ITAMA Dojo.

To Whom Much is Given

To whom much is given, much is expected. This is nowhere more true than in the traditional martial arts. Along with the great skills that we learn and the progressively more impressive belt colors, we also must accept more and more responsibility. Truly, a life in the martial arts is one of service: to the dojo, to one another, to the art, and to the community.

Service to the Dojo: a traditional dojo cannot exist without the enthusiastic support of its members. Members pay dues, of course, but beyond that, they ought to help out with special events, speak well about the dojo to their friends and acquaintances, and be helpful to the sensei and the other students.

Service to One Another: since we spend a great deal of time working on techniques that could potentially hurt one another, it is important to balance this with kindness and caring. While there's no need to be overly tender with other dojo members, it is nevertheless important to try to protect them from injury, help them learn, and, if they are in business, to send business their way. By looking out for one another, the entire dojo community thrives.

Service to the Art: traditional martial arts are fragile things, easily lost or corrupted. It is our duty (one that increases the longer we're involved), to try to pass on the spirit of our art in as close a form as possible to when we received it. We should speak well of our art, and encourage other decent people to practice it. We should guard it from people who might corrupt it or use it for pure commercial gain. Our connection with history is a unique element of our practice, and we must be vigilant about protecting it.

Service to the Community: we sometime say that martial artists should "own" the consequences of their actions. This helps us in learning techniques: if our skills don't work, we must admit that fact and practice until they do. It also helps us in getting along in the world: if your behavior upsets other people, then we must admit this and work to try to be a positive force in the world. In business, if we are not succeeding, as martial artists we don't blame the economy, the community, or other outside factors. Instead, we internalize by asking ourselves what we could do better to succeed. If we reflect on our roles in the community and improve our actions accordingly, we can make our environment a better place to live.

The Japanese Martial Arts Center would like to thank the many Ann Arbor businesses that support this blog, both martial arts-related and others, including: Network Services Group, Art of Japanese Swordsmanship, Shudokan Martial Arts Association, Budo Mind and Body, Art of Judo, Iaido Dot Com, Lorandos and Associates, Oxford Companies, Bluestone Realty Advisors, Portfolio Ann Arbor, Invest Ann Arbor, the Law Office of Nicklaus Suino and the ITAMA Dojo.

Love and Courage

At the Aikibudoin at Dartmouth College, on their shomen, is some calligraphy in Japanese that says, roughly translated, "Have I loved enough, have I showed enough courage?"

This is a wonderful admonishment to martial arts students of every variety: kendo, karatedo, aikido, or any-do. It helps to remind us of two of the most important virtues found in budo.

Perhaps the more obvious virtue is courage. It takes courage to face a strong punch, kick, or throw, whether in the dojo or in self-defense. Of course, the real courage we are trying to exhibit is the courage to do the right thing, even when it is scary or unpopular. It can be much harder to calm an angry person or coach a misguided teenager than to block a front kick, but as martial artists it is our responsibility to do the right things, even when they are difficult.

It may be less obvious that martial artists should be loving, but truly, without love we cannot live well in the world. In the dojo, love can take the form of the kindness shown by the teacher to his students, or the bond that develops between training partners. Kindness between those who practice fighting arts is critical to the success of any traditional martial arts school.

This is an excellent question with which to evaluate any training session: "Have I loved enough, have I shown enough courage?"

The Japanese Martial Arts Center would like to thank the many Ann Arbor businesses that support this blog, both martial arts-related and others, including: Network Services Group, Art of Japanese Swordsmanship, Shudokan Martial Arts Association, Budo Mind and Body, Art of Judo, Iaido Dot Com, Lorandos and Associates, Oxford Companies, Bluestone Realty Advisors, Portfolio Ann Arbor, Invest Ann Arbor, the Law Office of Nicklaus Suino and the ITAMA Dojo.

It's All About Me!

We usually hear that martial arts are designed to develop a selfless person - one who exists to serve his or her art, community, or some purpose larger than him or herself. This is certainly true, but sometimes the proper focus in training is on yourself.

At times when things don't go exactly the way you'd like, focus on yourself rather than on the person who may have caused your dissatisfaction. Instead of thinking, "he didn't attack me the way he was supposed to," it is more productive to think, "how could my response have been more effective?" That way, you are constantly improving your martial arts skills, making you a better practitioner, a better demonstrator, a better competitor, or better at self-defense.

Our philosophy is that every action is an expression of the inner person. If we want to be great martial artists, we can get better by always focusing on the improvements we can make in ourselves, rather than on the perceived shortcomings of others.

This is true outside the dojo, as well. Physical beauty fades, money is external, strength diminishes over time. Beauty of the spirit, however, always shines through. When you face a challenge, ask yourself, "how would the person I want to be respond to this?" If someone irritates you, remember that it is you who is irritated, not necessarily the other person who is irritating. Instead of lashing out, respond the way a secure, kind person would respond. If you do so often enough, you will become that person.

JMAC would like to thank the many Ann Arbor businesses that support this blog, both martial arts-related and others, including: Network Services Group, Art of Japanese Swordsmanship, Shudokan Martial Arts Association, Budo Mind and Body, Art of Judo, Iaido Dot Com, Lorandos and Associates, Oxford Companies, Bluestone Realty Advisors, Portfolio Ann Arbor, Invest Ann Arbor, the Law Office of Nicklaus Suino and the ITAMA Dojo.

One Thing Right Today

A great way to approach each day in the dojo is to decide to "get one thing right today." Isolate one aspect of your art - a foot position you struggle with in iaido, the rhythm of a form in karate, or the hand position leading up to a throw in judo - and concentrate on doing it right.

Check with the Sensei to find out what the proper checkpoints are, make sure you understand them, and try to execute them. Once you get close to the example set by the sensei, practice that aspect over and over until you perform it reflexively. Next time you come to the dojo, run through it a few times to make sure you are still doing it right, and come back to it now and then in the future to see if you can make it better.

Wait until you can get that "one thing" right before turning your attention to another. You will be surprised at how your foundation moves improve if you take this approach. Since the average student comes to the dojo three times per week, you could get really good at 156 components of your art in a year.

A student who never masters one aspect before moving to another may know more techniques at the end of a year, but the one who gets "one thing right" will be better at the core movements of the art.

The Japanese Martial Arts Center would like to thank the many Ann Arbor businesses that support this blog, both martial arts-related and others, including: Network Services Group, Art of Japanese Swordsmanship, Shudokan Martial Arts Association, Budo Mind and Body, Art of Judo, Iaido Dot Com, Lorandos and Associates, Oxford Companies, Bluestone Realty Advisors, Portfolio Ann Arbor, Invest Ann Arbor, the Law Office of Nicklaus Suino and the ITAMA Dojo.

Testing

At the Japanese Martial Arts Center, testing for rank is done by invitation. The instructors invite students to test when they have reached a sufficient level of mastery of the techniques for their rank. This is probably unlike your experience at the University of Michigan or at Pioneer High School! You might wonder what some of the requirements are when you are being considered for testing at the dojo. Although this list is not exhaustive, some of the aspects evaluated by the instructors are: time in training, ability to recall and execute the checkpoints, balance, speed, power, poise, attitude, improvement, and dedication.

Time in Training: virtually every Japanese martial art has a required amount of time that must be spent at each rank. One reason for this is that there is much more to an art than simply being able to reproduce the techniques. By requiring a minimum time in rank, it is hoped that students will not only internalize the physical lessons, but will also reflect on their struggles and deepen their characters as a result, regardless whether they are training in judo, aikido, or kendo.

Ability to recall and execute the checkpoints: each technique has identifying characteristics such as hand placement, hip placement, posture, etc. A student much be able to remember the checkpoints communicated by the instructor, and, to a greater or lesser extent depending on rank, be able to execute them.

Balance: physical balance is a part of every martial art. A student much be able to demonstrate balance to an extent commensurate with his or her rank.

Speed: in judo, a throw must be done quickly in randori. In iaido, the major cut in each form must be done quickly. Wherever a technique requires speed, a student must be able to demonstrate speed commensurate with rank. Wherever a technique requires slowness, a student must demonstrate accordingly.

Power: a big part of martial arts is the development of physical power, whether in a punch, a throw, or a downward cut. A student is expected to show gradually more power as he or she spends time practicing the art. Although a white belt is expected to demonstrate some power when submitting to his first test, a student testing for shodan is expected to demonstrate a great deal more power.

Poise: students of the martial arts are supposed to be developing their characters as well as their bodies. We expect students to show gradually more poise as they advance through the ranks. This is expressed by being less excitable, less prone to shock or surprise, and more calm during difficult experiences, such as testing for rank or personal difficulties.

Attitude: whoever said "attitude is everything" could have been speaking about the martial arts. A gung ho student is a delight to teach, whereas a student who seems to be reluctant to train or to listen to a teacher's advice can be trying. We strive for an attitude of joyful intensity during practice, a willingness to immediately accept a sensei's advice without demurrer or explanation, and a willingness to really try to understand the principles that underlie the techniques and to put them into practice.

Improvement: everyone is born with a different amount of talent. Accordingly, some have to work much harder to improve than others. Where a student is not gifted with an innate ability to learn and perform martial arts techniques, we look for the amount of improvement they demonstrate over time. If a student who is uncoordinated and works hard makes a satisfactory amount of progress, that student might be promoted to the same rank as one who has more talent but who works less hard.

Dedication: this could include showing up regularly to practice, enthusiastic participation in class, contributing to dojo events, showing up despite a busy schedule or a minor injury, helping with cleaning the dojo, helping other students learn, or recommending the dojo to others. All these sorts of behaviors help to show that a student is happy to be part of the dojo and will reflect well on the dojo at a higher rank.

The Japanese Martial Arts Center would like to thank the many Ann Arbor businesses that support this blog, both martial arts-related and others, including: Network Services Group, Art of Japanese Swordsmanship, Shudokan Martial Arts Association, Budo Mind and Body, Art of Judo, Iaido Dot Com, Lorandos and Associates, Oxford Companies, Bluestone Realty Advisors, Portfolio Ann Arbor, Invest Ann Arbor, the Law Office of Nicklaus Suino and the ITAMA Dojo.

The Student as Teacher

As a student at the Japanese Martial Arts Center, what should you know about teaching martial arts? Even if you haven't been officially designated as an instructor, you may occasionally be called upon to help another student. Even in the course of normal training, you may find yourself assisting your training partner by commenting on his or her technique. There are three things you ought to know: (1) be positive; (2) tread lightly, and (3) be sure you know before you teach.

Be Positive: every student of the martial arts has many good qualities, and it's critical to let them know you see that. Simply showing up to the dojo regularly means giving up other activities, and the commitment shown by even the least-talented person in the dojo is commendable. Look for what your juniors are doing right, and be sure to let them know what those things are.

Tread Lightly: your dojo mates probably view you as an equal, even if you've been training longer. Remember that most students bond with the leader of the school, and adjust their thinking to accept advice mainly from that person. As a result, they may not feel warmly toward you if you find fault with their techniques. If you must be critical, seek the gentlest way to do so, and share only the most important advice. One thoughtful comment, followed by practice of the corrected technique, is likely to result in improvement. Several comments, one after another, usually just confuse the listener, and rarely make a positive difference. Whatever you do, don't chime in when the sensei or sempai is assisting another student!

Know Before You Teach: martial arts are complex. Before offering advice to another student, be sure you understand the technique thoroughly. If you are training with someone and you feel that they are doing a technique wrong, it is almost always better to ask the sensei for advice than it is to try to correct a fault you think you see. Imagine how you would feel if you "corrected" your training partner only to have the sensei explain the technique differently a moment later. And, as you can imagine, whatever amount of shame you might feel would probably be equaled by the resentment of the student you just tried to help!

The Japanese Martial Arts Center would like to thank the many Ann Arbor businesses that support this blog, both self-defense or martial arts-related and others, including: Network Services Group, Art of Japanese Swordsmanship, Shudokan Martial Arts Association, Budo Mind and Body, Art of Judo, Iaido Dot Com, Lorandos and Associates, Oxford Companies, Bluestone Realty Advisors, Portfolio Ann Arbor, Invest Ann Arbor, the Law Office of Nicklaus Suino and the ITAMA Dojo.

Care and Feeding of Training Partners

Training partners are vital to your progress at the Japanese Martial Arts Center. They can give you feedback on how well you're doing a form, can help you practice a joint lock or throw, and can challenge you in sparring or randori. In fact, whether you train for physical fitness, self-defense, or character development, it's hard to imagine real success in martial arts without the help of dedicated training partners. For that reason, it's helpful to think about how to make sure your dojo mates are healthy, happy, and enthusiastic about working with you.

Healthy Training Partners: an injured person can't train well. For that reason, the first rule in taking care of training partners is to practice in such a way as to minimize injury. At JMAC, we have a rule that, when someone taps out, you must release your joint lock or pin immediately. To do otherwise would greatly increase the chance of injury. It is also important not to practice techniques with a person who is not capable of taking the appropriate fall, and not to practice at a speed or performance level that he or she cannot handle. Black belts must turn down their speed and power when sparring with white belts, for example. For a sempai (higher-ranked student) It is more important to make sure that a kohai (lower-ranked student) is practicing safely than it is to try to dominate the kohai.

Happy Training Partners: a happy training partner is one who can practice his or her own skills safely, in an atmosphere of enthusiasm and mutual respect. Remember, the dojo is a place of learning, not a place of perfection. Our job when working with others is to help them learn. This can mean adjusting our level of strength down if our partner is struggling to perform a technique, for example, or adjusting our level of speed up if our partner is preparing for a competition. The key is to be sensitive to our partner's needs and to try to accommodate them.

Why should be sacrifice our time at the dojo trying to fulfill the needs of others? Because they are in the same position as are we, and their turn is next. If you always insist on practicing in the way that is best for you, you will soon find your training partners taciturn and uncooperative. Remember, everybody has sacrificed their time and money to come to the dojo, and they keep coming, hopefully, because the experience is both rewarding and fun. If you take away either of these aspects - by being selfish or hyper-critical - your dojo mates may start looking for other places to train. Your sensei, who is writing the rent check every month, may not continue to have warm feelings toward you if you alienate many of his students.

If you have special needs, be sure to communicate these to your instructors and the students with whom you practice. Just as you might find at the University of Michigan or at Google, we try to accommodate those with special needs. For example, we try to accommodate jujutsu students who have physical reasons for being unable to take break falls. We practice to the point of off-balancing with such students, or allow them to bail out of a joint lock before a break fall becomes necessary. At the same time, such students are made aware that they will not advance as fast or as far as students who can fall, because they are missing an essential element in the physical understanding of jujutsu. These students are also reminded that they are basically getting a gift from the other students whenever they practice together, because they are allowed to throw, but are not being thrown. They avoid the wear and tear on their bodies that the other students submit to joyfully...and as long as the no-fall student is helpful and gracious the other students don't seem to mind.

Enthusiastic Training Partners: martial arts training is hard, but it is a lot of fun. All those people who come to the same classes as you are part of something that might as well be an extended family. In every training session, remember that your training partners are there to learn, and help them in every way possible. Respect your seniors, and be generous and kind to your juniors. Think of gentle ways to make corrections, and don't give too much unasked-for advice. In many ways, a life in the martial arts is a life of service. Instructors serve the needs of their students, senior students serve the needs of their instructors and their juniors, and junior students serve the needs of their instructors and their seniors. At the same time, it has always seemed that the more we work to help others, the more benefits we ourselves receive. If you are perceived as a hard-working, generous, and kind martial artist, you will never lack for enthusiastic training partners.

JMAC would like to thank the many Ann Arbor businesses that support this blog, both self-defense or martial arts-related and others, including: Network Services Group, Art of Japanese Swordsmanship, Shudokan Martial Arts Association, Budo Mind and Body, Art of Judo, Iaido Dot Com, Lorandos and Associates, Oxford Companies, Bluestone Realty Advisors, Portfolio Ann Arbor, Invest Ann Arbor, the Law Office of Nicklaus Suino and the ITAMA Dojo.

The Three Aspects of Training

There are three aspects to your physical training at the Japanese Martial Arts Center, whether you train for self-defense, physical fitness, or character development. These are as follows: (1) learning new techniques; (2) mastering the techniques you know; and (3) applying the techniques in action. All three aspects are critical if you want to become a really good martial artist.

Learning New Techniques: because you come to a new art with no knowledge, the early part of your martial arts career will be mostly filled with learning new techniques. Typically, you are taught a throw, joint lock, sword cut, or strike - you practice it a bit until you have memorized the pattern - your teacher helps you refine it a bit - and then you are taught another new technique. This is the same whether you study aikido, iaido, judo, jujutsu, karate, or kendo. Because students get a lot of attention at this stage, and because of the excitement and interest of constantly learning new things, many students get addicted to learning new techniques. If they don't manage to move past this addiction, they will never become accomplished martial artists; instead, they will become collectors of skills - dilettantes with no deep understanding of their art. In fact, learning new techniques is the smallest part of the career of a true martial arts master.

Mastering techniques: in the traditional martial arts, we don't really believe in the idea that a person can truly "master" a technique or an art. Instead, we believe that becoming great at martial arts is a lifetime's commitment, and that we must constantly revisit the techniques we know to try to deepen our understanding of them. What we mean when we say that the second aspect of physical training is "mastering techniques" is that we constantly practice what we know, always trying to be better. We analyze each part of a technique, figure out what could be done better, practice that part, then put the whole thing back together and try to make it more efficient, more effective, or more beautiful. If we keep at it long enough with an enthusiastic spirit, we can eventually become quite good at our chosen art.

Applying Techniques in Action: once we have achieved some degree of understanding of our martial arts skills, we can apply them in action. In judo, this is done in randori (free practice), in karate we engage in kumite (sparring), in iaido, we simply repeat our forms again and again, seeking to deepen our ability to focus on and execute the detailed form requirements. Through this application, we learn what works well and what needs more work. We can go back to the mastery stage to analyze and perfect skills that don't work well in application, try them out again, and continue this back and forth process until we succeed at throwing a challenging partner (or whatever our milestone is at the time). This eventually makes us very capable at self-defense, demonstrating, kumite, or whatever our goal for training may be.

Having good training partners is critical for success in application of techniques. Dojo mates who care about your success can make all the difference. They will apply their strength in the right measure so that you can attempt your technique and determine whether or not it works. They can comment on how your technique looks or feels to them, allowing you to use the feedback to make yourself better. As you improve, they can increase their strength and speed, helping you to refine your skills even more. There are very few better friends than a really good training partner.

The Japanese Martial Arts Center would like to thank the many Ann Arbor businesses that support this blog, both self-defense or martial arts-related and others, including: Network Services Group, Art of Japanese Swordsmanship, Shudokan Martial Arts Association, Budo Mind and Body, Art of Judo, Iaido Dot Com, Lorandos and Associates, Oxford Companies, Bluestone Realty Advisors, Portfolio Ann Arbor, Invest Ann Arbor, the Law Office of Nicklaus Suino and the ITAMA Dojo.

Your First Day in the Dojo

On your first day at the Japanese Martial Arts Center (our "dojo"), you can expect to learn some very important basic budo concepts (budo means "martial way" in Japanese, and refers to a life on the path of personal development through martial arts). These concepts are expressed through some simple Japanese words, including the following: rei (courtesy, or bow), sensei (teacher), hai! (Yes! or I will!), and arigato gozaimasu (thank you).

Rei is the courtesy that starts and ends every traditional martial arts class, whether it is in karate, aikido, or some other art. We bow before stepping on the mat as a sign of respect for the training and peaceful intent. We bow formally at the beginning and end of every session to express our appreciation for the existence of the art, and to thank each other for the privilege of training together. We bow before an after training with other students to show that we care about their physical and mental well-being, and for a job well done. We bow to the sensei to thank him or her for the lesson, and the sensei bows to us to thank us for considering his advice and for helping to preserve and propagate his art.

Sensei is the word we use to address the teacher. It literally means "before life" or "before born," and refers to the fact that the teacher was born (figuratively) into the art before us. It carries with it a connotation of respect and affection - respect for the knowledge the teacher possesses and the effort he or she puts into developing and sharing that knowledge, and affection for the kindness and caring shown by the teacher towards us.

Hai! is the word dojo members use to express their enthusiasm and intent to do well (some dojos use the word "osu!" - pronounced "oss"). When the Sensei advises us on technique, we say "Hai!" When we're asked if we understand, we say "Hai!" When we're asked if we want to practice more, we say "Hai!" The enthusiasm shown by this word demonstrates that we love our training and will energetically attempt to do what it takes to succeed at our chosen martial art. It is almost always the right thing to say: at the Japanese Martial Arts Center, we have a funny saying that shows how to use the word:

Sensei: "What do we always say?"
Students: "Hai!"
Sensei: When do we say it?"
Students: "Hai!"

Arigato Gozaimasu means "thank you very much." Students say it at the end of class to thank the teacher for the lesson, but in reality, it means much more. In a dojo with a good atmosphere, the teacher helps the students, the students help each other, and the students help the teacher. There is a kind of group bonding that takes place when people train together with enthusiasm and joy. This bonding makes a happy dojo feel like a family atmosphere. All are learning, moving closer to their physical, mental, and spiritual goals, and, as a result, they are eager to work hard, and to help one another learn. When the students say arigato gozaimasu at the end of class, they are expressing their happiness at being part of the dojo family, and their intent to continue to try to perpetuate the atmosphere of mutual benefit and cooperation.

The Japanese Martial Arts Center would like to thank the many Ann Arbor businesses that
support this blog, both self-defense or martial arts-related and others, including:
 Network Services Group, Art of Japanese Swordsmanship, Shudokan Martial Arts Association,
Budo Mind and Body, Art of Judo, Iaido Dot Com, Lorandos and Associates,
Oxford Companies, Bluestone Realty Advisors, Portfolio Ann Arbor,
Invest Ann Arbor, and the Law Office of Nicklaus Suino.

Japanese Martial Arts Center

The Japanese Martial Arts Center is the "Rolls-Royce" of dojos, located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the heart of Washtenaw County. World-class instruction, a stunning facility, and tireless dedication to the timeless principles of traditional martial arts help each and every one of our members achieve excellence - in technique, character, and in their relationship with the world. Visit us on the web at: japanesemartialartscenter.com, or send us an email inquiry at:
info@japanesemartialartscenter.com.

We teach three major Japanese martial arts: iaido (swordsmanship), judo (throwing and grappling), and jujutsu (Japanese self-defense, sometimes spelled "jujitsu" or "jiu-jitsu"). Each one offers unique opportunities for physical training, philosophical instruction, and character development. For those who like to compete, judo offers many tournaments around North America, though we do not require our students to compete.

Because we love martial arts training and place a high value on traditional lineage martial arts, we have students who come to us not just from Ann Arbor, but throughout Michigan, including such places as Brighton, Jackson, Lansing, Rochester, Troy, Livonia, Northville, Pinckney, Plymouth, and many other cities. Our adult students (both men and women) range in talents from computer professionals, accountants, and attorneys to writers, architects, and doctors.

Anybody who wants to work hard, learn, and have fun is welcome as a student at the Japanese Martial Arts Center. We pride ourselves on the diversity of our members, and we celebrate their positive traits even as we all work hard to conform our techniques to the strict dictates of tradition. We truly believe that JMAC is one of the finest places in Michigan to learn martial arts, and invite you to visit us to see why we feel so special!

JMAC would like to thank the many businesses in Ann Arbor that support this blog, both martial arts-related and others, including: Network Services Group, Art of Japanese Swordsmanship, Shudokan Martial Arts Association, Budo Mind and Body, Art of Judo, Iaido Dot Com, Lorandos and Associates, Oxford Companies, Bluestone Realty Advisors, Portfolio Ann Arbor, Invest Ann Arbor, and the Law Office of Nicklaus Suino.