This is an age old thing in Kendo, and in many activities to be precise when the absolute form is not existent. From my perspective, having tried and learned a large number of sports ranging from Cricket, Rowing, Fencing, Athletics, Rugby League, Rifle Shooting, Archery and Kendo, many sports do not have 'right' or 'wrong' ways of doing things. If anything, many of those things you learn are just what people think are the best way of doing things from their tried and true experiences. Most of the time, you will find that there just are no better ways because hundreds before have tried other ways and they can't be beaten by the way that is taught.
However, that said, it does not need necessarily that you are not allowed to try your own techniques or attempts.
An example of this, while not a Kendo example, is still applicable. In the world of archery, there are a lot of ways to shoot a bow. You could take twenty people and you'd find at least two or three different ways about it. You can argue that the top shooters will all shoot with very similar styles. But that is the key point, similar, not same. Not using names, I know of some top Italian archers who shoot awesome scores, but their technique is very different to the biomechanics method taught by the Australians, or the new US Coach Ki-Sik Lee, or the Koreans for that matter. But, the scores simply does not reflect this at all.
Fundamentals are that. You will get taught the same things as most other people. Stand like this, move like this, swing like this, cut like this, grip like this etc. They are fundamentals because it has been playtested by so many people already. But, fundamentals can also be disputed.
I was taught a square form Chuudan no Kamae originally. After the Chiba Sensei Seminar, I have adopted an angled form of the Chuudan no Kamae stance. Why? The angled method works better for me. My cuts have improved, my stance has improved. But, that is just me. It does not mean that it will work for you. But, you should be willing to be open to try it, and see if it works or not.
What, however, I do not believe in, is saying to people no, you MUST do it this way. Saying to someone, No, that way is wrong. It might not be what you believe works, but it may work for them. Their body is different to yours. Their ability is different to yours. Their style will be different to yours. All well and good to want to be the best. Wanting others to be their best too, but forcing what you think is right is not always right. Let them decide for themselves and do not push a right or wrong but merely advise them that they may be better using this, or that, or doing this way. Let them try it, and find out why it does or does not work. For whatever reason if they find an alternative style to what you do works, then let them.
When I am asked by some of my kouhai, and we do some training together, I do not teach. I suggest to them, this is how I do this, this is how you do this. Perhaps try doing it like that because of this and this. I don't correct them to a form and say that that is the only way. It just simply is not true.
Kendo is an indivdual art. A lot of people today play for competition, to win. I am currently not one of those. I may be in the future, who knows. I focus on my journey, my path, developing, learning, absorbing and creating my own style. I am not that other person there, so why should I play his way? It does not make much sense. So, learn the basics, the fundamentals that you are taught, but if you are delivered an alternative, do not be hasty to shut it out, or tell others what they do or try is wrong, but let them discover through guidence what works best for them.
However, that said, it does not need necessarily that you are not allowed to try your own techniques or attempts.
An example of this, while not a Kendo example, is still applicable. In the world of archery, there are a lot of ways to shoot a bow. You could take twenty people and you'd find at least two or three different ways about it. You can argue that the top shooters will all shoot with very similar styles. But that is the key point, similar, not same. Not using names, I know of some top Italian archers who shoot awesome scores, but their technique is very different to the biomechanics method taught by the Australians, or the new US Coach Ki-Sik Lee, or the Koreans for that matter. But, the scores simply does not reflect this at all.
Fundamentals are that. You will get taught the same things as most other people. Stand like this, move like this, swing like this, cut like this, grip like this etc. They are fundamentals because it has been playtested by so many people already. But, fundamentals can also be disputed.
I was taught a square form Chuudan no Kamae originally. After the Chiba Sensei Seminar, I have adopted an angled form of the Chuudan no Kamae stance. Why? The angled method works better for me. My cuts have improved, my stance has improved. But, that is just me. It does not mean that it will work for you. But, you should be willing to be open to try it, and see if it works or not.
What, however, I do not believe in, is saying to people no, you MUST do it this way. Saying to someone, No, that way is wrong. It might not be what you believe works, but it may work for them. Their body is different to yours. Their ability is different to yours. Their style will be different to yours. All well and good to want to be the best. Wanting others to be their best too, but forcing what you think is right is not always right. Let them decide for themselves and do not push a right or wrong but merely advise them that they may be better using this, or that, or doing this way. Let them try it, and find out why it does or does not work. For whatever reason if they find an alternative style to what you do works, then let them.
When I am asked by some of my kouhai, and we do some training together, I do not teach. I suggest to them, this is how I do this, this is how you do this. Perhaps try doing it like that because of this and this. I don't correct them to a form and say that that is the only way. It just simply is not true.
Kendo is an indivdual art. A lot of people today play for competition, to win. I am currently not one of those. I may be in the future, who knows. I focus on my journey, my path, developing, learning, absorbing and creating my own style. I am not that other person there, so why should I play his way? It does not make much sense. So, learn the basics, the fundamentals that you are taught, but if you are delivered an alternative, do not be hasty to shut it out, or tell others what they do or try is wrong, but let them discover through guidence what works best for them.
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1 comment:
mmmhmmm... some people's anatomy might be different from others' too, so what works for others might totally not work for that person.
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