When No One Is Watching

Every once in a while, especially in the summer, nobody shows up for advanced karate class.  Last night was one of those times, mostly because people are on vacation, working, etc.  Not unusual in a small place like ours.

But once the clock hits 7:50ish, I realize that I have a choice:  Train anyway, or take the night off.  The last time I took the night off was when I hadn’t been sleeping well, I was tired and sore and realized that pushing it unnecessarily would do me no good.  It has taken me 60 years, but I’ve learned to listen to my body.  Nevertheless, when I have the rare opportunity to get an unplanned session in, I usually take it.  Allow me to explain why.

Discipline.  As much as I enjoy teaching and training with other people, I look forward to opportunities to train alone.  For one thing, it gives me a chance to practice self-discipline.  It would be easy to take advantage of some free time, but that doesn't get me any further along on my own journey.  I can come up with reasons to take a break.  But time doesn’t take a break, nor do the internal and external forces that keep us from becoming the best version of ourselves.

Competence.  A great musician does not become great because he or she plays in front of other people or with other people.  A musician becomes great because of self practice.  You can have outstanding teachers, inspirational mentors and awesome partners.  But what you do alone, when there is no one to judge or approve of what you’re doing…that’s where the real learning happens.  Whether it’s music, martial arts, lifting weights, whatever, the time you put in alone is the most valuable time you’ll spend.

Awareness.  Practicing karate with good training partners is essential for your development as a martial artist.  You should always seek out people who are better than you, allow yourself to take a few hits, miss a few steps.  You simply cannot learn if you don’t allow yourself to make mistakes (and admit that you made them…something that’s actually hard for a few of us).  But training alone provides another level of self awareness.  You can blame your lack of timing or ability on all kinds of things; your opponent, the temperature, your sore shoulder, etc.  “Explaining away” is how my old jujutsu teacher used to put it.  But none of that stuff matters when you’re alone because you know the truth.  There is either cannot or will not; no hiding from yourself.

Spirit.  The goal of traditional martial training (budo) is mitigation of the ego.  The stripping away of our carefully constructed self-image.  The need for recognition of our simplistic accomplishments.  Removing creature comforts that we think we deserve, like heat, air conditioning, inspirational posters, trophies, nice cars, etc.  All the stuff you cannot take with you to the grave.  All we have left is the spirit that we developed in this life.  Oh yes, you have a spirit and when you die, that spirit is the culmination of everything that you’ve thought, said and done.  It’s like a garden that is little more than a field that either gets ignored or cultivated.  An ignored field grows thistles and thorns that are eventually pulled and thrown into the fire.  A field that produces crops continues to grow and feeds everyone around it.  Enough said.

So, no matter what kind of training you do to cultivate your field, make sure you spend time doing it alone when nobody is there to approve.  And if you are a student here, do yourself a favor and practice your kata.  Trust me on that one.

Dave Magliano

Tatsu Dojo

Jissenkan Budo

Dojo Cho