|
|
|
Shihan Whitmer
Speaks Out
This is where Shihan Whitmer will post Notes, Rants and Raves
Tradition
According to wikipedia, tradition is defined as 'Beliefs or customs taught by one generation to the next,
often orally.'In the world of martial arts tradition is the bedrock which it is based. Most of the positive
aspects associated with martial arts training stem from the ancient martial roots of our chosen disciplines.
Boddhidharma,the patriarch of Zen Buddhism,referred to the techniques he taught to the monks at the Shaolin
Temple as military exercise. These refined techniques are now known as Shaolin Kung Fu. Both Karate and Taekwondo
can trace their roots back to his teachings. From my Sensei I learned my Martial Arts lineage back to China via
Okinawa. This contiuity across the centuries gives me a sense of being part of something bigger than myself and
is humbling to me in its scope. I try to instill in my students this sense of belonging to a bigger realm and
that its study doesnt end with earning their first black belt but that is merely the beginning of a life-long
journey. I know in this age of instant gratification this message doesnt play well with some of the potential
students who might otherwise be attracted to a flashier style but for those that 'get it' it is a life changing
experience.We need to keep in mind the translation of Sensei is Teacher and its our responsibility to help our
students find their own path and how to navigate it. This is one of the reasons we practice more than one
discipline in our Dojo, to give them a chance to see other systems and make an informed choice on what they
want to focus on. My staff and I believe there is no one perfect system but that the student should look at
all possibilities and use what works for them. My time in law enforcement taught me that one must be ready for
anything at anytime. I made it a point to look at every martial art style I came into contact with in the context
of how it would benefit me in my life, not in its potential weaknesses to what I already knew.As my Kwanmukan
Shihan George Anderson once said,"A champion is deficient somewhere" so it can be said of all martial arts.
No one art can cover all the possibilites one might face in combat or in competition. I have lost potential
students because I didnt belong to one governing group or another and I have no intentions of doing so.
The stated aim of such governing bodies is to perpetuate one style over all others which is contradictary to
our beliefs. The unstated aim of these same organizations is self-perpetutuity. What should be more important
to my students, some certificate bought off the internet or the fact that my sword Sensei, Sensei fought the last
legal duel in Japanese history? Now that is tradition!
Tuesday
5-6 PM-Karate
6-7 PM-Weapons
7-9 PM Tai Chi and Self-Defense
Thursday
5-6 PM-Karate
6-7 PM-Weapons
7-9 PM Tai Chi and Self-Defense
Saturday
9-10 AM Junior Black Belts
10-11 AM-Adolescent Open Session
11-12 Pm-Adult Open Session
|
