It takes time to learn how to defend yourself. It takes even more time to do those techniques correctly.
In our dojo, the white belts' and yellow belts' basics are incorrect. Yet, the Sensei's don't fix it. Or don't think it's important to fix it. Or don't see the mistake. Then, as brown belts or even junior black belts, we're not allowed to fix their mistakes. We get yelled at if caught. I suppose, the Sensei's don't want to look bad or something. It looks worse if the kids aren't fixed at all. So, because of sloppy basics at lower ranks, the green, purple, and brown belts look like trash. Well, more so the the green and purple belts, but still. Then, there is no kime. And lots of foot, then hand motions; or hand then foot. It doesn't stop at the same time.
Self defense also depends on focus and discipline. Both senseis' aren't strict enough. They let everyone talk. If caught, the talkers are separated. That is the punishment. Nothing more severe. Sometimes Sensei Jon makes them do push ups or jumping jacks, but this is rare. Sensei Leo's strategy is to make them sit out for a little bit. THESE METHODS DO NOT HELP KEEP CHILDREN IN LINE. I apologize for being a bad student by critiquing you two, but, it needs to be said.
Also, with self defense comes time and practice. I admit, I don't usually practice my kata and such outside of the dojo.
So, successful self defense is not possible when you are an undetermined, untrained, undisciplined person.
A long time ago, in a land far away, there lived two boys. The two boys were friends, and they were seen together every day. They did everything together.
One afternoon, while the boys were down by the river skipping stones, some older boys came walking by. They saw the two boys, and decided that since no one was around, they could do as they pleased.
They asked the younger boys for money. But the littles refused to give the money. The older boys were shocked that they were refused. The older boy said, “You should not have said that!” And he ran at them. The two boys tried to fight back, but the older boys pushed them down and began kicking them.
The two boys screamed for the older boys to stop kicking them. The older boys laughed and continued kicking until they could not fight back. Then the older boys took their money, and walked away.
After that, the two boys decided that they would learn karate. They walked together to the home of a master instructor of karate. They knocked on his door, and waited.
The door opened and and old man inquired about why they were here. The two boys looked at each other, and then said that they wanted to learn Karate. The old man asked about their intentions. And the boys told him their tale with the older boys.
The old man agreed to teach them. They were taught in a large empty room in the back of the house. Every day, the two boys would come to the old man’s home, wait on his porch, and go inside his house when he let them in. Sometimes, while they were waiting, they would help clean and repair the old man's property.
Then the two would then practice karate with the old man. He taught them toeverything that he knew. After a few lessons, it became apparent that one of the boys was naturally gifted at karate, for he only needed to see someone else perform a move or technique to learn it . The other boy, however, struggled through each and every lesson to keep up.
The boy who was talented began to feel as though his friend was holding him back, because the old man gave him so much attention. Perhaps he was also a little jealous, too. The boy who was not talented began to feel as though he was being left behind, because he had to struggle so much to keep up. And, maybe he also felt a little jealous.
The old man simply grinned at the two boys and ignored either of them if they complained about the other. He knew they had been friends their whole lives and had done everything together, and that they were growing in new ways and would have to learn to accept these changes and understand them. When they asked him questions about it, he answered them honestly.They asked about why the other was fast and the other was slower.
As the months went by, the boys continued to train together. The very talented boy would always win any match between the two. This would cause untalented friend to spend long time alone practicing on his own, writing notes, and thinking about his karate so that he could keep up.
The boy with talent would beat him again . The boy without talent would struggle , and then would think about why this had happened and what he could do . Sometimes, he would ask the old man about different ways to practice when he was alone, and the old man would advise him on what he was doing.
The years went by, and the boys grew into young men. One of them was always learning things as if he already knew how to do them, the other was always struggling, analyzing, struggling some more, and thinking.
More years passed, and the two young men became fully grown men, got married, and moved into their own houses. But they still visited the old man’s house every now and then to practice karate with him watching and coaching the weaker of the two.
Eventually, the old man died. The two men were very sad to have lost him. “I cannot believe our master is dead!” The strong one said.
The weaker one said, “Yes, it is quite terrible, and nothing shall ever be the same again.” And they were both mournful, and they grieved by not practicing karate any longer. They had grown up, and were both strong, and everyone knew that they had mastered the art of karate . They no longer had any need of constant practice, for no one would bother them now.
Time passed, and the two men no longer lived near one another. The stronger had moved off to find his fortune, and the weaker had stayed behind in the village. Eventually, the weaker had children of his own, and his children eventually asked him to teach them karate. He agreed. And so the village helped him build a dojo. The villagers agreed to build it and also wanted lessons.
After a few days, the dojo was built. As he taught the children, he noticed that some learned faster than others. And some, like him, learned slower.
Eventually, one of the weaker children he was teaching approached him and said, “I am very weak at karate, and I always lose. Everything I try is not as good as the others. This seems hopeless. I am no good at karate, and I will never be a great teacher like you.”
The weaker of the two men stared at the child for a moment, and then he smiled and said, “One day, I will introduce you to my friend, who is very strong, and he will tell you the secret of becoming the greatest expert. He is a great fighter, and he has never lost. He is fast, strong, and impressive. Will you wait until you meet him to decide?”
The child agreed, and sulked as he walked back to his lessons.
Every day the children came to his house to learn karate. Every day, the strong defeated the weaker , and the weaker man taught them and his children all of his tricks, strategies, special practices, and understanding of karate so that they could overcome their weaknesses and reach their potential.
One day, the weaker of the two man opened his door to let in the children, and he saw his front porch was the stronger man, with two young boys standing next to him.
The eyes of the weaker of the two men opened very wide in joy and surprise and he yelled, “Ah! My friend! How I have missed you these long yers! You look well ! I have so looked forward to you coming to my home and teaching my students the secret of becoming a great karate teacher!”
The stronger man said, “Indeed, I shall teach your students that secret right now. I am a great champion of karate. I am gifted with talent that was given to me on the day that I was born. There is no other who can oppose me in a match of karate fighting and hope to win.”
The children stared at the strong man standing with the two boys.
“When my two sons became old enough, they asked me to teach them karate.” he continued.
The children looked at the boys, envious that they were learning from the greatest karate man.
“But my sons did not inherit my gift. They cannot move without thinking. So every time they move, they must think about it. They ask me many questions, but I have no answers. They ask me how to do things, and I answer. I never struggled. I never thought about how to move, because I could move without thinking.”
The children looked at the boys, sad for them that they did not have the great champion’s natural talent.
The champion continued, “I realized yesterday that I cannot teach karate. I can only do karate. I have brought my sons here to be taught by you. I am the champion, but you are the master. It is you who struggled through many problems. It is you who thought deeply about how to move best. It is you who knows the many mysterious ways to overcome obstacles and improve despite having no talent.
“The greatest karate teacher in the land is you, because you cannot move without thinking. I beg of you, please teach my sons.”
And the master agreed.
Well. This is true. It really does apply to us all. I am the Master type of student, always weaker and always slower.