By Christian H. Olsen, Member until 2022
Kimu Sensei asked us what we expected from the course and whether we had imagined that we would learn to hit 'the secret Bruce Lee one-inch punch.'
Key words for Hsingi are: Speed, precision, power.
Creation of will - 'empowerment'.
Parallels to Yari (spear), Jo (staff), and to POMW and ura- (inner) vs. Omoto (external) – course.
Be willing to learn 100%. Recognize that you/we/I simultaneously know/can't and want nothing, and at the same time vice versa.
'If you (read: I) do not have your own will, you (read: I) will be subject to someone else's. If you (read:I) do not want to be subject to the will of others, you (read:I) must develop and have your ((read:mine) own.'
Was asked to show Ido Unsuko first once and then with100% intention
Ido Unsoku
Linguistic meaning?
In its essence, it is about Tai-Sabaki (body movement) with steps from the starting point in Heisoku-dachi back and forth on the way. and hay. in Zenkutsu-dachi, back in Kokutsu-dachi, and to the side in Kiba-dachi and Shiko-dachi.
The purpose is to train body movement from point A to point B optimally.
Unsoku No. 1
In its essence, it is Tai-Sabaki (body movement) with sliding straight forward, parallel offset forward left and right, back and parallel offset back left and right, obliquely in Kokutsu-dachi.
Then back step diagonally out of line for 30 degrees and back again, back step diagonally out and in line of line for 45 degrees and back again, in 90 degrees with leg and arm change and back on opposite leg, cross over in Kake-dachi and Neko Ashi-dachi on the way back and forth, as well as taido ushiro Eji-dachi and back in kokutsu-dachi.
Unsoku No. 2
In its essence, it deals with Tai-Sabaki (body movement) with glides and combined glides and forward and backward steps, straight and oblique in Neko Ashi Dachi, Mae Taido (forward cold bucket), Shuto, Ushiro-taido (backward cold bucket), Mae and Ushiro Ukemi (forward and backward fall), back and forth in Neko Ashi-dachi, back and forth in zenkutsu-dachi, back and forth shiko-dachi, back in kokutsu-dachi and neko ashi-dachi.
Then we trained optimal Tsuki on pad with TF level 1 and 2 with standing and movable target; 2) contact on pad – punch through pad, and 1) avoid getting hit.
Was told we had to hit 5 right and 5 left Tsuki through pillow with maximum technique.
Found that I could move Mike by approx. same weight but lower center of gravity, but not Bjørn, who weighs 1½ times as much and is as strong as a Bjørn. Before Kimu Sensei asked me why I hold back? Kimu Sensei said with shining clear eyes that I would have heart problems if I (continue to) hold on again. And asked me why are you holding back and asked me to let 'it' go.
So why am I holding back instead of releasing energy. I think I do that because I really want to take care of myself and others, and don't want to hurt myself or others. But by holding back I am actually hurting myself and others. The truth is that I don't dare to stand up and show who I am, for better or for worse, and probably also that I often beat myself and certainly also others with the Janteloven. That I don't allow myself or others to be their full potential, maybe because of pettiness instead of magnanimity, maybe because of my own inferiority instead of self-esteem. Maybe because of my fear of not being good enough as I am, rather than telling myself that I and others are good enough – that they are just as they should be.
Then we trained Oi- and Gyaku-tsuki with glides and steps. Totally 'Bruce Lee' when it worked out.
The laws of physics: At a longer distance, higher speed can be created, and thus greater power.
At a shorter distance, faster contact can be made but less force.
After an hour and a half we started doing as we were told and had the right attitude. For me, it is actually the realization that I really know and can't do anything. That in every training situation I must start from 0, and preferably quickly, precisely and powerfully reach 100 % where everything goes up a higher unit right here and now. This is done most easily by recognizing that the wheel and the deep plate were invented, to accept when the essence is served on a silver platter and to have 100% trust that when a master conveys his knowledge and skill, it is out of love for the system and us there is part of the system. So listen, understand and learn. Make it easy for myself and others. Allow them and me to learn and achieve their and my full potential.
The times it succeeds, I am actually in a state of happiness and at once completely myself and not myself. Don't know how to explain it. It is deeply meaningful, as a kind of messenger for something bigger and at the same time it becomes insignificant to be successful in the short term. These are some of the few moments when it is possible to let go of ego. But here lurks the danger of the pursuit of short-term success a la 'look how skilled I am, 'father' (don't you think it's enough?). The danger of the pursuit of recognition from 'Father' Kimu Sensei, the danger of one's own self-fatness, complacency and self-sufficiency and self-assertion.
One of the challenges of my life has been the search for recognition from my father. Often felt I wasn't good enough, and had to prove myself to get his love. The desire to give and receive love can be a really strong driving force, but the fear of not getting or being allowed to give the love I so fervently/desperately want only fuels a low rather than high self-esteem and probably only leads to unhappiness rather than happiness.
So now I'm writing this because, due to low self-esteem, I actually want to assert myself and make myself better than I really am, or because I want to share a true realization with others to benefit them. I am not better than I am - the others know that well. So if I really want to learn I have to admit that I know and can't do anything (even what I think I can do or what I imagine others must think I can do). I hope others can learn from my honesty and self-awareness - and move forward, as I am on my way to through my training in the Yakami Shinsei-ryu tool.
Why not be honest and recognize that everything is new now, and then learn all your life. Why not just keep it easy and be 100% honest with myself and others.
Why not just accept myself as I am with the light and dark sides. Why not just be me and allow others to be them, even under pressure especially when it's not easy. Why not just allow myself to be who I am, for better or for worse, learn from it, develop now and here, every day for the rest of my life, and move towards Menkyo. Do I really have any other sensible choice.
The quest to let go of one's ego and gather to get small successful experiences cannot compare to the real ego-liberation in the realization that it is the only truly meaningful path to fulfilling one's full potential. Perhaps this is part of what Kimu Sensei is talking about when he says success in the long run. And how is it that I create it in my own life. First of all, by taking 100% responsibility, having clear goals and dreams and doing what it takes. Ok, so if I want to be Menkyo and know myself 100%, then I have to be it here and now, in the next now, etc., etc. - easier said than done. Am I willing to pay the price (for not). I would also like to be Menkyo in my own life, and benefit the common good (all other people and the world community), which is actually what I swore to do in the doctor's oath.
Well, back to basics. It is one thing to understand mentally, another thing is to show; I mistakenly thought I understood that it's about THANK-MY-CT, but couldn't execute it when it applied).
One thing is to be able – another thing is to understand (Jan kune perform a correct oi-tsuki in a slide with a step forward, but did not understand what he was doing, and it went wrong when he thought). Kimu Sensei explained and showed and we learned I hope.
Slide (with foot) and pull (with hand). Step forward in oi-tsuki - almost with a kick forward, slide straight across the floor. It is fast, powerful and precise – the straight line between two points.
What's better, a 16-year-old who can kick backwards circle kicks to the head or a 65-year-old who can't lift his leg higher than hip height? It's about knowing that you are so good that you don't need to show it. To be able to neutralize an opponent, or to know that you are so good that you can just not do it. Take good care of both yourself and your opponent.
Bra Christian
