In a recent blackbelt practice where we had a kung fu instructor as a guest lecturer, i realized that karate has a lot more to offer than just self defense. The kung fu instructor was sharing healing techniques which karate has already been teaching. I know for a fact that the chi energy has been developing in my students and as the student progresses, so is their awareness and strength in chi. My brown belts can feel and project chi energy.
I also realized that not all instructors are the same. A fellow blackbelt never realized how to use chi and how to properly kiai. I'm glad that we got to talk and she was happy to be enlightened.
My karate is the same as that of the others but my understanding and awareness makes it different. I thank my senseis who have shown me the way as we all travel towards the same direction. I also thank all the people who have shown me things which allows me to understand karate in an even deeper sense.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Sunday, April 15, 2012
New Train Station Studio
My classes will now be held at the new Train Station studio in SM Hypermart beside Tiendesitas in Pasig City. It is right in front of C5. The floor is cushioned and the mirrors are of a good size. I hope this works out for the owners since everyone worked hard to make it work. Check out details at TrainStationOnline.com
Saturday, April 23, 2011
on belts
Somehow, with how one goes up in ranking while studying karate, one starts to put a premium on going up in ranks. Belts show proof of that rank. A few weeks ago, my wife talked to me about it and she made a pretty good point. Belts and ranks mean nothing. What you know counts more. She tried to learn karate but didn't want to take the tests. She said that if she learned her lessons for her belt, cant i not teach her the next lessons? This reminded me of the time i was practicing Aikido. There, i didn't really care if i took the test or not. The lessons for white, blue, brown and black were the same. It only changed according to your skill. As a white belt in Aikido (being already a blackbelt in karate), i learned fast to the point that the lessons i was learning in Aikido was the same as that of the brown belt. I could roll and fall like the best of them. Given that, i didn't feel the need to advance in belt because i was already advancing in skill.
In my class, if a person learned his lesson for his belt, i could not withhold the next lesson from him. It made no sense to keep teaching the same thing over and over if the person already knows it. Mind you, i keep my standards high so if i teach you the next set of lessons, it really means that you fulfilled my criteria to consider you ready. I have a sharp eye and i notice the littlest mistakes specially when i have my eye just on you.
I digress. In the end, what is a belt really? A sign of your rank or just a sign to help the teacher know what to teach you? If a teacher knows you and pays attention to you, will your belt matter? If a child like my student Urie knows her katas up to 2 levels higher than her supposed rank, do i limit her to just the kata for her rank or let her practice what she knows? If a student like my regular adults learn fast and is hungry for more, do i limit their knowledge or expand it to include that which is considered beyond their rank? .... If a child wants to learn, wouldn't you be excited to teach him more and more?
In my class, if a person learned his lesson for his belt, i could not withhold the next lesson from him. It made no sense to keep teaching the same thing over and over if the person already knows it. Mind you, i keep my standards high so if i teach you the next set of lessons, it really means that you fulfilled my criteria to consider you ready. I have a sharp eye and i notice the littlest mistakes specially when i have my eye just on you.
I digress. In the end, what is a belt really? A sign of your rank or just a sign to help the teacher know what to teach you? If a teacher knows you and pays attention to you, will your belt matter? If a child like my student Urie knows her katas up to 2 levels higher than her supposed rank, do i limit her to just the kata for her rank or let her practice what she knows? If a student like my regular adults learn fast and is hungry for more, do i limit their knowledge or expand it to include that which is considered beyond their rank? .... If a child wants to learn, wouldn't you be excited to teach him more and more?
Monday, November 22, 2010
Rexona Cup 2010
Today, 2 days after the Rexona Cup 2010 last Nov.20, i start writing down thoughts about karate. Only the stuff i want to share.
So far, i have been formally teaching karate for over 2 years and a practitioner for 26 years. I'd like to think that i do a fairly good job at teaching because i see the progress of my students. I think have a good eye that can see not only their faults but how they can correct them. Some of my tactics are archaic, i.e. place a chair for them to kick over it but some are pretty modern. I use medicine to augment the teaching of karate. In the end, i don't overburden the kids bodies and i build up the adults. Im not the best but i try to do good for my students as my teachers have for me (or at least i hope they did).
My class have had their fair share of medals. When i was in Cubao, i once had all my participating students win at least a medal each in a tournament. I am happy that even though the ones that couldn't come with me to greenhills or shang had to train under a different teacher, i still see them compete and win. I still see the stuff i taught them in the way they move and act in the tournaments. I am happy that they remember. I know that their new teachers are proud to have their students win but inside, i feel that i had a hand in the development of those students.
This last one wasn't good for them though because none of my old ex-students won anymore but they still have it in them to train and participate. The ones under me that participated in last weekend's competition won a medal each. Some by desire, some by talent and some by sheer perseverance. It feels good to be validated i suppose. I am doing something good for these students of mine. I hope they remember me someday. I know that their victories are mostly theirs because they do all the work. All i do is guide them and point out the way. I am proud of these kids. Im hoping that the adults will see the value in competing, too. As Okazaki Shihan said, "Tournament is part of training."
Pride, vanity and ego are really bad for competition, both during a
nd after. During com
petition, those three contributes to overconfidence. After, it makes losing a much more unpleasant experience. Come to think of it, it is also bad for before a competition because thinking that you are good might make you train less. I hope that i can teach them the more philosophical aspects of karate and make them better people in the end.
Congratulations to Lalor Deang for her medals in kata and kumite. Francine Lim for he silver in kata (her first attempt in the intermediate category). Kylie Carpizo for her medal in kata (her first, hopefully of many. She really worked hard to fix the stuff i corrected). Carl Ong for his first medal, a silver in kata which i think he worked hard to prepare for because of his significant leap in performance from the last time i checked him prior to the last practice. Urie and Gabby Joaquin for their medals in kumite.
So far, i have been formally teaching karate for over 2 years and a practitioner for 26 years. I'd like to think that i do a fairly good job at teaching because i see the progress of my students. I think have a good eye that can see not only their faults but how they can correct them. Some of my tactics are archaic, i.e. place a chair for them to kick over it but some are pretty modern. I use medicine to augment the teaching of karate. In the end, i don't overburden the kids bodies and i build up the adults. Im not the best but i try to do good for my students as my teachers have for me (or at least i hope they did).
My class have had their fair share of medals. When i was in Cubao, i once had all my participating students win at least a medal each in a tournament. I am happy that even though the ones that couldn't come with me to greenhills or shang had to train under a different teacher, i still see them compete and win. I still see the stuff i taught them in the way they move and act in the tournaments. I am happy that they remember. I know that their new teachers are proud to have their students win but inside, i feel that i had a hand in the development of those students.
This last one wasn't good for them though because none of my old ex-students won anymore but they still have it in them to train and participate. The ones under me that participated in last weekend's competition won a medal each. Some by desire, some by talent and some by sheer perseverance. It feels good to be validated i suppose. I am doing something good for these students of mine. I hope they remember me someday. I know that their victories are mostly theirs because they do all the work. All i do is guide them and point out the way. I am proud of these kids. Im hoping that the adults will see the value in competing, too. As Okazaki Shihan said, "Tournament is part of training."
I have some students that did well in kumite and not as well in kata. I think it is a matter of priorities in this case as well as how much heart they put in the training for each type of competition. I felt sad for a little girl who felt bad after losing to a lower ranked competitor. I know that it might be misconstrued as humiliating in a young child but i hope that someday she will find it in herself to see that it is a humbling experience. It might show her to stop and see that she should not take things for granted, make her humble enough to train harder.. and maybe listen more to her Sensei ;)
Pride, vanity and ego are really bad for competition, both during a
nd after. During competition, those three contributes to overconfidence. After, it makes losing a much more unpleasant experience. Come to think of it, it is also bad for before a competition because thinking that you are good might make you train less. I hope that i can teach them the more philosophical aspects of karate and make them better people in the end.Congratulations to Lalor Deang for her medals in kata and kumite. Francine Lim for he silver in kata (her first attempt in the intermediate category). Kylie Carpizo for her medal in kata (her first, hopefully of many. She really worked hard to fix the stuff i corrected). Carl Ong for his first medal, a silver in kata which i think he worked hard to prepare for because of his significant leap in performance from the last time i checked him prior to the last practice. Urie and Gabby Joaquin for their medals in kumite.
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