I was speaking to another instructor about the relationship of taijutsu and physics. Their comment was, “of course we know it really is just physics but that really has nothing to do with learning how to do it, or enjoying it.”

I’m not sure everyone knows it really is just physics, if they did, they wouldn’t muscle or force techniques.

I have found that when someone discovers the physics behind how our art works it feels like magic to them. That doesn’t mean we break out a compass and protractor in the middle of class or make reference to Pythagorean’s theorem (although I have on occasion, it explains why water angling works). But discovering and understanding these ideas give them a sense of power greater than brute force. The only thing we can keep improving is our understanding because time makes sure we won’t always be the strongest in a fight.

I recently watched a video of the Dalai Lama talk about how Buddhism is a study of cause and effect.

Asking “why” something happens is the basis of how we learn. If I don’t know why something works even though I can do it, how am I supposed to fulfill my obligation as a teacher and pass this information on? I can’t just tell them to do what I do. What if they aren’t my size or haven’t had my experiences? One of the recent black belt trainings in Ohio was all about this idea, examining cause and effect to discover the underlying principles (physics).

The other instructor replied, “You just have the student experience it over and over until they get it. You don’t have to have them understand the physics behind it.”

My question for him was, what if you are doing it wrong?

I used to throw a punch a certain way and I practiced a lot. I was good at it but it was wrong. I left myself open every time I did it. My teacher gave me a geometry lesson regarding lines of attack (and unfortunately points of impact) that changed my understanding.

There’s a very funny website (if your humor runs like mine to the less than subtle) called Despair.com They make fun of motivational posters with demotivational posters and one of my favorites that I have in my (private) training dojo is one about doing things without thinking. You can see it here:

I understand why you wouldn’t want to be thinking about blocks and levers as you are grappling with someone but understanding the physics behind them can make that arm bar a lot easier. Just like knowing that the highest levels of science today seem to be agreeing with ancient concepts of thought and matter can make it easier to accept the amazing results you may achieve practicing our mind sciences.

My opinion, ask “Why?”

Dennis
Shinobi Martial Arts
95 Plaistow Road, Plaistow NH

We had another new student question why we train with ancient weapons. They felt it was very unlikely that they would run into anyone with a Japanese sword. I can understand a new person’s perspective believing they may not see these weapons in a fight but that’s why we call them ‘new’, they lack the experience. Weapons are a part of our society so we need to deal with them.

The problem is in labeling. If you call something a ‘classical weapon’ does that mean you won’t ever see it in a fight? If you Google Japanese sword attacks you will see the answer to that is obviously no. If you are practicing sword fighting does that mean you can’t kick? A can of fruit cocktail can get the same effect as a shuriken and did in one story I read online.

People tell me that they are ground fighters and you need to learn to fight there as if it is somehow different than standing. So I play with them and pull out a training knife and see how they deal with it.

A friend asked me as I was walking into his karate studio how a ninja would deal with nunchaku. I threw the change in my pocket into his face and took them away as I walked to the changing room.

There are knifes in your kitchen, sticks and ropes in your garage, rocks on the ground and cans of fruit cocktail on the shelves. I learned from my teacher Mark Davis and Mr. Hayes to think of weapons in categories: sticks, blades, flexibles, projectiles, and combinations. Any and all can be found in some form at any moment including on your body.

There is no such thing as a knife fight or a ground fight or an unarmed fight if you are talking about self-defense and not sport. There is just a fight and weapons are part of that fight. We are fortunate that our art has the ability to teach us how to deal with this.

So when someone new questions why they are studying ‘classical’ weapons, they may just need the simple answer, because it’s part of our art that teaches you how to survive.

Dennis
Shinobi Martial Arts
95 Plaistow Road, Plaistow NH