Ryu
11-05-2001, 07:46 AM
The following is something I've gone through and thought about today, some inner revelations, more personal findings about self, martial arts, and other things. Read if you wish, and enjoy. All of it is true accounts of today. No last names are used here.
I came home, expecting to go to the Buddhist Temple with Joey that late afternoon. As I waited, I worked upstairs, switcing the computer on to glance over different assignments, novels-in-process, and checking mail. Joey was late, something that wasn't unusual from the blonde-haired Chinese with the dark sunglasses. Slowly, I began to think to myself that we might not make it to the temple on this particular day. One of the painters, a tall kid in his early twenties, came into my room. They had been painting my family's house for almost three weeks now, and were soon to be finished (I hoped).
"Hey, Ryu," he said bursting into my room without knocking, "I talked with my friend in Tenessee and he might come down here to visit me, if you guys remember me, maybe I can invite him over here and you guys can spar or something."
I rolled my eyes to the top of my head, not wanting to hear about his godly 4rth degree Tae Kwon Do blackbelt friend again who could freeze people with touches.
"Sure," I said trying to be polite, "I actually am kind of interested in Tai Chi, maybe he can show me some stuff."
The painter was taken back, "Uh, yeah probably. He's certified in that too. You guys could probably teach each other stuff."
I was more pleased to take the focus off of challenge sparring, and more to friendlier conversation. I have always hated fighting. Even though the art I practice, judo and BJJ, are most associated with it in this day and age...
Sometimes it seems that fighting challengers is something expected of me just because of the art I practice...I have done that already. Nothing more to prove with challenges anymore. I hoped my ego wouldn't get in the way again this time.
"That'd be cool." I said returning to my computer and highly doubting to ever see this black belt in question anyway.
"One thing though about grappling," he said, "since you know what you're doing he'll actually swing and stuff."
"Uh huh..." I murmured with little feeling. I didn't really care at the moment.
"He really is into Bruce Lee though!" he said.
"Oh really?" I smiled again letting him know I wasn't interested in fighting, "I bet we'd probably be friends. I love Bruce too."
"Really?" came his unenlightened response.
It was time for him to go. I thanked God for getting him out of my hair. However I was a bit annoyed. I have no problem with friendly sparring with two people who want to learn and share, but I'm done with challenge matches and fighting. I don't like it. As mentioned before, I have come to realize that I hate fighting. Sometimes I wondered if I should take up an art that wasn't famous for it...
Joey wasn't coming, and with time to spare, I spent it the only way I knew how when feelings of annoyance and "fighting" came into play...I trained. I dropped what I was doing, and spent an hour just on clinching drills with a large grappling dummy. I recorded myself, checked my speed, timing, and body mechanics. I spent immense amounts of energy clinching it, slamming it, and making sure my positions of mount and knee on stomach were solid, in base, and able to be utilized while sending down the strongest punches I could at the dummy's face. My room shook. I decided to call Joey, and ask him to help me train, but on another day. For me, headgear would be a must, and Joey, wearing bag gloves would strike and kick me with full force while I simply clinched him time and time again. His Northern Shaolin skills that he learned in Hong Kong would serve me well there.
Then it was time for me to go back to University, where a friend's jazz recital would be taking place. I had invited two Japanese friends with me... I realized I was running late. I always lose track of time when I train..even if it is just drills.
Story continued.......
stand by.
http://judoinfo.com/images/kimuraosawa.jpg
"One who takes pride in shallow knowledge or understanding is like a monkey who delights in adorning itself with garbage."
I came home, expecting to go to the Buddhist Temple with Joey that late afternoon. As I waited, I worked upstairs, switcing the computer on to glance over different assignments, novels-in-process, and checking mail. Joey was late, something that wasn't unusual from the blonde-haired Chinese with the dark sunglasses. Slowly, I began to think to myself that we might not make it to the temple on this particular day. One of the painters, a tall kid in his early twenties, came into my room. They had been painting my family's house for almost three weeks now, and were soon to be finished (I hoped).
"Hey, Ryu," he said bursting into my room without knocking, "I talked with my friend in Tenessee and he might come down here to visit me, if you guys remember me, maybe I can invite him over here and you guys can spar or something."
I rolled my eyes to the top of my head, not wanting to hear about his godly 4rth degree Tae Kwon Do blackbelt friend again who could freeze people with touches.
"Sure," I said trying to be polite, "I actually am kind of interested in Tai Chi, maybe he can show me some stuff."
The painter was taken back, "Uh, yeah probably. He's certified in that too. You guys could probably teach each other stuff."
I was more pleased to take the focus off of challenge sparring, and more to friendlier conversation. I have always hated fighting. Even though the art I practice, judo and BJJ, are most associated with it in this day and age...
Sometimes it seems that fighting challengers is something expected of me just because of the art I practice...I have done that already. Nothing more to prove with challenges anymore. I hoped my ego wouldn't get in the way again this time.
"That'd be cool." I said returning to my computer and highly doubting to ever see this black belt in question anyway.
"One thing though about grappling," he said, "since you know what you're doing he'll actually swing and stuff."
"Uh huh..." I murmured with little feeling. I didn't really care at the moment.
"He really is into Bruce Lee though!" he said.
"Oh really?" I smiled again letting him know I wasn't interested in fighting, "I bet we'd probably be friends. I love Bruce too."
"Really?" came his unenlightened response.
It was time for him to go. I thanked God for getting him out of my hair. However I was a bit annoyed. I have no problem with friendly sparring with two people who want to learn and share, but I'm done with challenge matches and fighting. I don't like it. As mentioned before, I have come to realize that I hate fighting. Sometimes I wondered if I should take up an art that wasn't famous for it...
Joey wasn't coming, and with time to spare, I spent it the only way I knew how when feelings of annoyance and "fighting" came into play...I trained. I dropped what I was doing, and spent an hour just on clinching drills with a large grappling dummy. I recorded myself, checked my speed, timing, and body mechanics. I spent immense amounts of energy clinching it, slamming it, and making sure my positions of mount and knee on stomach were solid, in base, and able to be utilized while sending down the strongest punches I could at the dummy's face. My room shook. I decided to call Joey, and ask him to help me train, but on another day. For me, headgear would be a must, and Joey, wearing bag gloves would strike and kick me with full force while I simply clinched him time and time again. His Northern Shaolin skills that he learned in Hong Kong would serve me well there.
Then it was time for me to go back to University, where a friend's jazz recital would be taking place. I had invited two Japanese friends with me... I realized I was running late. I always lose track of time when I train..even if it is just drills.
Story continued.......
stand by.
http://judoinfo.com/images/kimuraosawa.jpg
"One who takes pride in shallow knowledge or understanding is like a monkey who delights in adorning itself with garbage."