| In the ninja's martial arts, just as with | | | | and by the corrections that have to be made. |
| everything else in life, experience brings | | | | |
| many benefits. The more a person does | | | | We know, because we have been where our |
| something, the greater the level of | | | | students are now. We have had... |
| confidence, understanding, and proficiency | | | | |
| they will have with that 'thing.' This is a | | | | The same time constraints |
| truth but as with any medicine, is often hard | | | | |
| to swallow. | | | | The same familial obligations |
| | | | |
| If we are to become truly skilled at our | | | | The same concerns with job, travel, and money |
| martial art - able to use our skills in an | | | | |
| actual confrontation should one ever arise - | | | | The same practice area limitations; and... |
| we must be able to do our techniques as | | | | |
| easily as we tie our shoes or lift a fork to | | | | The same excuses... |
| our mouths to eat. And, unfortunately, two | | | | |
| classes a week will NOT bring about this | | | | ... given in the hopes that our teachers will |
| mastery and skill. | | | | somehow see our plight as more forgiving than |
| | | | others and 'lighten-up' on us so we won't |
| True mastery comes from practice - the | | | | have to work so hard. |
| homework done when we're away from class to | | | | |
| perfect our skill. Just as with any other | | | | Your teachers know that what they're giving |
| schooling, homework is necessary to really | | | | you in class is only the tip of the iceberg. |
| get good at what it is that we're trying to | | | | They know that you cannot possibly learn all |
| learn. This is something we cannot get in | | | | there is to know in just a few short classes |
| the classroom where the learning takes place. | | | | a week. They know how hard mastery is and, |
| Practice is the constant experience derived | | | | most important of all, they know what you |
| from having done the techniques repeatedly. | | | | will be up against if you should ever need |
| It is the magnifying glass which spots the | | | | your training to save yourself or someone you |
| errors that must be fixed for the technique | | | | care about. |
| to work quickly, efficiently and correctly. | | | | |
| | | | We do live in a relatively peaceful society, |
| The basics - the bare essentials - that every | | | | and chances are most of us will never need to |
| technique or kata form is based on must be | | | | use our skills in defense of ourselves or |
| drilled over and over until we can do them | | | | others. But, who knows if he or she will |
| without thinking. The basic skills - the | | | | ever be the target of a brutal attacker? |
| Kamae, strikes, rolling and breakfalling | | | | And, most importantly... |
| skills, and the basic footwork patterns - | | | | |
| must be practiced over and over and over and | | | | ...who wants to have a black belt and not be |
| over and . . . Remember that, your body tells | | | | able to survive if an attack does happen, |
| on you. The instructors can see who | | | | and... |
| practices at home and who does not. We can | | | | |
| tell by the questions asked (or not asked) | | | | ..."Tag - you're it! |