The Silk Thread of Gorindo - Ottawa - Canada
Issue 10
- Desiderata for the Martial Artist
Photo cover Roxanne Standefer sensei, August 2011, by Claudio Iedwab
Desiderata for the Martial Artist
(Reprinted and adapted, by permission, from Claudio A. Iedwab and Roxanne L. Standefer © 1997, Gorindo, Standard Manual, 2nd ed., Sensei Uensei Books)
• Go calmly with an open and receptive mind, remembering that others have passed this Way before you.
• Understand and embrace the idea that you have begun Martial Art training to learn something new and interesting, and that you must give yourself, your teacher, and the discipline itself a chance to reveal the depth of the teachings.
• Balance is the key to a healthy point of view.
• Take the time to practice with attention to good form.
• A good teacher will emphasize the basics or fundamentals of good technique as building blocks for everything else that will follow.
• He or she will not let you move on until your stances, breathing, balance, and attitude are correct and relaxed.
• Be patient and have trust in this demand.
• You will be grateful when you do not have to relearn technique that contains errors to which you have become conditioned.
• Take pride in simple accomplishments, knowing that it is better to be able to perform a few basic techniques very well, rather than many fancy moves with ineffective application.
• Do not be afraid to make mistakes, make them big and loud and then they will be corrected.
• Accept correction happily, knowing you are on the road to improvement, and someone cares enough about you and your abilities to help.
• Know that unless you get in your own way, you will improve.
• All that is required is lots of practice.
• By all means, ask questions but don’t question the answers.
• Don’t analyze while you are doing, save it for later when you reflect upon what you have done.
• Too much analysis breeds paralysis.
• Breathe, relax, smile.
• Enjoy your place in the Universe.
by Claudio Iedwab & Roxanne Standefer
(originallly published in the Gorindo Student Manual)
Roxanne Standefer 'the joy of training', photo by Claudio Iedwab
- Desiderata for the Martial Artist
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