I don't know about you, but some days I feel out of it... tired from the day and the last thing I want to do is getting in the car and going to the dojo to train for a couple of hours.
Of course these days, I teach, so I’m always at the dojo.
In the past, some days it was like pulling teeth and it seemed easy to talk myself into not going.
In my youth, I had a very traditional Japanese sensei in a Japanese system of Jujutsu. While I had near daily lessons with him, I was also training in a severe style of Karate (and Judo) every week.
One day while sitting on the floor in his living room, he looked at his watch and asked:
“Do you not have Karate training today?”
“I’m sore from training and my legs are beat up, so I thought I’d rest today…” I said with a sheepish grin… not quite able to look him in the eyes.
“Jun-kun” (‘Jun’ is my Japanese name… and he only called me by this) – “you know, days like today when you don’t want to put on your shoes and go to the dojo…”
I hesitated, looked up and said: “Yes, Sensei?”
“Those are the days you MUST go.”
“This is shugyo (修行) – training and discipline, and is just as important as the physical training in the dojo. And may be the hardest part of your training this week,” he said sternly.
“We always have an excuse to not go to practice; tired from the day, feeling sick, feeling discouraged about your progress in training… none of this is a good excuse. You need to get up and go.”
“Even when I’m sick?” I said.
“Yes. You still need to go. Sit on the mat and watch keiko (practice).”
“This is all part of what we call, Ningen Keisei (人間形成).”
I sighed. Excused myself and left for more karate training that evening.
The closest meaning to the phrase “Ningen Keisei” in English is perhaps ‘character development’ (or the development of a person).
But as with most things Japanese, it’s a lot deeper than that. My teacher would say, development / maturation of oneself in body, mind, technique and spirit; and would speak of this very often. Body, Mind and Technique is quite an important philosophy of Japanese martial arts and is referred to as, “Shin, Gi, Tai” (心技体).
He explained that the idea of 'determination' and 'perseverance' is pretty big in Japanese culture, along with the idea of unceasing training. And whatever path (dō) you choose, It should improve the most important and valuable aspect of our life as human beings. Not just improving your chosen martial art, but also influence all other aspects of your life.
It was and remains a great lesson.
The simple act of getting your rear out the door, even if you’ve had the worst day of your life, is what makes you mature and grow as a person.
It may just make your mind clear and your day better after a night of hard training.
One of our students, who has been beating himself up over the past year for missing some training, came up to me a few weeks ago with a lot of frustration and anguish in his voice.
So I had a similar conversation to the one my Sensei had with me all those years ago.
Last night he walked up to me before our class.
“Sensei! I heard you in my mind today” he said.
I kind of looked at him quizzingly.
“I really wasn’t feeling like coming in today…”
“I’ve had plenty of those days,” I replied.
“BUT… “ he said. “I heard you telling me: “the days you really don’t want to come in and train are the days you MUST!””
He nodded to himself satisfyingly, then proceeded to step on the mat with a huge satisfied smile on his face.
It’s come full circle.
And my Sensei’s lesson lives on.