General
9th Dan am I worthy?
Apr
9th Dan am I worthy?
After some 55 years involvement in martial arts, I was honored to receive my 9th dan.
At the tender age of 8 years old I started boxing, then Judo at ten and karate at 12 years old in a style called Shindo-Ryu (I still have an 8th kyu cert from 48 years ago!).
A friend and I were talking, and he told me about a Japanese Sensei giving a demonstration at a local school. It was none other than the Shotokan tiger Master Keinosuke Enoeda and his assistant Master Hideo Tomita.
After seeing these two fantastic karate masters, I was hooked. I wanted to be like them. They were so powerful, and I still remember the crisp snapping of their Gi’s as they performed various techniques and katas. After this I started on my Shotokan journey which has been with me for over 40+ years.
Another certificate I dug out recently was from Shotokan Lancaster university summer school 1981. Wow I am old.
To me, martial arts is a quest or journey of self-discovery. I have never and will never be happy with the knowledge I have or lack of knowledge. This is why I have always tried out different styles and systems to find the common denominator.
I went to as many summer camps, seminars and competitions around the world to increase my knowledge at a time when there was no internet, and it was more word of mouth. Some of the instructors I have met, trained with and was lucky enough to receive instruction from, well the list is long.
Some of the people I have trained with and have had a big influence on me are:
Master Enoeda, Master Tomita, Master Morio Higaonna, Hanshi Steven Grayson, Master Dickie Wu, Master Terry Stewart, Shihan Chris Rowen, Ticky Donovan, Dominique Valera (I still remember sparring with him and not doing very well). Dan Inosanto, Master Phil Hawkins, Kim Bok Man, Master Pan, GM Rodel, GM Bambit, Master Kanazawa, Master Kase. Sorry if I missed anyone my memory is not what it used to be.
I am just saying that just because you go to a seminar, or you go to a famous master and get a photo or picture with them this will not make you by default good because it won’t. No matter how many seminars or great masters you meet and train with you still must do the work and look at yourself honestly at your shortcomings, which I have many.
It is and will always be a work in progress. At 60 years old I started Kendo and at 61 years old I started BJJ. I am still finding how much there is to learn and how much I still don’t know. It has dawned on me that I will run out of time before I reach my goals or a standard that I will be happy with.
Am I worthy? It is not for me to say I just know that I will keep on learning and trying to get better and then to pass it on and pay it forward.
Here is a better way of understanding it;
“Shu Ha Ri” (守破離), a Japanese concept, describes the stages of learning to mastery: first, Shu (守) means “to keep” or “obey,” focusing on fundamental rules and techniques; then, Ha (破) means “to break” or “detach,” allowing for adaptation and exploration; finally, Ri (離) means “to leave” or “separate,” leading to transcendence and individual expression.
Keep training, yours in budo.
GM Angelo