He walked into the martial arts training hall after extending a loud, spirited greeting apologizing for disturbing those present and asking to be taught how to do his best. This was the second practice for him, and it took all his courage and determination to walk through the doors of the hall. Bare footed on a summer evening, the cool hardwood floor should have felt refreshing. Hesitation and uncertainty made his knees start to tremble.
The motivation to be there wasn’t because he wanted to toughen himself or to develop crushing, killing, kick and punch techniques. He had a problem with controlling his temper and violent urges when reacting with anger, which happened quite often. One day during a heated argument with his wife, she triggered that reaction when she called him a fool. He yelled back that if she ever called him that again, he would hit her. She screamed back, “Go ahead, you fool!” He felt a searing flash in mind, his clenched fists shook at his sides, and knowing that if he didn’t leave the hallway they were in, the outcome would be disaster. He quickly brushed her away to leave. That should have been the end of it, but what resulted was the rushing adrenaline made the brushing away more of a push. His wife banged her shoulder on the wall behind her and her shrill cries drove him wildly out the front door.
He felt ashamed that he couldn’t be level headed and calm his wife down. She must have had a rough day that led to anxiety. He decided to discuss this most private matter with a friend of his. His friend’s advice urged him to learn a martial art which had a philosophy of living half of one’s life for oneself, and half for others. This discipline was known as Shorinji Kempo. Oh, this is just great, he thought to himself. I’m trying not to hit the walls or kick the door down and he’s talks about a martial art. The wife tells me when she is fed up that I should do Karate so a group of toughened instructors can beat the violent urges out of me. He wondered if his wife and his friend were having discussions.
After a bit of gentle prodding, he decided to accept the invitation to watch a practice session for a few minutes on a Sunday evening. He witnessed young children in fully spirited practices, as well as junior high and high school students using quick, well balanced techniques of strikes, deflections, and kicks, combined with escapes from holds, joint reverses, and throws. When he thought the session was over, the adult training began. Everyone wore a black belt and it was plain to see that they were seasoned practitioners and teachers. He quickly summed up polite refusals in his mind, but before he could say anything as a prelude to a quick exit, the Branch Master’s wife asked him to another room for some coffee. After taking a few sips, measuring tape appeared and he was being measured for his training practice uniform. Refusal was rebuffed with the comment that it would be very rude to refuse such a thoughtful gift from a very kind, caring friend. He knew that she was quite right about that.
His friend accompanied him to the first practice. Business commitments did not allow him to attend other practices for over eight years.
The second practice turned out quite well. Maintaining balance, and using quick, calculated motions without any unnecessary movement were skills to be developed. Speed was stressed over power, for one was never to hurt or maim another, only enough force to stop the attack was to be applied. Strikes and kicks were to be delivered quickly and accurately to strategic pressure points and quickly withdrawn and not pushed through. Hard and soft techniques were to be blended together when necessary in flows and return flows.
He diligently practiced for nine years. Harmony found its way into his home, as he always did love his wife dearly.
His good friend returned to the Path of the Martial Art, and they both took their 3rd Degree black belt in January, 2011. His friend succeeded after a 30 year absence.
The motivation to be there wasn’t because he wanted to toughen himself or to develop crushing, killing, kick and punch techniques. He had a problem with controlling his temper and violent urges when reacting with anger, which happened quite often. One day during a heated argument with his wife, she triggered that reaction when she called him a fool. He yelled back that if she ever called him that again, he would hit her. She screamed back, “Go ahead, you fool!” He felt a searing flash in mind, his clenched fists shook at his sides, and knowing that if he didn’t leave the hallway they were in, the outcome would be disaster. He quickly brushed her away to leave. That should have been the end of it, but what resulted was the rushing adrenaline made the brushing away more of a push. His wife banged her shoulder on the wall behind her and her shrill cries drove him wildly out the front door.
He felt ashamed that he couldn’t be level headed and calm his wife down. She must have had a rough day that led to anxiety. He decided to discuss this most private matter with a friend of his. His friend’s advice urged him to learn a martial art which had a philosophy of living half of one’s life for oneself, and half for others. This discipline was known as Shorinji Kempo. Oh, this is just great, he thought to himself. I’m trying not to hit the walls or kick the door down and he’s talks about a martial art. The wife tells me when she is fed up that I should do Karate so a group of toughened instructors can beat the violent urges out of me. He wondered if his wife and his friend were having discussions.
After a bit of gentle prodding, he decided to accept the invitation to watch a practice session for a few minutes on a Sunday evening. He witnessed young children in fully spirited practices, as well as junior high and high school students using quick, well balanced techniques of strikes, deflections, and kicks, combined with escapes from holds, joint reverses, and throws. When he thought the session was over, the adult training began. Everyone wore a black belt and it was plain to see that they were seasoned practitioners and teachers. He quickly summed up polite refusals in his mind, but before he could say anything as a prelude to a quick exit, the Branch Master’s wife asked him to another room for some coffee. After taking a few sips, measuring tape appeared and he was being measured for his training practice uniform. Refusal was rebuffed with the comment that it would be very rude to refuse such a thoughtful gift from a very kind, caring friend. He knew that she was quite right about that.
His friend accompanied him to the first practice. Business commitments did not allow him to attend other practices for over eight years.
The second practice turned out quite well. Maintaining balance, and using quick, calculated motions without any unnecessary movement were skills to be developed. Speed was stressed over power, for one was never to hurt or maim another, only enough force to stop the attack was to be applied. Strikes and kicks were to be delivered quickly and accurately to strategic pressure points and quickly withdrawn and not pushed through. Hard and soft techniques were to be blended together when necessary in flows and return flows.
He diligently practiced for nine years. Harmony found its way into his home, as he always did love his wife dearly.
His good friend returned to the Path of the Martial Art, and they both took their 3rd Degree black belt in January, 2011. His friend succeeded after a 30 year absence.
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