As we discuss the 'big things' that make martial arts interesting and engaging and (for some of us) a lifestyle and not just something we do to get fit, learn to fight, or socialize with our friends, I sometimes find myself doing much smaller things.
Like thinking about, working on, and testing a movement of a foot. The arc it covers, the purpose that arc serves, the settling movement, and relaxation into a solid stance. The breathing that accompanies it. The position of the shoulders, the elbows, the hips, the hands. The timing of the movement, what the eyes cover as the movement begins and ends.
I spent two hours just moving from one stance into another from one kata. Over and over, testing and probing and asking myself how it felt, how solid it was, could I do it better, more smoothly. Did my breathing match my movement, what if I got hit or someone tried to offbalance me at the moment of the movement; where did that leave me? Move just the feet, ignore the hands, let them hang by my sides. Keep the head erect, check foot position only after settling. Face the mirror, then face away. Practice both ways. Practice with the opposite foot, same movement, even though the kata doesn't do it that way.
Again, and then again. Take the first stance, settle, breathe, relax, move to the second stance. Settle, check position, relax, check stance.
Over and over.
Then sit and think about it for awhile.
Then again, moving from the first stance to the second. Practice smooth transition. Make the movement more subtle, hide the back leg behind the front leg, keep the one-point, keep the center of gravity, test balance.
So.
Stance.
Balance.
Breathing.
Center of gravity.
Settling.
Calmness.
Seeing and Hearing.
Mystical? No. It's just moving from one stance to another. Over time, though, as I move through the motions, I get to that 'mushin' state, where I'm not thinking about the rent, or my boss, or the noise the garage door has been making lately, or whether my dog is getting enough cheese. Just the movement, just one foot. Tiny differences in placement, tiny differences in the arc of the travel from one stance to another, tiny differences in stability and openings. Just movement, settling, balance, breathing, calmness, and a foot.
Some days, I think about the bigger things. Some days, it is just the movement of one foot, transitioning from one stance to another and what it all means, and why it matters.
Like thinking about, working on, and testing a movement of a foot. The arc it covers, the purpose that arc serves, the settling movement, and relaxation into a solid stance. The breathing that accompanies it. The position of the shoulders, the elbows, the hips, the hands. The timing of the movement, what the eyes cover as the movement begins and ends.
I spent two hours just moving from one stance into another from one kata. Over and over, testing and probing and asking myself how it felt, how solid it was, could I do it better, more smoothly. Did my breathing match my movement, what if I got hit or someone tried to offbalance me at the moment of the movement; where did that leave me? Move just the feet, ignore the hands, let them hang by my sides. Keep the head erect, check foot position only after settling. Face the mirror, then face away. Practice both ways. Practice with the opposite foot, same movement, even though the kata doesn't do it that way.
Again, and then again. Take the first stance, settle, breathe, relax, move to the second stance. Settle, check position, relax, check stance.
Over and over.
Then sit and think about it for awhile.
Then again, moving from the first stance to the second. Practice smooth transition. Make the movement more subtle, hide the back leg behind the front leg, keep the one-point, keep the center of gravity, test balance.
So.
Stance.
Balance.
Breathing.
Center of gravity.
Settling.
Calmness.
Seeing and Hearing.
Mystical? No. It's just moving from one stance to another. Over time, though, as I move through the motions, I get to that 'mushin' state, where I'm not thinking about the rent, or my boss, or the noise the garage door has been making lately, or whether my dog is getting enough cheese. Just the movement, just one foot. Tiny differences in placement, tiny differences in the arc of the travel from one stance to another, tiny differences in stability and openings. Just movement, settling, balance, breathing, calmness, and a foot.
Some days, I think about the bigger things. Some days, it is just the movement of one foot, transitioning from one stance to another and what it all means, and why it matters.