W.O.M.A.F. Integrity

Comments from Master Garrison

I recently completed reading another biography of Sokkaku Takeda—(1889-1943).  Takeda is best known for being the instructor of Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido and of Young Sul Choi, the founder of Hapkido.

In 1915 Ueshiba, M. heard that Takeda, a Daito Ryu master, was giving a lesson and demonstration of Jujitsu at a local inn. Ueshiba, already a recognized Jujitsu instructor, challenged Takeda. Even though Ueshiba was twenty five years younger, Takeda defeated him easily. Ueshiba then asked to become a student of Takeda and their relationship lasted thirty years.

Exactly when Young Sul Choi began training in Japan is in question. However, his training appears to have been mostly with Ueshiba while they were both living with Takeda. While no more than five feet tall and weighing 100 lbs., small even by standards during his life, Takeda was a fierce fighter as well as an intense instructor. As a student he was trained with an intensity that would later result in him being a complete as well as the best of the Daito Ryu Aikijujitsu Masters.

Takeda grew up during Japan’s transition from a feudal to modern society. His training would be considered severe compared to the training of today’s students. For example, his teacher would burn incense on his hands if he failed a technique or test.

As martial arts instructors and students what can we learn from the experiences of masters like Takeda? First, Takeda is considered the best of the best. His training was severe. His belief in his training was that it was life or death! This was a realistic perspective in his early years, but Japan’s society was changing. However, his training attitude did not change.  While martial arts popularity has increased over the years, training has transitioned considerably from the days when the student trained to meet the instructor’s expectations to today with the instructor placating the student, or their parents, by doing what ever compromise is necessary to retain students or to make the instructor “popular”. There are even programs that give belt promotions every month. In the variety of martial arts magazines that I receive, the bulk of the articles are based on how to retain students—even providing instructions on how to greet potential new students.

How can a student learn martial arts when the martial is not present in the training?  Martial Art is not just punching, kicking, locking and throwing. Martial arts training is learning to develop mental toughness. The techniques are merely training towards this goal. How can a student develop this toughness when the instructor is worried about placating the student or their parents?

The questions that each student and instructor must ask themselves is: Do you want to be the best? Do you want to develop the best students?  Are you willing to do the work that is required to be the best?

There are many who are happy wearing a Black Belt, and being an instructor, by taking the easy way. Everyone knows those students who if they can not meet high standards, blame their instructor, or the test. They are more interested in telling people that they are a Black Belt rather than having a clear understanding of what earning a Black Belt means.

We all know instructors who have watered down the techniques, to make them easier, and call them “combat this or that” where, in fact, the intense combat martial art component is non-existent.

While WOMAF remains small, the commitment to students and instructors remains the same.  In the tradition of Young Sul Choi and Takeda, we keep the quality high and the MARTIAL in martial arts.

James R. Garrison

Vice-President WOMAF