My training in Japan has concluded. It seems as if only a few days ago, I started the kendo and iaido journey. I am glad I was able to do this. I had several goals and expectations going into this endeavor. I can honestly say that my learning experience far exceeded what I had in mind going in. I learned a lot about myself. Being somewhat isolated afforded me plenty of time for introspection.
I also feel that my educational objectives were met. Actually, they were surpassed. I got to put into practice many of the tools I learned over the years. I gained a better appreciation of those tools through academic studies and testing them out on myself. Again, being isolated afforded me time to focus and apply the tools which resulted in personal and professional growth. I feel my service to future clients and professionals was aided by this experience.
After my final kendo session, I was promoted to second-kyu. I have some familiarity with the kyu and dan ranking system from my judo and karate experience. Kyu is the levels below black-belt, and dan is the black-belt levels. Unlike other martial arts, kendo and iaido do not wear belts to differentiate rankings. Going into this experience, I intentionally did not research the ranking systems in order to maintain a “white-belt” mindset.
I was told by one of the sensei that it is rare for someone to come in and receive second-kyu after six weeks of training. I did not realize until afterward that they saw fit to bypass several levels in promoting me. I give credit to several people in the dojo that pushed me. I never felt that they cut corners or treated me casually during training. They took pride in their art and expected everyone to seek a high standard. I respect that.
The lead sensei announced during the previous week that this weekend would be my final training session. How ironic then that several people wanted to face-off in a match during my final sparring session? I felt this was an honor and a way for them to share an experience together. It’s possible that some of them wanted to get their last crack at the big American before he went home? I mention that in a joking manner as I felt they viewed me as a fellow kendo practitioner and saw it as a means for both parties to have positive takeaways.
Several of them thanked me for pushing them during my stay. I was surprised by that but thought about it afterward on my train ride. I recall my time as a Command Sergeant Major and being motivated by the performance of junior soldiers. I also realized that my sons do that, as well. They push me to be my best through their academic, physical, and career pursuits, and I am a better man due to their examples. I was glad to bring in some outside motivation to the dojo during my short stay. Once I knew it was the junior person’s job to prepare the cleaning bucket, prepare the rags, and clean the cloths afterward, owned it. I wasn’t going to let anyone see me slacking in that job. Of course, there were other examples too.
I was promoted to third-kyu following the iaido training. The sensei threw a curveball at me, which was awesome. There was no one banging on a trash can to alert me that a curveball was coming by the way. The baseball fan in me had to go there. The sensei stopped the class 15 minutes before our usual time to conclude training. He had everyone take a position around the dojo and instructed me to fall-in at the center of the room. He then gave me instructions to perform all the cutting sequences I had been taught to include the opening and closing ceremony.
When I tested, I only performed four cutting sequences as that was the extent of my instruction. Following the examination last week, the sensei taught me the fifth sequence. When I received the instruction, I immediately felt the pressure to get it right. The sensei mentioned to the room that this would be their last time to see what I had learned. The pressure stemmed from my goal of doing things to a high standard, along with honoring the dojo and the instructors who took time to guide me.
I appreciated this opportunity. It was the first occasion since being in the dojo where I felt performance pressure. I had another chance to put some tools into practice. I bowed and waited for the commands to execute the sequences. I felt my timing, balance, and focus was spot-on based on the short amount of time I had been training. I did not make the mistakes I had made during the examination, either. I felt very confident. During practice, I often felt the aches in my leg or my instep cramping from kneeling for so long. I felt no pain while performing the routine in front of the dojo.
After I removed the katana from my side and bowed, I walked back five steps as required. When I turned around, the sensei stated, “well done,” and had a surprised look. That was followed by everyone clapping. For a moment, I felt as if I was on the Gold medal stand. I felt like all the training and instruction provided to me came together for that moment. It was a combination of hard work, great guidance, mentorship, and application of performance enhancement tools that all lined up.
Following the training sessions, the dojo hosted a send-off meal. It was an excellent meal prepared by several members of the dojo. It was a large spread of tempura, seafood salad, chicken, pork, and miso soup. I was asked by the Kancho to come back, and several members stated they look forward to the next time we can train together. I, too, hope that my path will cross with theirs sometime in the future.
Like many things in life, the things we do are made possible by the people in our lives that provide incredible support. My six weeks here in Japan were, at one time, a dream and desire. I thank my wonderful wife, Mollie, for her unconditional support and encouragement of me to pursue excellence. She has been tremendous in her support throughout this trip and in all things I do. My sons are always on my mind and challenge me to keep up with them as they pursue growth. I have had tremendous mentors in Dr. B, Dr. M, and Ceci. They have shared with me their experiences with human performance, personal growth, and overcoming challenges. I also want to give a shout-out to the friends and soldiers I have had the pleasure to cross paths with. The example of camaraderie and service is near and dear to my heart. I appreciate your support of me through this journey!
So, what’s next? I think the white belt mindset is a good thing for me to embrace. I like the concept, it has challenged me to continue developing and pursue something that I am passionate about. While this six-week experience has come to an end, the journey continues. I have three more classes until I complete my Graduate studies. I have a lifetime of learning still to come. I plan to continue sharing thoughts and experiences through this blog. I have found this to be a healthy outlet for me, and perhaps it can inspire others to do something similar. It doesn’t have to be six weeks in a dojo, it may be something you are led to pursue. Some say life is full of obstacles. I like to think that life is full of opportunities.
Pat
I really enjoyed reading this post. Life is full of challenges only to make us stronger. It’s hard to welcome them, however I know that I will become a better person because I didn’t avoid them, I conquered them head on. Thanks for sharing your experiences with the world Pat!
Indeed Michelle! The phrase “embrace the suck” comes to mind immediately. And sometimes, we come up short in our attempts and some would say we failed. I try to apply some grace to those situations knowing the old saying, “we learn from our mistakes/failures” can come into play. None of us are perfect and we will fall short in areas. How we bounce back is where some magic occurs, in my opinion. Thanks for the feedback!
– Pat
What a great way to close out this adventure; what do you have in mind for the next??? Thanks for sharing the experience Pat – feeling very motivated!
Tim,
My immediate target is to complete the master’s program and look at local kendo schools/clubs and continue training. I really enjoyed the iaido training as well and would like to find a location to work on what I’ve learned. I am entertaining the idea of future trips back to the dojo in Tokyo. There were many life lessons I took from this training experience. I will take some time to try and capture it in writing in order to refer back to them in the future. Thanks for your feedback!
Pat