Читать книгу Traditions. Essays on the Japanese Martial Arts and Ways онлайн

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He is not. And if a master like Kofujita Toshinao could submit himself to the self-criticism of ryomi, then today’s budoka could survive and maybe even benefit from a little of the same.

The overall problem faced by the traditionalist is that while his world is filled with excellence, it is far too small. Often its dimensions extend only to the walls of his dojo. There his exposure is limited to others who train in his particular art, taught by only a few select teachers. This makes for a highly accomplished karateka or judoka or whatever. But it can also foster an individual of rather narrow views. The karate student needn’t try to widen his world by collecting the sprains and bruises of kendo; the judoka doesn’t have to accustom himself to the different sort of throws encountered in aikido. But there is nothing inherently sinful in karateka, judoka, kendoka, and aikidoka spending time at one another’s dojo, observing the training, asking questions, and getting to know traditionalists of the other arts. If they do, they will not be breaking tradition. They will be following an old and valuable custom in the budo.