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

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Those of us fortunate enough to have been exposed to the tales of the campaigns between the Taira and the Minamoto when we were kids learned a valuable lesson. We learned that heroes don’t always win. Sometimes, as with Noritsune, they die. They go down, taking as many of the enemy with them as they can—that’s part of what makes them heroes. But they die, nonetheless. In a battle against overwhelming odds, victory is not always possible. But here is the lesson for the warrior: going into a battle with the spirit of Noritsune, with the determination to die and take as many opponents with you as you can, does not guarantee success or victory. You will not always win. Yet with that kind of spirit, can it ever be truly said of you that you lost?

The Dead Zone

Choose a stance, one from the repertoire of karate, or judo, or aikido; any of the budo. Get set in it; really get yourself as solid as you can be. Then have a dojomate give you a little push. Just a gentle shove. Chances are, if your training’s been good you’ll be able to withstand the push. That’s one purpose of a strong stance. But have him continue to give pushes and as he does, have him move around you slowly, pushing from different angles as he circles your stance. There is no need for him to hurry or to try to sneak a quick push in when you don’t expect it. At some point in this exercise, your friend is going to topple your balance. He has found your shikaku, your “dead zone.”