Читать книгу Martial Arts Training in Japan. A Guide for Westerners онлайн

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I have decided to write this guidebook in the first person, because if it is to be true to the essence and spirit of traditional martial arts practice in Japan, we have to come to know one another as best we can, even through the screen of the printed page. I will share my personal experiences of studying in Japan with you because, at least in broad outline, they will shortly become your experiences, too. Further, I will offer information of a practical nature regarding fees, finding a dojo, and practice schedules at various Japanese dojo, as well as cultural and historical materials pertaining to Japanese martial arts which one needs to be mindful of while training in a Japanese dojo.

The Japanese tale “Rashomon” provides classic insight into the various ways the same events are seen by different witnesses. I can only give you my reading on what I did and what I saw. My opinion sometimes differed from other Westerners. Some facets of budo training which I found to be boring, others found “Zenlike.” What I considered to be the sadistic behavior of some sempai (senior students) others said was “hard training.” Some of the experiences I found sublime—Zen, kyudo, jodo—others found “empty” and unproductive.