When in Rome do as the Romans do (or something like that)

[Richard Kimura]

Aloha all,
When instructing your particular art do you find it necessary to use the original language of the "motherland"? For example Jodan uke vice Upper block, kouchigari vice Small inside reap
What purpose do you feel it serves to do so?
Do you feel that it is imperative to bring in other aspects of a foreign culture as part of your martial art instruction?
I was brought up bi-lingual (Japanese/English) so it never was an issue with me and it is naturally for me to instruct in both Japanese and English. Now that I am back here in Hawaii, I am sort of curious.
When I taught my Japanese students in Yokohama, I used both English and Japanese.
Now I am wondering (exaggerated of course) if my students think the karate I taught is an American form of martial art!
Mele Kalikimaka and Haouli Makahiki Ho! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
リチャード

[Rick Matz]

Some words and phrases don't translate well. Ma-ai is usually rendered as "distance", but there is more to it. It's more than about distance, it's also about the relationship between Shite and Uke.

[Richard Kimura]

Mahalo for your input Rick,
I agree with you that there is a gap sometimes in translations and interretations. In my previous line of work I often "negotiated" business with Japanese government officials. One common response was "Shushi was wakarimashita, maemuki ni kentou sasete itadakimasu. 趣旨は分かりました。前向きに検討させていただきます。Literally translated it comes out as We understand your point. We will take in under consideration in a forthright manner. Now, is this positive or negative? In Osaka, this would automatically be a refusal. In Tokyo, a 50/50 situation. My boss had a short fuse and it always had to be a "yes or no" dialogue.
Budo terms such as Zanshin 残心、Wa和、Chouwa 調和, Tanden丹田 are always challenging to explain.
Aloha
Richard

[Kyle Sloan]

Good question Richard.

In our Judo classes, I try to utilize Japanese as much as possible. I think this makes things easier on students who visit other clubs, and vice versa. I also throw in the English translation of the throws in an effort to help connect the dots.

One stumbling block is different systems use different terms for the same thing. For example, we use uke & tori for describing partners, while others use nage instead of tori. But kouchi-gari has been kochi-gari almost every place I've been.

[Richard Kimura]

Mahalo for your input Kyle,
I agree that Judo is pretty much standardized throughout the world as far as the techniques are concerned.
The difference between receiving, Uke 受け, and to take, Tori　取り. can be confusing. Hmmm.Tori is the guy that executes the throws and Uke the person taking the throws. It is clearer with the term Nage投げ.
By the way, in your area, when taking a Kata Test do you use random partners? I remember when I took my shodan test my partner was randomly selected from the applicant pool. Talk about trying to get your timing together. The Jita Kyoei was really put to test! For me that was 30+ years ago.
I miss the summer training at Kodokan, Keishicho (Tokyo Metropolitan Police) and the Japanese colleges. Takagi Sensei,　Endo Sensei, to mention a few , were active Olympians back then. It was great getting thrown by them. That was all I could do! Get thrown. Gahahaha. Newaza was "pure hell" in the summer months. Kashiwazaki Sensei's sutemi waza and newaza were out of the world! Great training was had.
Aloha
Richard

[Kyle Sloan]

At our dojo, we don't really like the idea of tests but rather rank demonstrations. These are typically a combination of kata, throwing and grappling..

I view kata as a cooperative demonstration of principle. For kata demonstration, I like to pair people up size-wise & skill wise to give them the best chance of demonstrating principles.

During rank demonstrations, we also have people show throwing and grappling. skills. Throwing is performed with single or multiple partners depending on rank testing for, and who shows up and is of similar rank. This is most often performed in a nage-komi type scenario. I mainly look at how people apply principle, and look for issues that could be refined. For grappling, we demonstrate a hold down, and then have people perform an escape (beginner) or escape and go into an offensive application like another hold down, shime-waza or kansetsu-waza. We will also ask people to demonstrate shime-waza and kansetsu-waza separately if needed.

In normal class we typically rotate partners every 3-6 minutes, so everyone is somewhat familiar with each other or can quickly adapt.

We've had cases where someone comes to a seminar to test for rank, and their training partner couldn't make the trip. Maybe they were sick, or family issues, or money issues.... whatever reason. We've had a number of our folks be able to step in and act as uke (in Aikido and Judo both) with no real issues. To me, if you have a good uke, one that delivers a committed attack and moves at a consistent speed, like as tori/nage is a breeze.

I've got a copy of Kashiwazaki Sensei's book on shime-waza from Ippon Books on loan from my sensei right now. It's probably the most in-depth book I've read on the subject. You're a lucky man to have trained with him!

[Richard Kimura]

Merry Christmas Kyle,
Thanks for your reply. You are certainly correct about a good uke. It was the exact opposite for me at my shodan test. I was the Uke first and took my falls the best I could. When it was my partner's turn, it was trying to throw a tree with mile long roots. He did not want to take a fall! Gahahaha. Well, , members of the board could see this and I was able to pass. We also had to compete in five matches to complete the test. I cannot recollect if there was a minimum of wins or not.
Japan has changed quite a bit. It is impossible to imagine the likes of Yamashita Sensei doing the antics of the young kid Ishii(?) was it? The one that declared he was going into MMA and was always mouthing off and acting like a comedian. I felt sorry for Saito Sensei, his coach. I first met Saito Sensei when he came to Hawaii as a hight school student!
Have a happy holiday!
Aloha
Richard

[Tony DeMarco]

Osu, Richard and Rich and Kyle

My three cents on the wisdom of using the native language to teach. I do feel that you can teach karate (the only art I can speak of with any knowledge base) in any language, but for me the Japanese is the common thread that brings all karate-ka together when they meet for the first time…like at Gasshuku or even on a form like this one. My Japanese is truly so poor, it more like dojo Japanese. I myself want to be more proficient in the language and culture. I have several friends who help me here in New York. I also have Richard and many of my new budo friends here; for all are my teachers. I am blessed with many friends, and in part learning the Japanese for my karate, has let these men and woman of budo “know” that I am trying to be a serious student of my art. Well, this is what I have personally found. They see that I am tring, they see this in my keiko at home in New York and I try to give this here out of respect to the masters what have come before me, and to “you” that I am tring to live the way. I think that it is fine for new students, “always remember the beginners mind” shoshin….but there comes a time that if you are going to teach others, that you must learn the language of your way- or do. Well that is my two cents...

In Budo,
Tony

[Urban Samurai]

The Japanese terminology is like a universal language, enabling martial artists from all over the world to communicate at least on the level of martial arts if not on the level of culture. You say a technique in Japanese people at least know what you mean.

I also think tradition has a part to play in the continuation of its use. Using the Japanese terminology is the textbook way of describing a technique because you're going directly to the source and giving the technique its proper title. Then there is no worry of misinterpretation. It is what it is.

If you take out the Japanese you risk taking out the cultural roots of the art as well. Using the Japanese lends the art the weight of tradition. It's like the difference between sensei and instructor. Which sounds more credible? The traditional Japanese will always lend the art more credibility than an English translation.

Plus you know you're doing martial arts and not a gym class when you use Japanese terminology. Along with etiquette it sets the martial arts apart from other practices.