Mainly Void Thoughts

Mats Hjelm posted an entry over at taikai.se in Swedish which I thought would be beneficial for non-Swedish speakers to also read (or rather “absorb”). So, I translated it, trying to keep as much of the meanings behind what was stated as possible. The below is this translation.

I would like to note as well that during the weekend, these words proved its worth to me. I went to a seminar teaching Brazilian Ju Jutsu. As someone from a different discipline, it was quite interesting to see that not just those from other arts were doing their best to absorb everything shown, but also those already training in BJJ were absorbing as much as they could. Again, what each one of us brought home with us will be different, we all learned new things. No matter our grade, nor what art we normally train in, we all found new things.

The seminar Mats mentions at the end of his post is the Bujinkan Taikai taking place in Stockholm next weekend. More about that on http://taikai.se

//anders

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Sometimes I am asked by beginners wondering if it is worth it going to a seminar, if they will be able to keep up? Will they understand anything? I can understand that it may seem a little frightening or daunting to go to a seminar for the first time when there are so many high ranking buyu there, also training.

But I have to point out that even those that are higher ranking are “beginners” when you go to a seminar! There are perhaps those that take on a “helping instructor” role, warranted or not. But most goes to a seminar to develop, train, have fun and find inspiration.

What you can absorb is of course different depending on earlier experiences. If you have trained for a shorter period you will carry home a lot that can give you many years inspiration for your own training.

I know that there are instructors that rarely or almost never attend seminars, for which there may exist several reasons (I do not wish to judge them). If instructors do not encourage their students to go to a seminar, that may also have its reasons. Maybe they don’t know about the seminar, maybe can’t attend themselves and are worrying about the balance in the dojo will be disrupted if the students learn something new.

What I want to say is that it is you, the beginner, that is the future! It is you that has to look towards your own good. Do not worry about non-training friends wanting to get you out partying this one weekend. If you have good friends they will understand that you will be training this particular weekend. You have to decide on your own over what is important. Neither your controlling instructor or nagging friends can stop you from training if that is what you really want to do.

The instructors you look up to have gotten to their level and proficiency by themselves deciding that their own training comes before controlling instructors, girl friends, boy friends and friends. They too once were beginners and learned to set priorities. Ask them and I can almost promise you that they still see themselves as curious beginners. Which is why they are good practitioners and nothing else.

I remember a discussion about ten years ago with Soke in the Honbu Dojo. Soke was talking about different levels, dimensions etc. in Mikkyo. Someone asked what the highest level was and I remember Soke’s reaction.

He said that he didn’t know, but he was pretty sure that there is always a higher level (than where one is) and that this is why we must keep practising.

It is this which makes me think that the Bujinkan is so wonderful compared to other arts of Budo. Just diving head first into the training, trying to have as much fun as possible, without caring if it is hard or simple.

I hope this has encouraged some beginners to take the step and participate at this fantastic seminar next weekend.

Ganbatte kudasai!

/Mats (translated by Anders Holm)

Waiting is something I don’t do too well. It is something one does because one has to, not something one chooses to do. Sometimes though it can pay off to hold off things for a little while, allowing other things that are in motion to settle down before making any decisions. It is good to keep moving, but it may not always be good to be rushing.

One can find examples of this in all sorts of places in a normal day. For me, this became even more obvious this morning. Here’s the thing, I had a job offer from a company yesterday. I had also been waiting to hear from another company as well. Both jobs are something I’m both good at and I liked both companies. There was just something extra I found to my liking with this other place, the one I had waited to hear from, and I had waited longer on them than the company who had now offered me a position. So, I was now twisting and turning, wondering what was going on at the other place, as I had no feedback at all. Could be good, could be bad, one can’t really tell.

Sitting here at home then, having nothing much to do, this plays on ones emotions, probably more than anyone likes to admit. You then get up in the morning, still wondering “Should I take this offer? Will the other place offer me a position? What should I really do?”. Nerve wrecking, like as I said before, I liked both places.

While I then was checking my morning email, I was thinking “ah, let’s just go for what is on the table. It’ll be fine. The others haven’t said anything yet and I’ve waited for some time now…”

This is where things are getting tricky, and by now you can probably guess what is happening. As I am in the middle of accepting the offer I have, the phone rings …

Fantastic! Oh CRAP! I now have 2 job offers, offering similar packages etc. What the hell do I do now then? Gut feel is all I have left to go on, and to be honest, my gut feel has helped me before. I am simply going to go with the company I got the best feel from and that I feel suits me the best.

Jamie Oliver, the world famed Naked Chef, has launched something over in the US. It’s a fairly big project, but one I fully support. If you’re American, or live over there, you should really have a look at it as well as signing his petition. By the way, he just won the TED prize for it too.

What he wants to do is not only to educate America on healthy eating, he wants to change peoples lives, for the better. Simply put the problem is that so many people are obese over in the States that they are dying like flies over there. A whole 10% of the US health budget goes to battle diet related problems. How much? Oh, only $150 billion US per year. A number set to double over the next ten years. That is not only a lot of money, that’s a lot of people not only needing health care for their bad dieting habits, but people dying from those habits. I agree with Jamie when he says it is a disgrace, because it is. The food you eat shouldn’t slowly kill you.

Jamie’s TED prize award talk is an eye opener. You probably already thought there is a big problem with obesity in the US of A. Have a look at it and then ask yourself, should you really feed your kid that added flavour milk?