A Christmas tribute to my first Sensei

[supergroup7]

This week I have been contemplating the value of students asking questions to their Sensei, and I have been brought to the fond memories of training under my first Sensei.

I was blest to be one of the few students to train under the World's best Sensei. He is one of the rare graduates of the JKA Honbu Instructor's program. One of the few handful of Instructors in the world that holds in his hands an international "Sensei" certificate.

I didn't know that when I entered his dojo. He had no stripes on his belt to indicate his rank. It was just a black belt. He never mentioned his qualifications.. ever. I found out the information by total luck on the internet. When I approached him with what I had unearthed, he just smiled and said that yes, this was him.

Not once did he ever make this overweight, out of shape, near 40 year old woman feel lesser than him. In fact, I felt a deep respect coming out of him. He made every student feel valued. Our little efforts, regardless to how "fancy" or "perfect" or "wrong" they were, were taught to us as steps towards a goal. He explained that Karate was like learning how to write with a pencil. When we were beginners in kindergarten, we took up a big round pencil, and scribbled on the paper thinking that we were "writing". Then we learned how to make lines, and circles. Then we learned how to form these lines, and circles into letters. But our job wasn't over. We had to form the letters into words, form the words into proper sentences, meanwhile practicing to keep our lines and circles legible. As we progressed our writing became smaller, and more connected, and we learned how to handwrite. We started being able to string the sentences together into essays. Each step, my Sensei would say to us, was JUST as important as the first step. But the only way to get from step to step is to practice every day for years and years.

He valued questions. I still remember the first time that I had the courage to ask a question during class it when I was learning how to do a front kick. I could hear Sensei calling to us at each class to "Keep our knee bent" during our movements. I tried to bend my knee as I kicked, but I was confused as to what he meant. I remember watching him demonstrate. I remember watching the higher belts to see what they were doing.. but nothing made sense to me. Finally, during the middle of another session of kicking, and Sensei admonishing us to "Keep our knee bent." I called out "Sensei? Which knee? the one that is kicking, or the one that I'm standing on?"

Sensei's face broke out in an ear to ear grin, and he said "I bet you that the higher belts could not answer this question." He turned to look at them, and said "Well? Answer the lady."

None of them. Not one of them could give me the answer to that question. Although they had trained for close to 5 years under this Sensei, and have had more than enough explanations, demonstrations, and instructions. Why? because they had not manipulated the information enough to be able to explain the concept. If they did know the answer, they were unable to share it with me in a way that I could understand as a beginner. They had surpassed thinking as a beginner, now they could only "do" the action.

Sensei, however, he was able to place his mind right back to my level of understanding, and similar to how a Mother explains the birds, and bees to a little one, he broke down the information into smaller, more understandable segments which built up on each other. With just a few words, and a movement, he made it all make sense. He was able to break down a complex movement into each muscle, meanwhile holding his balance, and executing the technique with power. From that moment on, I knew how to keep my knee bent, and why it was important. That knowledge solidified in me, and I also knew how to explain it to someone who was having problems with that concept.

The interaction of asking question/ giving answers helped create a bond of trust, and deep respect between my Sensei and I. I was willing to risk "looking stupid" by asking questions. I had to put aside my pride, and ego to approach Sensei with another question, or even with the same question that I had already asked, and admit that I needed him. I was totally relying on him to help me past this blockage that was making me confused. I risked being chastised for not listening, or feeling like I was the only student that just couldn't "get it". But my hunger to understand even more fully fueled the need to approach him with questions. Sensei not only gave me the answers that I was seeking, but he taught me how to ask myself the right questions so that I can find my OWN answers to the same question. Then.. poor Sensei, I would run up to him with my answers with bright shiny eyes to show him what I had figured out. A lowly little white belt happily showing this World class Sensei what she had figured out about her backstance. BUT he would jump on this new found knowledge, and suddenly reveal something that I had not seen before, and a whole new world of possibilities would open up for me.

My Sensei Oh my Sensei. He wasn't afraid to bring out my questioning self, even in the middle of a seminar. There were over a hundred karate students training under the Master. More than half of these people were black belts. Here I was, a lowly orange belt sandwiched right in the center among all of these people. The Master was placing us through a complicated combination of movements. It was near impossible to see the Master through the crowd. We were going through the motions step by step. Suddenly, I heard my Sensei's voice ring through the room calling out my name interrupting the whole moment. Without a hesitation, I called back "Osu". He spoke loudly "Left leg forwards". Instantly, I shifted my feet, and responded with the question "Like this, Sensei?" He responded "Yes" I heard the Master chuckle quietly as the rest of the room, like a ripple in a pond, all quickly switched their feet to the appropriate position imitating me. It wasn't until weeks later that I realized that this moment should have been embarrassing for me.. ha ha ha. But then I also realized that my Sensei knew how I could handle that kind of interaction without even blinking in surprise, and that the rest of the room would switch their feet once the knowledge was put out in front of them.

When I train, and when I teach, I want to be a legacy of my Sensei's spirit. I embrace the challenge that he has provided for me to respect each student's questions with the same respect, and attention. Regardless to whether they are a white belt asking me how to tie their belt, or and advanced belt asking to how to execute a sparring combination while defending against more than one opponent. Each question builds on that person's karate knowledge, and skill, and is just as valuable. I know that questions from others will always be something that I welcome in my training. I cannot refuse to do for others what my Sensei has done for me.

God bless my first Sensei.