Last weekend of March master was teaching in Palermo. He has been teaching there for over a decade, and the group is well advanced in many ways, but still even in such a group some common practices can be forgotten maybe by as a habit or ignorance. This can be a little sensitive topic, and I do not want anyone to take this personally, but I thought it would serve a greater purpose to write something about ethics of practicing. Speaking of which I should remind about grandmaster’s academy rules, from which here are the top three:
- Always show respect and honor to the master
- Be considerate of others by demonstrating simple rules of courtesy
- In co-practice, cooperate with your partner
In my opinion the most important one, that helps on all of the above, is to pay attention, like master said. Focus your awareness on what is taught and let your own thoughts rest. In practice pay attention right from the beginning. How do you stand. How do you connect to your own body. Do not only follow others but concentrate on your own practice. Be mindful of your actions. Don’t let your eyes wander. Don’t rush. Take your time. You should be able to do the sets just by yourself, and that’s where you should use your energy, to improve your own doing.
Even while resting many of the rules apply, e.g. no sitting, and when we start practicing weapons, just fetch your weapon and get back to the form. Socializing is for breaks. Respect even wooden weapons with blade like they’d be sharp. Give a weapon to other by offering the handle. Don’t touch the blade.
Even though my serene nature fits well to be a duteous student in class, I’ve got my own weak points as well. I have to pay attention in social situations not to get too deep into my own thoughts. I may find greetings and goodbyes little forced especially in big groups, but I am grateful that my friends understand my silence and do not take it as impoliteness. I know I can be a little too direct in my views, but in the end I only mean good. One socially supportive new hobby I have is to learn new languages. It makes me more focused on listening, even if I’d pick up only a word or two from a conversation.
Change of behavior is a proof of a genuine change. When you really start to apply new habits, you see the circumstances differently and you are not anymore just repeating your old thoughts. Other way around you can change your behavior by changing your thinking. In any given situation you can interupt your normal flow of thinking by becoming aware of your automatic patterns, and this gives room for new ideas and ways. And of course not everything should be changed. A delicate balance of open and close, passive and active, soft and hard, compassion and moderation are all characteristics to master.
And don’t forget to silence your phone.