The Way of the Sword

October 16, 2010

Today was another one of those days when I feel so lucky to live in Japan. This morning, an English teacher from Tokai High School (one of the schools where I work) picked me up around 9:30am and we went up to Kitaibaraki (Kita = north, Ibaraki = my prefecture). Her Google map led us to a narrow street in the middle of a rice field. We were looking for a dojo, a martial arts practice room, where another teacher would be waiting for us. We finally found him and he directed us to a parking spot right outside his house, next to the dojo. I was really excited because I had never experienced firsthand any kind of martial art until today.

In the dojo, the two other English teachers and I watched Shinohara sensei as he demonstrated how to properly use a sword. The precision and ease with which he worked was unreal. The sword was always perfectly in line with his body. I could tell that he was in an entirely different state of mind when he was using the sword. Mind strength is much more important than body strength when it comes to kendo, and most martial arts. And women often excel faster than men in martial arts because they lack body strength. He said that in order to be successful, you have to be able to completely let go of all your thoughts.

After the demonstration, the teacher handed me his very expensive sword. I got to try using it a few times. The first time I succeeded because I wasn't thinking. I knew I did well because he told me that it's important to hear the sword cut the air when you strike. If you don't, you're thinking too much.