Ronin life

Shizentai · Green Belt

My job has me moving around a lot. As such, I spend a lot of time training in a lot of different dojos, which has been both a blessing and a curse in many ways, especially when it comes time to tests or competition. For the past several years I dealt with this by just avoiding either. Keep it simple. Focus on training. However, and here's the hilarious part, moving between dojos within the same organization seems almost more complicated than between. Because now I am back to competing, I am being chastised for not competing for team selections, which I am not being invited to because no one considers me from their region. Similarly, I keep getting told to test, but under whom I should test is unclear, since everyone considers me someone else's student. For all its joys, this wandering life sure gets old sometimes. Here's hoping I get my dream job and can settle down, have a nice stable dojo life, maybe put a makiwara down in the yard of a house I own.

Any other ronin karateka out there?
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"My work itself is my best signature."
-Kawai Kanjiro

sensei8 · KF Sensei

I just can't imagine what that ronin lifestyle must be like. I've always had a dojo to call home, no matter if that home was the Hombu and/or my own dojo. Had a place to test and a place to teach, one way or another.

I don't succumb to pressure from anyone or anything whatsoever. They want me to test...not until I'm good and ready!! They want me to compete...not until I'm good and ready!! Whatever it is that they want me to do...not until I'm good and ready!!

Why??

This is MY journey, and it's not their's in any shape, way, and/or form!!

What they feel is important, isn't important to me at all!!

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**Proof is on the floor!!!

singularity6 · Pre-Black Belt

I've been pretty lucky to be where I am, I feel. But the thought of moving has occurred to me more than once. I don't think I could find a school that is the same as this one. So, if I were to move, I'd likely be taking up a new style of martial art all together.

When it comes to testing, I'd ask the next person who tells you to test if they would be willing to conduct it.
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5th Geup Jidokwan Tae Kwon Do/Hap Ki Do

(Never officially tested in aikido, iaido or kendo)

OneKickWonder · Purple Belt

If someone were to try to pressure me to test or compete, I'd ask them why it matters so much to them. Do they want the accolade of having the most black belts? Or do they want to boast about all the trophies in their club?

It's your journey, not theirs. A good teacher will know that.

Shizentai · Green Belt

I think you've all got the wrong impression. It's not that I'm feeling pressured to test and I am unprepared or something. It's been almost 10 years since my last test. I can take it anytime. I'm fine with that. The problem is that sometimes it seems like it's not physically possible for me to test. I've actually tried to test twice last year, but was told that it would be better in another region or at another camp, since I'm not really from there.... even though those people saying that were the same ones who told me I was ready to test in the first place!

It's more like, how shall I put this, It's like being at a party where everyone has a plate of cake but you, and all the people you talk to want to have the same conversation "Why don't you have cake? Someone should really give you a piece" but no one offers you a slice. It just makes for a frustrating situation.

Meh, life goes on though. It's not the biggest problem. I could just continue to not compete or test, it's just that people always want to talk about that cake with me, and it's hard to not want a slice of cake sometimes.
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"My work itself is my best signature."
-Kawai Kanjiro

OneKickWonder · Purple Belt

I see what you mean.

I can kind of relate to some extent, in that I refuse to test until I'm confident I can blast through it. I never want to just score just enough to pass. That's no good to me. So I'll miss quite a few test opportunities by choice. Then some people, mostly the ones that I consider to be belt chasers, try to strike up conversations with me about grading. Conversely, those that really know me, never talk to me about grading, with the exception of comparing comical anecdotes about our past grading experiences.

If you want to grade but can't, I would be tempted to break the golden rule, and ask the instructor what you need to do to persuade him to set up your test. If on the other hand you're really not bothered, I just wouldn't get drawn into other folks ideas of what's right for you.

sensei8 · KF Sensei

Why don't you have cake...too!! Seems pressure, enough to me!!

Don't worry about why I don't have any cake...I didn't ask you to worry about me not having cake...I'm fine with no cake, thank you the same. Offering me some cake or not, is their given right to exercise.

With me, I'm here for the knowledge/experience, and not for any cake!!

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**Proof is on the floor!!!

Luther unleashed · Brown Belt

I can relate. I moved around constantly. When I was a kid I went to several elementary schools, 3 jr high schools, and 4 high schools. Crazy to say that.

I went through this with training too of course. As I aged I kept this gypsy mentality for years. I never was able to continue training much at one place thus I have a very mixed background in martial arts, although I use this to my advantage. I have been studying martial arts on and off since 83. I went without testing on many occasions. If I hadn’t god knows I could be some 8th dan or something.

This, I have grown to care very little for Rank. There is so much benefit in testing, and then again so much benefit in NOT testing too! The rank isn’t the most important thing and I think most people get too caught up in it and place their martial arts value in it.

Happy training!
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Hustle and hard work are a substitute for talent!

LLLEARNER · Brown Belt

sensei8 · KF Sensei

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