Nearly six years ago I finally received my shodan grading, since then, what?

I am six years older but wiser? Perhaps.

What have I gained since my shodan grading?

Certainly I learnt two new kata, although learnt implies to know it completely. I know that it does not apply here, because I have only learnt one level of how to do the kata. Kata comes in many levels. One level builds upon the other.

By levels I mean subtle changes in technique, in the use of stomach control, correct breathing, adding the hard into the soft, the soft into the hard and so on. It never really ends, as long your keep training and you have a teacher to lead the way. The subtleties will keep coming.

I have learnt methods of sparring tactics, when to attack, when to withdraw, how to win graciously and how to lose.

I hope I have learnt how to encourage others on my class to keep going. How to communicate. I’m not sure about this but thinking back to work/school environment I’m certainly not as shy about saying hello.

But is that all? Is there nothing else?

One day just after a hard training session, whilst I was tying to get my breath back, a senior student came to my attention, he was absolutely "stuffed". Then it suddenly dawned on me he had given that little bit extra, he dug deep and found it, and gave it all.

I on the other hand had probably only gone to 95%. How can I really be a great martial artist if I’m not going to find that little bit extra. Actually I always thought I was giving it all, but that night showed me how wrong I was.

Perhaps it was that this student cared a little more about his training than I did. If I don’t care I don’t try!

These days I try to do things a little bit differently.

Whilst sparring one day, my opponent was younger, faster and better than me and I was losing. Then suddenly my mind became calm and I thought "enough!" Why am I letting him beat me? At that moment he was no longer my fellow karate-ka, he became an enemy, faceless, a stranger who was out to kill me. Somehow I found that little bit extra and actually defeated him. I knew at that moment that had the situation been life or death I would have done my best to kill this enemy. Thinking back on it now I find it rather frightening.

Then there is the teaching. Not only do I have to know what it is that I wish to teach, but how to teach as well!

How to communicate and make myself understood without making the other person feel stupid. I had to learn people skills as well!

Often I had to repeat a move or say something in different ways so that the meaning became clear. This can be quite difficult sometimes because to me it makes perfect sense but the other person still does not get it!

Had to learn self control as well.

I was at a cousin’s party the other day, he had just joined the Army Reserves a few months before and had invited his "platoon". As they were talking I observed a certain camaraderie amongst them. Suddenly I thought, hey this is just like karate class!

They had gone through six weeks of tough training and become friends who would look after each other. We train four times a week and have become friends who will look after each other too.

So why was this? Was it just the hard slog or perhaps it was the joining of the spirits that came about by overcoming adversity, in our case the hard training?

I think it was joining of spirits. I now realise that, in a sense, those who have trained together for so long and have overcome the physical and emotional pain are more than just friends, they are connected in more subtle ways – spiritually.

Now I understand what the old diggers mean when they talk about the war and mateship. There were remembering the spiritual connection brought on by the battles they fought.

I consider myself fortunate to have found something so profound and yet so intangible.

Like the wind?

By Bill Demertzidis