01/08/2025
Soft training is for those who have done the hard training.
You must go through this type of training, otherwise, how will you persevere through a real fight without this conditioning in mind, body and spirit?
Soft training is after one has understood the pain and effectiveness of each strike,lock and throw and become conditioned to deal with this skillfully through a toughened body and good Ukemi. This is a process called Tanren 鍛錬 ( conditioning/ forging ).
To truly develop a real understanding and balanced perspective in this Art, this process is required. However, if people just continue to train hard into their senior years, they will subject themselves and others to unnecessary stresses and possible injuries that can put an end to their training. There has to be a commonsense and acceptance of this.
Sôke, Nagato Sensei and the other Japanese all went through hard training, but as you can see, they don’t train hard now. Why? Well, if you have to ask yourself that, you are lacking in common sense and also understanding the natural progression in this art which moves hand in hand with the aging process.
The longer you train, the more skill you should be working on developing. With this, a greater maturity in how to learn and practice should evolve. If one fails to grasp this essential sense, than they will miss the opportunity to develop beyond the concepts of speed, power and the mere base mindset that Budô is just to learn to fight. Over time, the martial arts should become a way of learning how to live better and in harmony with ones self and the environment. When people get caught up with their own way of wanting to do things and not listen acutely to the wisdom of their teachers, they will most likely miss out on the deeper life lessons Budô offers and, definitely not understand the ‘softer training’ when taught by their teachers.
Some people only have ever practiced softly and with soft training weapons. They have not felt the pain associated with strong knuckle strikes, locks,or oak and iron attacking their flesh and bones. This often breeds an unrealistic attitude in students when training. Eg: When a foam hanbo is used for an arm bar, the uke says that It is not working. Do you really think I’d be fighting for real with a piece of foam? Are you that stupid?
Common sense is not so common anymore. This is why people need to be exposed to hard training first to understand. How ever, this does not mean hard training forever!
“Duncan, you’re opening a Dōjō in Tasmania right? Good! Teach Sanshin,Kihon Happô and give hard training when necessary.”
宗家Hatsumi ( 2013 )
Balance is the key.
Time will always tell and give the answers.
No matter what rank or status one achieves, their life and Taijutsu will clearly demonstrate their understanding eventually.
I believe this is also one way to interpret the Shinken Gata ( reality ) of the Bujinkan grades.
南虎
