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Episode 8: Determination - Leaving the Nest with Readiness As the days of practice in the class grew longer and longer, I began to learn not only Yang-style Tai Chi Chuan but also Bagua Zhang, Southern Shaolin, and even Xing Yi Quan. Each Kung Fu style had its own unique characteristics, and I was absorbed in learning them all. However, the old master seemed to think that Xing Yi Quan was the most important, so I learned it last of all. Perhaps because of his influence, I also preferred Xing Yi Quan at that time. Around that time, a martial arts researcher and practitioner named Matsuda Masashi (later known as Matsuda Ryuchi) published a book titled "Chinese Martial Arts - Shaolin Kung Fu and Tai Chi Chuan " (published by Shin-Jinbutsuoraisha in 1972). This book was a must-have for Chinese martial arts freaks. It explained the traditions and systems of each school of Chinese martial arts in a comprehensive manner, and described the characteristics and overall picture of the martial arts that I had been practicing blindly, as well as the names of masters and experts in the past. Of course, I immediately purchased the book and read it with enthusiasm. I learned that internal martial arts are one of the most advanced Chinese martial arts, and I became interested in Bagua Zhang the most among them. I learned that in Bagua Zhang we use only the palm, not the fist, and use a variety of techniques in a circular motion. The opponent can be beaten without knowing why because Bagua Zhang is such a stunning and mysterious martial art with attack move which can paralyze the entire body or cause death in a few months only by poking the opponent’s vital point with a fingertip. So the book wrote. In addition to these techniques, the founder, Dong Haichuan, was said to be able to jump up to a roof over 3 meters high. Moreover, he could do that holding a tray with a tea-set on it without dropping or spilling them. It is amazing to think that such a master actually existed in the 19th century, and that the legend still exists today. I am fascinated by all things mysterious, so I was eager to meet a master of Bagua Zhang. The book also mentioned that many Chinese martial artists had immigrated to Taiwan and that these arts had been handed down from generation to generation. And although it was still vague at the time, I began to think that one day I wanted to study in Taiwan. ---. Sometime later, a Bruce Lee movie Enter the Dragon was released in December 1973 for the first time in Japan, and Japan was experiencing an unprecedented Kung Fu boom! The quiet Sunday class where a few regular people had been gathering, began to attract new faces and soon the dojo was buzzing with activity. The dojo management must have been pleased, but as a student, I was uncomfortable because I could no longer concentrate on my practice with my usual like-minded friends. Furthermore, I now had to teach new students and junior students, which made it impossible for me to maintain a full practice environment as I had in the past. At first, I thought it would be a temporary issue, but day by day, the number of people in my classes was increasing. The situation is making me frustrated because I couldn’t devote myself to practice while my passion for the martial arts was at its height. It was only at this point that I realized how fortunate I had been to have the environment I had. "I want to know more!" "I want to improve!" "I want to devote myself to martial arts more and more...!" These thoughts were running through my mind. I spent many days wondering and pondering over what to do. I talked about it over and over with my martial arts friends. Should I stay in the dojo? Or should I choose a new path of training? ...A new path of training? The idea reminded me of my long-held desire of studying martial arts in Taiwan. Nowadays, Taiwan is easily accessible as an option for overseas travel, but back in those days, overseas travel itself was a big deal and in my case, it was not a simple matter of going on a trip overseas. If I were to go to Taiwan, I would have to come up with the necessary funds to pay for the visit. Even if I did visit Taiwan, how would I stay there? There was no guarantee that I could meet the masters if I found a way to stay there.... If I stay in Japan, I will not have any difficulties in living, and even if I am dissatisfied, I will be able to practice at the dojo and have friends there. But I couldn’t repress my desire to study the authentic martial arts in the home of it. With so many uncertainties, I found it very difficult to give up my desire, the expectation for the unknown and the conflict plagued me so much. However, I was already not satisfied with the current learning environment at the dojo. Besides, I knew that I would never meet a true master if I did not overcome my fears. Above all, I felt deep in my heart that this was the path I had to go to reach the core of the martial arts. Yes, that door had appeared again. But to open the door this time required a certain amount of effort and determination. After many days of struggling, I finally arrived at the final conclusion: "I will train in Taiwan.” |