2025 Nov Japan Taikai Reflections
- mjersg
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
Author: Jacob
Photo credits: Dosabine, Wilson, Valeth, Mari, Francis, Warren, Jacob
Revisit. Repetition. A recurring theme for this year’s training leading up to the Taikai is one of revision. To take another look into the fundamentals, ranging from the universal such as posture and drawing of the blade to the specifics for each waza. At first glance, the idea of revisiting basics seems mundane and unappealing on the surface yet this process is of critical importance that demands reexamination. The basics are deceivingly simple yet hold great depths as one goes further into Iaido, requiring each practitioner to look into the fundamentals repeatedly to know if they are on the path, like a support stick
for a plant to grow upright with time. Even as one revisits the basics, one can find more intricate layers that connect to later practices that may not be evident at first, similar to looking at an art piece in a museum. Time, reflection and attention is needed to peel away at the surface to reveal subtle details hidden beyond the surface.
This year, both juniors and seniors improve their techniques under the guidance of other Senseis as we visit several dojos to seek improvement wholeheartedly and we would like to thank them for their guidance that acts as a beacon of light for other practitioners to follow suit, ensuring that the foundations are transmitted properly to those who pursue the martial arts wholeheartedly.
For the juniors, the fundamentals are revisited with invigorating force. The starting line is important, for the foundation is like a cement block that has yet to be solidified, remaining in its sludge form. The foundation acts as a mold, shaping the endless potential that exists within each person, serving as a guide that transitions them to future practices for it will take more effort to correct one’s habit once this potential solidifies. Transmitted to the juniors is also the importance of mindfulness in practice. Each move in wazas requires one’s awareness at all times, ensuring that the basics are present as one performs them, allowing one to reflect and self evaluate on areas to improve with help from other Senseis, regardless of a collective group or individually.
For the seniors, who have been upholding the standard of the wazas through repetitions, guidance and training with hard work, sweat and time, continue to improve on the fundamentals while learning from different Senseis on the importance of the context with wazas. Peeling away at the surface, the seniors peer beyond the surface as they are instructed on intricate details of particular moves, bringing enlightenment and advancement to the solidified fundamentals to the next level. While intricacy demands more thought from one’s personal perspective as to the importance and reason of each wazas, the learning process to gain further clarity is like one polishing at a mirror until neither a single speck of dust or a single handprint remain, the reflection becoming crystal clear to ones’ eyes without a single doubt. Certain information that may be known in bits and pieces becomes woven into a bigger narrative, sewn into a complete, bigger picture that brings enlightenment and clarity with the purpose of the wazas that act as a guidance for practitioners who seek to stay as close to its original purpose as possible.
Ending the reflection for this year’s Japan Taikai trip, a quote resurfaces into the mind from Miyamoto Musashi’s Book of Five Rings. Despite the difference in school of thought, the book continues to live on and inspire even those outside of the martial arts because of its timeless wisdom, one that reflects this year’s training as we accept the guidance and information transmitted by each Sensei from different dojos.
“Let the teacher be the needle, let the student be the thread and practice unremittingly.”
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Singapore Genyokan (厳洋館) is an official dojo of the World MJER Iaido Federation 正統正流無雙直傳英信流居合道国際連盟
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