randori
Hi guys,
I'm also enjoying this thread. I have to agree with the folks that are against Randori even though my undisciplined side is attracted to it. It was this part of me that accepted an invitation to a Karate tournament in Japan a while back. I'm interested in Martial Arts, studied Karate when I was younger, and thought it would be a good chance to compare to Shorinji Kempo that I love. I have to say that it was a very important event in my Budo education.
This tournament was your typical K1 style, to begin with. All was acceptable, baring punching to the head, or grapples. So, first of all, my impression was how inaccurate this was of a real self-defense situation. Imagine the weaknesses in your training here!
I also noticed that the "competitors" basically "hammered" on one another trying to score as many hits in the alloted time. No attention paid to Atemi. This was very unentertaining(no flames on this please!) and actually became downright ridiculous to watch! Some seemed to be drunk from exhaustion as they greedly tried to consume more points. You can see what I'm getting at here. A total lack of discipline in their art, over pursuit of victory. It even appeared as though they didn't see fellow human beings in front of them, just a punching bag that they practised on in the Dojo. Many of them were Dan levels in Karate, but were fighting about the same as one would with no training! Blocks were abandoned over strikes and head kicks that would receive jeers and applause from the crowd.
I became increasinly uncomfortable at how different what I was watching was from Shorini Kempo's teachings...As is inevitable, injuries came next. Seeing contestants with bloodied mouths, cracked ribs and sprained knees was the final most obvious indicator that what they were pursuing was clearly of no purpose or value. Seeing worried wives, men who would miss work, and children in the crowd being exposed to it all made me contemplate. It was promoting a selfish perception and total disregard for others that started on a very tame and friendly level, but quickly eclipsed everything else. They had no respect for what they were "playing" with.
A good example of this was how a higher level competitor had a good edge on the other my striking his knee continually. The other finally was hobbleing(?) around not being much of a threat. It would seem reasonable to just take the odd shot to the torso and gobble the points to victory. The total disregard for another was most apparent when the stronger competitor felt it necessary to land a kick to the other's temple thereby guaranteeing his victory.
The sum of all this was a firm confidence and reassurance in what Shorinji Kempo promotes.
I tend to think that Randori competitions would tempt the undisciplined into a more subversive style of the above...
notice I said undisciplined. Perhaps at higher ranks, after Shorinji Kempo's philosophies are digested and adopted, it could be plausible.
Shaunessey Joudrey
Gambatte to all in their pursuit!
"All buddhas and ordinary people are just One Mind...This Mind is beyond all measurements, names, oppositions: this very being is It; as soon as you stir your mind you turn away from It." -Huang Po