I learned something today at the Midwest Buddhist Temple in Old Town, and I want to teach it to you Yo’s. (That apostrophe to the left, by the way, is not meant to be possesive.)
Today, and all weekend, was their annual Ginza Festival picnic/fundraiser, and on the entertainment stage, after a Taiko drum concert, there was a karate demonstration. The white robed combatant walked the crowd through myriad moves and positions, but the crux of the lesson that stuck with me was: When you are short-sighted, you are weaker.
That is the idea in words, but here is the lesson in action…try this: Stand shoulder-to-shoulder with someone, man or woman, weaker or stronger than you — it doesn’t matter. Place your right hand on his or her right shoulder and make eye contact. Tell your opposer to pull down on your arm, toward the ground, at your elbow.
Your elbow will bend.
Now. Strike the same pose and look past your opposer’s shoulder, as if you are looking 100 yards into the distance. Your arm will become like an iron rod.
I ain’t no martial artist (I can’t draw a stick figure to save my life!), so don’t ask me what’s going on here, but it works. And if you happen to attend next year (this year was the 51st annual party), definitely go for the teryaki chicken but take a pass on the udon noodles and sushi. Just a friendly neighborhood tip.