The days, seem to pass by quicker
And I've already found myself, looking forward to another day of training with Dad.
"Hey...Dad I want to train with you again."
"Sure buddy, we can do that if you want but you have to continue training in the first techniques I showed before. If you want to get better, then repeat it many times over."
I should have known that this was going to be the response I was gonna receive. Repetition is important for learning and memory, it works by allowing whatever it is you're doing to become something akin to second nature.
All that anyone does in this world can be learned and unlearned. But in order retain information that you need, repetition becomes a necessary for muscle memory.
Walking in to the Morisawa Ryu, dojo once more, makes me desire to learn more techniques or make my own for that matter. I put on my dogi and stood infront of my father once more for instruction.
Even before he could utter words like "start with what you already know or review what you've learned." I had already took the initiative, taking it upon myself to practice the first techniques my father taught me. Pushups, Knee Wheel Throw, Sanchin and the nerve calming technique, I'll call Steeling.
"Sotaro, I think it's about time I taught you some striking. Do you think that you'll be up for it?"
"Sure dad, I'm ready for anything you got for me."
My father took a stance. Wait... That looks like a boxing stance...BUT HOW!? Dad is a karateka,... ISN'T HE!!!?
I realized that there's more to this man, my father, Kenji Morisawa. He's been hiding some of his skills from me.
Hmm..? I wonder if mom has hidden skills of her own? Well I guess there's no use dwelling on it now.
"The first punch I threw was called a jab, and the second one was a straight. When both are combined, they form the 1-2 combo."
It seems pretty simple at first but what you really need to focus on is not the hands but the feet. Properly, shifting your feet will allow for a punch to generate force.
"So, what did you think?"
I looked up at my father. "What do you mean?"
"Its simple...Right?"
"Oh its simple, alright? But, I did notice something."
"Ohhh, and what's that..?" Dad said in an intrigued tone. It seems like he caught a whiff, of my keen observation skills.
"The average person would look at the impressive movement of the hands but to the people who look further, the feet becomes noticeable. The shifting of the feet is what gives the hand extra speed and power."
"Well, son. You're absolutely right!" He said this with visible smile on his face. This smile seemed so genuine. His smile didn't have any sign of sheepishness but just genuine and not fake.
He seemed pretty proud of me for discovering something about the 1-2, that contributes to it's functionality.
His hand stretched out towards me. It landed on my head. He began to speak as he was rubbing my head.
"I'm so proud of you, Sotaro. You are definitely the one, to inherit the Morisawa name. You already have an innovative mind at age 10, I trust that you will walk a path filled with life rather than destroying yourself with the death of others."
My dad is truly a caring man, wishes for me to not lead a path of darkness because he knows that it only leads to destruction. I will take his word on it and promise to never take a human life. The life of another is precious, I understand this more than anyone as I witnessed the death of a colleague.
I have set a goal...And that is to learn martial arts to adapt my own style. If I must enter competitions to improve my techniques, then I'll follow through.