Too busy at home, too busy at work. How can I even think about going again? Why am I always thinking about going again? I still have too many questions, far too much yet to learn. How can I not go again…

So I found myself back at Mugenjuku Kyoto for the month of March. In 2016, I intended to improve my kamae and basic movements. In 2017, I had no precise plan; it was more of a faint hope that the past year’s efforts toward improving kamae and basics would lead to a new understanding of maybe a few techniques. To my surprise, what a difference a month at Mugenjuku can make!

After the first weeks of Shihan Payet patiently correcting my postures, prioritizing moving from centre and always stressing maintenance of balance to stay relaxed, I noticed he seemed to be taking us through a natural progression that incorporated these interwoven, underlying principles.

Familiar techniques were suddenly felt through a new perspective. If you initiated from your centre, maintained good posture and moved everything together, then you remained balanced. If you kept your balance, you kept an advantageous position and could relax deeper. If you were relaxed, then you were freely mobile while connected together with uke. If you were moving in synchronization with uke, then you could lead uke without strength. If leading uke without using your strength, you could keep tension out of your upper body while keeping your feet heavy and uke could not gain balance from shite. If you were leading uke off balance, then their desire to regain their balance was satisfied by either your final osae or nage. If osae or nage gave both shite and uke a painless resolution, then both were at peace with each other.

How do I absorb all these principles until they become natural reactions? Having returned to Canada, I can only continue to train and teach using the many methods and exercises employed by Shihan Payet and his assistant instructors. Now my hope towards improvement is less faint, but I still lack much of a precise plan other than more training. Perhaps another trip to Mugenjuku is in the future…