Anyone trained in Japan? If so any advice for a newbie?

Question

Hi there

Anyone got any tips or advice?

Many thanks

idai

Answer 1

I think aside from the many great points already made, a big one is that you should not expect it to be ANYTHING like your American based training. My Sabumnim used to tell me that training in the states is your introduction/warm up, and the real training and learning begins when you train by asian standards.

Thank the gods I was trained by Korean standards in my Hapkido/Taekwondo. I see some of the stuff that comes outta the states and it makes me cringe.

Not everything is supposed to be fun. Some of it is hurt, pain, stress, and exceptionally difficult. Don't lose sight of your love for it, but don't forget that some of it, probably most of it, is going to be hard work, and it's not always gonna be fun.

Answer 2

Assuming you don't speak any Japanese, make sure you learn basic terminilogies.  Some dojos will be "gaijin" friendly, some are not.  I trained at Kodokan Judo in tokyo and for some reasons, the sensei always used me to demonstrated the different throws, eventually taking a toll on my back since I was relatively new and wasnt' able to perfect ukemi and falling during that time.  Find people in teh dojo who are interested in learning English.  Offer to teach them in your free time and they will, in turn, make sure that your dojo experience is a positive one.

Answer 3

Wulf has some good suggestions.

#9 is especially important, and don't go cheap.  Alcohol is an acceptable and common gift.  

Some questions I have are, are you just showing up, or do you have an invitation or are you with some kind of tour?

If you are just showing up, don't be shocked to be turned down.  But, be persistant, they may just be saying no as a test, to see if you demonstrate persevereance.  Or they may really mean no.  

The other main point I would make is to be humble.  Don't be eager to show off what you know, be there to learn what they have to teach.  They often are not interested in anything you know, only in teaching you what they know.  Don't assume that you are on equal footing, you are lower, a foreigner.  You will have to earn respect and that will take patience, persevereance and time on your part.  You will be frustrated, take a deep breath, and accept it and move on.  

Good luck.

James

Answer 4

If you're going to train with Soke (saw your profile), one of the best pieces of advice for gift giving is something edible. No plaques, photos (unless you're a playboy bunny), statues... He's got a garage full of that stuff. Edible things are easy and great because he can offload them onto visitors ;)

Don't give sake -- give beer, especially if it's not Japanese. Stuff from the DFS is a great option. He ends up giving away a lot of the sake he receives (Apparently a lot of Shihan end up getting a lot of expired sake :D).

Get used to cramped quarters. Don't talk, just train. Leave your shoes in the entry. Don't bring bags that don't have your training gear in them.

Bunch of good info is on the page linked below. Have fun.

Answer 5

Go to nycbujin.com my shidoshi, Shihan Oliver Martin trained in japan and goes there every year. You may be able to ask your question (specific) and get an answer I just got my shodan from there but have never gone. I personally have plans to go this year at a later time. Or you can also go to www.ninjutsu.com from the IBDA presided by Master Richard VanDonk who also trained in Japan there is a section that may answer any question you have about training in Martial Arts specifically ninjutsu.

Answer 6

Yes and No. I was supposed to go and was ready for it and had prepared myself for what I had to do culturally to try to blend in. My students and some of the other Black Belts went last June for our Grandmasters 80th Anniversary in Atsugi Japan. Sadly I missed it but have some great photo's and we had great advice on how to behave their.

First off learn as much of the language as you can of course and use it as often as you can.

Second - Never shake hands, BOW, that is the norm, ONLY if they OFFER you thier hand to shake accept it.

Third - it is often that most have business cards with their names on them and they often exchange t hem when meeting one another.

Fourth - Shoes inside, do not wear them in most places that are not PUBLIC USE, you take them off and wear a sort of slipper.

Five - Manners, they have a different diet than us but it is still editable and  healthy and is often sea based. Be respectful at all times and remember the older the person the lower the bow and respect you give.

Six - Remember you are guests and visitors and act accordingly.

Seven - DO not stare people in the eyes, esp a teacher or other MA teacher and always bow in and out of the Dojo

Eight - Be prompt, they are very prompt people by nature in general and are always apologizing for things with humility, do not mistake this for weakness or they are wrong. They are being polite it is in their natures again.

Nine - Bring a gift to your hosts and the school you are going to esp the Teacher and head Teacher!! Anything from the USA is ok. Use reason

Ten - When in Rome do as the Romans, hence Do in Japan as the Japanese do. This means submerge yourself into their culture and way and learn a new way of life.  You may like it, you may not. But try it!  Respect at all times and remember hands off bow, dont touch!

Those were our ten basic rules we had to know plus we had to have a buddy system so no one got lost and such. It was a school that went.