Why do we work slowly in training?
- Shai Regev
- Jul 21
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 21
I have often been asked why we train slowly in our dojo, why the movements in training are slow (while in many schools of martial sports and martial arts you will see that sanctify fast work). I have answered this before, but I want to bring it up now in an organized manner, also for those who have not heard.
Building "muscle memory": We strive for spontaneous work, which is activated by the "brain of the muscles" and not through thinking and intellect. The muscle, like the "superbrain", needs to learn at its own pace. Just as you don't start teaching a child in first grade integrals, derivatives and syntax, so too do our muscles need to learn gradually and slowly. Step by step, internalize and continue.
Injury prevention: Our techniques are not martial arts techniques. The ultimate goal of striking in Budo-Taijutsu is to produce maximum damage to the opponent. Fast work - too early, before the ability to control oneself has been acquired - will cause serious injuries.
Control and listening: A very significant part of ninja is preventing the escalation of the conflict. We try to make the opponent stop the conflict of his own accord, while preventing the situation from getting worse. Attentive, minimalist and "gentle" movement and action is the way to prevent this.
Feeling and sensitivity - Mushin: In ninja, it is very important to know how to feel the opponent - physically, mentally and mentally and to be aware of the environment. When acting too quickly, I do not feel the opponent and am not aware of what is happening around, but listen (barely!) to myself.
"An island of calm in the heart of chaos" - Fudoshin: The battle is fast and chaotic. Most opponents will act in a storm of movement and emotion. The goal of the ninja is to maintain composure, peace of mind, the ability to concentrate, analyze and observe even in the midst of a chaotic battle. Over time, we learn to see that it is possible to "create time" - by maintaining peace of mind, which allows me to plan "with a calm mind" and perform precise techniques that are not wasteful of energy and movement. Fast and chaotic work, especially before the practitioner has reached the internalization of mushin, zanshin, and fudoshin, will completely miss this goal.
Note: The terms "slow" and "fast" are completely subjective and cannot be understood without active participation in training.
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