Shidoshi Tucker taking ukemi from Shihan Masse at a recent seminar
The martial artist must be consistent in his training – sharing and learning from his teachers and peers. This is where skillfulness begins. Through consistent training one has the possibility of reaching enlightenment.
If you aren’t currently training, you cannot call yourself a martial artist. You are a former martial artist. Talking about martial arts won’t get you there. Collecting videos and books just makes you a museum curator. You must show up to practice! This is the only way to build real skill.
This takes guts. It takes courage to keep going year after year. Most don’t persist very long, much less their entire lives.
Gambatte kudasai!!! (keep going!!!)