The calm warrior

[Rubber Tanto]

I have two sons (4 & 6) which are both starwars mad... my brother, the typical doting uncle rushed out a few months ago and purchased for them a pair of plastic lightsabers that do not light up or make sound but fully retract.

Fearing a painfull outcome from these new play toys, and without the heart to take them away, I showed my lads a few basic movements based on our Kenjutsu training (blocking, side stepping, basic cuts...all with very slow and fluid movements, pointing out that a true "jedi" doesn't swing wildly or very hard, letting the blade do all the work for them) This was all a ploy of course to keep these new toys from swinging erratically and hitting an eye or the like....which it turns out was a wise move as they have both quickly learnt to respect these newfound weapons and what they can do. They play calmly and with control even though they are running around and carrying on. To date there has been no injuries. For fathers day the boys bought me my own lightsaber (yes...I'm MACE WINDU) and we play together often...they are actually really quite good)

(don't worry...I'm getting to the point)

Last night we visited my wife's boss's house as his son was celebrating his 8th birthday. He had many of his school friends there and low and behold he recieved a lightsaber from one friend as a gift, similar to those my sons own. As there were only three sabres there (two other kids had brought some) and 12 boys, the agreed to "dual" one on one with a system that the first to make contact five times wins the round. He who defeated all 11 other boys would be the master jedi!

Now at first they didnt want my son to play as he is only 6, but after some urging from the birthday boy's mother, they relunctantly agreed. Timothy was third up. I could tell by his expression that for him, this was a big deal; he was mixing it up with the "big boys" for the first time. Unlike the other kids, he waited very quitely in stance with the saber over his head in a two handed grip. The other kids laughed and when one of the boys yelled "Go" he didn't move as the the kid rushed him.
I (and my wife actually) was gob-smacked.
At the last minute Timothy side stepped and smacked the saber on the other boys shoulder as he passed.
There was silence. The other boy got very mad and came at Tim with a wide sideward swing. Tim just swatted the weapon upward and tapped the boy on the tummy.
Now I'm not going to go into all the details...but in a nutshell, I watched my boy remain calm, even as the other boy got more and more furious, and his swings getting more and more elaborate, and he won 5 to nothing by remaining calm. He continued to do this for 6 more bouts. Remaining calm. Focussed.
Sure, the other kids got him here and there and there was once or twice where it got to 4 all, etc...but he still won and the bigger kids resorted to name calling, cheating and pushing. And yet through it all, Tim just set his jaw, concentrated and kept working at them in a calm that left me in absolute shock.

In the end...they told him he couldn't play anymore because now it was the "finals" and only 8 year olds and up could play.
He came over to me with a huge smile on his face. "Did you see me dad?" he said. "I did really good!"
I told him how prud I was of him and how very impressed I was about how calm he stayed.
He said he was happy at first then scared when they got mad but then he realised that none of them new how to stand or fight and just kept doing the same swing, so he just "Stayed calm and didnt swing like crazy...he let the lightsaber do all the work"

So my son has become my teacher. By keeping a calm head and concentrating on what his opponent was doing wrong, he found the weakness, which was that they didn't know what to do after the first swing.
I asked him if he was sad that they kicked him out of the game. He just shrugged and said no because to him it meant they knew he was better.

Tim's a smart kid.
Smarter than his dad I say.

Anyway...what is this post about then, I hear ytou all cry?
1) Boasting! he he he
2) Calm in the face of hostility/pressure/etc...

How do you all deal with keeping your cool on the matt, on the street or in life in general? Is there a breathing technique? Or a way to clear your mind?
Share your secrets!
Mwahahahahaha!

[FormatC]

holy cow. your son must have an unusually high midichlorian count!

I'm glad to hear that the bit of training he's had has sunk in so fast. imagine if he keeps an interest in the art!

personally I could use some work when it comes to staying calm. I tend to get jumpy and act in advance. in fact, my friend and I - when we train for evasions with the shinai - have developed a sort of "staring contest" whereby the attacker will wait an indeterminate amount of time before striking, rather than going at a "usual" or predictable pace. this requires the defender to be much more perceptive of the attacker, and to respond with crisp movements to avoid getting whacked.

[2E0WHN]

Give your kid a black belt. He done well. I would shake your kid's hand for being such a great sport and just relaxing when needed. This is someting we should all learn from.

[Peaceful Tiger]

That has to be one of the best and most impressive posts I've read in ages. I think your lad is wise beyond his years, either that or, (as my spiritualist mum would say), he has been here before

[Dale Seago]

Originally Posted by FormatC

holy cow. your son must have an unusually high midichlorian count!

My thought exactly. Someone who actually wants to learn, instead of merely look good, is unusual - especially at such an age.

[Rubber Tanto]

yeah, my oldest boy is quite bright. He listens intently both at school, at home and in his sporting lessons (swimming, soccer) which is probably the key to his high learning rate. My younger son is NOTHING like his brother...though damn cute!

I've taken Tim a few times to my Dojo to see the juniors train and though he watches them quite keenly, and mimics their moves when he comes home, he shows no interest in joining, which is a shame because I have shown him how to block, roll and a few stances...(he calls ichi monji "Itchy Monkey") and he knows them all pretty well for his age.

He just prefers soccer and swimming at this stage.
Sigh...there goes my vision of "parent agent to boy action movie superstar!"
ha ha

[Fish Of Doom]

HAHAHAAA!!! AWESOME!!!!!

someone ought to give your kid a medal, man!

you should be very proud that you're his father and taught him what he knows, and also proud of him that he learned so well, you're one lucky father and have a very talented son with a promising future

GO TIMOTHY!

[Vayne]

I wish there were more kids like your son in the junior class which i assist instruct 99% of the kids in there don't know right from left and none of them are any younger than 6 years old. Occasionally there'll be one bright kid there and you'll just go "THANK YOU!!!"

With encouragement and inspiration a bright kid like that could do great things

/Vayne

[Peaceful Tiger]

Originally Posted by Rubber Tanto

I have shown him how to block, roll and a few stances...(he calls ichi monji "Itchy Monkey") and he knows them all pretty well for his age.

That's pretty funny. I know a guy (a lot older at 40+) who as a white-belt and bowing in used to say, "Chicken salad ham sandwich" till he learned the proper words

[Brad Ellin]

Originally Posted by Peaceful Tiger

That's pretty funny. I know a guy (a lot older at 40+) who as a white-belt and bowing in used to say, "Chicken salad ham sandwich" till he learned the proper words

You mean those aren't the proper words?



Uh oh.

[Rubber Tanto]

What are you talking about!
When I first started, I thought "Shaken Harry Mitsou" was a Greek Elvis impersonator!!!

he he he

(PS...is it really bad when you laugh alot at your own jokes?)

[Youkai]

Cool post. My daughter has the same zen like calm during kumite but sadly she seems to think that kumite is a my go now your go type of thing. Very sporting but not very good if you actually want to win anything