“It’s more important to be a respected person than just becoming a good fighter in SAW training. “
Submission Arts Wrestling is a Japanese martial art, so you have to embrace the Budo Spirit.
The Budo Spirit comes from the spirit of bushido of the ancient samurai warriors.
Before you can understand the “Budo Spirit”, you must first understand the “Budo Concept”.
Simply, the “Budo Concept” is to train and develop the mind (心 Shin), technique (技 Gi), and body (体 Tai) throughout your life.
In SAW, founder Shihan Aso’s philosophy is that “physical strength (体 Tai) comes first” in this concept of mind, technique, and body.
Rather than trying to learn a lot of flashy techniques right from the start, focus on strengthening your body first, build a strong body and become fit.
By going through hard training to achieve that strong body, you will also develop a strong mind (心 Shin).
And once you have a solid foundation such as a strong body and a strong mind, the skills (技 Gi) will naturally follow.
As you gain experience in the entire martial arts training, your character is refined, your morality is raised, and courtesy is cultivated.
And true martial arts have a system that allows you to gradually develop your mind, technique, and body throughout your life.
This not only applies to martial arts, but is a concept that is deeply rooted in traditional Japanese skills such as tea ceremony, flower arrangement, and calligraphy, etc.
If you only aim for competitions and stop practicing when you no longer compete, you cannot say that you are doing “Budo”.
In the “Budo Concept”, competitions are positioned as only one part of the growth of yourself.
Training and growth are long-term journeys, and you grow step by step as you get older.
There are no shortcuts.
There is another Shihan Aso’s important word,
“必技極 Hitsu Gi Kyoku”.
When you’re young, train harder, actively participate in competitions and seriously sticking to win your fight.
And by continuing your training years, you must be sure to achieve your great skills.
There are infinite ways to use techniques.
Spend a lifetime sharpening skills up that no one can imitate.
Not just in martial arts, but in any specialised skill, it is a long-term process of development, and is the result of many practical experience and a lot of practice.
It is obtained by working toward a goal that is just a little out of reach, with a clear awareness of how to fill the gap.
The gap is filled with constant repetition and deep concentration, and then a new goal that is just a little out of reach is set again.
However, the key is how important you can think that goal is.
In SAW, in accordance with this “Budo Concept”, the grading system allows the mind, technique, and body to grow in stages.
Ignoring this gradual system and trying to take a shortcut to obtain just a rank goes against the “Budo Concept”.
Therefore, the “Budo Spirit” is understanding the “Budo Concepts”, train the mind, technique and body throughout your life, cultivate an attitude of enhancing your morality, respect, etiquette, and refine your character.
A spirit of always remaining calm, unfazed by things, and living with pride at any time.
And the strength you have acquired should not be used to show off for your own ego or to bully the weak, but only to protect those you care about.
And it is the spirit to never give up on pursuing those things, no matter what.
It’s more important to be a respected person than just becoming a good fighter in SAW training.
