Mastering Japanese-Lesson 9-Martial Arts & Language Learning

Today I want to talk about how learning a language
is very similar to martial arts training or more specifically
Bruce Lee's martial arts philosophy.

Let me start by confessing that like probably every other
Asian American out there, I'm also a major Bruce Lee fan,
having spent many a long hour watching his movies and
reading his books. The concept that he coined, known as
Jeet Kune Do or "The Way of the Intercepting Fist"is really
quite revolutionary and very practical. However, what's
really great about Jeet Kune Do is that this philosophy can
be applied to other endeavors or artistic pursuits outside of
the martial arts. Unfortunately, I think most people never
really understood what Jeet Kune Do is all about. A lot of
people think it is another style like Karate or Wing Chun
with its own unique punches and kicks borrowed from a
bunch of other styles. Nothing could be further from the truth.

If I was to try to explain Jeet Kune Do in my own words,
I would boil it down to this:

"Do what's right for you in a given situation."

For example, let's take a look at the following problem
situation:

A CASE SCENARIO:
A thoroughly intoxicated 6'4, 230 pound man throws a
left hook at you. How should you react?

a) Run like hell.

b) Intercept with a faster punch of your own.

c) Kick him in the balls.

d) Side kick him in his knee caps.

e) Grab the nearest heaviest object and smash
him over the head with it.

So what do you think the right answer is?

The answer is all of them or none of them. That's right!
It all depends on the situation. Let's say you're trapped
inside a fairly small room, then forgot about option A.
If you're only five feet tall in comparison to his six foot
four inch stature, then forget about option B and there
might not be enough leg room to be able to execute a
side kick for option D ad infinitum ad nauseum.

Do you get the point here?

Everybody is different and every situation is different.
Hence, the best action you can take will always be
contingent on the following two points:

1) Your ability (or to be more accurate, your ability to express your
true ability honestly minus any superficial trappings) and・・・

2) The situation you find yourself in.

Now let's look at a similar situation in the linguistic realm:
While taking a stroll outside, a non-English speaking Japanese
person comes up to you and asks for directions to Shibuya
Station in Japanese. Here are your choices:

a)
Feeling nervous about your ability to express yourself,
you just tell the person in English that you don't understand.

b)
Gesture with your finger towards the direction of
the station.

c)
Explain in fluent Japanese how to get to the station.

Again, the best choice is the one that most suits
your ability. If you simply cannot speak Japanese,
then forget about option C. Move towards option A.
However, let's say you're already quite near the
the station. Then suddenly option B becomes very practical.

This is basically the heart and soul of JKD. Taking the
most efficient action that you are capable of at a given
time.　　However, it doesn't stop there. Since the most
efficient　action is directly connected to your capabilities.
It logically　follows that if you expand your capabilities,
your range　of efficient actions will also expand resulting
in potentially　quite different outcomes of the aforementioned
and following situations:

Situation One:
You find yourself traveling through the countryside
in Japan. You're in an area where there are no
foreigners, the local population speaks no English
and you are lost.

Situation Two:
You are in a job interview where its success is
contigent on your Japanese language ability.

Situation Three:
You are having dinner at your friend's house. All of
a sudden he/she passes out. You immediately
call the 104 emergency info number and are told
there are no English operators on staff at the moment.

Whattaya gonna do?

Well, Bruce's answer would be train baby! Train every
muscle in your body. Be prepared for any and every
situation.

The fanaticism aside, I think we can agree that the more
situations we are prepared for (linguistically speaking),
the less struggles we will have and the more enjoyable
life in Japan will be.

So the first thing we start with are the basic
techniques　that are the same for all beginners.
For example,　basic jab, front kick, roundhouse
kick etcetera.

In the linquistic realm, this could be likened to
grammar patterns and vocabulary. For example,

これはーーーーーです。This is a --------.

Now let's take a look at the three stages of growth
in Bruce Lee's JKD and how it relates to language
learning.

********************************************************
STAGE ONE
Before I learned a punch, a punch was just a punch.
LINGUISTIC REALM INTERPRETATION:
Before I learned a given grammar pattern, I just
spoke (my own native tongue) without even thinking
about it.
********************************************************
STAGE TWO:
After I learned a punch, it was no longer a punch.
LINGUISTIC REALM INTERPRETATION:
After I learned how to say something in another language,
it felt so unnatural, slow and cumbersome to me and I
also viewed the same phrase in my native tongue in a new
a fresh, objective light.
********************************************************
STAGE THREE:
I finally came back to the realization that a punch is
just a punch.
LINGUISTIC REALM INTERPRETATION:
(After hundreds of hours of absorption), utilizing the grammar
patterns that have become second nature to me, I can express
myself without even thinking in Japanese just like my
native English. In other words, I no longer have to think
about what to say, it happens
********************************************************
Did you ever have a time when you just instantaneously
responded to somebody with the perfect answer or phrase
without even thinking about it? If so, that's what I'm talking
about.

In other words, at the stage you're at right now, please be
PERSISTENT! Keep doing what you're doing. Don't worry,
in due time, we will shift you over to live speaking situations.
However, if you jump into the ring too early, you'll just end
up injuring yourself or linguistically speaking, end up solidifying
bad habits that will have to be undone later.

Keep up with the absorption for now! Metaphorically speaking
first THOROUGHLY learn how to correctly throw that jab,
side kick, backfist etcetera before stepping into the ring.
You'll be much better for it. And please don't forget that the
emphasized word "thoroughly" in this context means hundreds
of hours of absorption.

Before closing, I just wanted to share the following snippet
from an interview conducted with Wallay Jay, one of the
elite martial artists Bruce Lee trained with during his
California days.

Interview Question:
In your opinion, what was the most intriguing attribute Bruce
possessed?

Answer:
He was smart, very clever. The secret is 'REPETITION'.

Did you catch that? The secret is REPETITION.

Please keep on with the listening sessions.