“I Don't Know”

“I don’t know” is one of the most freeing things a person can think, feel, and say.

 

Over my lifetime of training in martial arts, I’ve taken time to explore other systems to talk with their teachers, understand what they teach, and learn their core philosophies about training. Even within my own system of Ninjutsu, there is much that remains unexplored and not yet fully understood.

I approach each day as a fresh start. This morning, I noticed mourning doves in the trees that weren’t there yesterday. I saw rabbit tracks in the snow that hadn’t been there the day before. Driving in, I heard new things on the radio about the previous day’s events. There is so much I still don’t know.

 

Even though I’ve been practicing martial arts since 1969, there are things I’ve never seen. I find great wonder in exploring those areas. I never think of myself as all-knowing or all-seeing  I’m just a regular person who loves martial arts and never tires of exploring its ways and methods. There are techniques I’ve practiced tens of thousands of times, and yet each time feels different. Each time, there is a new awakening.

 

When I go to explore other martial arts, I wear a white belt  because that is my attitude. I am always a beginner. Recently, I had the chance to try a new style. I stood in horse stance with my legs shaking alongside the other students, and listened as the teacher explained his method of breathing and movement. At the end of class, it was so liberating. So freeing.

 

Sometimes it’s simply important to say: “I don’t know. it’s very liberating.”

 

There are a great many things in this universe still left unexplored even the things we think we’ve seen before.

Mark Davis

Head Teacher and Owner

Boston Martial Arts Center (Dojo)

New England Ninpo Society (Seminar, workshop, Personal Lessons)