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If
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Exclusive
with Fay Goodman, Nanadan Renshi
A Life behind the blade
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| I
believe Iaido offers a path of
enlightenment, which can compliment
our lifestyle and indeed any other
martial arts we choose to study.
We are learning to develop our
mind, body and spirit. It can
enhance our lives in all areas
such as work, home and social
activity. |
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| MI:
Whom did you study when you first began? |
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| Fay
Goodman: My first Japanese teacher was
Okimitsu Fujii Sensei who was resident in
England. He had a great influence on me and
introduced me to Ishido Sensei and Haruna
Sensei at the national Seminars in the UK. |
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| MI:
Were there many classes around when you started? |
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| Fay
Goodman: No, it was very rare. I came
across Iaido by accident when I met a fellow
martial artist Ray Burke from a style called
Shodin Tao (combination system) by Alan Hunt.
Alan was my first martial arts teacher and
very impressive. Ray was very enthusiastic
(too enthusiastic in many ways as he was in
to cutting trees with an Iaito!). However,
he was a knowledgeable and generous person
in his own way and I am ever grateful to him
for introducing me Iaido. |
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| MI:
How should one approach the study of Iaido? |
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Fay
Goodman: Iaido has so much to offer
in the development of our mind, body
and spirit. It can enrich our lives
in so many ways. Iaido instils important
qualities such as discipline, focus,
awareness, calm attitude, honour and
respect. The five pleats of the Hakama
(pleated skirt worn in Iaido) each represent
a value such as honour, humility, loyalty,
justice and respect. We train to bring
these values together - hence the one
pleat at the rear of the Hakama. This
is what I teach all my students. It
is the path of Iaido - to become better
people, to fight the enemy within and
to be tolerant and understanding of
others.
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| We
should therefore approach Iaido with
a pure heart and true dedication. The
aim is to be at one with our sword and
therefore ourselves. We need to cultivate
a strong and compassionate spirit through
the development and total commitment
to our training. We need to aim for
precision with each technique as we
strive for perfection but must remember
- perfection is a moving target! |
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| MI:
Why do you think westerners have such a fascination
with Iaido? |
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Fay
Goodman: As westerners we are, I believe,
possibly drawn to the beauty of attention
to detail and precision. The Samurai sword
is also associated with romantic ideals
of heroism - we only have to look at all
the successful Hollywood films! Yet ideally
I prefer to see the sword as offering the
path of peace as opposed to the path of
war.
War
is not about who is right, but who is left!
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| MI:
Have you spent much time training in Japan? |
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| Fay
Goodman: Not
as much as I would have liked. I have
been to Japan several times to study
Iaido and take gradings. I love the
country, the culture and the people
- I feel at home! I have a great affinity
with Japan. I adore the attention to
detail, precision, discipline, dedication
and cleanliness. |
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| MI:
How did you find it both physically and culturally? |
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| Fay
Goodman: It was very hard work! But there
again I enjoy hard work and a challenge. Even
when the odds were clearly against me I was
more determined to try. Life is about trying
and accepting disappointment but also being
able to rise again and be successful. Learning
how to deal with emotion is another part of
martial arts training. We cannot always be
successful. As with life - there are ups and
down, sad happy, low high, dark light - ying
and yang. Iaido sets the platform both physically
and mentally to learn how to work with our
feelings.
With
regards to training the culture is different.
When you are reprimanded by the teacher
they are, as mentioned previously, trying
to get the best out of us and ensure we
practice, practice and more practice!
I
adore the culture of Japan - the food, attitude,
presentation and clothing.
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| MI:
Have you participated in many competitions? |
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| Fay
Goodman: Yes and no! By this, I
mean, I entered as many as I could before
I reached 6th Dan. Thereafter, in Europe,
the opportunity is no longer presented,
as you become a judge. In Japan, there
are more opportunities for 6th and 7th
Dans to enter Taikai (competition).
I recall Haruna Sensei saying he had
entered 256 competitions and lost completely
only 12 times. He won "Best Fighting
Spirit" 45 times and "Special
Fighting Spirit" 15 times. They
are only just practice sessions to him
- a good way to look at this. You bring
into the equation pressure to perform
well and so Fudoshin, Mushin and Kigurai
come into play. What better way to learn
and develop these attributes? I continue
to strive to develop these attributes
not just in Iaido but everything I do
especially my Jodo practice. Even though
I have no partner, I still enter gradings
and taikai at every opportunity to put
myself under pressure and practice Fudoshin.
The outcome of 'pass' or 'fail' is not
important. It is the commitment to trying
to learn these other values, which is
important. |
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| MI:
Is
it necessary to have competition in Iaido? |
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| Fay
Goodman: Yes, it is important for
the reasons above plus developing a
spirit of comradeship. Whilst winning
has value losing also has value. We
learn coping mechanism and determination
to do better, to rise to the challenge!
From the judging side we learn awareness,
focus and metsukie. Both competitor
and judge can learn from this environment
along with the importance of 'watching
practice' to |
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heighten
our ability to observe and detect
correct and/or incorrect technique,
posture and feeling etc.
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| MI:
Should one look at Iaido as a sport or art
or both? |
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Fay
Goodman: Iaido to me is both a sport and
an artform. The physical activity could be
defined as a 'sport' but is it a beautiful
artform to watch and perform due to its graceful
flowing and elegant movements.
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| MI:
Should the student have the same attitude
to training as they do for competition? |
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| Fay
Goodman: Yes, we should try to practice
as if we are competing at every opportunity.
This helps us to develop the highest
skills and attributes. To have one mindset
for training then try to apply a different
mindset for competition is not advantageous.
We are learning to develop a strong
mind, body and spirit - they are and
should be 'one'. |
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| MI:
What
can Iaido offer people? |
| Fay
Goodman: I believe Iaido
offers a path of enlightenment,
which can compliment our
lifestyle and indeed any
other martial arts we choose
to study. We are learning
to develop our mind, body
and spirit. It can enhance
our lives in all areas such
as work, home and social
activity. Learning tolerance,
calmness and patience. It
is also important for awareness,
discipline and respect.
We learn mechanism to cope
with difficulties in life
and to cultivate a strong
spirit - Kigurai. To fight
back against adversity whether
to stand up and voice our
opinion or do and say nothing
and just walk away. Whatever
our decision we can do this
with a good attitude. |
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| MI:
Is
it essential to compliment
our Iai with other forms
of budo training? |
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Fay
Goodman: It is
not essential, but
it can be very beneficial
and complimentary
to other arts we may
choose to study. I
practice other marital
arts and have found
Iaido invaluable to
enhancing those arts.
We can apply our Iaido
principles to other
arts in a positive
and rewarding way.
How many arts we study
is not as important
as how well we study
the arts we already
practice. It is far
better to practice
one art |
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well
than several in a minimal
fashion. Having said that,
when we do try and practice
another art, we have something
to compare our iai with.
We should be sensible in
our judgment. |
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| MI:
How
have teaching methods changed
since your days as a beginner? |
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| Fay
Goodman: Teaching methods
have not really changed
although there was more
emphasis on the basics and
only learning Seitai for
a considerable length of
time in the early days.
In Japan, it was not uncommon
to learn the basis for the
first year, whereas today
we seek to learn everything
as quickly as we can therefore
missing the whole point
of Iaido.
In
addition to methods of
teaching, each teacher
has his or her style of
teaching. Our personality,
dedication and sincerity
will shine through which
is why some teachers will
attract more students.
Teaching with an open
heart whilst knowing and
understanding the capabilities
of each is a very important
ability and quality. Some
students, as they start
to progress - especially
up the dan grades - start
to believe they are better
than the teacher. They
only see their own importance,
ego and skill forgetting
who had enabled them to
reach that position. They
may have developed the
physical but sadly not
the mind or spirit - this
will take many years for
them to grasp if they
ever do! It is also part
of maturity and learning
respect for the art and
the teacher as well as
the humility within ourselves.
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| MI:
How
do students from the west
differ to those in Japan? |
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| Fay
Goodman: This is an
interesting question! As
time goes on the difference
is becoming less and less
as some Japanese people
immerse themselves in the
Western culture. With regards
to Iaido, there is a question
of stature. Most Japanese
have a smaller stature and
the arms and legs appear
to accommodate some of the
more difficult physical
moves in Iaido. However,
we are still able to perform
extremely well with dedication.
With regards to the mental
attitude whilst it may be
perceived the Japanese student
is more dedicated, they
are amazed by our dedication
to their art. Ultimately
I believe it is down to
the individual and, in many
cases, there is very little
difference. |
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| MI:
Can
you tell us some of the
people who have been influential
to your training and why? |
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| Fay
Goodman: There
are many people to whom
I very externally grateful
for in influencing my training.
This is not in any order
with regards to status but
with regards to the order
in which I met these people
during my Iaido study. For
example, my first Sensei,
Okimitsu Fujii Sensei who
put me on the path of Iaido
with a good strong spirit.
Secondly, when I met Ishido
Sensei at the first seminar
in the UK for his style
of teaching, calm deaminour
and encouragement in the
most intelligent way possible.
Ishido Sensei then introduced
me to Haruna Sensei who
I will always remember for
his spirit - I think of
Fudoshin, Mushin and Kigurai
- calmness and careful choice
of technique and words when
appropriate. With Haruna
Sensei came Oshita Sensei
who I am so very grateful
to for his superb technique,
excellent generosity in
teaching and showing me
the true way as a student
and teacher. There are many
other people all over the
world who have given me
they kind words, encouragement
and support to whom I am
grateful and, strangely
enough, I am grateful to
the beginner. They influence
my training all the time
because I have to challenge
myself to be the best I
can, to give the best I
can and honour those whose
path I still follow. |
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| MI:
What
advice would you give to
a perspective student? |
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Fay
Goodman: I would
advise a perspective
student to try and
choose a good teacher
and to have an open
heart and mind when
practicing. To make
a total commitment
to be honourable and
patience. Support
your teacher and fellow
students with a good
heart and try to avoid
letting ego take control
- it can be so destructive!
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| MI:
Do
you remember your first
purchase of an Iaito? |
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| Fay
Goodman:
My
brother Clive gave me my
first sword. It was a heavy
gilted sword with a small
knife in the saya. It jangled
and jingled as I moved!
Great for weight training.
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| MI:
What
do you enjoy outside the
dojo? |
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| Fay
Goodman:
I
am a musician and composer
so I love my music. I have
been involved in the industry
for some time and have released
an album called Kokoro 'Spirit
of the Heart'. This is oriental
calming music, which I also
use when training with my
sword and the Tessen fan.
It can create a wonderful
atmosphere for me when I
train and try to work in
my mind, body and spirit
being one. I also wrote
the title track as a thank
you to Haruna Sensei and
Oshita Sensei who both supported
me when I took my 6th Dan.
Haruna Sensei, just before
I went out to take my grading,
said: 'Use Kokoro and Komachi'
in other words your true
heart and feeling. I held
this in my mind and spirit
as I took my grading.
I
have another two albums
being released shortly.
One is more classical
and the other a commercial
pop album with (I am afraid
to say) me singing!!!
Useful for clearing the
dojo out! The pop album
is called 'Head in the
Clouds' and should be
available in November
this year. I also enjoy
making documentaries and
DVDs on martial arts to
capture the moment - keeps
me very busy!
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| MI:
Thank
you kindly for your time. |
| |
Fay
Goodman
Nanadan Renshi |
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by
Paul Swainson
© 2005 MI Magazine
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