Dexterity and Clumsiness

In Budo, sometimes there are people who can watch a technique and immediately imitate it. This is “eyes” for watching techniques and the ability to control the body. In other words, it can be said to be the “ability to steal” that is important in practicing Budo. They might be called “dexterous”.

On the other hand, there are people who cannot immediately imitate a technique even if they watch it, and have difficulty learning it. Such people often have frustration and regret inside. They might be called “clumsy”.

However, it is difficult to say which is better in terms of practicing Budo.

Dexterous people can do it quickly, so they may be satisfied with that. They forget it before they really master the technique, and stop before they step on the profound path. This is why they are called “jack of all trades”.

Clumsy people cannot learn a technique unless they slowly repeat it over and over again. However, the technique they learn in this way will eventually become their own, and will become the foundation for moving on to the next level. The frustration and regret inside them are the driving force behind their practice. This is why it is said that clumsy people are the ones who ultimately achieve great things, and not just in Budo.

However, humans are not that simple, and they cannot be easily categorized as dexterous or clumsy. It is definitely better to have the “ability to steal,” and not all clumsy people are hard workers. Above all, humans change and grow.

It’s all about curiosity and repetition. The source of curiosity could be “interest,” “purpose,” or “emotion.” The source of repetition is probably “a spirit that is never satisfied with the status quo.” It is the role and responsibility of a teacher to guide this in the right direction according to the individual.

Hideto Usuyama
Kyoju-dairi, Vice Headquarters Director and Setagaya Branch Chief
Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu