Choosing a teacher

I can see where Manaka-san and Hatsumi-sensei may have had different views on the actual teaching of material.

There are many radically different ways to carry on training in the martial arts.

A true student - as opposed to a curious dabbler - needs to pick an approach that makes absolute sense to him or her and then work without distraction at getting through the lessons to reach the point of acquiring the skills desired.

A true dabbler - as opposed to a real disciple - will enjoy the freedom of hopping from one teacher to another without having to make the commitment that will require actual *discipline and willingness to change and grow* on his or her part.

Therefore, Hatsumi Sensei told his students to pick the approach that they felt most effective for them. If they want to train Manaka-style, they should do just that. If they want to train Hatsumi-style, they should do just that. It is just that simple. Train with the method that you feel is best for you, but do not waste your time trying to live up to two distinctly different sets of ideals.

Unfortunately, the more often the story gets told by way of the internet, the more simple and petty things sound. Actually, Hatsumi Sensei is much bigger as a person than that.

There is indeed a big difference in the two men's approach to training, based on what I have experienced since 1975. And it is true that things do change, too. Mr. Manaka is now teaching in a way very different from the way I was originally taught in the 1970s. It is also true that Dr. Hatsumi as well is running his class lessons very differently from what I experienced in the 1970s.

- Stephen K. Hayes