I have often said that in the beginning of training you must spend a great deal of time and effort understanding the forms. However, some people have gone and read Hatsumi Soke's books and noticed that what he has been saying is to abandon form; that form is not the way of the art. That is true. But you must realize that he is not speaking to you unless you are a 5th degree or above. That concept in particular is intended for godan, as are most of his writings. Soke continually reminds us that he teaches only at the Godan level. He does not teach form, but he will be quick to recommend that you learn the forms from a qualified teacher if you need to.

Some people we have seen are too eager to reach the formless state. They try for formless but only attain worthless. Some teachers act like Hatsumi Sensei instructing a class full of godans, but their students are the ones who lose, because they believe they can do something when they can't. You have got to have form in order to lose it. What that means to the average student is not to concern yourself too much with all the variations of the techniques we do. While this is an art that encourages and actually depends on your creativity and improvisational skills, you must understand that these abilities develop spontaneously through years of practicing forms.

In the first year of your training, do not try to be creative. Stick to what's shown. If you can't make a technique work, don't automatically go off on some variation of your own. Don't worry about how you look to others. Find out why it didn't work, and practice until it does work. Then, once you have understood the essential elements of the waza being shown, you can see and apply variations. I can't stress enough how important that is.

Here is an example: a particular kata, Koku, for example, doesn't work for Student #1. He misses the keri-kaeshi counter kick to the enemy's kick. He just can't get the timing and distancing to connect with his foot. So instead, he throws a punch and grabs. He shouldn't continually do this. he should stop, start over and work on the method. Maybe he sees Student #2 punching and grabbing instead of kicking, and he knows Student #2 is almost a black belt, so he thinks it must be O.K. to change. But maybe he doesn't realize that Student #2 can do the technique forwards, backwards and blindfolded. There is nothing wrong with Student #2 changing the technique, because he knows it well. Student #1 should work at understanding and applying the correct methods, so that he can one day be able to properly change techniques too.

Once you mast the forms, yes, you can break them apart and put them together in whatever way works for you. To be able to do that without thought or effort is an important vital skill. But there is no shortcut to attaining that; no quick training trick to give you that ability. The fastest way to really get there is the slowest way. Shortcutting this process leads you nowhere at all.

Think of it this way: you are a clear glass of water. The techniques shown to you are like spoonfuls of sugar. You can see the sugar as you put it into the water. It floats down and settles on the bottom of the glass. Put in the spoon and stir it up. After a while, depending on the temperature and hardness of the water, the sugar vanishes, and all that remains is the clear water.

Forms and techniques are added to you like sugar into water, and as you practice (like the stirring spoon) the techniques are worked into you. After a while, you can't see the forms anymore. They dissolve without any visible trace. But you know they are in there, even though you can't see them, because you put them there. Like the sugar, you can taste them.

I can't tell how long it will take until the forms vanish inside of you. It depends on how much you stir (practice), and how hard your water is (tension). If the water has impurities, that doesn't help. Try to be pure and ready. A relaxed body indicates a relaxed mind. Both of these are absolutely necessary to do what it is we do. I hope everyone can understand and absorb what I have said.

Shidoshi Ken Harding, 6th Dan, heads the Missouri Ninja Center in St. Louis. He started his training in 1984, has trained with Hatsumi Soke in Japan, and studies Japanese, Yoga, shiatsu, herbology and nutrition. He may be contacted via E-mail: Shadowswrd@aol.com.