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Bringing Budo into Life.
Children and Budo
Learning not only to become strong, but to use strength wisely.
What We Hope Children Will Learn Through Budo
The purpose of children learning Budo is not simply to build a stronger body
or to become capable of defeating others.
To understand their own bodies.
To recognize their own emotions.
To challenge themselves even when something is difficult.
And to value and respect the person in front of them.
At IBMA KYOKUSHIN KAI, we hope that through these experiences,
children will grow into people who
know how to use their strength wisely.
What Does It Mean for a Child to Be “Strong”?
In Budo, we often speak about “becoming stronger.”
But we do not believe that strength simply means being stronger than someone else.
Taking one step forward even when you are afraid.
Trying again even after losing or failing.
Controlling yourself when you are angry.
Not using your strength against someone weaker than you.
These are also important forms of strength that children can learn through Budo.
Rei Is More Than Simply Bowing
In Budo, we bow at the beginning and end of training.
But the meaning of rei is not simply to follow a prescribed form or rule.
To value yourself.
And at the same time, to value the person in front of you.
It is because we have training partners that we are able to learn.
We believe that rei in Budo is
a way of learning to respect both oneself and others.
Confidence Does Not Mean Thinking You Are Better Than Others
Parents often tell us that they would like their children to gain confidence through Budo.
But genuine confidence does not come from thinking,
“I am stronger than other people,” or
“I am better than other people.”
Something that was once difficult gradually becomes possible.
Even after making a mistake, you can try again.
Even when you recognize your own weaknesses,
you can still continue moving forward.
Experiences like these gradually develop
the ability to believe in oneself.
Both Winning and Losing Can Be Opportunities to Learn
Budo includes competition, and competition produces winners and losers.
Working hard to win is important.
But if winning becomes the only goal,
we lose much of what Budo can teach us.
How do we behave when we win?
What do we think about when we lose?
What can we learn from failure?
We believe that learning from both victory and defeat
is an important part of education through Budo.
For Parents and Guardians
Our goal is not simply to make children “strong.”
Not simply to raise strong children,
but to help them become people who know how to use strength wisely.
To develop self-control.
To respect others.
To face difficulties rather than simply avoid them.
And to take what they learn in the dojo
into school, family life,
and eventually into society as adults.
That is the kind of Budo education for children
that IBMA KYOKUSHIN KAI seeks to provide.
Akira Masuda’s Approach to Budo
The approach to Budo education at IBMA KYOKUSHIN KAI reflects ideas
that Akira Masuda has developed through many years of Budo practice and research,
including such questions as
“What is strength?”, “What is rei?”, and
“How should we relate to other people?”
These ideas are explored in greater depth through the study of Takushin Budo,
as well as in Masuda’s writings and essays.
Would You Like to Experience Budo for Yourself?
Masuda Dojo welcomes visitors and offers free trial classes.
We invite you to observe an actual class and experience the atmosphere of the dojo
and our approach to instruction.
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