26/08/2008

A Martial Story

Our lives are like a story we tell to ourselves, others and the world at large. We are constantly writing out our day to day existence in one way or another – from the revelation of portions of our ‘Character’ to the events we interpret from our living narrative. No one can see the entire text, but different points of view provide a different script, depending on what story points, characters and events we reveal and how this meshes with the filter their own story provides. Often it has been said that martial arts are a way of life – who we are as well as what we do. To this end, it follows that Taijustu has a story of its own.To tell a good story, you need certain things to be present, and in the right quantities and right places. You also need to have the things in the proper order. Taijutsu is the same. One way I have looked at illustrating this is as follows: 

-Kamae (Letters)

These are the structure that everything else relies on, the foundation of stories in general, the underlying building blocks everything else grows from. 

-Sanshin (Spelling)

This is the basic way of linking your letters to each other to create specific words. This creates a vehicle to transport our letters into something that is beginning to be useful. 

-Kihon (Simple sentences)

This is where we begin to string our letters and distinct words together to make something more appropriate to the moment at hand. How the words and letters are arranged bring us a coherency to the concept of literacy. 

-Disruption of Opponent (Punctuation)

Stories are meant to be read by others. This step begins to be more aware of an audience or a recipient and is aimed to channel their input. Punctuation creates the framework for the reader to move within, and begins to set their timing with the story. 

-Breaking Balance (Basic Plot)

This step is where we begin moving the reader into specific conclusions and directions within the story. Here we move them from their previous opinions or positions and help them into line with the story we would like to tell. 

-Pain (Character Development)

At this point, we may need to introduce specific characters into the mix, providing the tools with which we present the story and set up the readers likes and dislikes within our framework. This can be done with one or more major characters, or a number of smaller characters with similar traits. The characters are used to create a specific response in the reader, and shape their perception as the story progresses. 

-Timing (Plot Twists)

Here is where we rapidly take the reader away from a preconceived decision or perception of the story or a character. These are used to maintain control of the reader’s opinions. This step allows you to change the flow of the storyline, and is used to conceal from the reader the direction of the plot, keeping them fully immersed in the story we tell. 

-Distance (Pace)

How you space the earlier steps controls the flow of the story. Each element has to be applied at the right place in the story to provide a specific flow to catch the reader up. If the events within the story aren’t given the right pace, they can be missed by the reader, leaving them harder to be drawn into your story, and resisting the changes of perception our story is creating. Alternately, the reader can become so overtaken by the points in the story, that when specific actions within the tale are presented, they have been robbed of validity. 

-Kyojustu (Suspense)

This is a slightly less concrete ingredient within the story. This is the use of all the other factors within our story to create a sense of the unknown or doubt in the readers perception. This can be used to create a belief in a reader that is later revealed to be false, or a preconception of something being false is actually a truth. This tool can also be the bridge between the story and reality. 

Sometime 2008

Its been a while....

Well, I have finally found some time to update the site a little.

I'll be trying to get some new content up and running over the next couple of days, update the forum, etc.

If there is any content you would like to see added, please let me know and wheels will be set in motion... maybe even in the right direction.

I'm going to try to add some embedded video to the site as well, but as yet am not quite sure how - we live to learn...

Cheers,

Alan 

We are slowly getting into the swing of this web-page thing - aside from some minor (and frustrating) problems. The forums are running, but when editing or adding a forum it still puts the edit window at the very bottom of the page. I will continue to try to get this sorted, but patience is a virtue...

The Catalogue and Shop are running now - there is still a small problem with the checkout ( the payment options section is in white text on a white background) but I am working to remedy this.

I will continue to add more stock as we go, but this is a slow process so please bear with me...

Cheers

Alan

We finally have the site functioning - there is still much more work to be done, but everything should now be working

Site up and running.

• We finally have the site functioning - there is still much more work to be done, but everything should now be working!

• The shop is fully functional and will accept payment either online (PAYPAL), via Internet banking, or CASH (Only accepted if you are in my class...)

• More items will be added to the shop stock as we go along (I am only doing this in my spare time).

• I have added a message board/forum to the site. This is open to anyone, but will be moderated (By me at this stage).

• I am working to improve the site as we go so suggestions are welcome - though not always followed...

• Same thing goes for the shop - If there is anything in particular you would like to have available, please ask and I will see what I can do. If I don't know you want it, I can't get it for you, so speak up.

 Cheers,

Alan.