{"id":2328,"date":"2025-07-28T14:29:24","date_gmt":"2025-07-28T05:29:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/budobooks.jp\/?p=2328"},"modified":"2025-07-28T20:35:43","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T11:35:43","slug":"budo-beat-30-duelling-crabs-and-lessons-in-kufu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/budobooks.jp\/?p=2328","title":{"rendered":"Budo Beat 30: Duelling Crabs and Lessons in Kuf\u016b"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The \u201cBudo Beat\u201d Blog features a collection of short reflections, musings, and anecdotes on a wide range of budo topics by Professor Alex Bennett<\/a>, a seasoned budo scholar and practitioner. Dive into digestible and diverse discussions on all things budo\u2014from the philosophy and history to the practice and culture that shape the martial Way.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
The Nito Seminar in Idaho, organised by Robert Stroud-sensei, was held for the first time in six years\u2014drawing an impressive crowd of one hundred eager participants. Nito, or two-sword technique, is a style of Japanese swordsmanship in which the practitioner wields both a long sword (dait\u014d<\/em>) and a short sword (sh\u014dt\u014d<\/em>) simultaneously. Famously championed by Miyamoto Musashi, Nito demands exceptional coordination, strategy, and adaptability, making it both challenging and deeply rewarding to study.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

I was just in Idaho attending a rather splendid Nito Kendo seminar. One might rightly wonder how a hundred earnest kendoka, each suddenly brandishing two swords instead of one, could achieve any form of martial coherence. Yet somehow, under the watchful guidance of Fujii-sensei and his trusted band of assistants, confusion gradually yielded to pockets of revelation. The instructors wisely abstained from spoon-feeding their charges; instead, they nudged everyone gently yet insistently toward thinking outside the box, each participant tasked with solving their own technical and conceptual riddles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watching the fascinating spectacle of \u2018duelling crabs\u2019 unfold, the Japanese word kuf\u016b<\/em> (\u5de5\u592b) came to mind. It\u2019s not exactly budo jargon, but you here it a lot in in the dojo. Miyamoto Musashi himself was fond (exceedingly so, in fact) of this little gem, scattering it rather liberally through the pages of his Gorin-no-Sho<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
The head instructor for the seminar was Fujii-sensei, Kyoshi 8th Dan, who travelled from Japan to lead the training with Ako-sensei (in the photo), Ugajin-sensei and Sato-sensei. His guidance brought clarity and depth to the complexities of Nito, inspiring participants to explore the style with renewed purpose.
Photo by Alf Tan.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Literally, the word comprises two characters: \u5de5, meaning \u201ccraft\u201d or \u201cconstruction\u201d, and \u592b, a \u201cperson\u201d or \u201cworker\u201d. Originally, it suggests something akin to \u201ca person diligently at work\u201d. An individual grappling earnestly with their materials, shaping them through persistent, thoughtful effort. In budo, these \u201cmaterials\u201d might be some troublesome technique, kata<\/em>, strategy, or even one\u2019s own temperament. Thus, the word captures that spirit of personal experimentation, adaptation, and continuous refinement lurking at the heart of budo practice. If I had to render it into English, I\u2019d say something along the lines of \u201ctrial-and-error refinement\u201d or “innovation”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What makes kuf\u016b<\/em> particularly resonant in this context is the emphasis it places squarely on the practitioner\u2019s shoulders, not the instructor\u2019s. Fujii-sensei could point the way, certainly, but each practitioner had to forge their own path to understanding what they needed to do. The secret lies not simply in following prescribed patterns, but rather in dissecting them, rearranging the pieces, and constructing something personal from them. In light of a previous post I did on the concept of hyakuren jitoku<\/em> (you can access the blogpost here<\/a>), this is the difference between merely repeating and becoming an active craftsman of your own budo. It is, in the end, not just technical training but an intimate manifestation of perseverance and using your brain. In a way, hyakuren jitoku<\/em> and kuf\u016b<\/em> make the perfect, rounded couple. Two sides of the keiko<\/em> coin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let me break it down further. In the context of budo, kuf\u016b<\/em> embodies more than just ingenuity or diligent, creative effort. It represents the silent work that occurs during and between formal keiko<\/em>. In other words, the trial-and-error tinkering in your mind and body as you replay a sensei\u2019s instruction, test an idea, or wrestle with some technical or philosophical impasse. Kuf\u016b<\/em> isn\u2019t usually a short process; it\u2019s a long and often lonely detour that transforms rote repetition into meaningful skill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The path of budo is rarely straight. It winds, dips, and doubles back. But that\u2019s what makes the journey rich, surprising, and worth every step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you venture deeper into budo, you find it\u2019s less about physical prowess and more about a meandering mental odyssey. This is the fun stuff. It\u2019s a lifelong dialogue between mind and body, a perpetual negotiation between intention and action. Beneath each strike or throw lies a dense network of decisions; a quiet calculus involving timing, distance, and purpose. The casual observer sees only surface violence; the practitioner navigates an intricate mental chess game, balancing clarity of intention and development of character, qualities far more enduring than one-off victories. In this sense, the greatest opponent is always the self.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A key idea here is to \u201chold doubts\u201d about what you are being taught and work out a way to reconcile this and make it work for you. A classic verse from budo lore encapsulates this well:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTrain with enough doubt that it drives deep kuf\u016b<\/em>;
what you unravel through that struggle becomes your real insight.\u201d[1]<\/a><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
This condensed wisdom speaks volumes about budo training. You must question deeply and use doubt as a catalyst for growth. Doubt ensures complacency never settles in; each movement must be reconsidered and perfected through rigorous contemplation and action. Doubt is the gritty spice that makes your budo stew palatable, feeding kuf\u016b<\/em> and turning dull routine into a feast of personal epiphanies.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n
\"\"
(c) Alex Bennett<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
Moreover, kuf\u016b<\/em> isn\u2019t necessarily about practising harder, but smarter. It means adjusting, reflecting, and improving with every iteration. Without kuf\u016b<\/em>, budo stagnates; with it, keiko<\/em> (and beyond) becomes a dynamic laboratory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Observing budo closely reveals a tension between disciplined routine and creative improvisation. Technique must become second nature, through hyakuren jitoku<\/em> = lots and lots of practice; yet it must also be continually questioned with the mindset of kuf\u016b<\/em> = how can I make this better?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Budo teaches resilience, mostly by forcing you into regular, uncomfortable self-examinations. Setbacks aren\u2019t failures. They\u2019re just highly instructive inconveniences. That well-worn adage, \u201cFall down seven times, stand up eight\u201d, isn\u2019t merely motivational twaddle to instil a never-say-die attitude; it\u2019s an essential budo survival strategy. But here\u2019s the catch: it only works if seasoned liberally with kuf\u016b<\/em>. As one of my sensei impressed upon me recently, “The artistry we are all after stays forever tantalisingly out of reach, neatly sidestepping arrogance and embracing humility instead.”<\/p>\n\n\n
\n
\"\"
Daruma dolls are round, hollow figures based on Bodhidharma, the founder of Zen Buddhism. With their wide eyes and weighted bases, they are made to pop back up when knocked over, symbolising the spirit of nanakorobi yaoki<\/em> (fall down seven times, get up eight). In Japan, people often colour in one eye when setting a goal, and fill in the other once it is achieved. These simple figures are more than decorations; they quietly remind us to keep going, no matter how many times we stumble.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe blowing wind, the snow, the hail, the blooming flowers all become part of one\u2019s kuf\u016b<\/em> in the diligent pursuit of your art.\u201d[2]<\/a><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
In other words, these natural phenomena aren’t simply picturesque distractions. They symbolise the unpredictable elements inherent in any journey. A practitioner of budo constantly confronts shifting circumstances and unexpected challenges (just as one navigates changing weather) and learns to use each obstacle or opportunity as a chance for deeper understanding, improvisation, and growth. Kuf\u016b<\/em> thrives precisely because conditions are rarely ideal or predictable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Perhaps the true beauty of budo lies in this paradoxical balance: it’s structured yet flexible, disciplined yet spontaneous, rigorous yet liberating. Engaging in budo, therefore, demands an open-minded acceptance of life’s complexities, turning even the most mundane detail into fertile ground for creative insight and continuous refinement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf in quiet moments you diligently cultivate the concept of kuf\u016b<\/em>, your heart will remain unperturbed when the moment of truth arrives.\u201d[3]<\/a><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
After all, budo (much like life) is essentially an exercise in cheerful pragmatism. Musashi understood this clearly: to expect perfect conditions is foolish, but to adapt creatively to chaos\u2026 now that\u2019s a mark of genuine progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
[1]<\/a> Tomita Yoshinobu (ed.), Shiry\u014d Nihon Kend\u014d<\/em>, (Tomita Yoshinobu, 1982) p. 107<\/p>\n\n\n\n
[2]<\/a> Kumamoto Jitsud\u014d, Bud\u014d Ky\u014dhan<\/em>, (Buy\u014dkan, 1895) p. 108<\/p>\n\n\n\n
[3]<\/a> Murakami Teiji, Kend\u014d Ny\u016bmon<\/em>, (Airy\u016bd\u014d, 1956) p. 165<\/p>\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The \u201cBudo Beat\u201d Blog features a collection of short reflections, musings, and anecdotes on a wide range of budo topics by Professor Alex Bennett, a seasoned budo scholar and practitioner. Dive into digestible and diverse discussions on all things budo\u2014from the philosophy and history to the practice and culture that shape the martial Way. I was just in Idaho attending a rather splendid Nito Kendo...","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2339,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[70],"class_list":["post-2328","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-b-b-blog","tag-kufuu"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/budobooks.jp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2328","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/budobooks.jp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/budobooks.jp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/budobooks.jp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/budobooks.jp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2328"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/budobooks.jp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2328\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2355,"href":"https:\/\/budobooks.jp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2328\/revisions\/2355"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/budobooks.jp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2339"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/budobooks.jp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2328"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/budobooks.jp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2328"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/budobooks.jp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2328"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}