When you no longer notice time as it slips past each present moment is a desired effect of practice and training. Why? Once you forget time and just remain in that present moment practicing and training for each moment exclusively you may find that time passes in a different way. It seems today that the time that passed since Sho-dan in 79 is but a flash to the present moment.
I cannot say when I stopped considering time but instead just practiced and trained daily, in the moment. I just suddenly realized one day due to some event I undertook that suddenly I had spent thirty some odd years in practice and training. It is like when I think of my first day at MCRD Parris Island, 1972, I find it interesting that this occurred forty years past - incredible how time flies when you pay it no attention, i.e. focus on the minutes, hours and days.
I look forward to retirement from work. Why? Because I intend to take my watch and throw it in the back of the closet. I will try my utmost to convert my body and mind over to time as dictated by nature, i.e. night to day to night, summer to fall to winter to spring, etc. I hope to leave the calendar off the wall and simply track movement by the moment in accordance with nature.
In karate-jutsu-do in the beginning time was something one tried to get past quickly as time was attached to the award of levels or rank or colored belts. To say I took only one year to achieve a black belt was pretty impressive and today it is more the meaning of the black belt and the time has fallen off and out of the mind. It is more important to remain true to the meaning of black belt then to actually wearing one or saying I am one or saying I achieved this distinction in only a year or so.
Shifting paradigms is another important aspect of following the more traditional/classic way of the empty hand. We begin as one thing and if we are successful we shift into something else - continuously for change is forever, moving is forever and thinking of practice and training as ephemeral is the way.
Think about the successes. Think about the failures to guide you toward the successes. Think about the moment, remain present and in that moment for all training and practice. Far better than focusing on the time, i.e. the time to the next class; the time to the next tournament; the time to the next belt test; the time to reach black belt.
What does it require inside yourself to achieve the level that benefits your practice and training? Some considerations as you travel the way of the empty hand!
There once was a young man who practiced hard for over ten years on just one kata. He just couldn't get it but he forgot about all else but learning that one thing. No matter what was done and how hard all the dojo worked diligently and continuously this young man just couldn't get it down. He came every class with few exceptions. He gave one hundred fifty percent of his time and effort with motivation and desire, every single session. Now, that to me is a black belt! He hasn't quit yet and this was around 1991 to 2001.
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