KIAI Instructor Interview--Wayne Hanley

KIAI Instructor Interview--Wayne Hanley

Interview conducted by Brett Denison

This article the latest in a continuing series of interviews with the various Instructors within KIAI

KIAI: How old were you when you start training in the martial arts, and what made you start?

Wayne: I was 11 years old when I started training that was almost 33 years ago. As for what made me start, well I guess it breaks into three main reasons. The first was opportunity; an older boy joined the high school that I had started attending who had just returned from living in Asia where his father had been stationed with the Diplomatic Corp. He had gained a Black Belt in a martial art called Soo Bahk while he was there and decided to take a couple of us young kids under his wing. The second reason was desire, when I was very young I watched avidly a black and white T.V. series called “The Samurai” and wanted to be just like it’s main character “Shintaro”, a stalwart of the seven Samurai virtues; honour, loyalty, courage, rectitude, benevolence, courtesy and honesty. The third reason was necessity, as I inferred earlier I started high school at 11, the second youngest in that year and I was small, I found that I had the necessity.

KIAI: What made you start practicing sword arts?

Wayne: In 1983 I started with my original style of Jujutsu (it quite properly should have been called a Bujutsu school), in the style various weapons were taught including the sword, and once again the old “Shintaro” in me surfaced.

KIAI: Did you ever have the chance of actually using your martial arts--especially your sword art?

Wayne: Unfortunately yes. With martial arts covering most of my life, and with several years spent as a security guard, there have been a number of occasions where the training has come in handy.

KIAI: Are you a full time instructor, if so, what are the benefits and challenges?

Wayne: I am a full time instructor, along with my wife I run the Kokoro Ryu Martial Arts Centre in Campbelltown, Australia. The benefits are numerous; with everything from simply being able to do something we love on a daily basis, to the pleasure of helping others to achieve goals.

As for the challenges, well one of the downfalls of the Samurai class during the Tokugawa period was that they went from being a warrior class to being administrators, and as I would rather see myself as possessing a Warrior spirit than just being an administrator, the big challenge has been to remember that our Dojo is a business. A full time instructor is a part time instructor, as well as a part time cleaner, ad exec., accountant, shop assistant, counselor, file clerk, handyman etc. etc. etc.

KIAI: If you had the chance to start all over again, would you choose to pursue the martial arts?

Wayne: Without a second’s hesitation, the martial arts have been the constant in my life, and the “lessons” that they have taught me have helped and enriched all aspects of my life.

KIAI: How many times per week do you train?

Wayne: At the moment I teach at least 12 classes a week (20+ hours), and my wife takes an additional 8 classes as well as assisting in a number of those that I teach (17+ hours), outside that our personal training is only what we can squeeze in around running the Dojo.

KIAI: What do you think of under age (juvenile) black belts?

Wayne: Although it might sound a bit hypocritical, as I received my first Black Belt at 15, I do not agree with awarding Junior (under 16) Black Belts particularly to juveniles (under 12). We have a saying, “with rank comes responsibility”; and juniors are not mature enough to grasp the total “responsibilities” of the rank. We do not award Junior Brown or Black Belts.

KIAI: What is your opinion of competitive (sport) martial arts?

Wayne: Sport is sport, it serves a purpose.

Although the terms have become interchangeable, serious Japanese practitioners do differentiate, there is Budo (martial ways), which are the sports and recreations, and there is Bujutsu or the true “martial arts”. There is only a problem when martial sportsmen/women loose sight of what they are actually training in and believe they are the reincarnation of a Samurai warrior when the closest they have ever come to it is a “point sparring” tournament.

KIAI: Do you think the general public is misled about the ability and practicality of budo due to the media’s portrayal of martial arts and martial arts entertainers?

Wayne: Yes I do, but what I find more disturbing is the Instructors that try to capitalize on these images and place their students at risk by not dispelling the fantasies created by movies etc. We are all capable of amazing things, but we are not “Superman”.

KIAI: Do you think events like the “UFC,” etc. hurt or help martial arts?

Wayne: From the beginning of time mankind has used “arena” type blood sports to entertain and distract the masses. This style of event, the UFC, Shooto, Bushido etc. do distract, they distract people from the true essence of the study of Budo/Bujutsu.

KIAI: Do you think the non-tangible benefits of budo like self-confidence, self-reliance, self-respect, discipline, leadership, maturity, etc. are as important to young budoka as the physical ability to defeat or control another person in today’s sometimes deteriorating contemporary society?

Wayne: To me the most tangible benefits of my training in Bujutsu have been those non-tangible benefits you have mentioned, but I have the added benefit of hindsight. These benefits are important to young martial artists, but can only be as important as their Instructors make them.

KIAI: Where are martial arts, in general, heading?

Wayne: Martial arts will continue as it always has, with martial sports, movies, distractions, shonky instructors and the like, but luckily scattered around amongst all this will be dedicated practitioners who will not only preserve the integrity of the arts but will also wish to pass it on to future generations.

KIAI: What, in your opinion, is the greatest detriment to the martial arts?

Wayne: Politics!

KIAI: In your opinion, what is the ideal age to start martial arts training?

Wayne: We start teaching children from the age of 5, at that age we are generally just working on base skills; balance, coordination etc mixed with throwing, grappling, punching/kicking and an assortment of skill based games. We teach a broader curriculum once they enter the Intermediates (9 to 15 years), but we don’t start teaching the full art until they enter the seniors at about 16. What I have found is that everybody is an individual and that the ideal age for one child, adolescent or even adult is not the same for another.

KIAI: What is your favorite part of training in Japanese swordsmanship?

Wayne: To quote a couple of my newer students when they were asked much the same question about training in general; “It’s all good”

KIAI: What are your opinions and thoughts regarding tameshigiri, and do you practice it?

Wayne: Yes, we train in Tameshigiri, though we call it Matogiri. Tameshigiri means to test cut, but implies testing the sword, while Matogiri means “target cut” and implies to test the swordsman. We consider this an important part of Kenjutsu, after all, the sword is a cutting implement and we believe you are not training with it fully if you can not perform it’s basic function.

KIAI: What do you think of kendo’s “armored philosophy” versus chanbara’s “padded way”?

Wayne: In Kendo they have at least maintained the core philosophies of Budo, while with Chanbara the “sporting” element is pushed. More often than not once you put the headgear on someone and place a soft weapon in their hand they suddenly feel invincible, attempting stunts that they would never dare try if their opponent had a stick in their hand let alone a real sword. Our Peewees and Intermediates play Chanbara as a treat. Our Kenjutsu students regularly train in Gekken (Severe Sword); it’s like Kendo, but with more target areas and less restrictions (striking with the fist, elbows, knees etc. are allowed), as with Matogiri we believe “doing battle” is another important aspect of training with the sword.

KIAI: Do you own an authentic Japanese made shinken, if so, how does it compare to the modern shinken sold today?

Wayne: Yes, a couple. I use both an old Japanese blade and a couple of the modern Hanwei Katana we sell to cut with, they all cut well, so as a mechanical device I find very little difference, but the modern pieces do lack the “spirit” that the old Japanese blades have, they do not feel alive.

KIAI: What do you think of the many modern martial art systems that are trying to copy the ancient ryuha?

Wayne: My original Jujutsu/Bujutsu school was a Gendai (contemporary) style, my instructor’s instructor was last trained by a Japanese instructor some fifty odd years ago, although I have reestablished links with Japan and have both trained in Japan and with Japanese Sensei here in Australia and I have reintroduced many of the old customs, I still consider our style as a Gendai. We do emulate the old ways out or respect for our art’s origins, our style was once classified by an organisation I was a member of as Neo-classical. A term I do like.

So to answer your question, it would depend on the reason behind it. If it is to misrepresent them selves as something they are not, this is bad. If it is used to enhance their style, this is good. There is a lot to be said for the old ways.

KIAI: Do you think it is necessary to have at least a basic understanding of the native language and culture of the country of origin for the martial art(s) you train in?

Wayne: The culture of a country is what defines it as a society. I feel that to have an appreciation of the culture of the country that your art originates from is very important, not just that of the current society, but also the things that historically influenced its culture. This kind of appreciation helps to have a deeper understanding of your art. As for language I would have to say a basic understanding is required particularly if you intend to visit or train there.

KIAI: Wayne, thank you for taking the time to share some of your vast knowledge and experience, we wish you the best in your on-going Budo training.

(Please, visit the website of Hanley sensei at Kokoro Ryu Bujutsu Dojo)