The Easter Ham

In many martial arts “traditional” techniques are taught, that are often difficult to understand or apply.  If questioned, the Sensei will often explain away the technique with a pat answer such as “It a traditional Kata” or “It will become apparent when you advance in the art”  I am reminded of a story that helps to illustrate this and the inherent dangers of unquestionably going through the motions.

 Vicky was married in January and now here she was only 2 months latter, making her very first Easter dinner for her Husband and family.  She carefully prepared all of side dishes and then switched her attention to the ham.  As her husband watched, she carefully unwrapped the ham and laid it on the counter.  She then cut of the end and placed the ham it in to her spanking new roasting dish.  She carefully placed the end next to the ham, as she had seen her Mother do a dozen or so times before.  Fascinated by this ritual, her husband asked as she was glazing the ham “Why do you cut the end of the ham off”  “That’s they way my mother taught me” she replied.  “Yeah but why” he pushed.  “Well I don’t know, I’ll ask Mom when she arrives”

 Later that afternoon, the questioned was asked to her Mother.  She replied “Well that’s the way your grandmother taught me” “Yeah but why” Vicky and her Husband asked in unison.  “Well I don’t really know, lets call her and ask” Five minutes later they had Vicky’s Grandmother on the phone.  “Well I don’t rightly remember why, but that’s the way your Great Grandma taught me”.  The following weekend while Vicky was visiting her Great Grandma in the retirement home, she remembered the ham.  Great Grandma, can I ask you a question”  “Of course you can sweetheart” When you used to cook the Easter ham, why did you always cut the end off and place it next to the ham in the pan”  Great Grandma pondered the question for a moment and then replied “Well dear as you know you come from a very large family so I used to get a very big ham.  It was simply too big to fit in my small roasting dish”!!

 Be very careful in your lives.  Don’t fall into habits of just going through the motions with out asking “Why”.  At WQS we will only teach techniques and life skills that have a fully explainable purpose.  We would never insult your intelligence by just telling you “It just the way it is done”  If you have a question, we challenge you to ask it.

Simon Botoshi Clifford

WQS Martial Arts

1111 Rancho Conejo Blvd., Unit 503, Newbury Park, CA 91320

805/499 9033

Advertisement