In the midst of the images of destruction in Japan, I was surprised to see an interview with actor George Takei, Star Trek’s Mr. Sulu. He had been on TV a lot lately, but always as an over-the-top gay character. So I couldn’t imagine what he could possibly contribute to shed additional light on the horrific events in Japan.
Thankfully, he was very serious and dignified and, as a proud Japanese-American, spoke about what enabled the Japanese people to endure such events. It was a quality he called gaman. I had never heard the term before and immediately looked it up.
Although the definition has many additional meanings, one dictionary simply defined gaman as “perseverance”.
I’d imagine those of us who have been in the martial arts for many years know gaman intimately, although we never had a name for it nor likely even knew there was a quality for which we needed a name. But when asked in a magazine interview a few months ago what one quality I thought most important to a martial artist, I said perseverance. (I didn’t yet know the word gaman or might have used it.)
It has been the pluggers (those who persevered), not the natural athletes (for whom everything was easy), that went the furthest at my dojo. Without gaman, it is impossible to reach the highest levels in the martial arts. You reach the top not by a giant leap but by millions of small steps. So, if you just keep training, day in and day out, you will be amazed at where it will eventually take you.
(For a great, much more indepth write-up on gaman, check out Goodin Shihan’s article on the following link: http://www.facebook.com/#!/notes/charles-c-goodin/gaman-to-bear-the-unbearable/10150166974430127)
Thanks again for reading my humble ramblings.
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