Do simple things well.

My friend Jonathan Kirby from Kagemusha Taiko in Exeter (UK) said he really believes in "doing simple things well." I've really come to believe that myselfl.

Mind you, I love going off on a highly syncopated, extremely rapid improvised riff here and there, but where I really feel "doing simple things well"has the most impact is in learning and teaching.

I see this in both taiko and karate - students want to do more, learn more, try more. That's not really a bad thing unless the foundations are missing. In karate, a lot of students want to spar well before they have the tools to effectively do so. They don't realize that we're teaching them the basic skills of distancing, timing, positioning, and reaction in partner drills, and they often don't see the connection. When they actually get to spar, they forget half of what we've taught them; they run away from the attack, they flail at the attack in an awkward attempt to parry it, and they throw attacks without any thought to targeting or distance. It's not simple and it's far from well! We almost have to wind up re-teaching them how to apply their previous lessons.

With taiko, sometimes I see players who want the newest and most "fun" thing. I can't say that's inherently bad - many taiko players are just in it for the fun of playing, after all. But for a lot of players, I don't think they realize that without those solid fundamentals of striking, control, movement, etc., the fancy stuff looks and sounds...off. It's not "sexy" to work on basics, but with rare exception, the most talented musicians/artists have mastered their basics first.

I also know teachers sometimes want to impart too much to their students, whether in a taiko group, workshop, or dojo. Without making sure a student knows what they're doing or can do it well, adding more material in a relatively short time benefits no one. I know sometimes in teaching a group, one has to move forward even if a few people are left behind or overwhelmed. But if the philosophy of the teacher is to throw too much information at the class/student, only those who are lucky enough to absorb it AND implement it benefit.

In karate, there's something very satisfying in a lower belt doing a beginning form well. Just recently, in practicing for an upcoming tournament, we had everyone compete in forms to get used to the procedure. All ranks under black belt were in the same division. Some of the advanced belts got worse scores than some of the beginners, because the simple things were missing from the advanced forms: intention, clarity of movement, etc. Those beginners who have a solid foundation now have the best chance to keep it down the road.

In taiko, it's amazing how a simple pattern done well can stand out. Yes, a well-excuted fancy-ass solo is amazing to watch, but they're pretty rare, to be honest. Having the technique and the presence to play something as simple as a straight beat (right left right left) in a solo and do it well really shines. Something so simple requires clarity of striking, which to me is the basic of basics of taiko. I've seen it in fancy songs as well as in Odaiko solos.

It's hard to convince people to learn slowly, but that's why children do it so well - they're not in a hurry to learn things, and they take lessons one at a time without complaint. Adults are impatient and want to learn the "fun" things. As teachers and as students, adults want it new and want it now. If every taiko player or martial artist took one basic skill and polished it, there would be such dyamic change across the board. Maybe not in EVERYONE, but since the basics are the foundation for everything following, only good can come from it.

Do simple things well.