Henkou 変更

Training is built on infinite variations of techniques. These henka derive from the word henkou, which signifies change. Modifying, adapting, or revising a technique to fit the specific circumstances of a fight is a matter of flowing with the technique, and it is just as important as learning to perform the basic version with precision. There are no two situations that require the exact same version of a technique, and few that will not require quick thinking to adjust. Just as a technique can be reworked to fit any possibility with the right henka, so too can we unlock infinite possibilities for ourselves to align with change.

Change around us requires adaptation within us. This may be something we greatly resist, but when circumstances change and our entrenched habits or patterns of behaviour no longer fit them, we have work to do. At times like these, we may have to overhaul our self concept to find a variation of ourselves that we shed long ago, that we might have repressed, or that we need to build from the ground up. A new self-reference can release us from constricting thought patterns and make us better equipped to face the next wave of challenges that come our way.

The changes that happen within us often creep up on us when we least expect them,

formulating over a long period under the radar and finally slapping us in the face when something we take for granted suddenly feels out of sorts. When this happens, we may find we need to change our external circumstances to better fit our internal state. This may be even more challenging than changing our attitudes or expectations, as an external shift can impact all that we find familiar and comfortable, such as moving houses, leaving hometowns, or ending relationships.

As in budo when adapting our bodies to the variations in a fight, life changes require training so we may be better equipped to address them. Just as we must train our bodies to sense variation and to modify our approach as necessary, we must also train our minds and hearts to roll with the surprise punches that life throws. And just as we draw from our body of knowledge and our muscle memories to generate henka, we can draw from our past experiences to help us adapt to present circumstances, reminding ourselves of the difficulties we’ve overcome, the initial

discomforts that later turned into comforts, and the growth in our own characters over the years that we could never have imagined at the outset.

Change is one of the most polarizing realities of life. Circumstances, attitudes, ideas,

behaviours, and perceptions are all subject to change at any time. Whether welcomed or resisted, changes dismantle the familiar and make us somehow unfamiliar to ourselves. While some changes may be for the better and others seemingly for the worse, there is always a possibility to find a new strength or purpose as we navigate the shift. Even a painful change presents an opportunity, as pain often goes hand in hand with growth.

How we respond to change is ultimately up to us. Reminding ourselves that we are resilient, that we were built to shift and flow, and that change is not inherently good or bad, only full of potential helps us find and maintain peace at the times when we need it most. When we can appreciate the infinite possibilities inherent in every change we face, we can start to adapt with purpose and learn how to flow with whatever life brings us.

by a Senior Koroku Member 蝶