I am writing to share some thinking I have about my training program in Japan.

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For several years I have been wondering how I can further adapt the way of ATA training to suit the cultural environment of Japan. Earlier this year I asked someone to research how Japanese educate themselves. She produced a great 8 page report.

So, based on this report and my own thinking of the last few years, I have decided to slowly do a total re-structure of the training program over the next five years. I plan to bring it more into line with training methods utilized in Japan in more traditional arts.

Basically I will introduce a martial arts "Dan" ranking system, with people like FM/Marj - originator and innovator of new teaching pedagogy - at Dan 10, ATA Directors at Dan 9, and a beginner who has completed 400 hours of study at Dan 1. I am working on all the intermediate levels at the moment. I will not use the "Dan" language, but for now this conceptual framework is the quickest way to get across my idea.

I will also stop using the moniker "Alexander Technique" for what I am doing, and start calling it all "BodyChance" - while making it quite clear the work is still based on Alexander's discoveries. Three main reasons for that:

1. It may be upsetting and confusing for the AT community if the new system still goes by the name "AT". So now it will be "BC"!
2. I want to clearly (in the market) differentiate those people who have done the BodyChance training, from those who have done a more traditional (or even non-traditional) process of Alexander training: particulary those teachers who focus on chair and table work. which my trainees do not.
3. I want to build a wealthy company that can afford research and development projects out of its profits. Bodychance is a trade-mark name that no-one will be permitted to use without the company's permission.

So part of this process is creating definite "skill levels" that people can meet while slowly making their way up the Dan system. I think this incentifies learning - people can begin to use their skills as they progress, rather than the "all or nothing" approach of the ATA's current 4 years of training. In my expereince, a great way to know a subject is to teach it to others. So I want to create a training system that starts this process much earlier than the one ATA has now.

Roughly looking at it - someone who qualifies from the current ATA training would come out at Dan 7 level.

The place to start, I believe, is to offer a "certification" in Body Mapping. Body mapping, as far as I am concerned, is clearly expressed in Alexander's writing, albeit in a nascent form. I don't feel that Barbara Conable and her Andover educators have an intellectual claim to exclusivity to the concept and method. Bill Conable agrees and has indicated that he will work with me to create this "certificate" level of BodyChance training. However, we are still figuring out how we can do that!

Much as I like the system Barbara has gone on and created with Andover Educators, I don't like some of the things she puts in, and some of the things she leaves out! So I have the idea to develop - with Bill's & other's support I hope - a fresh look at the whole process and a new way, for Japan, of introducing a process of educating people to throw out all garbage of their conceptional thinking vis-a-vis the body and bring their conceptual constructions more in line with the truth of their system.

After that I am considering other levels of "certification" which give permission for people to run courses. I am thinking of a "Movement Analysis" certification, a "Principles Course" certification - both of these would have several "steps" in them. Usually, from one Dan to the next Dan, there are several "kyu" steps between each Dan level. Examples of "kyu" that would need to be collected to move to the next Dan level would be: Books Study, Teaching Pedagogues, Application Project etc.

I am sure you feel some concern at the "trademark" aspect of BodyChance. Basically it will be true that students are locked into the BodyChance system until they reach Dan 7/8 (?). At this level, as I am thinking these days, you are able to start your own "dojo"/lineage. Whether this is all realistic or pie-in-the-sky is still be open to discussion!

Anyway - my intention at the moment is to develop this training in parallel with the current ATA Training, so no-one will be effected immediately by these plans. Obviously I am keen to share with all of you about it when you next come to Japan, and meanwhile read your first reation, suggestions and concerns and work with you in a way that seems appropriate. I always see your involvement as essential in the training of others here in Japan, whatever outer form I might create for it.

BodyChance is not me doing a David Gorman by the way. I am not "inventing" a new technique. In all the publicity, BodyChance will be clearly indicated as a technique based on the discoveries of F. Matthais Alexander. Visiting teachers will continue to be called "Alexander Technique" teachers, so anyone coming up close knows for sure that we are really pursuing the Alexander work, albeit in a non-conformist manner!

Thanks for giving your time to read my letter. And when you have time to reply, I will enjoy reading it.

cheerfully and with love

Jeremy
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Jeremy Chance
Training Director
Alexander Technique Associates of Japan Ltd. (ATA)
Office Hours 12.00 to 18.00 (Mon/Wed/Fri)
Tel: 0120-844.882 (within Japan only)
Tel/Fax: ++81-(0)3-3951.4199
http://www.alexandertechnique.co.jp
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