As the year begins, it is helpful to remember that each of us is only human. Therefore, the study of Aikido is really just the study of one’s humanity.
Why do most traditional martial arts talk about this idea of “one cut, one kill?” The reason is because of mercy. To beat someone to death or hack them to death is inhumane. The Japanese expression for this is tekinishio wo okuru (敵に塩を送る) or “to show humanity even to one's enemy.” This adage comes from the Sengoku period and the rivalry between Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen. Shingen was under siege and had his supply lines cut off and was about to be overtaken by another warlord named Hojo. Upon hearing this, Uesugi sent Takeda salt and a note that read, “Wars are to be won with swords and spears, not with rice and salt.” Understanding this, the sophisticated Aikidoist understands that the opponent who faces them might be their “enemy” but that they are also a human being. If we can see that they are a human being, then the person who confronts us requires mercy and even if we have to kill them, we do it as mercifully as possible. Therefore, a good martial artist trains themselves to end it with a single cut, strike, or throw.
Anyone can injure another; it is quite simple and the act of balling one’s fist takes no training at all. What does require training, because it does not come second nature, are things like kindness, compassion, or forgiveness especially in the heat of the moment. The prolific swordsman Yagyu Munenori said, “To cut a man with a single blow is easy. To avoid being cut by a man is difficult.” The trap is to think that when a person attacks us, it gives us the right to brutally do away with them. We can and would be within our rights to do so. However, just because we can doesn’t mean that we should.
The art of Aikido is at a crossroads. What is going to save Aikido is not being able to demonstrate to the world that Aikido is effective. Effectiveness in any art is really up to the practitioner, not the art. What is going to save Aikido is what saves each and every one one of us: humanity. None of us exists in a vacuum. Every day we exist because of the humanity of others. Aikido is a different kind of martial art because the safety of the opponent is taken into consideration. The reason is because the “other” does not exist and thus the harm we are inflicting is really just harm to ourselves.
The dojo is no different. No one shows up good at Aikido. It is helpful to remember that each of us was a person who didn’t know anything. Therefore, this year, I would like my students to be guides not guards. A prison guard keeps people in line by barking orders. A guide figures out where a person is and helps them get to where they need to go. When someone is not with the program, the guard uses threats of violence. When someone loses their way, the guide helps them get back on the path. I don’t want my students to mindlessly bark orders at people because that is “the way we have always done it.” I want my students to look at the person, figure out where they are, and help guide them forward.
It is helpful to remember: Every person is suffering and going through their own stuff. Every person is inherently good and only doing the best that they can. Every person is also only human and human beings make mistakes. Therefore, every person deserves kindness, compassion, and forgiveness, just like you.
Aikido is applied humanity. If we see the world as bad, then every problem needs a punch in the face. If we can change our outlook, then we can see that each person needs humanity and not an ass kicking. Humanity is a choice and that is why the best train themselves in Aikido.
Today’s goal: Give kindness. You never know what someone else is going through.
Watch this short video to better understand empathy.