A Warrior Leaves No Room For Doubt

A Warrior Leaves No Room For Doubt

“The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who doesn’t ask is a fool for life.” Confucius 

Having utagai (疑い) or “doubt” comes from being uncertain of one’s self which creates an opening for an opponent to attack. It’s said, “A good student does the right thing at the right time.” We learn to do the right thing at the right time by asking questions. When we don’ know something, we ask - it’s that simple. The simple things are often the most difficult. Asking can be embarrassing as it illustrates the fact that we don’t know something and that touches on our fear that we aren’t good enough. Asking is also an exercise in assertiveness as we learn to stand up for ourselves. Without knowing it, asking questions is the ultimate budo exercise. In the beginning, we learn to close all of our suki (隙) or “openings” so that there is no doubt which our opponents can’t use defeat us. Later on, we learn to create a controlled opening or vulnerability to control our opponent’s attack and defeat them. Asking questions is budo because it’s not about winning or losing but uncovering our weaknesses and having the courage to confront them and improve them. O’Sensei called this masakatsu agatsu or “The truest victory is over one’s self.” When a student can ask an honest question, not just to make conversation or suck up, then they will have become a person of conviction and thus reached a high level of training. Brene Brown said, “Vulnerability isn’t winning or losing; it's having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome. Vulnerability is not weakness; it's our greatest measure of courage.” Being truly vulnerable is the easiest most difficult thing one can do and we demonstrate that by asking questions when we don’t understand and only ask when it’s the most opportune time. By being vulnerable enough to ask questions, a warrior leaves no doubt. 

Today’s goal: Don’t leave any room for doubt, ask a question.