平静を保つ
Heisei wo tamotsu
To maintain one's composure
The best warriors know how to remain calm. The other day someone sent me a DM asking me this question: “Can Aikido work on an animal?” I never answered because I thought the question was moot. Then a coyote followed me this morning for a quarter mile while I was on my walk at 5:00 am while it was still dark outside. Most times the coyote kept its distance but there was one moment when it came about 20 feet from me. When that happened, I stopped and turned to face it. We stood there for a minute and just stared at each other and then it just turned and walked away. The coyote trailed me for a little while then abruptly ran off. During the rest of my walk, I thought seriously about this person’s question. The question was accompanied by a link to an article about Mas Oyama, the founder of Kyokushin Karate who was famous for fighting bulls and actually killing three with his bare hands. I imagine this was the impetus for this question. Most martial arts use pain compliance, intimidation techniques or psychological warfare to “win” fights and so, based on this, most martial arts would not be effective against animals who are bigger, stronger, more agile or hungrier. Apart from brute strength or a weapon, our minds are probably our best weapon in defeating an animal. If that is true then our biggest asset lies in our ability to maintain our composure. Being calm enables us to make the right decision at the right time which will hopefully lead to the right outcome. In randori (乱取り) or “freestyle” Aikido training, we usually take on several attackers at once. In the beginning of this type of training, all the opponents attack with the same attack. As one progresses in their training, the attackers are allowed to attack with any attack. This type of training tests our spontaneity and our ability to flow but most of all it tests our ability to remain calm. Whether or not a martial art can work against an animal or not is not the point. British author, Leonard Woolf said, “Anyone can be a barbarian; it requires a terrible effort to remain a civilized man.” The true test of a person is whether or not they can remain calm and retain their humanity in the face of adversity. An attack is an attack, regardless if it comes from a person or an animal. What matters is if we have the composure to face whatever comes and that is why the best warriors know how to remain calm.
Today’s goal: No matter what happens, be calm and don’t lose your head.