Go For Broke

奇貨可居
kikaokubeshi
You must seize every golden opportunity.

The best martial artists go for broke. “Go for broke!” was the war cry of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team during WWII. The 442nd was almost entirely comprised of Japanese Americans. To atattekudakero (当たって砕けろ) or “go for broke” is to take a chance when an opportunity presents itself. This “go for broke” mentality comes from the samurai who were supposed to have a mattanashi (待ったなし) or “it’s now or never” mindset. This was part of their resolve as warriors to seize every opportunity when it presented itself because they didn’t believe in second chances. To be able to seize an opportunity, one needs to be able to see one. Martial artists are supposed to constantly be searching for suki (隙) or “weak points” in their opponents. These openings are what they will use to gain an advantage over their opponents and defeat them. A martial artist searches so much so that they suki wo mitsukeru noga jozu desu (隙を見つけるのが上手です) or “get good at finding weak points.” Finding a weak point is only half of success. The other half in succeeding is to seize the initiative when it presents itself. Indirectly, this is something that we practice with every technique in class. When we are the nage (投げ) or “one who throws,” we are the ones being attacked. With every attack, we may not be aware, but we are teaching ourselves how to read our opponents movements and then seizing upon the opening when it presents itself. For the other half of the class, we act as the uke (受け) or “the one who receives the technique” and we are ones attacking. All attacks are irimi (入り身) based. Irimi means “to move forward.” Thus, with every attack we are unknowingly learning how to move in and seize the advantage. Therefore, simultaneously both the nage and the uke are working on seeing openings and seizing upon them. Seizing the initiative requires the proper timing but it also requires being able to see the opening and having the courage to act upon it. With time and experience, the ability to read the opponent and seize the initiative becomes second nature. This is where Aikido training bleeds over into daily life. We get so good at seeing opportunity and seizing upon it in class that we begin to do it in every aspect of our daily lives. This is why the martial arts is really about creating change. First, we need to realize that we either want something or that we have a problem that needs addressing (seeing the opening). Then we must have the ability to address it and take advantage of it or change it (seize the opportunity). Atattekudakero means “to go for broke” but it also means “nothing ventured, nothing gained.” Louis Pasteur said, “Chance favors only the prepared mind.” Pasteur knew that when the opportunity presents itself, we must be ready to take a chance because it’s now or never. That is why the best martial artists go for broke.

Today’s goal: Think about your life. Is there something that needs change? It’s now or never.