Are you centered?

In Aikido, all movement comes from the center.  In more generic terms, the movement in Aikido can be thought of as moving your hips (lower body) from one place to another.  When we think of "movement", we naturally think of how are feet transport us in space from one place to the next.  This is not entirely incorrect from a biomechanics perspective, but it is inaccurate from an Aikido or martial arts perspective.  As Aikidoists, we should think in terms of our hips and lower body and not just our feet.  If we just think feet or footwork then we run the risk of not properly aligning our center (hips) with our feet and thus find ourselves off balance.  One's center, hara (Japanese), or dan tien (Chinese) can be found just above where our hip bones crest.  We should think of moving this area from one place to the next and not moving just our feet.  In order to be "centered" our shoulders need to be back, our hips need to be aligned with our feet and our minds need to be calm.  From this place we can meet any challenge in a balanced way from our centers.

How do you choose...

Question: How do you choose what technique to do to a person when you are attacked? Answer: It basically comes down to the orientation of power administered by the attack.

Huh?  If a person is striking you or grabbing you, their power will be oriented in a certain way.  Striking attacks are designed to deliver power at a precise angle and to a precise spot.  For example if a person wants to knock you out using an uppercut punch, the torso is turned inward and the fist is turning while the back foot pivots and the upper body reaches up.  In grabbing attacks, how a person grabs you is based on what they want to do to you.  For instance if they want to pull you, many times the palm will be oriented upwards to engage the biceps and back musculature.

One has to know or understand not only how their opponent is attacking them but also how the person is utilizing their power in order to properly address any attack.  When you know these two things, you can defeat most opponents.

Recognizing the attack and its power base needs to be done in a blink of an eye.  Generally, most martial arts don't talk about these things because it is bad for the student to get caught "thinking."  That is why almost all martial arts are kata based in which the student repeatedly practices a set of prescribed movements and becomes proficient at them without thinking.  When it becomes "second nature" the practitioner unconsciously recognizes and meets similar attacks in a certain way.  Without knowing it their minds and bodies learn the proper way to address specific attacks and thus can act within a split second the right way without thinking.   The kata is how we learn it first with our bodies then later we come to understand it with our minds.  If a picture is worth a thousand words, then the kata is how we understand a thousand things with just one movement.

Thank you

I appreciate and are grateful to everyone who attended Sensei's services this weekend.  I know that Sensei would be happy that people still remember him even if it is this one day a year.  Let's try and stretch that out and put him into our hearts and prays everyday.

It reflects on you as a martial artist

Here is story from last weekend's dojo dance: The dance ended at 11:30 PM and many of the students stayed to help clean-up afterwards.  It was a difficult task as many them had already been up since 5:00 AM for early morning intensive and would undoubtedly not get home until close to 2:00 AM.  Naturally, the kaikan (meeting hall) was a mess and there was a lot to do.  This was the first time we had used this kaikan so we couldn't know or plan for the clean-up.  When the lights came on each student ran off and started cleaning up different areas.  One party goer commented, "Wow, you guys cleaned up fast."  When it came time to mop the entire hall at the end, a kind lady told us, "Oh, don't mop it all down.  Just spot mop it.  Nobody will notice."  One of the students replied, "That's OK.  We have to mop the whole thing."  The same lady came back later and commented, "This place has never been so clean.  I didn't even know it still shined."  She went and got other party goers that were still milling around to show them and they all agreed.

It made me so happy when this lady was praising us.  I wasn't happy because she praised us.  I was happy because in her praise she was validating our thoroughness as martial artist.  As martial artists our conduct reflects how well we are trained.  A tenet that warriors live by is, "Bushi no ichigon kintetsu no gotoshi" which roughly means that a warrior's word is gold.  We say we are martial artists then we must act like martial artists.  When we borrow something we give it back in the same condition or better.  There is no place for duplicity in the martial arts.  If we say we will do it then we will.  Our conduct, our actions and our word reflect on us as martial artists, as Aikidoists, as student's at the ACLA, on the dojo, on Sensei as our teacher, on Aikido as our art and on O Sensei as our founder.  As martial artists we have integrity and therefore our actions must mirror our words.

Martial artists never over estimate themselves

Psychology tells us that there are four stages of competence when it comes to learning.  The four stages:1. Unconscious incompetence 2. Conscious incompetence 3. Conscious competence 4. Unconscious competence

Thinking one is better than they are is the road to defeat.  In psychology when someone has the illusion that they are better than they are, it is called the Dunning-Kruger effect.  The Dunning-Kruger effect states that incompetent people will:

Fail to recognize their own lack of skill. Fail to recognize genuine skill in others. Fail to recognize the extremity of their inadequacy.

As a martial artist, our greatest enemy is our ego.  It is the one thing that all teachers try to suppress in their students.  Teachers cannot squash the ego entirely, they can only suppress it.  In the past, teachers felt that the only way to suppress the egos of their students was with extreme techniques that were sometimes harsh.  At a certain point in the students tenure, the teacher starts to nitpick them and chide them about every little detail.  Sensei said it was like, "The rings on a tree.  The closer to the center, the tighter they become."  From what I understand, this strictness was to suppress the ego of the student and at this point the teacher is never satisfied and as far as the student is concerned, everything is "wrong."  This idea that they are "wrong" will drive them to be better and thus suppress their ego until the ego is no longer a factor.

A Zen priest once told me that when a new initiate joins temple the senior monks are especially harsh and critical on him regardless if he is good or if he needs it or not.  He told me that it was for their benefit to make them into good priests.  I asked him, "Doesn't that make them quit?"  He said, "Yes, but it is the only way to prepare them."  I asked, "Doesn't that create hard feelings?"  He answered, "Sometimes, but you can't control that.  They will come to understand or not in time, but that is still up to them."  To them, true learning can only be achieved with humility and that the ego is the biggest stumbling block to success.

The ego exists to protect us.  It saves us from pain and embarrassment.  Everyone has an ego, but it's in how we control that ego that matters.  The teacher only hopes that when the ego finally rears its head after being suppressed, the student no longer needs it.  The road to success is paved with humility.  Student should do their best to stay humble and not overestimate themselves.  This delusion only leads to defeat.

Sensei's thoughts...so true

I found this posting from the Daily Message that Sensei posted on October 16, 2005.  I think it is truly appropriate for today's Aikidoist or martial artist.  Enjoy! If students have only average talent, it is easy for them to get discouraged and quit. They always need to focus on their courage and perseverance to continue until they can reach the level they are aiming at. With a little patience, they can always do well.

If students have too much talent and skill, it is easy for them to get arrogant or overly self-confident. These students always need to focus on their humility and modesty so they can progress even to higher levels. With a little patience, they can always do very well.

Seeing people with just a little talent quit and chase after something else and then something else again, running here and there is typical. We see this all of the time. They do not understand the meaning of Aikido practice.

Seeing people with a great deal of talent, become arrogant and haughty is very typical and often seen. They do not understand the meaning of practice.

No one can say they are in the "perfect" place for practice because true practice will always focus on your weakest point. This is the great challenge and yet the deep, profound meaning of practice.

In practice, one must always be watchful of one's self - both in body and mind. This is indeed the first step of all sincere spiritual practice.

What is the best way to practice? Who is right? Who is wrong? Who is better, who is best? Who knows? Who can say? You can only find a good teacher and trust him. In this day and age, people do not like to hear this, I don't know why. . . In early days, some people spent their entire lives to find the right teacher. By following a good teacher, knowledge and understanding will come to you. Teaching from teacher to student, from heart to heart - this is the supreme instruction - beyond right and wrong, bad or better, good and best. . . . .

Achieving this "flow of energy" in Aikido practice is essential - this flow doesn't mean "my point of view" or the "other's point of view, "flow" means that we are in tune with Nature's point of view. . . .

Some students never think to say "thank you." Whether they admit it or not, they have the attitude of a rich person in a restaurant and thinking the waitress and everyone else is there only to serve him. I see this all of the time.

When the teacher sees that the student really appreciates his efforts, he is naturally encouraged and delighted to teach him. This is the most natural thing in the world, yet many still do not understand this. However everyone knows this - as when someone thanks you for something, you naturally feel very good. . . . . the teacher instructs and the students appreciates and learns - this is how good, lasting human relationships are created and the best channels of communication are achieved.

Nowadays, however, it is a matter of money, depending on how much some teachers get, depends on how big he will smile for you - I hate this. Then some students think they can buy the teacher - I hate this too. I think this is why I will always be poor! lol!

Of course, I like money too - but selling what I spent my whole life to achieve is not worth a couple of bucks. . . . Nowadays, people do not understand that there are some things which cannot be bought for whatever price. . . . . .

Perhaps, it is not fair to everyone, but when I see a weak student do very well, I am happier than when I see a very talented student do very well. Of course, I am happy for everyone, but I think one shows a greater display of courage and patience and this makes any teacher very happy!

THANK YOU!

I appreciate everyone's help this weekend at the dojo benefit dance.  Everyone worked very hard to make this event a success.  I really was glad to see everyone working together.  That is what the dojo is all about. Thank you very much! David

Furuya Sensei memorial this Saturday

Saturday, March 7 at 9:30 AM.

Schedule: 9:30 AM: memorial service at dojo 11:00 AM: Grave site visit. 12:30 PM: Lunch

The dojo will be having a memorial for Rev. Kensho Furuya who was the founder of the ACLA.  He passed away in 2007.

Everyone should try to attend at least the memorial service.

Is it better to be right or good?

Long ago when Sensei became a priest, the Bishop held up a piece of white paper and said, "The sky is the color of this paper."  Then he asked Sensei, "What color is the sky?"  Basically what the Bishop was asking Sensei was, "Do you want to be right or do you want to be good."  If Sensei would have answered, "Blue" he would have been asked to leave because, to the Bishop, Sensei was only interested in being "right."  In order to be good a student must have faith that what and how the teacher is teaching them will somehow work out in the end for their benefit.  Students who are interested in getting good only focus on what is being taught.  In order to get good the student must only copy and not try to interpret.  It is when they interpret that they become hung up on "knowing" and to that end who is right.  Right isn't always correct because sometimes we don't have the logic for what is being taught to us and only after years of training realize how it factors in.  Therefore the student needs to trust the teacher and strive to be good rather than right.  

A seasoned scholar and monk speaks about "History of Buddhism"

Rev. Wako Kazumitsu Kato, Ph.D. will be lecturing on the "History of Buddhism" at Zenshuji Soto Mission on Saturday, February 28th at 11:00 AM. For more information: http://www.zenshuji.org/

The subtle power of Aikido

The Enso is circle made using a calligraphy brush that is supposed to be emblematic of one's inner state or enlightenment.  To make the circle perfect is extremely difficult.  As you can see by this beautiful example brushed by Torei Enji, who was a disciple of the famous monk Hakuin, you cannot tell if the circle was brushed clockwise or counter clockwise.  It looks so perfect it is almost fake.  Like all Japanese arts there is a subtleness where its power or greatness can only be revealed after years of study.  In Shodo, anyone can make a circle after a few lessons, but the circle will have something missing.  Only a true master can put ki into the brush stroke which is called bokki.   Bokki expresses the calligraphers inner state and conveys a state of grace, calmness and power that can only attained after many years of training.

Aikido is a true Japanese art because its power is hidden in its subtlety and is lost on the uninitiated.  From the outside looking in most think, "Oh it looks so easy" or "It's fake" only to find it to be extremely difficult and only after years of experience and exploration can one come to see the true power of Aikido.  One's inner state is conveyed in the way one does Aikido.

Aikido's power, like in all Japanese arts, takes years to master and even more to understand.  Its power lies in subtleness and its subtleness is part of its power.  Think of it like gravity.  Gravity is subtly acting on us at every moment, but we can't feel it despite the fact that we intellectually know it works.  The moment when we get to feel it is too late as we succumb to power and hit our heads.  Aikido's power is that subtle.  In order to understand its subtlety one has to practice for many many years.  That is why Miyamoto Musashi said, "It takes 1000 days to forge the spirit and 10,000 to polish it."  I guess we better get back to training.

The mind matters most

The hardest thing about training has to be mastering one's mind.  For me, its the thing that I struggle with the most.  Here is a video of Eastern philosopher Alan Watts who eloquently describes the need to develop one's mind.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&list=UUFyAgi9phA7ErVY_bPC1Cjg&v=emHAoQGoQic

Whose fault is it?

It's not about right or wrong.  It's about change and what we can do or learn about it.  Everything that happens to us has a hidden gem that can help guide us to our greater selves.  Our job is to find out what that lesson might be.  If you roll and hurt yourself, think, "What can I do better?" instead of, "Why didn't the teacher teach me better?".  When the teacher reprimands you, ask yourself, "What learn from my mistake" rather than, "What a jerk!".  The moment when we start to play the blame game is the moment we give away our power to change.  We cannot change others, we can only change ourselves.  A true martial artist has the ability to enact change at the very deepest of levels and with a nominal amount of effort.  To adjust something without thinking is what it means to be a true martial artist.  At the highest levels the master isn't the most rigid but the most pliable.  In order to reach that level, we must first begin to take ownership of everything in our lives including the things we want to blame on others.  When we can do this, we give ourselves the power to change.  Change - isn't that what studying the martial arts is all about?

Kung Hei Fat Choi - Happy New Year!

 

2015 is the year of the green wood sheep in Chinese astrology.

What does that exactly mean?  The year of the sheep is supposed to be a gentler and more calmer year that is better suited for creative pursuits since the sheep loves art and beauty.  This year is supposed to be even more prosperous because the sheep is the eighth sign of the zodiac and the number eight is considered lucky in Chinese culture.  This year is also a wood year which finds itself between fire and metal and thus should be a year of turning points as fire changes into metal.

Interestingly enough the sheep or hitsuji in Japanese as a symbol doesn't pop up much in Japanese culture.  Last night I did a lot of research looking for the motif in art or referenced in literature.  There wasn't anything terribly specific.  Generally the reason the motif doesn't come up is that sheep aren't prevalent in Japan because of the climate tends to be more on the damp side and not conducive for raising sheep because they get some type of foot problem.  The symbol of the sheep is sometimes interchanged with the goat or yagi.  The yagi on the other hand is sometimes seen in woodblock prints as a sort of spiritual warrior and their horns can also be seen sometimes on helmets.

The year of the sheep calls us to be pursue more creative projects and look for ways to ground ourselves in the face of change.  In order to do this I would like our dojo to focus on ukemi in our training and teaching and for our administrative side to be better organized.  This should allow us to meet any turning points with calmness and confidence.  Seneca summed up this year up best when he said, "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity."  Please prepare yourselves well and let luck take care of the rest.  Happy New Year!

Nobody knows...

じんせい はなにが おこるか わからないNobody knows what will happen. - Japanese proverb

It would be nice if we could plan our lives and know the outcomes.  Unfortunately, that rarely happens.  We cannot guarantee the outcome so the only thing we can do is master the process (this is why studying is called following the Way).  In Aikido the first thing students are to master is the form of the technique.  By mastering the form, they hopefully master their bodies.  When this happens it is referred to as mastering the sword in swordsmanship.  After that happens the student comes to master their minds and hopefully reconcile their hearts.  When this happens, we refer to it as the moment when the student puts down the sword.  One cannot know the outcome but hopefully they can change themselves enough so that the outcome doesn't matter anymore.  What happens to us on the outside is of little matter when compared to what happens within.

Happy Friday the 13th

I thought since today is Friday the 13th, I might post something from the past. Sensei posted this to the Daily Message September 2, 2004:

This happened many years ago when I was very young. There was a teacher I knew who was pushed out of his dojo and he was forced to run a very small place after all those years of teaching and sacrifice. It wasn't very fair but his students managed to push him out - he was a very gentle person so I think it was not too hard to fool him and trick him. I remember that no one would help him in the tiny dojo where he taught so I used to go every Saturday and assist him with his class. I think I was the only one he could turn to for help in those days. It was a terrible place - actually, it wasn't so bad but it was in a very bad neighborhood. Local kids used to break in at night and trash the place. There was a kitchen next to the large community room where we held classes. Every week, someone would break in and take the food from the refrigerator and throw all over the walls and floors. The Aikido classes were on Saturdays from noon, and for some reason, these kids would break in on every Friday evening when there was not much going on in this community center. I never wanted him to see this, so I always went to the dojo about three hours early to make sure that the dojo was clean and in order before he arrived to teach. Sometimes, I remember cleaning broken eggs off the walls, wiping up ketchup and milk off the floor, picking up broken dishes and glass - it was so bad. . . . and only for a few students who would come to learn from him.  Later, he was invited to teach in another dojo way across the country.  It was a long 5 hour trip by airplane but he decided to go anyways once a month despite his age.  The long trip once a month was too much for him and everyone could see how tired he became.  Eventually, he became very exhausted - somehow this turned into cancer and he died long before he should of.  I remember how I cried at his funeral - I was very young then and just couldn't understand how such a thing could happen. Maybe if I was older with more experience, I would have told him not to go and just relax and take it easy even though he was in such a tiny dojo. I would do everything to make it easy for him. He is gone and I never hear his name spoken any more. I don't mention his name but old timers will know who I am talking about. In his own way, I think he was a great teacher who sacrificed his life for Aikido - I wish he didn't go that far. . . . I wish he could have taken it easy and be around to teach many years longer. . . . .

This story is apropo as to how I feel about Sensei.

Ma-ai - spacing

Question: How close should we be to our opponent?Answer: The amount of space between you and your opponent (ma-ai) depends on one's ability level.

In Japanese traditional martial arts, the distance at which you can successfully strike your opponent and thus be struck by them is called issoku itto no ma-ai.  Issoku itto no ma-ai means one step, one cut spacing.

Generally speaking in swordsmanship the safest distance between you and your opponent is supposed to be six feet.  This distance is called toi ma-ai or far spacing.  They cannot strike you and you cannot strike them.  Once you move in and are within striking distance the spacing is called chikai ma-ai or close spacing.  When one reaches a distance where they are able to strike this distance is called uchi ma-ai or inside spacing.

Controlling the spacing and timing are the keys to victory in not only swordsmanship but in Aikido as well. If we can control the spacing then we will be able to control the timing and therefore if you are controlling the timing then you are already in command of the spacing.

Beginners tend to stand too close (unaware of the attack) or too far (too afraid of the attack) but as they become more experienced they will come to understand what the proper distances are for each attack and technique.  An experienced practitioner has learned how to control the spacing to their advantage and uses it to fend off attacks or create openings to inspires attacks.

It is said that in swordsmanship the margin of death is roughly an inch.  If you can pass the tip of your opponents blade then you can kill them.  Knowing this, the tiniest of movement can be the difference between life and death.  One can only control the spacing after they have gained technical mastery of the techniques.   So students should take the time to learn the proper spacing for all the techniques   That is why the proper ma-ai depends on one's ability.

President's Day: Dojo Closed

The dojo will be closed on President's day February 16.

Most things in life cannot be taught but can be learned.

The possibilities are limitless when one puts their mind to accomplishing something.  The key to learning anything are what I call the 3 Ds.  The 3 Ds are dedication, determination and discipline. I recently saw a video of this Danish guy who taught himself how to use a long bow.  He supposedly did a tremendous amount of research and put in thousands of hours of practice.  Allegedly he came up with a theory of how to use the bow so proficiently that he now holds several speed records.  Now, I don't know anything about the long bow or how it is used, but his video makes sense to me.  There is a well known Buddhist saying that goes, "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear."  Many take this to mean that a teacher will come into their lives.  What the aphorism really means is that anyone and everything can become your teacher when you are willing and open to learn.  Most things in life cannot be taught but can be learned.  The point is that with dedication, determination and discipline one can achieve their goals.  Check out his video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=BEG-ly9tQGk

To be discouraged is part of training

No one has ever gotten anywhere by giving up.  One of the saddest things for a teacher to experience is students quitting when they are on the verge of a break through.  From the outside, the teacher sees the student's struggles are starting to pay off as the technique starts coming together.  Many times from the inside it seems like the same old struggle and the student feels like they are suffering and getting nowhere.  The thing most students don't understand is that "struggling" is the sign that not only are things going in the right direction but that serious change is just around the corner.  Sadly, the student can't see themselves and the reality of what is really going on and thus just end up quitting.  How heartbreaking for the teacher! Every student must leave their teacher but most leave too early and most before they are ready.  When should a student leave their teacher?  Hard to say.  There just comes a time and we won't know it until it arrives.  I say we because the student and the teacher will know that it is time to move on to the next level.  Hopefully, that time comes as a result of one completing their training or when the teacher realizes that they cannot learn any more within that dynamic.

Student shouldn't leave because it is too hard or because they feel that they are suffering too much.  Those difficulties or struggles are a result of our egos.  Our ego wants to keep us safe and will resist that which might be uncomfortable or difficult.  However those "pains" are the way out.  To confront them would not be Aikido.  Aikido teaches us to harmonize with them because those fears, pains or difficulties are apart of us and we must make peace with them.  The ai 合 in Aikido means to come together or what we call harmony in Aikido.  Harmony means to accept them and embrace them on the road to over coming them.

Sensei alluded to the struggles in Kodo: Ancient Ways where he posits that discouragement is a key part of the process of learning and ultimately change.  He alluded to this in the last scroll he put up before he did (see above).  It reads: "Be humble, be strong and always keep going."  So, don't quit, don't give up and have faith.  You are better than you think and you are farther along than you realize.  Remember, the battle is only won after the struggle and not a moment sooner.  Have faith in yourself and faith in Aikido.  I promise you it is going to all work out and that it will get better.  I can already see it happening.