The Way is hard but not impossible

"When traveling is made too easy and comfortable, its spiritual meaning is lost. This may be called sentimentalism, but a certain sense of loneliness engendered by traveling leads one to reflect upon the meaning of life, for life is after all a traveling from one unknown to another unknown." - D.T. Suzuki (1870 - 1966) In Aikido we think of budo training as a journey.  Along the journey we tested as well as we accumulate experiences.  These experiences help to shape us.  The journey of training, or life for that matter, is not supposed to be easy. Garth Brooks has a great line in one of his songs that goes, "You're not wealthy until you have something money can't buy."  Pursuing the way of Aikido is something that anyone can do but most will not.  Training is all about developing one's self - physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

“You can have it all, but not all at once.” - Valarie Jarrett, Presidential Adviser What does it take to have it all?  Today more than any time in history, people are busy and multi-tasking has become a way of life.  We get more accomplished in a day than our ancestors did in a year.  But, does accomplishment equate to fulfillment?

To be fulfilled is to be satisfied with what one has and the way in which it was brought about.  When we multi-task are we really finding satisfaction or just accomplishment?  And if we accomplish something are we happy or satisfied with how we attained it?

Generally when we multi-task, something goes missing and that something is usually our present-ness.  Do you remember that sandwich you gulped down while working from your desk or the conversation you had while driving your car and eating your lunch on the way to the meeting?  Probably not.  When we are not present, we are not truly experiencing that thing in which we are doing.

Aikido training is the antithesis to life's multitasking present-less lifestyle.  When one comes to the dojo, one needs to be at the dojo.  Often times people are there physically but in another place entirely mentally.

True Aikido requires that we focus our energies, but if our mind is not in line with our bodies we are not doing Aikido.

The quote above came from an article about one of President Obama's advisers.  In the article she talks about the need to know what is most important at that moment.  “You can have it all, but not all at once” admonishes us to live our lives according to what is most important to us first then let everything else fall into alignment and Aikido is all about alignment.  When we are at the dojo, we need to be at the dojo but we can only do that if our lives are in alignment.

To be in alignment is to make time for the things that are important to us.  When we are with our loved ones, we need to be with them - body, mind and spirit.  When we are at work, we need to be at work.  When we are at the dojo, we are trying to teach ourselves to truly be there and with this presence comes enlightenment.

Source: https://www.yahoo.com/parenting/you-can-have-it-all-but-not-all-at-once-words-131943701.html

Hatsu keiko: first practice of the year

On Sunday January 3rd the dojo will be hosting our kagami biraki or traditional opening of the dojo with hasty keiko or first practice of the year. Class will be at 10:15 am followed by a brunch in the dojo.

All the "firsts" of the year are supposed to be auspicious. First sunrises and dreams are supposed to be foretelling. Everyone should come and train hard but safely.

Happy New Year!

 Happy New Year! 謹賀新年 Kinga Shinnen.

“The difference between who you are and who you want to be, is what you do. You don’t have to be great to get started, but you do have to get started to be great. Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try. Remember, people seldom do things to the best of their ability; they do things to the best of their willingness. Follow your heart, and do something every day that your future self will thank you for.” – Marc and Angel

I wish you all a happy and prosperous 2016.  I look forward to seeing you all on the mat soon!

Osame Keiko: Last practice of the year

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwfIb9UgNjc 2015 is almost over and what a year it has been.  To some, it was good and yet to others it was not so good.  Regardless, it is over.  As Master Oogway from Kung Fu Panda said, "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift.  That it is why it is called the present."  So true indeed.

Tonight we will train one last day before 2016.  Lets end 2015 on a good note and sweat it out together for tomorrow may never come.

Here is a trailer for an interesting documentary by Empty Mind Films that I thought people might enjoy. https://vimeo.com/96937733

Can you find the panda?

A martial artist's vision is their greatest asset.  To be able to quickly visually discriminate between one thing or another could be the difference between life and death. Below is a graphic that is taking the internet by storm.  The faster one can find the panda means that they have what Furuya Sensei used to call, "A discriminating eye."

Here is how I suggest you do it.

1) Look away from the graphic for at least one minute. 2) Look at the graphic but let your eyes blur out the details by looking slightly above the picture for 10 seconds. 3) Then while your vision is blurred change your focus to the center and let your eyes sharpen. 4) You should be able to pick out the panda in just seconds without scanning the picture.

 

In a slightly modified way this assertion by Hemingway could easily be the tenets of budo.

Think before you act Listen before you speak Put in the work first Wait before you criticize Forgive first and foremost Try before you quit

Life might just be as easy as these six rules but like all things they are easier said than done.

Ip Man 3

For those of you who liked Ip Man and Ip Man 2 with Donnie Yen, you will be happy to know that the next sequel in the trilogy will be out in January. Donnie Yen is one of the few actors who is actually a practicing martial artists.  He comes with quite a bit of provenance in that his mother is also the famous Tai-chi and internal martial arts teacher named Bow-sim Mark.

Furuya Sensei knew Donnie Yen and met him many times when was working at Inside Kung Fu Magazine.

Here is the trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jckXscMwIOI

I put up a video from a Chinese site with some interesting footage of Donnie Yen and Mike Tyson, who is in the movie too where you can see just how good Tyson's boxing still is today.  Unfortunately, the video was taken down by Youtube, but there was this scene where Donnie Yen is fighting Mike Tyson and Tyson almost takes his head off.  The look on Donnie Yen's face was priceless.

This is actually true

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKckYo69Nfo&feature=youtu.be A group of young kids came by the dojo the other day filming interviews with local Japanese Americans and asking them questions about not only Japanese culture but about their own philosophies.  One kid asked me, "What is the best martial art technique?"  To answer his question, I just ran into the hallway.  Everyone thought I was joking and laughed.

I was being funny, but it is actually quite true in any situation.  If you can get away without fighting, you win.  It is one's ego that wants to fight or to win.  Training in the martial arts is not about fighting, it is about learning how not to fight.

Many times when we get into a situation, we allowed ourselves to get into that situation by action or choice.  For instance, you chose to walk down that dark alleyway or to go to that biker bar.  A martial artists win 100% of the fights they never get into.

The martial arts are designed to preserve life, not take it.  Sometimes running away is the best defense and sometimes you have to stay and fight, but knowing which is which is the key.

Like all techniques, one must know when to use it.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/aikido-master-blade-defense_56723c58e4b0688701dc4c60

Can you wrap like the Japanese?

Gift giving is a big deal in Japan.  Japanese people always bring back some kind of gift for their friends and co-workers whenever they visit someplace other than where they live.  This gift is called an omiyage (お土産) pronounced oh-me-yah-geh.  In Japanese culture, relationships are very important.  The gift is not supposed to be ostentatious but rather something that one brings back that is reminiscent of one's trip.  Usually, it is some local food that the place is known for called meibutsu or some people bring back some type of chotchkie.  When one goes away, they leave others behind and this gift is supposed to say, "I value our relationship and think of you when I am away."  Relationships in Japan have a interesting circle of debt (giri) and dependency (amae).  Giri and amae can be thought of as "I owe you and you depend on me."  For instance, you bring back cookies for the office because those people covered for you while you were away.

Because the gifts are about relationships, the Japanese go to painstaking efforts in their presentation.  One way they to ensure the relationship's importance is in the way the gift is wrapped.  As with all Japanese things, there is a special way to do it.  Whenever one buys a gift in Japan at a local food stand or a department store, it is wrapped but it is wrapped in a way so that the presentation doesn't offend or embarrass anyone.

I love the way gifts are wrapped in Japan.  Every Christmas I try and wrap some of my gifts "Japanese style" but it never quite comes out the way they do it in Japan.  Here are some videos demonstrating this great wrapping  technique.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lKI8spgvgk

https://youtu.be/fh_Rg6e4SY8

So true indeed.  Substitute the word "life" for "training" and one has a road map for success.  We wish that as soon as we stepped on the mat our minds and bodies wouldn't need any training.  Sadly, the truth is that success necessitates that we take to heart the good, preserve through the negative and, most of all, never stop trying.  Success is then not a destination, but a way of life.

Another great NHK documentary on Aikido

I came across another NHK program profiling Aikido and Hombu Dojo.  In this video one gets to see Hombu Dojo and what training is like there.  Doshu demonstrates some nice Aikido and one can see Waka-Sensei Mitsuteru Ueshiba taking his ukemi.  It might be interesting to someone who hasn't been to Hombu Dojo to see the world headquarters of Aikido and how crowded the classes are too. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbnWeOltdkw

Be calm and have a serene mind

One must enter into each and every endeavor with a clear and calm mind.  This tranquil mindset is called meikyoushisui (明鏡止水) in Japanese which translates to "clear and serene."  When we are agitated or upset that "forces" us out of balance and with out this balance there is no harmony.  Without harmony, there can be no Aikido.

Our art requires us to see the "bigger picture."  With this expanded horizon we realize that our partner is in pain and thus is in need of compassion.  With harmony we are able to choose not to destroy them but to instead help them.

The first step within any confrontation is harmony.  First with yourself then with your partner.

Aikido is becoming more popular in Hollywood

Aikido makes another appearance on a TV show called The Man in the High Castle.  The show is based on a novel by Philip Dick with the same name and can only be viewed on Amazon Prime.  The Man in the High Castle is a "what if" story about what life would be like if the nazis won the war and the United States become occupied by Japan and Germany. The story takes place in 1962 and follows two characters Julianna Crane played by Alexa Davalos and Joe Blake played by Luke Kleintank.  Julianna is an experienced Aikido practitioner who is given a movie reel from her sister just before she is murdered and decides to embark on her sister's secret journey to Canon City.  Joe Blake is a new recruit working for the American underground who is also traveling to Canon City.

I only watched the first few episodes, but thought the show was good.  I think the acting was superb despite the fact that it is an Amazon show and the 1960s detail is great.  I only wish they would do a better job with the Aikido.  Alexa Davalos is fine, but the ukemi and the Aikido "philosophical" parts are lacking.

All in all, I think The Man in the High Castle is worth checking out.  There was only one book by Philip Dick so we will see where Amazon takes it.

http://www.amazon.com/The-New-World/dp/B00RSI6NKS/ref=sr_1_1?s=instant-video&ie=UTF8&qid=1449846016&sr=1-1&keywords=the+man+in+the+high+castle

How strong are you?

 

Some days, life feels like this and everywhere you look it seems like pointed things are flying our way.

It takes very little strength to attack someone even if we are hurting

It takes even greater strength and courage to not attack especially when we are hurting.

The philosophy of Aikido can be thought of as "non-violent," but that is a bit too simplistic.  To me, the philosophy of Aikido is one of understanding which brings about compassion.  To understand our opponent's suffering is to understand our own suffering.  They deserve kindness, compassion and forgiveness just as we do.  To destroy them is to destroy ourselves.

Please keep the shoes neat and orderly

The foyer of a traditional Japanese dojo or home is called the genkan (玄関).  This area should be kept especially clean and neat. When students come into the dojo, they should take off their shoes and arrange them neatly with the toes pointing out.  If there is no more space left, they should put them in the geta-bako (下駄箱) or shoe rack with the toes facing in.

If a guest comes, a space and path should be created for their shoes so that they can easily slip them on and walk out.  It is the job of the students to take care of the shoes and their arrangement.

Sensei used to stand at the door and monitor the shoes whenever we would host groups of children.  He would jokingly chide them about making their shoes straight or if they mixed up the left and right.

In the old days, the first thing any prospective monk in training would look at was the genkan.   If the genkan was neat and orderly they knew that the school had discipline and they would go in.  If the genkan was dirty or the shoes were disorderly then they knew the school had no discipline and they would keep going.

Please make sure to take care of the shoes on your way in and especially on your way out.  This little thing says so much about your training and level of ability.

Osoji: Year-end clean up

This Saturday at 9:00 am is our osoji or year end clean-up. In Japan, the new year is a time of renewal where everyone gets a fresh start.  To ensure that we get off on the right foot, we try and clear out any and all thing that have built up over the year.  My mom used to say, "Don't bring the old dust into the new year."

Please come out and help.  After all, you contributed to making the mess.

We really could use the help!

Thank you

Thank you.  I am grateful to everyone who came or contributed to our annual Christmas party. I think that everyone had a good time and got to know one another better.

Great 15 minute documentary about Aikido from 1984

What a great little short documentary on Aikido.  You can not only see 2nd Doshu, but also Saito Sensei.  Hombu dojo looks pretty much the same way as it did then.  The only thing that is different is that Hombu now covers the tatami mat with a canvas cover.  Its wonderful to see Saito Sensei doing aiki-ken.  Everyone should try and make it look like his. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa8BmjDpqN8