What does the noren mean?

Here is a picture of the noren curtain hanging at the dojo's front door.  The design motif is noshi which are the decorative strips of abalone or paper strips that accompany the wrapping of gifts in Japan. These strips are supposed to symbolize prosperity and bring good luck. The Japanese love puns and so like many things Japanese there is a hidden meaning to this word noshi.  In Japanese, words can be written in roman characters (romanji), in hiragana, in katakana or in kanji.  In order to know the exact definition of a word one must know its kanji or its context, but without these the ambiguity opens the door for puns.

The kanji for the strips of paper that adorn gifts is 熨斗, but the word noshi can also be written as 伸し which means to extend or expand.

To noshi or extend in an Aikido sense usually refers to extending one's ki (氣) or internal power, but it could also be extending or stretching one's self as a means to achieve more, be better or train harder or as a means to achieve prosperity as it circles back to its original meaning.

In Aikido, we try and expand our ki throughout the entire technique.  Beginners struggle to keep it on and from deflating.  More experienced practitioners can keep it extended a little longer while an expert can keep it expanded throughout the entire technique, but only a master can keep it extend throughout their entire life.  Our lives are a series of expansions and contractions, but a true master is extending even while it appears they are contracting.

So one can see how noshi is a nice metaphor for not only training, but life too.  Enjoy your day and keep extending!

"The falling leaves doesn't hate the wind." - From Zatoichi, the blind samurai

Life is a never ending cycle of falling down, healing and getting back up.  In Aikido we call that taking ukemi.  As these scrapes, bumps and bruises heal, we have the tendency to try and hide them as if this damage some how defines us in a negative way.  These battle scars do more than define who we are - they makes us into who we become.  If we try and hide them, then we tend to take that negative path in life.  If we display them for all too see then we can use them as fodder to make us stronger. It is natural, I suppose, to want to hide one's flaws and only project one's accolades or strengths.  In chado or Japanese tea ceremony it is the exact opposite.  One's flaws are seen as the things which makes us human and this can be clearly seen when a tea bowl is broken.  Rather than throw it away, it is sent out to be repaired.  The bowl is painstakingly put back together with a sort of gold glue called kintsugi (金継ぐ) or gold patch.  However, the bowl isn't repaired back to "new" where one wouldn't even be able to see where the original damage was, but in some sense made better by the repair.  This repair, therefore, enhances its beauty.

In Aikido, we fall down and we get back up - it is part of the training.  The trials and tribulations of life's journey do add up, but they make us who we are - the person we have become.  We can either get back up and use it to make us stronger or hide them and make ourselves weaker.  We are all infinitely stronger than we think.  How do I know that?  Well, you are still here, right?

Below is a nice video explaining kintsugi in further detail.

https://vimeo.com/90734143

Listening = Learning

“Listening is a magnetic and strange thing, a creative force. The friends who listen to us are the ones we move toward. When we’re listened to, it creates us, makes us unfold and expand.”- Karl A. Menninger

https://www.ted.com/talks/julian_treasure_5_ways_to_listen_better?language=en

In the TED talk above, author Julian Treasure discusses the concept of listening.  He said, "every human being needs to listen consciously in order to live fully -- connected in space and in time to the physical world around us, connected in understanding to each other, not to mention spiritually connected, because every spiritual path I know of has listening and contemplation at its heart."  Doesn't that sound like the definition and philosophy of Aikido?

Conflict usually happens somewhere around the intersection of misunderstandings, hurt feelings and emotions.  Could listening be the antidote for conflict?  I don't know for sure but it sure sounds like it by the way Julian Treasure talks.

In Aikido, there is no fighting, struggle, collision or any other confrontation.  In order to truly do Aikido, one must embrace O Sensei's philosophy of non-violence at every level and that includes how we listen which is an extension of how we think and what we believe.

"You can always fall back on the basics." - Rev. Kensho Furuya

Today's hottest NBA basketball team just revealed their secret to success - the basics.  This season, the Golden State Warriors have a current record of 51-5 and are chasing Michael Jordan's 1996 Chicago Bulls record of 72-10. In a recent podcast, one of their players, Andrew Bogut revealed that in their training camp their coach Steve Kerr said, "We're going back to the basics."   They spent a large portion of their training camp on rudimentary passing and shooting drills.  The result is obvious as the Warriors have the league's best record and are poised to repeat their championship run from last year.

In the video below, watch how the Warriors spread out their opponent's defense with just their passing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHPD1HZg8-I

The fundamentals are something that Furuya Sensei often spoke about.  He once said, "When you get lost or confused, you can always fall back on the basics."  This is something that has always stayed with me and something that I try and instill in my own students now.  Strength and speed will fade with time, but technique is something that one can always be improve upon.

What are the basics?  Footwork (ashi-sabaki), body movement (tai-sabaki), posture and the basic techniques of tenkan kokyu-ho, ikkyo, nikyo, sankyo, yonkyo and some few other basic control holds and throws.  Master these and one will master Aikido.

If you want to read more about the Warriors, read the inspiration for this article here: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/steve-kerr-designed-nbas-most-223710921.html

Be brave and do something

 

Author Richard Powell believes that the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi comes down to these three simple realities: "Nothing lasts.  Nothing is finished.  Nothing is perfect."  They are based on the the three marks of existence in Buddhism which are suffering, impermanence and the non-self.

To me this understanding of wabi-sabi is adequate as an abstract concept but the thing about wabi-sabi is that it is the manifestation of the abstract which makes it wabi-sabi.

There is a famous story about Sen Rikyu who was the founder of the tea ceremony.  Rikyu's son hosted a tea gathering for his father at his home.  He had his wait staff clean the entire estate to perfection and he himself looked after the details for the ceremony.  Everything was perfect.  When Sen Rikyu arrived he noticed how pristine the roji or walkway was to the chashitsu or tea house.  Rikyu paused and said, "Something is missing."  At that moment his son realized his mistake and shook the tree so that some leaves fell and landed on the roji.  Rikyu then smiled and said,"Perfect."  His son understood the abstractness of making things perfect, but it was the imperfectness of the leaves which made it wabi-sabi and thus imperfectly perfect.

I would complete Powell's assertion this way:

Nothing lasts. Nothing is finished. Nothing is perfect. Now go do something.

The first three statements are abstract which could bring about a sense of disillusionment, but it is the last statement I think brings it all together.  Yes, nothing is permanent, finished or perfect but that is precisely why it is still necessary to do something.

There is a moment...

 

There is a moment in training when everything seems to just come together.  This moment is different for every person.  It could be when someone like the teacher or another student says something that brings something together kind of like an "ah-ha" moment.  Or for other people it just happens during the technique when everything just seems right and the technique just flows or just works.

I can't really explain this moment.  It is the instant where the universe just lines up and everything is right.  We call it a moment, but it is really more of a feeling.  In Pulp Fiction, Samuel L. Jackson's character, Jules referred to it as, "A moment of clarity."  The best way I can describe this moment is komorebi (木漏れ日) or the moment that the light shines through the trees.

Komorebi is something that we too have a difficulty explaining, but fortunately it happens serendipitous many times throughout the day if we are aware and present enough.  If we are aware enough, then we can partake in something wonderful that will never happen exactly the same way again like the seemingly benign rays of sunshine breaking through the trees.  To take in this fleeting phenomenon is to be aware of the fleetingness of life or ichigo ichie (one time, one meeting).

These komorebi type moments happen all the time and all around us, but we need to be present to be aware.

"The first wealth is health." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

I hope that you are all well.  I really do appreciate all of you who read my insignificant words here.  Most of these posts are just a way to amuse myself. Since the beginning of the year I have been sick with a cold three times (it's the cost of having kids).  Each time seems worse than the last.  Being sick this last time made me really begin to appreciate what it is like to be "healthy."  I wondered, "What would life be like if this became my 'normal' and I never got well?"  Having that moment really made me think and appreciate that, today I am healthy and able to enjoy my life but there are those who are not so lucky to be well.

I got an email from a dear friend in China who's wife has gotten very ill.  William (Bill) Gillespie was a student at our dojo all throughout the 90s.  He is in the black belt class two ahead of me and one of the first people to beat me up on my second day - thanks Bill.  His wife's name is Angela and this is her second bout with a life threatening illness.  It sounds cliche, but she is one of the nicest people and doesn't deserve this, but this time it is true.  Bill is currently in Beijing and the Chief Instructor of Beijing Aikikai.   His wife (who is totally awesome and a super nice person despite Bill's shortcomings) is in the hospital battling for her life and needs our support.  They are Aikido people, we are Aikido people and therefore we stand together.  If you can, please donate any amount that you can afford.

To donate or read more about Angela's condition click here: https://www.youcaring.com/angela-im-526250#.VssrQ_N8AvY.email

An interview with Tamura Shihan

A super interesting video interview with Tamura Shihan who was O Sensei's favorite sword ukes.  Tamura Sensei was a huge propagator of Aikido in Europe and especially France.  Perhaps O Sensei liked his sword ukemi because Tamura Shihan's father was a Kendo teacher.  Tamura Shihan passed away in 2010 at the age of 77.  I found this interview incredible enlightening.  Anyone interested in studying Aikido should watch this video, but it also might be incredibly helpful to students who already practice Aikido.  He succinctly sums up not only training but motivation as well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPeSKlkKPOg

Know thyself

“Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Seek what they sought.” - Matsuo Basho

Everyone seeks their own path.  Each of us is simultaneously a guide and companion on life's journey.  To think we are above or ahead of others is a delusion.  We are all on the same path.  This quote by Basho illustrates how we must think.  If we live for others or try to be someone else, we will fail.  Beginners, experts, students or teachers alike seek the same thing - to know themselves.  Enlightened people all over the world and from different cultures all advocate the same thing - know thyself.  "Who am I?" is the question that every person throughout time has sought to answer.

Victory comes not in defeating others, but as O Sensei asserted in defeating ourselves. True victory comes when one knows at their core who they are.  From this place of knowing one's self, our altitude in life will be limitless.

Nice video of Nakayama Sensei teaching forward ukemi

Nakayama Sensei and Furuya Sensei were good friends.  Nakayama Sensei has visited the dojo and taught class many times.  In this video, he gives a good explanation of the hows and whys of Aikido style forward rolling or zenpo kaiten ukemi. https://youtu.be/GltJZM5LM2s

Do you gamble?

Recently, I was watching a martial arts movie called Brotherhood of Blades and there was an interesting line where the hidden villain says to one of the other bad guys, "Those who rely on luck are gamblers."  That was an interesting line in that I felt was relevant to martial artists. Luck implies that there is some part of engaging our opponents which is completely random and out of our hands.  While this might be true, this randomness is something a martial artist cannot afford to rely upon.

A warriors entire training, regardless of level, is spent shoring up holes and closing up openings.  A good martial artist is at least five to ten steps ahead of their opponent while a master is said to be 10 to 20 depending on the martial art.  A confrontation is like a chess game where one is constantly thinking about where their openings are and where their opponents will attack.  For instance, the Norwegian chess player Magnus Carlsen is said to always be 15 to 20 moves ahead of his opponents.  Beginners spends all their time closing their openings while a master is said to be in the business of create openings.

In gambling, there is no such thing as winning all the time which is probably true for martial arts as well.  However, in the martial arts if one loses, they usually lose their life or the life of someone close to them.  Therefore, one can see that any amount of error is unacceptable.

Since as martial artist we are not gamblers then we must be pragmatists in our outlooks.  This practical way of thinking assumes that our challengers are working hard to defeat us and thus we must work harder.  There is no substitute for hard work, planning and preparation.  A saying that I like from Scientific American many years ago that I like is apropos, "You fail to the level of your preparation."  Generally speaking, when one puts in the effort they are successful.  If there is luck, then it is that sliver of an opening between two people who are both thoroughly prepared but most of us will rarely encounter that.

The philosopher Seneca said, "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity."  Since we cannot afford to gamble then it is best that we get started...

Happy 401st post

"Imagine fish swimming in a shallow pond, just below the lily pads, thinking that their “universe” is only two-dimensional. Our three-dimensional world may be beyond their ken. But there is a way in which they can detect the presence of the third dimension. If it rains, they can clearly see the shadows of ripples traveling along the surface of the pond. Similarly, we cannot see the fifth dimension, but ripples in the fifth dimension appear to us as light." - Michio Kaku Another way to experience this fifth dimension is with love. Things like light, gravity or love just to name a few are nature's laws.  O Sensei understood this and that is why he created Aikido. We are all swimming around in our ponds. Light shines through but it is intangible just as love is but just as with light one mat not be able to understand its origins but we can still feel its affects.

Have a great President's Day.

To catch their timing

 

In life as in Aikido, one must have timing.  A good Aikidoist will have average timing, but a great Aikidoist will have phenomenal timing.  But, what is timing?

Timing is something that is difficult to explain.  Google defines it as, "The choice, judgment, or control of when something should be done."  That definition is something that one can understand but still not know.  Timing can be thought of as just the right point when something extraordinary can happen.  A good metaphor might be the moment when darkness turns into light or when light changes into darkness.  When the day changes over, there is this place and within that place exists a subtle moment when it is neither dark nor light.  If one is aware then one can catch a glimpse of its immense beauty.  To the uninformed, the day just became night or the night just became day.

Every person has some sense of timing - it is innate.  How do I know that?  Does your heart beat?  Then you have timing.

It doesn't matter if one is studying acting,  Aikido or driving - timing is important.  To develop that sense of timing requires training.  Lots and lots of training.  In training, one develops their body first and then their mind second and with these developments comes a sense of awareness.  This awareness enables one to almost see the timing, but it is a feeling thing more than a seeing thing.  Seeing it is too late.  Just as in when the day turns over, you feel it before you see it and then it is gone.  In sports it is called being in the zone.  This "zone" type awareness enables the athlete to almost control the moment because their awareness creates this sense of vastness.  Athletes report things like the ball being 10x larger or the goal being infinitely bigger enabling them to score with ease.

When one's awareness is developed then one is able to seize the moment and that is why people often say, "I caught the timing."

 

The Priest Mongaku at the Waterall of Nachi by Kuniyoshi Utagawa.

I love this woodblock print despite the story behind it which is rather unsavory.  The picture itself reminds me of O Sensei and his misogi or purification training.  The story goes that a warrior named Endo Morito fell in love with a beautiful woman named Kesa Gozen who was already married to a palace guard named Wataru.  Endo relentlessly pursued Kesa and each time she rebuffed his advances until one day she gave in on the condition that Endo kill her husband the next night.  On the night in question, she cut off her hair and laid in Wataru's bed.  Endo quietly entered the room and killed Wataru and cutoff his head.  He only realized that he had killed Kesa as he ran out of the room with the head.  Upon realizing his mistake, he confessed to her husband and mother and begged them to kill him.  However, Wataru was satisfied with his confession and spared his life.

Being spared and grief stricken with his crime, Endo chose to live in exile and entered into the priesthood and took the name Mongaku.  Interestingly, Wataru entered into the monastery as well with Endo.  Everyday he meditated under the icy falls of Nachi to atone for his crime.  For three years, every day he fulfilled his vow meditate under the falls.  One day during winter, he had almost completely frozen over and was about to die as he meditated.  At the moment right before death, Fudo Myo-o and Kannon, the goddess of compassion came down and saved him.  After his rescue he became an adviser to Shogun Yoritomo and would eventually be exiled to Okishima for plotting against the Emperor.

You are not alone...

"People with the same disease share sympathy." - Japanese proverb Martial arts training is one of the most difficult things a person will ever do.

It is difficult because throughout the journey, the training tests and simultaneously forges us physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.  Luckily, it usually doesn't happen all at once even though it sometimes feels that way.

This "suffering" is the first step towards our understanding of compassion.  When we suffer we are better able to see the suffering of others and then we realize what they are talking about in Buddhism when they say, "Everyone suffers."  We are suffering and then we learn that at the same time other people are going through their own stuff too.  It doesn't matter if you are the teacher or if you are the student.  Everyone is suffering to some degree.

Compassion is defined by Google as, "The sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.  The Buddhist definition of compassion is "Wanting sentient beings to be free from suffering."

We are not alone in our suffering.  Like all people, we are all good and doing the best that we can.  Like all people we are all suffering and going through our own stuff.  When we understand this then every person deserves kindness, compassion and forgiveness - just as we do.

 

In Aikido, the first step is always harmony - harmony with yourself then harmony with your partner.  Calmness is the Aikidoist's greatest asset.  If we don't have the stillness that comes as a result of our inner harmony, we are not doing Aikido.  Turbulence, anxiety, worry, or anger are signs of internal chaos.  Those who cannot be calm will be defeat by the person who can and that is why the first step in Aikido is harmony.

How does one find inner peace?  Training.  It takes a lot of training.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Gong Hey Fat Choy!Happy Chinese New Year!

This year is the Year of the Monkey according to Chinese astrology.  The monkey is a smart and hyperactive animal.  This year we might see just about anything happen.  Supposedly since the monkey is hyperactive and the fact that this is a Fire year, there is no sense in planning, but that doesn't mean that we should not be diligent.  Things will largely be individual pursuits which is good for anyone who is a self-motivator.  If not, one needs to be focused in order to be successful.  Also, since the monkey is an intelligent animal it needs to be balanced with things physically.  So this is good since doing Aikido will keep the monkey's mind in balance.  The Year of the Monkey is supposed to be prosperous so we all should see some success if we can stay diligent and focused in everything that we do in our lives.

The stars need the sky.

Here is a fine piece of calligraphy by Takayama Chogyu who was a writer in the Meiji period.  It reads, "Sky with stars, ground with flowers, and people with love." As human beings our most natural tendency is love, but this concept of true love has been blurred somewhat over the years.  This calligraphy espouses O Sensei's personal philosophy of life which became the basis for Aikido.

To understand Aikido is to understand nature.  With things in their most natural state, the stars need the sky, the flowers need the ground and people need love.

Aikido exists not to go against nature but to follow a way of life that is in harmony with it.

Can you walk on rice paper?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSS9Tg0of1Q https://youtu.be/6p9NTo6BWvs

When I was a kid, my favorite TV show as Kung-fu with David Carradine.  The re-runs were shown everyday on TV and my favorite parts were when they did the flashbacks to Caine's time studying in the temple.  One of my favorite scenes was when Caine would walk on the rice paper.

One of the core tenets of ashi-sabaki or footwork is how to step lightly, but balanced.  If one puts too much weight in their feet then they are unable to move them fluidly and quickly.  If one makes their feet too light then someone can sweep them out from under them.  I asked Watanabe Sensei what the weight distribution should be and he said Furuya Sensei said that the weight distribution should be "50-50 but you should have this concentrated feeling of projecting forward."

We want this fluidity to our movement so that we can use our footwork to manage our partners advances.  Sensei used to say, "If you want to speed up the movement, speed up your footwork."  Ashi-sabaki is the foundation of our movement and thus we should put time into mastering it.

One of the tell-tale signs that one is stepping too heavy is if their step creates an audible sound when the foot lands.  Losing one's balance or this audible sound are a few ways we would know if our steps were too heavy.

Here is a video from the Chinese TV show Kung-fu Quest where a student is going to train at the famed Wudang mountain temple.  Take note of how light the masters step and how light their footwork seems.  Pay particular attention to 25:00 where the Grandmaster describes "light training."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBPzaxP2Cvs&list=PLzcdh8nJSTUKChFfdsFYkS1yvp5hh-Ezu&index=2

Martial Arts IQ: Fumio Demura Sensei

When I think of Karate, I think of Fumio Demura Sensei.  I know there are many great Karate teachers and probably even more practitioners, but to me Demura Sensei epitomizes Karate.  We have all seen him but may not have recognized him.  He was Mr. Miyagi's stunt double in the Karate Kid movies.  I met Demura Sensei around 25 years ago when his dojo used to participate in martial arts demonstrations organized by Furuya Sensei.  Sensei wanted to show the public "real" martial artists so he would always use Demura Sensei to represent Karate.  He and Sensei enjoyed a wonderful friendship that I think began when Sensei worked at Inside Kung-fu Magazine, but I am not sure.  Many people might not know this but Sensei was a copy editor who helped to edit many books written by famous and influential martial arts teachers in the 70s and 80s.  Demura Sensei was someone I knew I could trust and I called several times after Sensei passed away for advice. My favorite Demura Sensei story happened backstage at the Aratani Japan America Theater in the early 1990s.  Sensei organized this huge event with famous martial artists from all over the world.  We represented Aikido and Iaido while Demura Sensei's group represented Karate.  We were all backstage waiting with Demura Sensei's group as they were about to go on.  Demura Sensei and Sensei chit-chatted for what seemed like a few seconds.  We stood behind Sensei and his students stood behind him like some sort of cliched scene from a campy martial arts movie.  Very discreetly Demura Sensei looked at one of his students and with a hushed toned he nodded, "chairs" and his students immediately ran off to get chairs.  Sensei noticed this and motioned the same for us.  It must have looked like a bunch of ants running around searching for chairs.  We all brought back chairs as fast as we could like it was some kind of budo race.  We all set them down and arranged them and motioned for the other students to sit down but nobody did except the senseis.  Sensei and Demura Sensei sat down for just a few seconds as we all stood trying to be humble and not wanting to break protocol trying to get the other students to sit.  A few seconds later they shook hands and parted ways.  Sensei commented after they went to the dressing room, "Man, his students are well trained" which is the greatest compliment anyone can give to another martial arts teacher.

We refer to Morihei Ueshiba as O Sensei not because he created Aikido or because he was good at Aikido. Morihei Ueshiba has the the title of O Sensei because of all the great teachers he created.  Demura Sensei is a true teacher and is someone who fits that criteria too.

Youtube is filled with Demura Sensei's videos.  His students recently made a documentary about his life (something I wish we have done) that is coming out soon.  Here is the trailer and another video about his life.

https://youtu.be/mppluZO5zDA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlFzfAm7heQ