A Warrior is Stubborn

“The wind howls but the mountain remains still.” Japanese proverb

A warrior knows stubbornness. The Japanese word for stubborn is ganko (頑固). When I was younger, my mom always used to say to me, “Ganbatte” (頑張って) when I had a test or a lot of homework. When a person embarks on any type of worthwhile pursuit, well-wishers often say, “Ganbatte!” which means “Do your best.” Ganko and ganbatte share the same root kanji (頑) and so we can infer that doing one’s best has its root in stubbornness. To accomplish any meaningful task, a warrior needs to be firm in their conviction and resolute in their actions or in other words they need to be more than a little bit “stubborn.” When the odds are stacked up against us and we are backed into a corner, the only thing which will help us see things through until the end is some sort of inner drive that won’t allow us to quit. That inner drive or resolute firmness is stubbornness and it is supposed to be the basis for warrior spirit or konjo (根性). The warrior’s spirit is a mixture of perseverance and stubbornness combined with a little bit of craziness. After all a person must be a little bit irrational to keep going after everyone else has quit. Wars are won upon many battles. Some of those battles are won and some lost, but a person can only win the war if they are stubborn enough to see it through until its end. A warrior has a spirit which never gives into adversity and never gives up because they have the stubbornness to be still when the wind howls. Thus, when things get tough, a warrior knows stubbornness.

Today’s goal: Gambatte! Do your best and don’t let anything stop you from achieving your goal.

Ichiro - There is only one path

A warrior knows that there is only one path.

In budo, there is a “one path” mindset which is called ichiro (一路) in Japanese. The further down the path we go, the more we realize that it is more like a monkey trap. Long ago, if a person wanted to capture a monkey, they would use a monkey trap which was a gourd or hollowed out coconut that was tied to down and that they placed fruit into as bait. When the monkey reached in and grabbed the fruit, their hand would become too big to pull out and then they would be caught. The monkey becomes caught because they aren’t smart enough to realize that they only needed to let go of their bounty in order to escape. Human beings have a similarly obliviousness because sometimes to have one thing, we must let go of another thing. In budo, the path begins as we train to fight. The more we train, the more understand that we are our own worst enemy and so training is really about mindset more than movement. It is here that we realize that the real the goal in training is the cultivation of inner peace. This is where it becomes like a monkey trap because if we focus too much on fighting, then we will never truly know inner peace. There is an old Japanese saying which supports this idea, “You cannot run and sit down at the same time.” Both are done with the body, but both cannot be done at the same time. One of the most difficult impasses to overcome is when we realize the that only true path was inner peace and so we must give up fighting in order to go further.      

Today’s goal: What can you let go of in order to release yourself from your monkey trap?

Be Vibrant

A warrior is vibrant. Reading this, some might think that “powerful” might be more appropriate of a word especially for a warrior and in many cases it might be. I am thinking about it from the perspective of something called kotodama (言霊) or “word power.” Kotodama is a controversial topic that I wish to avoid, so in this context what I am thinking about is that words have a hidden power. When we say, “I am powerful,” often times it feels a bit egotistical because it has the implied meaning that we have power over others. Saying or feeling that we are powerful sometimes brings with it a bit guilt because we feel arrogant or overly confident and so the word powerful has a negative connotation. The word vibrant means “To be full of energy and enthusiasm.” Vibrant is a completely different word than powerful and we seldom say, “I am vibrant.” It seems silly to say it, but the word vibrant has a lot of power. When I say it, even quietly, I feel my power rise. Try it. Look in the mirror and say, “I am vibrant.” Do you feel your power rise up? Can you feel the positive vibe? When we are vibrant, we feel good and are full of life – our power exudes. Do words have power? For years, psychologists have been advocating for positive self-talk. When we think of kotodama and self-talk, it is easy to see that words do have power.  Today, don’t try to be powerful, but rather let your power radiate and be vibrant. A warrior knows that the only power that they wield is the power that they wield over themselves and that is why a warrior is vibrant.  

Today’s goal: Whenever you feel down, say, “I am vibrant.”  

Conceal Your Technique

Furuya Sensei posted this to his Daily Message on November 17, 2002.

Conceal Your Technique: In this day and age as techniques are becoming more and more flamboyant, I believe it is important to follow the older maxim to in which our opponents cannot "see" our technique. Especially in Iaido, we move in a quiet way and in a way that our opponent cannot see our actual movement. Of course, we are not standing still, we are moving our hands and feet and body, but we should imagine that we are moving in a way in which we are completely still and our opponents cannot "catch" our movement with their eyes. Our movement becomes "hidden" and very subtle. Try to understand how to move so that you yourself do not even realize that you are moving at all. This does NOT mean to make our movements smaller and smaller, no, not at all. This is something completely different from "not moving," this is "not moving within the movement." This hidden movement is another subject which cannot be conveyed in words, please try to discover this in your own training.

Think of Others First

A warrior thinks of others. Japan’s most prolific swordsman said, “Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world.” At the core of most belief systems lies the concept of putting others before ourselves. The world is a very lonely place and if we cannot work together, we will surely perish. Thus, in the world of budo, selfishness is sign of weakness. The concept of togetherness and thinking of others is an integral part of Japanese culture. Formally, Japan was an agriculturally based society and so they relied on the kindness of others where people worked together in order to survive. The concept of thinking of others is thought of as teinei (丁寧) or “politeness” but politeness in this sense is in how we treat and respect people and things. We treat people with care and kindness not because we are trying to get something from them, but because we too wish for care and kindness. We realize that the resources are not infinite and so we treat things with care and respect as well. Battles cannot be won by individuals and so a warrior knows that having a team is necessary for success. In Aikido, having a training partner is integral for our success too. Our partners give us their bodies so that we may achieve mastery and so we cannot waste or abuse them. We cannot reach our higher place if they are selfish and only think about themselves. We cannot survive on our own and so we rely on the kindness, compassion and generosity of others. As much as we get, we must also give in return. When discussing a rather selfish student, Furuya Sensei once said, "He gets everything handed to him on a silver platter - yet he has no awareness that he must, in turn, serve others with this same silver platter." Our greatness does not come from vanquishing others but how kindly we can treat one another. We will not succeed if we only think of ourselves and so a warrior always thinks of themselves lightly and always thinks about others first.

Today’s goal: Do just one thing in which you put someone else before yourself.  

A Warrior Knows That They Don't Know

A warrior must be open to all possibilities. It can be a mistake to think that what we know is right and what others know is wrong. Here’s a story to illustrate. There was once a farmer whose horse got loose and ran away. His neighbors came over and said, “This is bad.” The farmer merely replies, “How do you know?” A week later, the horse returns with other horses. His neighbors came over and said, “This is great.” But the farmer again replies, “How do you know?” The next day while trying to tame one of the horses, the farmer’s son falls and breaks his leg. Again, his neighbors came over and said, “This is bad.” The farmer again replies, “How do you know?” A little while later, soldiers came to conscript soldiers for battle, but they don’t take the farmer’s son because of his broken leg. Happily, the neighbors say, “This is wonderful” and again the farmer replies, “How do you know?” It is easy for something to be “logical” to us because we base it upon our own experiences, biases and beliefs. The truth of the matter is that most things are much more complex and mysterious than what we “know.” Issac Asimov, in his essay The Relativity of  Wrong, wrote, “The basic trouble, you see, is that people think that ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ are absolute; that everything that isn't perfectly and completely right is totally and equally wrong. However, I don't think that's so. It seems to me that right and wrong are fuzzy concepts…” Rather than assigning something as right or wrong, Asimov asserts that they are merely “incomplete” because what we “think” we know is solely based upon our own perception. This doesn’t mean that we should just become nihilists. A warrior needs to be open to other possibilities because the landscape of battle and life change rapidly. Thus, a warrior’s success comes from their ability to be fluid and realize that there are other possibilities. A warrior’s success comes from their ability to be open to any and all possibilities.

Today’s goal: What things in your life are you holding firm to? Do you really know it for sure?

Being A Warrior is A Mindset

One-armed Kendoist Toshimitsu Takamiya

A warrior knows that being a warrior is a mindset. In training, we are trying to perfect our movements, but kicking, punching, and throwing are just the tools of the warrior. Actually, the warrior’s greatest tool is their mind. It is often thought that budo is the pursuit of perfection. This is true only to the extent of the physical body where perfection is a static destination that is absent of flaws or failure. In reality, our development or mastery is a dynamic journey where we accept our flaws or failures as part of that journey. In battle and in life, a warrior must find a way around their obstacles and so they are solution-based thinkers. No matter what our opponents or life throws at us, we must find a way to succeed. So, in training, we are really developing a mindset that helps us to preserve despite the odds or the circumstances. I recently saw a video interview with a one-armed Kendo teacher and practitioner named Toshimitsu Takamiya. When you watch him move, it is easy to forget that he only has one arm as he fluidly parries and attacks his opponent. In the interview, Takamiya says, “The reason that I’ve continued with kendo up to now is that it’s allowed me to do more than just compete with others on even terms — despite having only one arm. I believe that as long as you keep trying, anything is possible.” It is impossible to prepare ourselves for all life throws at us so in the end we can only truly really rely on the strength of our minds. All warriors strive for perfection but in the end only find mastery and that is why O’Sensei advocated masakatsu agatsu or “the truest victory is the victory over the self.” Fail and make mistakes, but don’t ever give up because success is built on a mountain of past failures. Thus, being a warrior is really just a mindset.

Today’s goal: Think about what you are allowing which is holding you back.

Check out Toshimitsu Takamiya, but don’t forget to turn on the subtitles in the CC and change the language to English.

Be Like the Sword

Throwback Thursday

From Furuya Sensei’s 2001 interview on KCET. 

Although I am just a human being. I want to model myself after the sword; always straight, always true, and very decisive. Something that doesn’t have an outer obvious strength that we look for today but something that has an inner strength which is hard to see unless you really know it and can appreciate it.  

Rev. Kensho Furuya being interviewed on KCET Ken Watanabe Sensei demonstrating Iaido

Don't Stare

Warriors don’t stare. As a general rule, we aren’t supposed to stare into our opponent’s eyes. Long ago, it was thought that if we stared into our opponent’s eyes too long then they could hypnotize us, put us into some sort of trance and then attack us. Today, we realize that this hypnotic trance was really just physiology. When we stare, our eyes become fixed and we consciously try to not blink, but blinking is how we re-wet the lens of our eyes. So, when we consciously stare, we unconsciously blink. The unconscious blink is actually a mixture of eye roll and blink. When that happens our minds also reset, and we are in a momentary entranced which our opponent reads and capitalizes upon. Generally, we are supposed to narrow our eyes and look across the shoulder line. Another method to counteract the mental pause is to slightly turn our heads which exposes the rods/cones in the outer eye which are supposedly better at picking up movement which can help us to increase our reaction times. Miyamoto Musashi said, “Adopt a stance with the head erect, neither hanging down, nor looking up, nor twisted. Your forehead and the space between your eyes should not be wrinkled. Do not roll your eyes nor allow them to blink, but slightly narrow them.” Regardless of what method we adopt, we should not stare too long into our opponent’s eye. Our teachers have advocated against staring and likewise our parents told us that it is not polite to stare. The only time we should look directly into someone’s eyes is when we need to show our courage or our intent. Looking directly into the eyes of adversity allows us to be powerful and show adversity that we are ready for whatever is to come. Staring can be rude, but it can also accidentally lead to our downfall and so warriors don’t stare.

Today’s goal: Don’t be afraid to look adversity directly in the eyes, but don’t stare.

The Best Warriors Have the Best Manners

The best warriors have the best manners - yaiba ni tsukimono wa rei ni suguru (刃に強き者は礼にすぐる). A true warrior is supposed to be a mirror which reflects back on others a better version of themselves. Long ago, a warrior was someone that others respected and aspired to be. Japanese warriors were supposed to be the pinnacle of nobility and grace and we see this in the aforementioned proverb. Japanese warriors of old were not just killing machines; they were people who conducted themselves with dignity and grace despite the fact that they were engaged in the business of warfare. This decorum was necessary to create a sense of balance in their lives. A warrior’s conduct, good and bad, could unknowingly reflect back upon their family or clan and even the smallest transgression in one’s behavior could set in motion dire consequences. Rules, manners and etiquette were put into place not to oppress, but for safety reasons. This still holds true in a dojo where the rules are there to keep the students safe. If we bump into someone, we always say, “excuse me” so as to not create a problem where there isn’t one. An interesting old samurai rule was that one would never touch another person’s weapon without permission. So, ronin or “master-less samurai” used to go around bumping other people’s sword scabbards to initiate duels. A warrior always had to be vigilant and mindful so that they didn’t get drawn into a needless conflict. Conducting themselves with dignity enables the warrior to keep their poise and balance in the face of adversity. A warrior knows that their manners reflect who they are on the inside and thus the best warriors always have the best manners.   

Today’s goal: Be mindful of what you not only say and do, but also of what you think because what you think about, you bring about and your actions reflect who you are.

Watch the video below, but don’t forget to add in the subtitles in the closed caption.

Are You A Warrior

“It takes more courage to examine the dark corners of your own soul than it does for a soldier to fight on a battlefield.” William Butler Yeats

What is a warrior? Today, not many go off to war and so the way of the warrior has transformed into something that is no longer just a physical pursuit designed to fell an opponent, but rather a pathway towards inner peace. Any person can be considered a warrior as long as they take the inner journey to do battle with themselves as they search for inner peace. With training, a warrior realizes that the true opponent is no longer outside of us but exists within us. Understanding that budo is really an inner battle O’Sensei advocated for masakatsu agatsu or “the truest victory is the victory over the self.” Any person can toil at war, but it takes great deal of courage to overcome one’s self. William Butler Yeats said, “It takes more courage to examine the dark corners of your own soul than it does for a soldier to fight on a battlefield.” Furuya Sensei once wrote, “In our training, we are looking to transform ourselves into something we hold as an ideal about ourselves. We should become wiser, more profound and more caring human beings. We come to understand our selves better and more deeply. We become more ‘humane’ human beings. In our own practice we should see how we can develop ourselves and transform ourselves into our ‘true’ selves.” Therefore, a warrior is any person who is engaged in the battle to gain victory over themselves – masakatsu agatsu.

It can be difficult to understand that every person is a warrior who is at war with ourselves and that they are just at a different place on the path. Every person is suffering is a primary understanding in Aikido. When I’m suffering, I hope for kindness, compassion and forgiveness. To receive it, I must also be willing to see that others are also suffering and in need of kindness, compassion and forgiveness.

Today’s goal: Be strong enough to give people what it is that you need because if you are truly a warrior then you realize that others suffer just like you.

A Warrior Always Chooses

“Some things seem like they are beyond our means or out of our control. With a strong enough will and a decisive spirit, we can decide our own fate and fulfill any of our impossible dreams.” Rev. Kensho Furuya

A warrior always chooses. Free choice is the martial artist’s superpower. When we choose to do something then we are taking ownership of our actions. Fighting can be a very unsavory business to find one’s self engaged in and any violence, no matter how small, can lead to someone’s death. Understanding the graveness of our choice and the regrettable nature of violence, then it is better if a warrior chooses that path to follow. I am not talking about choosing to become a killer. What I am talking about is taking ownership of our choices which is in a sense taking ownership of our lives. When we mindfully choose, then the decision is ours and therefore the outcome, whatever it may be, is easier to accept. To mindlessly choose is to blindly follow and succumb to “have to,” “should,” or “must” which is in essence giving up control of our lives. A true warrior is resolute and to truly be resolute is to exercise our free choice. We choose to do it and therefore it is our choice to give or take life. On a certain level in budo training, this choice can be thought of as satsujinken, katsujinto (殺人剣 活人剣) or the “sword which takes life and the sword which gives life.” The techniques in martial arts training can be used to hurt or kill but they can also be used to save and heal – the choice is ours. As a warrior, we choose to do whatever it is we do. Nobody will do it for us and nobody can make us do it and so the consequences are ours to enjoy or shoulder. Thus, whatever it is we do, we choose to do it – even if we didn’t consciously choose. Free choice is a power that everyone has, but few of us take ownership of and exercise. Take care of your choices because they reflect who you are. A warrior owns their life and so they always choose.

Today’s goal: Whenever you find yourself begrudging something, remember that it was your choice.

One Family

Throwback Thursday

Furuya Sensei posted this to his Daily Message on September 12, 2002.

Whenever we have a problem, we always think, "them" and "us!" By making "them" our enemies and opponents, we take no responsibility for them and we don't even care what happens to them. But if we think that we are all "one family" and they are our fellow human being and friend, then we have to think and consider the problem very seriously and deeply. This is what we always fail to do. It is simply easier to make everyone our enemy and be done with it!

Never Give Up

“When things are tough, you fight one more round.” Gentleman Jim Corbett, professional boxer

The warrior spirit is to never give up. Warriors are supposed to develop isshinni (一心に) or “singlemindedness” or “wholeheartedness.” This singlemindedness is supposed to be a resoluteness whereas a warrior will stay focused and do whatever it takes to get the job done. Supposedly, a samurai was supposed to have such a strong spirit or isshinni that they would be able to attack one more time even if their head were cut off. We cannot be taught this determined spirit, but it is something we can learn. We must learn it for ourselves and it begins in training as we learn to gaman (我慢) or “to persevere.” In training, we are constantly presented with hurdles and as we surmount these obstacles, we learn perseverance. The Japanese proverb which typifies this behavior is nana korobi yaoki (七転び八起き) which means “Fall down seven times, get up eight.” Anyone can be defeated, but what defines us is our ability to get up and try again. We only really fail when we give up. The more we preserve, the stronger we become and with that strength comes success. Obviously, nobody can hold out indefinitely, but by building a tolerance for perseverance, we can call upon our inner strength in the difficult times when our character is challenged the most. Archilochus stated, “We don't rise to the level of our expectations; we fall to the level of our training.” Today, more and more we are buffeted by forces and situations which seem out of our control, but they are simply a test of our isshinni and we are getting the opportunity to show who we really are. The true spirit of the warrior is to never give up, especially when times are the toughest.

Today’s goal: Today, make a list all of the times when you give up, big and small. Tomorrow, choose one that you won’t give in to.   

Don't Lose Your Temperament

“The more you know who you are and what you want, the less you let things upset you.” Bill Murray in Lost in Translation

The best warriors never lose their temperament. A warrior is neither heated nor cold and thus they don’t allow things to upset them. Too much anger, sadness or even joy is a sign that a person too easily influenced. A warrior is supposed to be a person of character who prides themselves on their self-discipline and willpower. A warrior’s temperament can be likened to temperature. We want to cool down when we are too hot and we want to warm up when we are too cold. Each of us has an internal thermostat which enables us to tolerate different temperatures. We also have an internal thermostat which controls our temperament. If we allow our temperature or our temperament to be overly influenced, then we run the risk of doing something impetuous which could negatively affect us. The entire basis of the tale of the 47 Ronin is based upon a person losing their temper at the wrong time. The highest teaching in budo is that of equanimity. One translation of equanimity in Japanese is annonbuji (安穏無事). “Equanimity teaches us to observe mindfully so that we may act appropriately. Martial arts training doesn’t necessarily teach the art of war, but rather the art of peace because it teaches us how to control ourselves so that we can make good decisions. O’Sensei once wrote, “The Way of the Warrior has been misunderstood. It is not a means to kill and destroy others. Those who seek to compete and better one another are making a terrible mistake. To smash, injure, or destroy is the worst thing a human being can do. The real Way of a Warrior is to prevent such slaughter — it is the Art of Peace, the power of love.” Thus, it is imperative that a warrior not allow things to upset them. Don’t allow the temperature of the situation to affect your temperament. Thus, a warrior is neither heated nor cold.  

Today’s goal: If you notice that you are becoming too heated, turn down your thermostat, breathe and cool down.

Don't Fool Yourself

Furuya Sensei originally posted this to his Daily Message on April 21, 2002.

If we appreciate ourselves and all of our blessings, we will not mind at all the time and effort it takes to nourish, cultivate and develop ourselves internally. People who think they know everything or are too arrogant are only covering up a lack of self-worth. This is not healthy for us. This is why they don't spend time on themselves - as in training. Please continue to develop yourselves through Aikido. Finally, one last word about learning: the easiest person to fool is yourself!

A Warrior is Perfectly Imperfect

The bravest warrior strives to be perfectly imperfect. Every person who has ever accomplished anything did so not by being perfect but by embracing their imperfections. Perfect is defined as, “conforming absolutely to a description or definition of an ideal.” The lethal culture of budo is one that strives for perfection and that necessitates order and conformity and sometimes the lack thereof can be frowned upon. We want to fit in and the easiest way to do this is to become “perfect.” Fitting in and striving for perfection are good, but they can also be pathological as we lose our sense of identity or if we become obsessed with the ideal of being perfect. Perfection is not a destination, but a state of mind. Imperfection is actually a higher state of being than perfection. To accept one’s own imperfection is to acknowledge our own individuality because the journey of life is to eventually learn to accept ourselves and that means accepting and even loving our imperfections. In Japanese culture, there is an abstract concept called wabi-sabi (侘寂) which might be loosely defined as “embracing or loving imperfections.” Furuya Sensei put an ancient incantation on his video series that read, Rin (臨), Pyō (兵), Tō (闘), Sha (者), Kai (皆), Jin (陣), Retsu (列), Zai (在), Zen (前) or “The bravest warriors surpasses all others at the front of the battlefield.” We cannot excel at the front of the battlefield if we are staying back with the pack. Striving for perfection teaches us the value of hard work and the definition of quality while imperfections enable us to stand up and to ultimately succeed. The normal person files in, but only a true warrior can stand up or stand out. Our imperfections make us who we are. Embrace your imperfections because they make you who you are and they make you unique. The bravest warrior can only excel at the front of the battlefield because they have strived to be perfectly imperfect. 

Today’s goal: Notice the times when you are not perfect. Smile and embrace it.  

“Cry in the dojo, laugh on the battlefield.” – Japanese proverb

A real warrior cries. Yesterday, I watched the 1958 version of the 47 ronin story called the Loyal 47 Ronin (Chushingura). One of the things which struck me the most was how many times Oishi, the supposedly strong samurai commander, showed emotion and even cried. This is in stark contrast to the hero in the west who is usually the “strong silent type” and never shows any emotion other than passionate anger. In Japanese culture, a warrior strives to create balance in the moment. We see this balance in the aphorism, “Cry in the dojo, laugh on the battlefield.” One interpretation is that the suffering of harsh training is balanced out with crying and the killing on the battlefield is balanced out with laughing. Furuya Sensei referred to the warrior balance as “The elegant apricot flower and the strong plum blossom. To focus too much on war makes us rough and crude while the emphasis on too much beauty makes us weak. Both ideals must be harmonized together.” Crying enables the warrior, who must kill, to show their humanity. We often think that “living” means to enjoy and be happy. As we can see with Sensei’s assertion, joy and happiness are but one side of humanity. True humanity is a balance of happiness and sadness, good and bad and war and beauty. Thus, when we create this balance of true humanity it enables us to be present in the moment and truly live. Today, we are faced with many different challenges and it is easy for us to suppress the pain, frustration, or discomfort. In suppressing our feelings, we are denying our sense of humanity. Warriors of old weren’t killing machines who feel no emotion. On the contrary, they knew that the key to becoming a strong warrior was in their humanity. Therefore, to create true humanity within ourselves, we need to strike a balance in all things in our lives and that is why real warriors cry.

Today’s goal: When something happens, notice if you are suppressing your emotions. Are you suppressing your humanity?

It's All a Part of Our Training

Throwback Thursday

Furuya Sensei posted this to his Daily Message blog on September 23, 2002.

All of life’s hardships, problems, and obstacles are all a part of our training. They are there for us to meet and overcome. Sometimes we have to go forward, sometimes we have to retreat. Right now, practice Patience! Practice Understanding! As hard and difficult as it must be, try to understand the problem and this problem from inside of ourselves and use our Spiritual self to solve it. This problem, our desire to understand it, and understanding itself is all a delusion in our minds. From the beginning, there is no problem, only our attachment to an idea of a problem! What are we are fighting and what is stopping us? It is our own selves. Do not fight or cultivate anger at someone else, only fight against your own delusion!

Have Backbone

All good warriors must have backbone. Having backbone can be thought of as fighting spirit. In Japanese, when someone has the will or determination to standup for something, they are referred to as, kikotsu (氣骨) or “powerful spine” or a person with a “backbone.” In the old days, warriors were supposed to be develop the ability to kill with one cut. This wasn’t because they were trying to become killing machines. The reason why was because it was thought to be merciful to kill one’s opponent with one stroke rather than hack away at them causing them more suffering, but it was also thought that a true warrior, despite being mortally wounded, was supposed to have the backbone to muster all their will and deliver one last cut before they died. Today, we normally think that only people with backbone are people who can get things done, but it is more than that. However, every person has a backbone otherwise they wouldn’t be able to stand up. When we “stand up,” we choose to live our lives with grace, dignity and power. Therefore, every person has the potential to be determined and stand up for something. The difference is where we choose to put our power as we all inherently have the power to equally do great good or great evil and that potential is therefore merely separated by choice. The eight virtues of the samurai are supposedly: compassion, honor, respect, righteousness, honesty, courage, loyalty and self-discipline. The samurai virtues aren’t necessarily difficult, but they are mere words unless they are backed up by backbone. Thus, the power to be successful only requires that we have conviction and determination or in other words have backbone.  In life, there is always a choice. We all have the backbone to stand up for what is we want or what it is we believe in and thus the warrior chooses to have backbone.

Today’s goal: Stand up straight and hold your head up high because you have backbone.