Mental Flexibility

通り魔
Toorima
A demon who brings random misfortune 

The best warriors always leave room for the illogical. Something is typically illogical when it doesn’t fit the framework that we have created in our own minds. It is human nature to strive for certainty. We all want to “know” or think we know what is coming next. However, this “knowing” or relying on what we think we know can have dire consequences in the martial arts. All strategy is built upon a logic predicated on reading the opponent and anticipating their next move. When we have a certain amount of knowledge built up, we try to defeat them by out maneuvering them with deception or surprise. Most, if not all, martial arts are built on this same logic or “if this then that” mentality which becomes the basis of kata (型) or “form.” In the Principles of War, it is said that “Surprise can decisively shift the balance of combat power.” The martial arts is no different as someone once said, “The sucker punch is the most effective martial arts technique.” Thus, in preparation, the best warrior always leaves room for toorima or “randomness.” Toorima (通り魔) means random but literally translates as “The demon that passes by.” We cannot truly “know” anything despite the fact that we like to think that we do. The only thing we can know or rely upon is ourselves. Carl Jung said, "Knowing your own darkness is the best method for dealing with the darknesses of other people.” By knowing one’s self, we gain an understanding of not only what we can or can’t do, but also where our vulnerable points may be. Having the knowledge of the self, creates a certain nimbleness or legerity which enables us to respond appropriately or spontaneously to something illogical or that thing we didn’t know was coming. This is the mental and physical agility that we strive for in Aikido. In Aikido, it is called ki no nagare (氣の流れ) or “The flow of ki.” We flow with the attack as it is happening but not as a reaction to it. As Socrate once said, “The only thing that I know is that I know nothing.” Understanding this, warriors always leave room for that thing that might be illogical to us. 

Today’s goal: Are you struggling? We struggle because we cannot accept things as they are because to us it is illogical. 

Strong Ki or Energy

氣が強い
Ki ga tsuyoi  
To have strong energy 

Do you have strong Ki (氣)? Ki is, for lack of a better explanation, one’s life-force or energy. When a person has strong will, the Japanese say that they have “Yaruki” (遣る氣). Likewise, when a person has no desire, ambition or willpower, they are said to have ki that is not working or “Ki ga kikanai” (氣が効か無い). In training, this idea of one’s ki is present as well. When we are fully focused and there are no openings in our movements, we are said to be in a state of jitsu (実) and that is where we have yaruki and our ki is the strongest. When we lose our concentration and are open to attack, we are in a state of kyo (虚) or where our ki loses power or when we have lost our will. Throughout class, our energy ebbs and flows and modern day people attribute this to how the class is taught. If the teacher or students talk too much and the students move too little, then this opens the students up to kyo or they lose concentration. This type of kyo only happens to less experienced practitioners. In the old days of martial arts or with more experienced practitioners, regardless of how the class is taught or what is being taught, the more ardent never lose concentration. That is why in budo some say that “The best teachers are the most unreasonable.” It is human nature to rationalize why it is someone else’s fault. However, the most unreasonable are the best because they don’t allow us the opportunity for excuses. Unreasonable teachers force the students to improve despite the quality of the teacher, the curriculum, the situation or if they talk too much which they shouldn’t. We alone allow our ki to lose its focus or let it impact our willpower. Martial artists aren’t superheroes or special. They are just people who do their best to live their lives to the fullest and that means with the strongest ki or effort that they can produce. 

Today’s goal: Remember, everything in life is a test or lesson. Don’t allow anything to affect your energy. 

Throwback Thursday - Sword of Truth

Furuya Sensei posted this to his Daily Message on September 4, 2003. 

The Sword is an often discussed subject on the internet when people are discussing Aikido. Regrettably, I almost never see anyone holding the sword properly or even making a proper cut. I hope that people do not think that swordsmanship is as easy as they think it is. When we view O'Sensei's sword work it is truly something more amazing than what we can possibly imagine. 

Whatever fancy move we may make, if it doesn't perfectly conform to the very fundamentals of swordsmanship, it is not swordsmanship at all.

As difficult as swordsmanship is to attain, there is nothing more profoundly beautiful and subtle.

We find many truths in our sword practice, I think this is why the sword has been so revered by countless numbers of generations of great warriors from times past.

Old samurai saying: Hold the sword before you and see the gates of hell, raise the sword above your head and go forward and open the gates of paradise.

Giving Tuesday - The Art of Aikido Vol 9

“We are fortunate that we belong to a big dojo with many fine teachers and students to practice with. Not only for ourselves, but these students and teachers, have their own seniors and on and on. We are fortunate because we are in a continuous line of people giving and bringing up the next generation and sharing with those who are less fortunate and more isolated from such learning resources. Who owns what, and what can you charge for this? We are only giving back what we have been given. When we think of ‘me,’ there can be no discipline or order in one’s life. When we think of others, only then will compassion and giving be born.” - Rev. Kensho Furuya

It was encouraging news yesterday that the coronavirus is beginning to trend downward and things will start opening back up again, but that doesn’t mean that things will immediately go back to normal. A famous Japanese proverb is “Katte kara kabuto no o wo shime yo” which means “After victory, tighten your helmet.” This adage reminds us to be vigilant and to take care despite the recent improvements. There are still many people and organizations who have fought the good fight these past 10 or so months but are still struggling. It would be nice if we all looked in on our favorite, restaurants, businesses and nonprofits and see if they need support.   

Give what you can. Some can give a lot while others can only give their support. Having the spirit or intention matters more than “what” we give. 

Please help out others if you can. Today, we release Volume Nine of Furuya Sensei’s Art of Aikido Video series. We hope that you are enjoying Sensei’s video series. 

As part of Giving Tuesday, please donate to your favorite charity or social program. The Aikido Center of Los Angeles and the Furuya Foundation support these charitable organizations to name a few: 

Little Tokyo Service Center 

Terasaki Budokan

Zenshuji Soto Mission 

Higashi Hongwanji 

Nishi Hongwanji

Take a mindful moment

Take a mindful moment. When we are young, we are told to shake someone’s hand firmly and look them in the eyes. Most of us do what we are told and never think more about it. Gestures like shaking hands or bowing exist in every culture, but how many of us take a moment and pause when we do this to make it an authentic gesture? In Japanese, this short pause could be referred to as “hitokokyu” (一呼吸) which can be translated as “one breath.” Thus, when we take a moment and mindfully pause, we make the gesture authentic. In tea ceremony or Zen, to mindfully take in the moment is called ichigo ichie (一期一会). Ichigo ichie translates as “one time, one meeting” but it's supposed to refer to how we honor the ephemeralness of life because we know that this moment will never happen exactly the same way again. In Aikido, we normally pause like this when we bow before and after we train with someone. However, there are one or more other pauses within each technique as well. For example, after we have negotiated the first part of our opponent’s attack there is usually a pause. Pausing doesn’t necessarily mean physically stopping. For beginners, the pause is more physical which can mean physically stopping. For an expert, the pause is more mental and it appears that they don’t actually physically stop at all. Regardless of one’s level, we pause to regain our composure and to survey the situation which enables us to act appropriately. This person just attacked us which might cause a spike in our adrenaline which could in turn cause our conscious minds to go into subconscious fight or flight mode and give us tunnel vision. When we “lose our minds” we run the risk of doing something that we may regret later. Incidentally, the kokyu kanji (呼吸) in hitokokyu is the same kanji as in kokyu dosa which is the last technique that is practiced in every Aikido class and kokyu supposedly exists in every technique. One could then surmise that breathing brings us back to the moment which enables us to do things authentically which means with all of our heart. In everything we do, we should search for opportunities to pause for a mindful moment. 

Today’s goal: Look for opportunities throughout your day to pause for a mindful moment. 

Haste Makes Waste

急げば急ぐほど遅くなる
Isogeba isogu hodo osoku naru 
More haste, less speed 

Warriors never rush. One paradox in budo is that we actually have to slow down in order to speed up. In Japanese, this is referred to as “Isogeba isogu hodo osoku naru” or “More haste, less speed.” In Aikido, every step in a technique must be completed properly - satisfying each step is the greatest predictor of success. To the less experienced, it may seem faster & even logical to skip some of the steps. However, skipping steps in order to go faster could cause us to make a mistake which could impact our efficiency & effectiveness. A martial artist is only effective because they are efficient. That’s why basketball great, John Wooden once said, “Be quick, but don't hurry.” Both of these aphorisms are more of a caution against carelessness than about speed. The main difference between an expert & a beginner is that an expert never skips steps. Efficiency & effectiveness are a function of error - the more errors usually indicates that we are less efficient & less effective. In class, whenever we find ourselves going too fast or losing control, we are supposed to stop, take a breath & re-center ourselves. Today, most of us, if not all of us multi-task. On average, it takes a person 25 mins to refocus when they are disrupted. At the dojo is supposed to be different, but that isn’t necessarily the case. Student’s often bring in their baggage of the outside world on to the mat. Furuya Sensei used to often say, “Come to the dojo, but cut off your head & leave it outside the door.” A dojo is a sacred space that is supposed to be a respite from our daily grinds. Within its hallowed walls, we are supposed to use that time & space to practice awareness & mindfulness. If we want to be the best, we shouldn’t hurry & that’s why warriors never rush. 

Today’s goal: Whenever you find yourself making a mistake or losing control, take a breath, center yourself & slow down. 

Real Freedom

Furuya Sensei posted this to his Daily Message on March 26, 2003. 

I notice that many think that freedom is the ability to do whatever they feel like. If they don't like it, or they feel a little lazy, right away, they say, "No!" or "Forget it!" It happens in Aikido

too. "I don't like this so forget it." Or, "That hurts so I don't want to do it!" and so on. We pick and choose everything and just go by the momentary feelings we have.

In training, however, it is not a "world of everything you want.”  Everything is a "must do" world. We "must" train. We must do this. We must do that. We have no choice! We must do everything! This is why many people have problems with training. Sometimes, we think, "It is like a prisoner camp!" or "I can't do what I want!"

If we think about it, the real world is just like this. It is really not our so-called "freedom" world but a "must do" world too. I must go to work. I must study. I must work hard. I must pay the bills. I must repair the house. I must clean the floors and on and on. 

Because there are so many things we "must do" it does not mean that our so-called freedom is violated. It is the way of the world, but it is just that our thinking is wrong.

Our Life is so valuable that we cannot afford to waste it! Don't think of freedom as "not" doing everything - or just doing what we feel like! Do not think "I must do" but be very, very grateful that it is really an "I CAN do!" world.

I "can" work hard. I "can" study hard. I can repair my house. I can train in Aikido. With all the things that we CAN do in our lives - we can, for the first time, realize TRUE Freedom.

So as a teacher, I always say, "You MUST train hard!" Haha! Can you understand?

Giving Tuesday - Volume 8 of The Art of Aikido

“He who is greatest among you shall be a servant. That's the new definition of greatness. ... By giving that definition of greatness, it means that everybody can be great, because everybody can serve.” - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 

Someone once said, “Who you are tomorrow begins with what you do today.” What type of world do we want to create? Regardless of what it is, it must start today. We can all make a difference and that difference begins with our actions. Start that change off by supporting those in need. Today, most of the smaller businesses and non-profits are struggling. If you can, please support the causes and businesses that are close to your heart.  

Give what you can. Some can give a lot while others can only give their support. Having the spirit or intention matters more than “what” we give. 

Please help out others if you can. Today, we release Volume Eight of Furuya Sensei’s Art of Aikido Video series. We hope that you are enjoying Sensei’s video series. 

As part of Giving Tuesday, please donate to your favorite charity or social program. The Aikido Center of Los Angeles and the Furuya Foundation support these charitable organizations to name a few:

Little Tokyo Service Center

Terasaki Budokan

Zenshuji Soto Mission

Higashi Hongwanji

Nishi Hongwanji

Nonviolence

“Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon. Which cuts without wounding and
ennobles the man who wields it. It is a sword that heals.”
- Martin Luther King Jr.

A true warrior believes in nonviolence. It takes infinitely more strength to not hurt someone than it does to hurt them. Dr. Martin Luther King said, “Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon. Which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it. It is a sword that heals.” Likewise, O’Sensei said, “To injure an opponent is to injure yourself. To control aggression without inflicting injury is the Art of Peace.” What both of these esteem people are illustrating is that budo at its highest level is shinmu fusatsu (真武不殺) or that “true budo does not kill.” Understanding the sacredness of each person, Aikido’s goal is to teach people how to defend themselves without the need for violence. This idea of nonviolence is more than just physical. With Aikido training, nonviolence becomes mental, emotional and spiritual and that begins with logic or dori (道理). We must first realize, as Marvin Gaye sang, that “War is not the answer” before we can begin the journey for something else. In a sense, when we  resort to violence, we have lost our minds. That is why the Japanese say, “Muri ga toreba dori ga hikkomu” (無理が通れば道理が引っ込む) or “When forced is used, reason vanishes.” Every person knows better and all of us know that violence is never the answer. It is hard to stay calm and keep our composure when we are confronted by an opponent or put in a difficult situation and that is why we need training. When we “lose our minds,” we run the risk of resorting to violence and then have to deal with all the consequences that come with our actions. It is said that “The best warriors always do the right thing at the right time” and that thing is the practice of nonviolence. Dr. King said, “The time is always right to do what’s right.” and perhaps that thing he is referring to is nonviolence.  

Today’s goal: Take a breath, stay calm and remember that “War is not the answer.”

Archetypes

元の鞘へ収める
Moto no saya e osameru 
Fits like an old scabbard

Someone once said “There is a saya or “scabbard” for every sword. On a certain level, each person we train with represents a different but specific physical or personality archetype that we must learn to deal with. By getting to know many different archetypes, we become accustomed to how they move, act or attack. This is one rationale for why we switch partners throughout the course of a class. The more we experience these “archetypes,” the more our subconscious learns or remembers how to deal with them. We get something very similar to “intuition” when we learn the patterns subconsciously. It is not 100%, but it can give us enough of a blueprint for success. This is the same rationale why boxers use specific sparring partners that fight in a similar way as their opponent before a match. As a teacher, the same goes for students and rank. Generally speaking, at every rank, the students experience the same problems and have the same concerns. For instance, 3rd Kyu and 2nd Dan are the ranks when students tend to quit for one reason or another. The thing about archetypes is that they are merely a reflection of one’s self. Thus, as we learn about each archetype, we are also learning about how to deal with that aspect of our selves. Carl Jung said, “Consequently they form very close analogies to the archetypes, so close, in fact, that there is good reason for supposing that the archetypes are the unconscious images of the instincts themselves, in other words, that they are patterns of instinctual behavior.” Hermann Hesse wrote, “If you hate a person, you hate something in him that is part of yourself. What isn't part of ourselves doesn't disturb us.” Understanding this, the journey of budo is about defeating the self rather than learning how to fell others. Our world changes because we change and as we learn to deal with each archetype, we learn to reflect back on the world a better version of itself.

Today’s goal: Don’t get upset. Realize that what we hate in others is what we hate in ourselves and let it go.  

Throwback Thursday - True Humans

Furuya Sensei posted this to his Daily Message on April 14, 2002. 

From Bushido to Mogido: Bushido (武士道) means the "way of the Warrior," or the samurai code which stood for courage, duty, patience and loyalty. It was these qualities which made the warrior what they were and it was these qualities which made them great martial artists as well. Nowadays, we do not talk about the "Way of the Warrior" or Bushido. Nowadays, we follow Mogido (没義道) or "The Way of No Shame." Occasionally, such as the other day, I meet old friends who still aspire to the Samurai way and it makes me feel good. Perhaps, these ideas may seem dated and outmoded to most and maybe they are not relevant in today's world. Yet, I find great comfort in these qualities and still I want to see them in my students. Indeed, another name for the way of the warrior is the "way of humanity” and ultimately, it is through the way of the warrior that we become true humans in the world. 

Giving Tuesday - Volume 7 of Furuya Sensei's Art of Aikido

 “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” - Winston Churchill

There is so much fear and uncertainty in the world right now and it would be easy to throw up one’s hands and retreat. The only way to meet negativity is with positivity. One way to do that is to bring the light of positivity to the world with giving and gratitude. Giving enables us to be compassionate and helpful to others. We often think of gratitude as being something that we get in return for giving. However, one old latin definition of gratitude meant “good will.” So the idea is that we get back what we give and that is why someone, perhaps Ghandi said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” Our world changes because we change and that change begins with giving. 

There are a lot of people and businesses struggling today. Give what you can. Some can give a lot while others can only give their support. Having the spirit or intention matters more than “what” we give. 

Please help out others if you can. Today, we release Volume Seven of Furuya Sensei’s Art of Aikido Video series. We hope that you are enjoying Sensei’s video series. 

As part of Giving Tuesday, please donate to your favorite charity or social program. The Aikido Center of Los Angeles and the Furuya Foundation support these charitable organizations to name a few: 

Little Tokyo Service Center 

Terasaki Budokan

Zenshuji Soto Mission 

Higashi Hongwanji 

Nishi Hongwanji

Zanshin

Without striking, be struck. 
Without waiting to receive a strike, be struck. 
Without avoiding being struck, be struck.
Don't use strength; be supple.
Be gentle and make good relations with your partner.
Maintain a beautiful posture. 
Let your zanshin linger and persist.
- Moriji Mochida Kendo 10th Dan, Hanshi

A martial artist is never static. Even when a warrior is standing still, they are still in motion. In budo, this might be thought of as zanshin (残心) or the “remaining mind.” Zanshin is usually thought of as one’s posture and focus after the execution of the technique. In class, the teacher might say, “Don’t forget zanshin” when the student absentmindedly walks away from the ending of the technique. However, zanshin is actually an all the time thing because it is the junction where our minds meet our bodies or where focus meets form. To the uninitiated, zanshin just looks like we are posing, but what it really pertains to is the movement of our minds. Generally speaking, our bodies can never be static. Every cell, particle and molecule in our bodies is in constant dynamic motion. At any point, if any of these motions were to stop, then disease will fester and we will die. Our bodies may be hardwired to be constantly in motion, but our minds are not. The reason why we need to practice zanshin is because our minds are always seeking to be in a static state. Someone once said, “Life is simple, people are complicated.” Humans are complicated because our minds become static. Examples of static states of thinking are fear, judgement, anxiety, anger or jealousy. Static minds are just minds that have lost their zanshin. Things like fear tend to be static and rooted while things like love tend to be flowing and dynamic. After a certain point in our Aikido training, our movements and our minds are supposed to become dynamic and flowing. In zanshin, it is not that the mind remains but that our energy flows and our minds and bodies don’t become static. Having zanshin enables us to meet any confrontation with poise, a sense of calmness and the ability to have regard for all life. “Let your zanshin linger and persist.” 

Today’s goal: When you find yourself becoming fearful or obsessive, close your eyes, take a breath and bring your mind back to zanshin.

Watch the Flow video below to learn more about flow or zanshin.

Watch the other video in Japanese to learn more about Moriji Mochida Sensei.

Oneness

Furuya Sensei posted this to his Daily Message on June 11, 2002. 

In practice, it is good advice to try to sense the whole technique, not just our own individual part in the technique. What this means is if we are the "tori" or "nage, " we should also try to sense what our partner is doing within the technique not just our own movement and how we are throwing them. In the same respect, the "uke" should sense the movement and power of the person throwing and not simply focus only on taking one's own ukemi. This is not easy at first because we are usually concentrated on ourselves, but if we keep applying ourselves, we will begin to sense what the other person is doing too. Our skill will greatly improve as we develop a sense of the whole technique involving all parties, both sides or all aspects of this interaction.

I often see students practicing the act of throwing, but are totally unaware of what the other person is doing or how they are responding to the movement. At the same time, I often see people taking ukemi in practice but completely disconnected to what the other person is doing. Both sides should try to sense and be more aware of the other side and see the movement in its wholeness, or as we say, oneness. In another respect, we should not look at the technique in a superficial view of attack and defense or active and passive, but see how both sides of the interaction are playing essential parts in creating this "unity" within the execution of the technique.

Giving Tuesday - The Art of Aikido Vol 6

“Oddly, in this world, we receive more when we are giving to others than when we are taking for ourselves or just thinking of ourselves. Humans were born with the natural instinct to feed themselves and put food into our own mouths.
When we learned how to feed others, our fellow man, it was the beginning of wisdom and compassion.” 
- Rev. Kensho Furuya

Happy 2021

This year seems to be a continuation of last year as the cases in Los Angeles County are at an all time high. I read a headline yesterday, “LA County is the most dangerous place in the US.” It is easy given the situation to contract and become insular. However, Aikido does not follow the norm. In all Aikido techniques, the first thing we do in the face of confrontation is expand or extend our energy. This enables us to greet confrontation with harmony or compassion. In doing so, we are able to bring light to the world and change something negative into something positive. 

Please help out others if you can. Everyone can do something. Today, we release Volume Six of Furuya Sensei’s Art of Aikido Video series. We hope that you are enjoying Sensei’s video series. 

As part of Giving Tuesday, please donate to your favorite charity or social program. The Aikido Center of Los Angeles and the Furuya Foundation support these charitable organizations to name a few: 

Little Tokyo Service Center 

Terasaki Budokan

Zenshuji Soto Mission 

Higashi Hongwanji 

Nishi Hongwanji

Secret Work

能ある鷹は爪を隠す
Nou aru taka wa tsume wo kakusu
The talented hawk hides its claws 

In the old days of martial arts, if a person wanted to make a name for themselves and start a dojo, they would dojoyaburi (道場破り) or “dojo storm.” By storming a person’s dojo and beating them, they could inherit some of the students and take out a rival competitor. After beating the teacher, they would symbolize this by “yaburi” or by breaking the school’s kaban or sign in half. Prior to the 1860s, because of dojo storming, most martial arts schools or teachers did not give public demonstrations of their art. It was thought that if they did, a rival would be able to see their abilities and find a strategy to beat them. Fast forward to today and most people don’t have to worry about dojo storming per se, but one’s development is still supposed to be private. Furuya Sensei called this “secret work.” Secret work are the crucial efforts that nobody ever sees. A dojo runs based upon secret work and we develop ourselves as part of secret work too. Calling it secret work is perhaps Sensei’s nod to the old practice of concealing one’s efforts. In Aikido, much of our development is not done on the mat even though it may seem that way. Yes, we have to come to class, but the student who develops the fastest is the person who puts in the work outside of class. Rev. Kojima said something interesting at dinner the other day. He said, “The teacher only develops the student 50%.” With his assertion we can see that our “secret work” is crucial in bringing the other 50%. After putting in the time on and off the mat, one day it just magically all comes together.  To others it seems magical because they don’t see the day to day efforts. Violinist, Pablo de Sarasate once said, “For 37 years I've practiced fourteen hours a day, and now they call me a genius!” The best warriors always put in the secret work. 

Today’s goal: Think about what secret work can you do to make yourself or others better.

Happy New Year - Looking Ahead

Shinnen Akemashite Omedeto Gozaimasu
Happy New Year!

Sign which hangs in the men’s dressing room

遠山の目付け
Enzan no metsu̥ke
Focusing your gaze on the distant mountain

Warriors are forward thinkers. Benjamin Franklin once wrote, “Chess teaches foresight, by having to plan ahead; vigilance, by having to keep watch over the whole chess board; caution, by having to restrain ourselves from making hasty moves; and finally, we learn from chess the greatest maxim in life - that even when everything seems to be going badly for us we should not lose heart, but always hoping for a change for the better, steadfastly continue searching for the solutions to our problems.” Replace the word chess with martial arts and Franklin adeptly describes what the martial arts are trying to teach - how to think ahead, remain calm when things are bad, find solutions to our problems and always remain hopeful. On average, most ardent chess players can see eight steps ahead, but the current World Chess Champion, Magnus Carlsen can see 15-20 moves ahead. A martial artist is always supposed to be several steps ahead of their opponent. This foresight enables the warrior to either not engage in a futile confrontation or to put themselves into the best possible position for success. Being steps ahead of our opponent is about strategy. By doing this or thinking that, we will hopefully bring about the best possible outcome. If we are optimistic, we can see many different possibilities and hopefully make the best possible decision. If we are pessimistic, we could get caught up in the story and end up not developing the best strategy. Thus, having a strategy prevents tragedy. 2021 can be what we make of it regardless of the coronavirus. Supposedly, there are still six months left of all this inconvenience. If we accept that as possible then how can we best use our time? How can we be 15-20 steps ahead? Prior to his death, Furuya Sensei used to constantly admonish us, “There is no time left.” The coronavirus illustrates that perfectly for us. We can wallow in misery, but a warrior knows that there is no time left and thus uses their time wisely. 

Today’s goal: Make a plan of action for the end of the coronavirus. What, where, or who will you be when the smoke clears? 

Throwback Thursday - Happy New Year’s Eve

Furuya Sensei posted this to his Daily Message on January 5, 2003. 

I saw this poem inscribed on the tang of a sword the other day - what a beautiful poem befitting a samurai warrior!

Dozei no Momo mo Sakura mo tsuzuku beshi
Ichiban yari no ume no sakigake

You companions of Momo and Sakura follow after me
I the Ume are the first to ride into the enemy's line!

- Shokusan nin, the poet

In the traditional Japanese custom of New Year's, it is a time of renewal and a time to make a new start in one's life. For O'Sensei, it is a “sacred" time which literally goes back to the creation of the Universe.

Mircea Eliade, a renown professor of world religions, referred to this as "sacred time and space" or the "renewal of sacred time.” It is for similar reasons that we celebrate Christmas, to renew or to revisit a very sacred event of the birth of Christ. By "re-living" or recreating this important moment in time, we bring ourselves close to this significant religious experience. In similar light, we celebrate the New Year as also a recreation of a symbolic "birth of new life" with the New Year.

For the New Year, I have thought very seriously about the future of Aikido and as so many of us are anxious to move forward and create the Aikido want for ourselves. Before we can achieve this “sacred" privilege, it is our obligation first and foremost to understand and master what Aikido was first intended to be - a martial art brought to its ultimate level approaching a distant realm in which we can achieve a profound "spiritual" awakening within our selves which may not only deeply effect our own personal lives but transform the thinking of this entire world towards peace. 

Please train hard. 

Note: The plum is the first to blossom in the New Year, the cherry blossoms and peach blossoms come much later. . . . .

Mushin - Nothingness

"Emptiness which is conceptually liable to be mistaken for sheer nothingness is in fact the reservoir of infinite possibilities."

— D.T. Suzuki

Warriors aspire to nothingness. In Aikido training, we are trying to achieve a state of mushin (無心) or “nothingness” in our training. At this place, we can be equanimous where we observe instead of react. Often times people think that mushin means to not think, but that isn’t quite the case. The non-thinking part is the deactivation of the conscious mind while allowing the unconscious or subconscious mind to flow. When we reach this state, we are in the “flow of the ki” or ki no nagare (氣の流れ) and when this happens we are supposedly in accordance with the flow of the universe where “nothing” exists. D.T. Suzuki’s assertion implies that where we find nothing is where everything exists. 2020, the year of the Rat was supposed to be auspicious as it was the beginning of a new Lunar cycle in Chinese astrology. However, 2020 was quite a stinker of a year. When we think back about 2020, what will we think, feel or remember? As someone said, “2020 was so bad they named it twice.” Yes, but the question is, “What did you get?” For me, I didn’t get nothing. Oops, nothing? Nothing is defined as “not a single thing”, but nothing in this sense means that if I didn’t get “nothing” then I must have gotten something even if it was unintentional or unwanted. If you are like me, I mostly learned. I learned new skills. I learned new things about my body. I learned how important the little things are to me like my family and my friends. Yes, 2020 sucked on many levels, but it also brought me so much that I am grateful for. I, for sure, didn’t get nothing. I am forever grateful for all the people who read my posts and watched my videos. I look forward to 2021 with great hope and anticipation and I wish you all the best in the coming year! 

 Today’s goal: Be grateful. You may feel that you didn’t get anything that you wanted but I am sure if you dig deep enough, you can realize that you didn’t get nothing. ;)  

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

For a warrior, everyday should be Christmas. Christmas reminds us to be grateful and true gratefulness requires mindfulness. Mindfulness means that we are in command of our actions and aware of our thoughts but we also realize that the two are not necessarily 0ne in the same. It is said, “Every action begins with a thought,” but, the question is, “Is that thought true or real?” Recently, I read an article in Nature titled Acute social isolation evokes midbrain craving responses similar to hunger which discussed that in our midbrains, isolation and hunger act very similarly. Thus one could posit that when we are hungry, we might be lonely and when we are lonely, we might just be hungry. That made me think of Aikido. In class, before we begin training with our partner, we say, “onegaishimasu” or  “please”, bow and pause for a brief moment. In a sense, we are starting with mindfulness. When we start off on the right foot, those things tend to have a better outcome. Someone once said, “Well begun is half done.” Starting with an act of mindful gratefulness enables us to appreciate our partner’s support and sacrifice. If we don’t start mindfully, we run the risk of allowing our bad day to seep on to the mat and end up acting like a bully or hurting someone. Thus we need some way of separating our thoughts and feelings from our actions. Training enables us to mindfully discern what is really going on and separate the thought from the action. Thus, gratefulness enables us to be mindful which enables us to live peacefully. In Zen and the tea ceremony, a common adage is nichi nichi konichi which usually translates as “Every day is a good day” but it can also mean “Live meaningfully.” Realizing that every day is a good day enables us to live meaningfully and that begins with thankfulness. Thus, before we “eat our feelings”,  fall down the black hole of the internet or get mad at someone and do something we may regret, we should mindfully check in and see what is really going on. Christmas is a day which is supposed to remind us to be grateful, but warriors don’t need a reminder because they are always mindful of their thoughts and thus they are always grateful. Have a great and safe holiday. 

Today’s goal: Pause for a brief moment and take a breath in every time you wish someone “Merry Christmas.”