Faith

備えあれば憂いなしなし
Sonaearebaureinashi
If you’re fully prepared, you need not worry.

A martial artist has to have faith. The other day, a prospective student called up inquiring about Aikido. We talked for a minute about scheduling and what to expect. As we were about to hang up, he said, “Joe Rogan said that Aikido is fake. Is that true?” After a few minutes of verbal Aikido, I told him you just have to have faith. He seemed crestfallen and said, “Ok.” He never showed up, so I guess he doesn’t have faith that Aikido is real or effective and that is sad. It is said that the history of combat can be traced as far back as 3500 BC and that systematized martial arts can be traced as far back as 2674 BC when Emperor Huang Ti taught his troops a fighting system called Chiou Ti. In the 5th or 6th century, supposedly, Bodhidharma refined the movements of Chinese martial arts by watching the movement of animals which became modern day Kung-fu. Aikido can trace its roots back to Prince Tejun in the 9th century. In the 12th century Shinra Saburo Yoshimitsu examined the bodies of war victims and executed criminals to study the effectiveness of martial arts techniques which he used to form Daito-ryu Aikijujitsu which eventually became modern day Aikido. Since most martial arts can be traced back to an Indian or Chinese origin, the martial arts are roughly 4694 years old. If something has been around for almost 4700 years, there has to be some merit - there has to be something to have faith in. One of Inazo Nitobe’s 7 Virtues of Bushido is shin (信) which people translate as “honesty,” but it can also mean “faith.” Other than this moment, we aren’t guaranteed anything. Thus, we have to have faith in the history of our arts, the art itself, our teachers but, most of all, in how earnestly we have trained. Everything else is up to god, buddha or the universe and thus we do not need to worry. Whatever martial art we choose, we can never be 100% certain that it will be effective for us when the time comes, but we have faith that it will. That is why a warrior must always have faith.

Today’s goal: Don’t believe the hype. Don’t just read the headline. Apply yourself and investigate things for yourself. 

Between Breaths

“All the principles of heaven and earth are living inside you. Life itself is truth, and this will never change. Everything in heaven and earth breathes. Breath is the thread that ties creation together.” - Morihei Ueshiba

Warriors know that to breathe is to live. Our lives are lived between our first breath at birth and our last breath at death. The samurai were trained to fight until their “last breath” or  kisokuenen (氣息奄々).  Kisokuenen can also mean “more dead than alive,” but still alive nonetheless. It was thought that if one’s fighting spirit was strong enough , then they should be able to attack once more even if they were already “dead.” Perhaps this is why a samurai would sometimes cut off the head of their opponent to ensure that they couldn’t possibly attack again. This fighting spirit wasn’t really something that you could teach because it is more of a way of life. A samurai’s life was lived at kisokuenen because they could be called upon to give up their life at a moment’s notice. Thus, a samurai learned to live because they knew they were going to die. Living meant being present in each and every moment because it could be the last. It was thought that one could live a lifetime in-between each breath so they learned to live and cherish each lifetime within each moment or breath. At the end of each Aikido class, we practice zagi kokyu ho or kokyu-dosa. Kokyu ho (呼吸法) means “breath control.” The hand/arm movement is supposed to be the physical manifestation of our kokyu or “breath.” We practice breathing as a metaphor - if we can control our breathing, we can control how we choose to live. Living well is a choice. Epictetus said, It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.” How we react is a choice and that choice begins with controlling our breath and that is why a warrior knows that to breathe is to live. 

Today’s goal: Don’t react. Take a breath and choose to mindfully act. It will make all the difference. 

Throwback Thursday - Humbleness

Throwback Thursday - Humbleness

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

The leaf at the top of the tree does not know the shape or function of the root deep in the ground, yet its life is dependent upon it. There are many things in this world we don't know about, yet we are so dependent upon them for our survival. This is why we should always be humble and modest in our training.

Photo: Muso Shinden Ryu Iaido seminar in the early 1980s. Seated in the middle is Takeshi Mitsuzuka Sensei. To his left is Kazuo Chiba Sensei, Furuya Sensei and Ichiro Shibata Sensei (I think).

The Aiki Dojo 2 Minute Technique - 13 different Unothodox or Advanced Throws

The Aiki Dojo 2 Minute Technique - 13 different Unorthodox or Advanced Throws

Ito Sensei demonstrates 13 different unorthodox or advanced Aikido nage Waza (投げ技) or throws. There is a probably an infinite number of throws in Aikido, but not all of them are considered kihon-waza (基本技) or “basic techniques.” Many of these throws don’t have traditional names and are usually named for the movement and attack. Furuya Sensei said that each kihon-waza technique has a secret to Aikido hidden inside it, but sometimes doing something different helps to break up the monotony of training and many of these techniques are fun too. 

Uke: Andrew Loviska

Sometimes there's no time to read a lengthy message or watch a long documentary. So we've created these quick and easy 2 minute techniques to help you improve your Aikido technique and knowledge. Keep an eye out for them every Wednesday. 

Enjoy!

Watch other Aiki Dojo videos here: http://www.aikidocenterla.com/aikido-videos

Elite

精鋭軍
Seieigun
Elite warriors 

Martial arts are for the elite. When I was a student, Furuya Sensei would often say, “Aikido is for the elite.” Whenever he would say that, it would always make me cringe because I thought he was talking about it being about status and I thought he was being a snob. I am a Virgo and year of the Dog so fairness is something that resonates with me. Towards the end of Sensei’s life, he stopped saying that it was for the elite and started saying, “Aikido is egalitarian - anyone who puts in the work will get good.” Years later, I now understand what he was talking about in both statements. The word seiei (精鋭) means “elite” and we see the same kanji or pictograph sei used in many other words like seieigun or “elite warriors” and seido or “precision.” When we examine the kanji, it can help us to better understand what it means to be elite. Sei (精) means “skill, attitude or energy” and ei (鋭) means “sharpness or edge.” Thus to be elite is less about status and more the sharpness of one’s attitude or character. Aikido, like all martial arts, is really about the elite of spirit. When we begin a martial art, we start with nothing - we have no skill, no idea what we are doing and have no confidence. The more we train, the more we improve and the more we gain confidence in ourselves. Anyone can start a martial art, but very few make it a way of life, but those that do will develop this warrior spirit or elite spirit. It is the training, not so much the art, that builds character and this elite spirit. Through training in the martial arts, students gain skill, but they also learn perseverance, self-confidence, patience, and respect or in other words they gain the spirit of the elite. We only truly become elite when we can take what we’ve learned in the dojo and apply that character or attitude to our daily lives. In Aikido and in life, anyone who puts in the work will get good and become elite. 

Today’s goal: Elite is a mindset and work ethic. What can you do in your life to become elite? 

Discernment

“Perceive that which cannot be seen with the eye.” - Miyamoto Musashi

A true warrior wields discernment. In Japanese, to be discerning is hijichoumoku (飛耳長目) which means to have “Open ears and sharp eyes.”  However, discernment is more than being able to judge the difference between right and wrong or good and bad. True discernment is also being able to “see” the difference as well. When a person enters into a traditional apprenticeship their training is referred to as minarai (見習い) or “To watch and learn.” This style of learning is the same in Aikido and budo training - the teacher teaches and the student quietly observes. The teacher is supposed to teach more with their actions than with their words because the descriptiveness of words can accidentally lead a student astray. They say a picture is worth 1000 words, but quietly watching a master at work is worth 100 times that. By watching something over and over and doing it over and over, a student gets a sense or a feel of what is correct. Then without knowing it, the proper way of doing something becomes instilled into their bodies or becomes what we call in the west “second nature.” An admonishment a student in a traditional Japanese art often hears is “You need to learn how to see.” What that reprimand is alluding to is that the student needs to develop the power of observation where they are not only looking and pay attention, but also paying attention to the right thing. The other day, I went flying with a student and we landed at a local airport for lunch. After lunch, we went back into the airport through the same door that we left through but there was a lock on the door that needed a passcode. He turned to me and said, “What’s the code?” I answered correctly and as we walked through, he said, “You are the only person that I have taken here who saw that there was a code written on the door as we left.” I am not better than anyone else, I was just paying attention to the right thing at the right time. Training teaches us how to “see” the right thing at the right time so that we can do the right thing at the right time. That is why the true sword that a warrior wields is discernment. 

Today’s goal: Pay attention to the smallest details in your life. It makes a difference. 

Watch this video excerpt from the documentary Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed to better understand discernment.

Throwback Thursday - A Little Bit Each Day

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

Yesterday, an elderly woman dropped by the dojo. I haven't seen her around for several years. She came in and looking around in the dojo said, “Oh, it is so wonderful, it makes me homesick for Japan. It is just like another world here."

Her simple words really warmed my heart. I am glad that we have a tiny oasis here where people can come and study Aikido and Iaido in peace and security. I am glad that we have a place here where people can leave the outside world behind and simply focus on their training without distractions and annoyances. This elderly lady appreciates it so much, I hope my student do too.

Occasionally, my students come to me saying that they have seen this website or happened to see that dojo and maybe we should update our dojo or maybe we should try this or that. But I never really listen to them much to their dismay. I don't want to hear it because I am not competing with other dojos. I don’t want new ways to make more money or attract new students. I am not trying to grow bigger and stronger than others. What a waste of time.

We are not here practicing the art in competition with others, nor is Aikido and Iaido a money making enterprise or business. The ultimate goal of our training is to develop ourselves physically and spiritually in the art according to the Founder's teachings - our goal is not to make lots of money. In our modern world today, where all we do is think about money all day long, it is hard for many to break this habit in their training.

Of course, this is not the best way to run a dojo if we look around and compare ourselves with the world today. Are we trying to be modern and state of the art business along with everyone else? Or, are we focused on the teachings of the ancient masters? There is a big difference between business and practice and this is so hard for us to grasp today.

Today, I urge my students to throw themselves into their training, despite their busy, overloaded schedules and lives. The ancient martial arts which have been handed down for hundreds of years, like the cherry blossom today, are so fragile and will quickly be blown away with the first gentle breeze of spring. 

There is a saying, “A little bit each day, even a raindrop can break a stone.” A little bit each day, even a gentle wind can carve a valley into the mountains. A little bit each day, even we can transform ourselves in practice.

Whatever strength, youth or talent we may possess is useless if it is not put to good use. Simply focused on our own personal happiness above all others is probably the most useless pursuit of all. Effort without proper direction or virtue is like digging a hole in the clouds.

The Aiki Dojo 2 Minute Technique - Nikyo

The Aiki Dojo 2 Minute Technique - Nikyo

Nikyo - the only joint lock you will ever need!

Ito Sensei demonstrates Nikyo kotemawashi (二教小手回し). The first line of defense for any Aikidoist are joint locks and Nikyo is the gold standard technique. Nikyo is the most versatile and  effective joint lock and it is also the easiest to learn. All frontal attacks are either gyaku hanmi (逆半身) or “opposite hand” grabs on the same side or ai hanmi (相半身) or “same hand” grabs on the opposite side and from this video one can see how easy Nikyo is to execute. In olden times, a samurai wore a sword and so attackers had to be able to immobilize the samurai’s drawing hand in order to successfully defeat them. So a samurai would have to be able to defend their right or drawing hand from an arresting grab. Thus, the easiest technique would be Nikyo done with one hand. Doing sword work makes the samurai’s hands strong and so they’d be able to execute a joint lock with just one hand. Understanding and practicing Nikyo enables us to defend any attack from either hand. Nikyo can be done from any attack.  

Sometimes there's no time to read a lengthy message or watch a long documentary. So we've created these quick and easy 2 minute techniques to help you improve your Aikido technique and knowledge. Keep an eye out for them every Wednesday. 

Enjoy!

Hatred

There is no room for hate in the spirit of the warrior and a true warrior stands against hate. An old Zulu proverb wisely states that “Those who hate, hate themselves.” Jikokeno (自己嫌悪) or “self-hatred” is often times the actual root of hatred. Hatred is something that is condoned and even encouraged in daily life and modern sports. We often see athletes and fighters pumping themselves up for an event using anger and hatred. On a certain level, using hate as a motivator can be effective. However, its usefulness is short-lived and its impact is often more widespread than the moment. Typically, when the hatred burns out, it tends to take all of the motivation with it. Anger and hatred have a way of bringing out the worst in us and cause us to do things which we inevitably regret. That is why O’Sensei did not believe in competition for this and many other reasons. O’Sensei believed that the martial arts were a vehicle towards self-improvement and not destruction. O’Sensei once said, “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.” It is easy to hate those that hate us, but aren’t we only feeding into the negative cycle of hatred? O’Sensei advocated “love” but what he is really talking about are things that come with that which constitutes love like kindness, compassion and understanding because those people really only hate themselves. Those people that trespass against us need our “love” much more than our hate because they are suffering more than we will ever know. Mark Twain said, “Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.” Anger and hatred weaken us and thus have no place in the martial arts. That is why at true warrior doesn’t hate and stands against it. 

There is no place for hate in the martial arts and all hate crimes are despicable and inexcusable. We stand against Asian hate crimes and all racial motivated crimes. To understand more about

Today’s goal: Don’t hate. Stand up for those who need your help. Don’t let hate win. 

The Art of Martial Art

“A work of art is the trace of a magnificent struggle.” Robert Henri

Are martial arts an art? The word budo (武道) is often translated into a single term meaning “martial arts.” Alone, Bu (武) means “military” or “warrior” and Do (道) means “path” but when put together they only become an “art” when we practice them on a much deeper level and it becomes a “Way of life.” John-Paul Stonard when commenting on the work of the philosopher Martin Heidegger said, “All art is, in this sense, poetry, an emergence of truth in the world – poetry as a voice raised above the maddening prose of everyday life.” The lessons that we learn in the practice of budo are supposed to have a direct impact on our daily lives and so in this sense, one can see how budo, when practiced as a Way of life, can become an art. The art in this sense that we are creating is ourselves. Furuya Sensei often talked about art and how good Japanese art has yonobi (用の美) or “A balance between beauty and functionality” and that good budo has yonobi. Art is created at the junction between beauty and functionality. Being able to destroy someone has no subtly and that is not enough to make it an art form.  True art is knowing just the right amount of paint to use, just the right word, or in the case of budo, knowing just the right amount of much force, technique or power to use which is necessary to subdue an opponent. The creation of art is in restraint rather than excess and thus true art is in knowing what is “just enough.” If we focus solely on the movement then our movement lacks a certain beauty and grace. If we focus only on our mindsets then the movement seems empty. What most people don’t understand is that all martial arts are contrived. It is contrived because we know the attack and we know what is supposed to be the ending. The beauty comes not in the beginning or end but in the process that we go through which brings us to the end. The techniques that we are practicing are our medium and the art that budo is creating is ourselves. Thus, budo can be an art when we practice it as one. 

Today’s goal: Does your budo or life have the balance of yonobi? Look inward and see what changes you can make to bring out your own art.

Larnell Lewis just doesn’t play the drums. He seems like a nice
and good natured person and it is inspiring to watch someone who lives their music.

Throwback Thursday - No Recipe

Throwback Thursday - No Recipe 

Furuya Sensei posted this to his Daily Message on March 3, 2003.

You are not a cake, there is no recipe…

Nowadays, it seems that "numbers" are so popular - such as the “7 ways to happiness,” the “10 ways to become wealthy,” or the “6 secrets to perfect health.” Maybe we should invent  the “5 ways to master Aikido!”

Such simple recipes, like baking a cake, are so attractive to us. I wish it could be so simple and straightforward! When I was young, my mother used to tell me, "Do this, and this and this and I will become rich and famous!' I didn't work obviously. My teacher used to say, "Do all these things and you can master this and this.” That didn’t work either as you can see.

For us today, we like modernized and updated “how tos.” Unfortunately, we are not as simple as a chocolate cake and our lives are not so easily regulated by such easy to follow formulas.

I think we can reach all  of our goals in life but I think it will be completely different from what we expected or anticipated or planned. No matter how careful we are or what magic number or recipe we employ, I am quite sure that our journey will be quite beyond all of our expectations and visions. Because of this, it is so important to be open-minded, extremely receptive and aware of everything around us.

I wish I could tell my students, "Ok, 1, 2, 3, 4. . . . . there, you have mastered Aikido!" Sigh, it is not that easy.

Just as each student is different and is a new and totally unique experience for the teacher, in life, every moment we encounter is a totally new and unique experience. These moments are precious, don’t waste them!

The Aiki Dojo 2 Minute Technique - Kata-tori Shihonage

The Aiki Dojo 2 Minute Technique - Kata-tori Shihonage

Ito Sensei demonstrates Kata-tori shihonage or the four directions throw from a shoulder grab. Almost every technique can be done from every attack. Each execution will have a slightly different emphasis based upon the attack or a different mechanism of how the technique works. Learning the nuance for each attack helps us to fully learn each technique and the muscle memory enables us to not get pigeon holed into one way of making the technique work. The case in point is shihonage from a shoulder grab. For this attack, we cannot stretch out the arm like we do in most other shihonage techniques. This attack is tighter and so this style of shihonage teaches us how to use our hips and the rotation of our bodies in the execution of the technique. Generally, in shihonage, we attack the opponents shoulder and body in the execution of the technique. However, in this type of shihonage, we attack the elbow directly and so care needs to be taken in the execution and how one takes ukemi. 

Sometimes there's no time to read a lengthy message or watch a long documentary. So we've created these quick and easy 2 minute techniques to help you improve your Aikido technique and knowledge. Keep an eye out for them every Wednesday. 

Enjoy!

Watch other Aiki Dojo videos here: Videos

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Throwback Thursday - Practice

Furuya Sensei posted this to his Daily Message on March 28, 2003.

Practice is not simply to gain a skill or power. It is, in many ways, to gain a particular Lifestyle. What this means is to clarify a behavior of living and realize a higher mental attitude according to O'Sensei's teaching of harmony and the excellence of the human individual.

This is not something to be taken lightly and therefore practice must become an important aspect of one's life. Practice is important just as our Life is important. Life is not just making money, eating or fulfilling our own desires, but in its greater meaning of making a better world not only for ourselves but for all others as well.

We are no better than the world around us. Please take a good look. Yes - there is a lot of work to be done. Please do not discriminate between "us" and "them," or between "me" and “you," or between "I" and the world. To realize that everything is within an integrated, indivisible Oneness, is the ultimate lesson to learn in our Aikido practice.

I say "Lifestyle" because this job takes every minute of our waking hours in order to accomplish within our Lives.

Today, we want to look at Aikido as a kind of "play," - money play, power play, political play and on and on. This is only a way to escape our higher responsibility and to remove ourselves for actively participating in our own lives. This sounds like a strange thing to say but it is true for the most part. We constantly shift the blame to others to escape into land where we can still play god. No, we are just human beings struggling and struggling on this Earth like all other living things. Please take your training seriously, because you are dealing with your own Life and it is a very serious and very important, very precious matter, indeed!

Please continue your Practice.

Have an Enemy

“Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everybody you meet.” General James Mattis 

Everyone should have an enemy or at least a strong rival. The warrior mentality is to be ready at all times. In this day and age, the opportunities are few and far between and largely almost never appear. With this idleness, it is easy for complacency to set in. To be complacent is to be satisfied with one’s ability or achievement and with this mentality, it is easy for us to lose our motivation or to get out of shape. One way to create motivation is to have a nanteki (難敵) or “formidable enemy.” The mere fact of having a rival can enables us to stave off complacency and it can also drive us to improve ourselves. Recently I read an article about basketball great Kevin Durant and how he had a rivalry with Kobe Bryant. Durant said, “I felt like I had a beef with Kobe Bryant, but he didn’t even know I had this beef.” In the interview, Durant talked about how having this mentality enable him to “sharpen his own skills.” In older times, the teacher acted as our adversary. The teacher was supposed to create this harsh environment that was filled with unfair criticisms and rough treatment. The reason for this was because it was thought that young people had iji or “willfulness” and that the teacher was supposed to transform that obstinateness into konjo or “fighting spirit.” Some teachers went so far as to make the student hate them just to stoke the fire within them. The student worked harder because they wanted nothing more than to beat the teacher. The reason for this treatment was because the Japanese believed in Yudantaiteki (油断大敵) or that “Being unprepared is the greatest enemy.” Thus, complacency is the greatest threat to any martial artist. Understanding this, having a rival can help us to stay vigilant and motivated because their mere presence can bring out the best in us. That is why, even in times of peace, everyone should have an enemy, real or perceived. 

Today’s goal: Do you have a rival? They don’t even need to be aware of it. Use the rivalry to motivate you to do more or be better. 

Read Durant’s interview

The Secret of the Technique

器晩成
Taiki bansei
Great talents mature late

In Aikido, it is said that within each technique hides a secret. In Japanese, something’s inner mystery or hidden purpose is called an ougi (奥義). Ougi itself can be directly translated as “heart’s purpose.” The secret can be a secret to the technique itself or a secret about life. The more I train, the more I realize how true this idea is. During the pandemic, I have been doing a lot of Yoga at home and the other day the instructor was talking about how pushing into the ground properly with our legs enables our hips to activate which can then cause our nervous systems to relax. This topic is something that I have heard several times. However, later that day I was teaching the tenkan exercise in Aikido class and I realized that this exercise is done in a similar way and thus can be done for the same reason and perhaps that is why every class always begins with the tenkan exercise without the throw. The ougi is buried deep within the bones of the technique and its secret can only be exorcised through experience and we only gain that experience with the act of doing. This realization in particular only took me 31 years to discover. Oftentimes we mistake knowledge for realization. The difference between the two is in the application of doing. Wisdom is only knowledge realized through experience. The Japanese proverb, taiki bansei means “Great talents mature late.” What that can mean is that the longer we do something the more likely we are to succeed. Thus, the secret of life, which is actually not a secret at all, is that we get out of life what we put into it. I don’t know much about Aikido, but I do know that if we put the time into the technique, it will reveal its secrets to us. Therefore, the secret to anything is to just keep practicing.   

Today’s goal: It is easy to cast something or someone aside because we “know.” It is entirely much more difficult but valuable to stay the course rather than quit. What can you delve deeper into? 

Throwback Thursday - Simon Says

Furuya Sensei posted this to his Daily Message on March 14, 2005.

Do you remember the children’s game, Simon Says? In the game, nobody was supposed to move until the leader said, “Simon says” and if you were out if you did. All black belts in the dojo must constantly play Simon Says. What this means is that beginners and white belts all closely observe the black belts and imitate everything they do. Many black belts are not aware of this and often make mistakes before, during and after class.

If the seniors practice hard, the other students will copy them and practice hard. If the seniors are arrogant, the students will become arrogant. If you pick your nose, all the students will begin to pick their noses. If we are humble and respectful, they will all imitate and copy us. It is just like Simon Says, in a way - they will follow all of our Simon Says instructions.

A black belt is a special honor and a great privilege as well as a big responsibility. Part of our training as black belts is to always put our best foot forward in everything we do. It is, of course, not only for the sake of the other students who look up to us and will imitate everything we do, but for one’s self as well. In everything we do in Life, work, at home and at play, Simon Says, “Always put your best foot forward.”

The Aiki Dojo 2 Minute Technique - Gyakute Kotegaeshi

Ito Sensei demonstrates gyakute kotegaeshi (逆手小手返し) or “reverse kotegaeshi.” Traditionally, we take kotegaeshi from the top. When you take the wrist from below, you will have to use a reverse grip or gyakute. Aikidoist should know how to take wrist locks from any type of grabbing attack.

Sometimes there's no time to read a lengthy message or watch a long documentary. So we've created these quick and easy 2 minute techniques to help you improve your Aikido technique and knowledge. Keep an eye out for them every Wednesday. 

Enjoy!

Watch other Aiki Dojo videos here: Video

Just Keep Going

竹槍戦術
Takeyarisenjutsu
The sole reliance on simple determination when fighting an overwhelming foe

The warrior’s spirit is largely one of determination. I can tell you this because, today, I have been involved in Aikido for 31 years. I don’t write about this to boast or brag and I don’t think that I am particularly talented or skillful. What I do know is that one should just keep going regardless of the hardship or challenge. It is said that martial arts training is supposed to be transformative. In one way, teachers are supposed to take a student’s iji (意地) or “willfulness” and transform it into konjo (根性) or “fighting spirit.” The reason for this transformation is best illustrated by this quote by Basketball coach Tim Notke: “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard.” Instilling persistence and determination is important because there will come a time when each and everyone of us will face some seemingly overwhelming adversity. When that happens we won’t be able to rely on talent to overcome it and we will need a mindset that enables us to reach deeper and go farther than we have ever had to go before. A warrior must have takeyarisenjutsu or the ability to rely solely on determination. Through training we learn that the secret to success in any endeavor, which is not really a secret at all, is to just keep going. We can’t rely on talent because having skill doesn’t necessarily mean that we have the heart or the fighting spirit to keep going regardless of the odds or the obstacle. Talent and luck play a role in our success but they are nothing without the sticktoitiveness to just keep going, no matter what. Persistence pays off.

Today’s goal: What obstacles are you up against? Try this, put your head down and just keep going. Remember, persistence pays off. 

Throwback Thursday - The Last Practice

Furuya Sensei posted this to his Daily Message on June 27, 2004.

Training is very interesting, especially in how we must train our minds. We always talk about shoshin (初心) or “The beginner's mind” because it is important to have the mind of someone who is practicing for the very first time. Their mind is so eager and so naive and so ready to absorb everything about Aikido. At the same time, as strange as it is to say, we must also have the mind that this is "our last practice" as well. We practice each day as if this is the last day we will be on this earth.

We need the energy and freshness of practice on the very first day, but we also need the desperate and anxious energy as if it is our last day on earth as well.

Some people call this, "life and death" practice. How do we achieve such a state of mind? Please find it on the mat!

A Warrior Rises Above

Here is the English language version of the El Budoka article

A Warrior Rises Above 

“Be grateful even for hardship, setbacks, and bad people. Dealing with such obstacles is an essential part of training in the Art of Peace.” - Morihei Ueshiba 

The coronavirus has created a unique situation that is impacting all martial artists the same regardless of style, border or nationality. What the adversity of the pandemic is a gift which is revealing our true character or lack there of.  

Regardless of the art, all warriors or martial artists follow a Way or do (道). The Way is a set of principles which guide every aspect of the warrior’s life.  Author, Nitobe Inazo outlined the Way as Eight Virtues: Righteousness (Gi 義), Courage (Yu 勇), Benevolence (Jin 仁), Respect (Rei 礼), Honor (Meiyo 名誉), Honesty (Makoto 誠), Loyalty (Chugi 忠実) Self-control (Jisei 自制). However, on paper and our lips, these are just words because without action, they are meaningless. 

Following a Way necessitates that the warrior be a righteous person. Righteousness are the rules which govern our actions and it is something that we cultivated through training. Every budo has kata (型) or “predetermined forms.” These “models” are the rules which govern our movements but they also hide within them mental and spiritual teachings. So, in a sense, budo training shapes the person that we are inside and out. Righteousness doesn’t begin and end at the door of the dojo. It is in everything we practice at the dojo from cleaning and bowing to the way we defend ourselves and eventually these practices become part of everything that we do. Practicing righteousness enables us to improve the quality of our daily lives. Also we are only able to follow the virtues of budo because we are righteous.

The famous Zen quote, “fall down seven, get up eight” typifies the courageousness of a warrior. Typically, a person has to be brave in order to even start a martial art. Courage is put into practice many times a day in class when our partners attack us. With every technique and each block, punch or throw, we are learning to stand our ground in the face of adversity. In the beginning it can be hard to keep going especially when things get hard or are overwhelming, but the warrior inside us says, “Be brave and do it again.” It takes courage to keep going when adversity rears its ugly head.

The greatest strength a warrior can have is to be benevolent. It doesn’t require any training to hurt or kill another - anyone can do it. That is why in the martial arts, they say, “true budo does not kill” or “shinmu fusatsu” (真武不殺). Budo training is about developing the strength of character to be kind. The more one trains, the gentler we become because we realize the fragility of life and lethalness of the art we wield. It  takes a tremendous amount of inner strength to not give in to the desires of our egos. True inner strength is not demonstrated in what we can do, but in what we choose not to do. There is a famous Japanese proverb which illustrates the strength of benevolence, “Nasake ni hamukau yaiba nashi” (情けに刃向かう刃なし) or “There is no sword which can oppose kindness.” Anyone can kill but only a select few can choose to be kind. 

There is a saying in budo, “Everything begins and ends with respect” (礼に始まり礼に終わる) or “rei ni hajimari rei ni owaru.” Conventionally speaking, most think this about bowing as a gesture of respect towards one’s opponent and that is ostensibly true. However, the respect that we are actually cultivating when we bow is not only for our opponent, but for ourselves as well. The only truly way to have respect for others is to have respect for ourselves. Thus, in training, we learn to move with dignity and grace which comes with having self-respect. That is why the Japanese say, “Yaiba ni tsuyoki mono wa rei ni suguru”  or “The best warrior surpasses all others in decorum.” To act with respect is to have self-respect.  

A warrior is a person of honor. Having true honor is when our inner person matches our outer person. Some might call this integrity. Many of us say, but fewer actually do. For me, honor should be the last virtue because it is the virtue which ensures all others. There is no righteousness, courage, benevolence, honesty, loyalty or discipline without honor.

It goes without saying that all warriors are honest, but a warrior’s honesty goes further than just telling the truth. Honesty is about intention. Do we live a life similar to the Five Precepts of Buddhism of not killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying or intoxication. Our actions speak to our character. Thus, in training, honesty is really about the intention of our actions. When we are having a bad day, refrain from taking it out on others. When we are up against adversity and act this way, we aren’t aware of ourselves and thus not acting with an honest intention. 

The best warriors aren’t always the loyalest. The movements of budo can be learned by anyone and so anyone can pretend to be or say that they are loyal. It is easy to do  when others are looking, but the truest test of loyalty is when there is nothing to gain and when no one is looking. True loyalty reveals our true character and our real motivation. 

The hallmark virtue of all warriors is self-control. All of these other virtues are just concepts which require self-discipline to carry out. Perhaps that is why self-control is the last virtue. True budo is about change, but not just the physical change. The change that we all seek in training is the realization of the self. Concepts are just words, but they are brought to life with diligence and that practice over time creates a change or self-realization. To follow the way of budo is hard and requires constant and consistent work. That is why in budo they say, “Living is hard, dying is easy.” In class, we learn the discipline to have self-control. Without discipline, words are just words. With discipline words help to guide our actions and help us reach our goals. 

Adversity tempers the sword of our character. The pandemic is a test which reveals our true character. American author James Lane Allen said, “Adversity doesn’t build character, it reveals it.” The coronavirus forces us to look inward and ask the hard question, “Am I truly living the way of budo?” Regardless of the answer it reveals where we truly are and where the work needs to be done, physically, mentally and spiritually.  

Warrior’s create their own destiny. The pandemic can either make us or break us. Regardless of the outcome it reveals who we truly are. An often used theme in Zen and the tea ceremony is nichi nichi konichi (日々是好日) which is intended to mean, “every day is a good day,” but it can also means to “Live meaningfully.” We cannot control what happens to us, but we are in control of who we choose to be and what we choose to do. A warrior rises above and does their best and leaves the rest to fate. We are warriors and people of true character, let the pandemic make you, don’t let it break you.