No Tomorrows

明日は明日の風が吹く
Ashita wa ashitanokaze ga fuku
Tomorrow will take care of itself

The best martial artists don’t believe in tomorrow - they believe in today. Normal people believe in tomorrow and think “shizumusearebaukabuseari” (沈む瀬あれば浮かぶ瀬あり) or “What falls today may rise tomorrow.” On a certain level, thinking that there will be another chance tomorrow can be healthy and, in thinking so, it creates a sense of hope in the face of an otherwise desperate situation. The problem in thinking that tomorrow actually exists is that it could cause us to not do our best or even give up. Gense (現世) is an old Buddhist term that literally translates as “present world” but the deeper meaning is “being ready to live.” The martial arts are born out of strife on the battlefield and so, in a sense, a practitioner’s mindset is supposed to be one of inochigake (命がけ) or “life and death.” The warrior of old had to learn how to live knowing that they were going to die and thus cultivated a mindset of “being ready to live.” Today, we don’t fight for our lives and so having a life and death mindset is not normal. Living today or being ready to live is something that we have to cultivate or habituate. One way to habituate this mindset is in how we do our martial arts techniques. Often times in class, I see students start a technique but then stop part way through when they think they have made a mistake. From there, they go back to the beginning and start all over again. When I see this, I always admonish them and try to explain that the martial arts are not like a video game where they can hit the reset button and start all over again when things aren’t going their way or when they have made a mistake. In life and in the martial arts, we have to deal with what comes. We don’t get to put it off for tomorrow. With training, we will come to understand that regardless of what we are doing, our bodies will always be present (today) even if our minds are not (tomorrow) and so today is really a mindset. A good martial artist with a today cultivated mindset will realize that they have made a mistake and in realizing so, they will make a correction in their movement as they go in order to get things back on track rather than stop and start over again. This is how we, as martial artists, can begin to habituate a today or “present world” mindset. In the martial arts and in life, there are no do-overs and thus this idea of tomorrow is an illusion. Alice Morse Earle said, “The clock is running. Make the most of today. Time waits for no man. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.” Tomorrow never comes because it is always today.

Today’s goal: Forget about tomorrow. Give yourself the gift of today.

Watch this video to better understand today

Manners

礼に始まり礼に終わる

Rei ni hajimari, rei ni owaru

Everything begins and ends with respect

A good martial artist always behaves carefully. For the most part, traditional Japanese martial arts were born out of Japan’s Feudal era where even the smallest infraction or act of impoliteness could result in a fight or death. This is no more apparent than in the ill-fated tale of the 47 Ronin where events are set in motion because of a breach of etiquette. Understanding that one’s life could be lost because of some rudeness or carelessness, a samurai was always supposed to err on the side of decorum. Understanding this, decorum and etiquette were put into place to keep warriors safe rather than to oppress them. In modern martial arts, it is the same way. When I was a little kid, my older brother studied Kendo. Every Friday night, we had to go watch him train and it was so boring, and I hated it. The reason why I hated it was because if my younger brother and I were going to be inside the dojo, we were supposed to pay attention and maintain some level of decorum. My mother would never allow us to misbehave or slouch while the class was going on. This was in the 70s before smartphones and so we just had to sit there. Most of the time, we had to be inside because the dojo was in a bad neighborhood. Local gang kids would jump the fence and try to beat us up and so we were constantly seeking refuge inside the dojo. One night, a group of high school aged kids jumped the fence. It was like a scene out of the Karate Kid or something as they chased us into a corner. They were yelling some racial slurs and pushing us around. Just as they were about to beat us up, one of the Kendo teachers came out of nowhere and subdued the biggest kid with a choke and joint lock. As he wrenched the kid’s body, he said, “This is a dojo, show some respect.” Writhing in pain, the kid nodded. The Sensei gave him one last hard squeeze and said, “Good. Never come back here.” I’ll never forget the wide eyed and scared look on their faces as they ran out. He then looked at us and said, “You guys are making too much noise out here. Go inside and don’t forget to bow before you enter the dojo.” I remember that when he said that to us, I got scared. By those kids misbehaving and not adhering to the proper etiquette, it actually saved us. In the dojo and in life, our behavior dictates how others will treat us. Therefore, our actions have consequences and that is why a good martial artist always behaves carefully.

Today’s goal: Mind your manners. You never know who’s watching or what could happen.

Watch this video to better understand what it means to have manners

Throwback Thursday - Treasured Sword

Throwback Thursday - Treasured Sword

Furuya Sensei posted this to his Daily Message on August 5, 2004.

When we consider what we have, we are always happy. But somehow, when we begin to think what we don't have, we are never satisfied. Isn't it better not to go there in the first place?

In Zen, there is a well known saying: "Ho-ken wa te ni ari.” "The Treasure Sword is in your hand." Everyone searches of their "treasure sword" (wisdom) yet, it is something which we already possess in our own hearts.

More often than not, we have everything we need to be happy but not realizing we already possess this "treasure sword," we are unhappy and complain about this and that.

Intentionality

一念岩をも通す
Ichinen iwa wo mo tosu
Single-mindedness pierces even a boulder

A good martial artist has intentionality. Shikousei (志向性) or “intentionality” is “the fact of being deliberate or purposive.” As a philosophical construct, intentionality is the mental state which guides our actions. Alan Cohen said, “When your intention is clear, so is the way.” The Japanese character for intention (志) is made up of the character for warrior (士) and for heart (心). One can surmise that to have intention, or a focus is to have the heart of a warrior. In everything we do, we must first set our intention and then constantly reaffirm our intention to ensure that we are on the right track. Intention is akin to positive self-talk or a positive affirmation. Intention gives us direction and thus having the proper intention sets the tone, keeps us on track and helps us to succeed. In Junichi Haga’s book Secret’s on Kendo, he writes how his initial attack is always a strong tsuki or “thrust.” He commented that the tsuki is almost always parried but what it does do is set up the success of the subsequent attacks. The same thing happens in class. Students should take a moment before class starts and quietly set their intentions. What do you want to work on? What do you want to achieve? What type of class do you want to have? Setting our intention by answering these types of questions helps to bring us into the moment and puts our minds in the right space. In Aikido, and I am sure in all martial arts, every movement is itotekina ugoki (意図的動き) or “purposeful movement.” Conversely, in the martial arts, there also should not be any muda (無駄) or “waste.” When our minds and bodies move intentionally, we achieve something called shinshinichinyo (心身一如) or “mind-body unity” and it is at this juncture where we become truly undefeatable. That is why the Japanese say, “Ichinen iwa wo mo tosu” or “Single-mindedness pierces even a boulder.” Intention is then the basis for true inner strength and inner strength is what we use to overcome adversity and achieve our goals. What makes a martial artist good is having the ability to know where and how to apply their focus. When talking about focus, Furuya Sensei used to say, “Don’t just dig holes, you have to dig in the right places.” Therefore, in the martial arts and in life, we should always think and move intentionally and purposefully because when the intention is clear, the way will be too. That is why a good martial artist always has the right intentionality.

Today’s goal: Before you start, set your intention. 

Throwback Thursday - Be Open

Throwback Thursday - Be Open

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

It is important to remember the fundamental techniques, but it is also important to keep in mind the fundamental principles of Aikido as well. They are both like two wheels of a cart. By principles, I mean to be relaxed and well centered, directing one’s focus correctly, and keeping our posture straight.

We should never force the technique even though our partner may be using force. Work for "correctness," not strength. Aikido is not a competitive sport, it is training for the self.

Be understanding and put the other person before yourself. Of course, we are thinking about ourselves - but in Aikido training, it is the other person in front of us who is important. This is the most difficult concept for people to understand. This is only because we live in a very self centered world today.

Follow tradition before you follow your own ideas. Aikido is the refinement of O'Sensei's genius and the genius of many of his students over many generations. More often than not, their wisdom exceeds ours. Eventually and quite naturally, our own genius will emerge as we train and gain experience. Wait for this to happen naturally.

In your training, and in your Aikido go beyond right or wrong, just or unjust. Do not fret or worry or feel bad because of any injustice to yourself or others. Only focus on your training. Let the higher powers judge others and their actions - that is not a part of our concern or our Aikido. To quit because we may feel wronged or because we have a difficult time, is not Aikido. To see and experience injustice is only to direct oneself more strongly in our own direction. This is very difficult to understand but very important for us to learn in order to continue our practice.

We have everything we need to master Aikido within ourselves, in each human being, there is no such thing as "plus" or “minus." Never forget this in dealing with ourselves or others.

In Aikido, there is the power of reason and the power of faith. In trying to understand Aikido, most people use reason. Please know that, from times immemorial, the power of faith was the stronger power. Faith can encompass reason, but it is hard for reason to embrace faith.

Following this, there are many things we will not understand in Aikido. This is NOT because Aikido does not make any sense, it is more often that the vessel is too small to hold Aikido. Faith means acceptance, like an empty vessel which desires to hold as much water as possible. Please be open about everything.

Read more about Furuya Sensei here: http://www.kenshofuruya.com

Know Grace

A true warrior knows grace. Kudoku (功徳) or “grace” is to show kindness to others even if they don’t deserve it. Grace is not something that we are actively taught as we are learning a martial art. Naively, we think that our teachers are training us to be lethal so that we may become “killers.” However, nothing is farther from the truth. In swordsmanship, we train so that we can deliver itto hissatsu (一刀必殺) or a “one cut kill.” To kill with one cut is not to make us more deadly. On the contrary, it is to make us more merciful. One might think, “This person is our enemy. Shouldn’t we make them suffer?” It is true that this person is our opponent but are they really our “enemy?” The job of being a samurai wasn’t glorious. In fact, to the Japanese, a warrior was thought to be a distasteful profession because they had to deal with blood and death which were thought to be aku (悪) or “impure” and that impurity brings about misfortune. Thus, from a samurai standpoint, this person who faces them was just as unlucky as themselves. They both have drawn the unlucky straw and have resigned themselves to their fates but at the same time, they both take their responsibility seriously and so they both have developed themselves to be worthy opponents. Understanding that the person facing us is no different than we are, we don’t hack them to death which would cause them to unduly suffer. Instead, we show them mercy by felling them with a single cut. It is said that a good warrior sees what is apparent while a great warrior sees what can’t be seen. A person attacks us - that is apparent. Aikidoists understand the universal truth that everyone suffers. So, what can’t be seen is that the person who is attacking us is attacking us because they are suffering. Therefore, if we too suffer and act out our suffering, then should we be destroyed when we trespass against others? When we are suffering, we want kindness, compassion, and forgiveness. Therefore, to be worthy of receiving grace, we should deliver it in kind when others trespass against us. It is easy to destroy or kill, untrained people do it every day. Every person deserves grace but only a true warrior is strong enough to give it.

Today’s goal: Show someone grace today even if they don’t deserve it. Give grace to get it.

Watch this video to better understand grace

Lead by Example

花は桜木人は武士
Hana wa sakura gi hito wa bushi
Sakura among flowers, warriors among men.

The best martial artist leads by example. The Japanese say, “hana wa sakura gi hito wa bushi” (花は桜木人は武士) or “Cherry blossom among flowers, warriors among men.” This is supposed to mean that the cherry blossom is the most beautiful flower and the warrior is supposed to be the best human being. In the past, Japanese culture was a warrior culture and so it was thought that the samurai were supposed to be the pinnacle of society because they followed the Way (道). Senshi no michi (戦士の道) or “the Way of the Warrior” is a way of life that dictates that the warrior follow a set of rules regardless if they are on the battlefield or off. Understanding this, in 1900, author Inazo Nitobe wrote Bushido: The Soul of Japan and tried to extrapolate a set of virtues that he thought embodied the samurai. The seven virtues of bushido are: Justice (義 gi), Courage (勇 yu), Benevolence (仁 jin), Respect (禮 rei), Honesty (誠 makoto),  Honor (名誉 meiyo) and Loyalty (忠義 chugi). A samurai who embodies these virtues exemplified what it meant to be a good person and thus would really be a warrior among men. Trying to emulate the Way of the Warrior, the martial artists of today are supposed to be a people of character. A dojo is a utopian structure where the students get to practice the Way of the Warrior. In a dojo, every person is simultaneously a senior or “sempai” and a junior or “kohai” to someone else. Therefore, even if we have just started, we might find ourselves someone else’s senior. Understanding this dictates that we act exemplarily at all times because we never know who is watching or who is going to follow our example. Furuya Sensei used to always say, “Always act as if your teacher is watching.” His admonishment was meant to warn us that one bad apple could spoil the bunch but also that the best warriors could bring out the best in others. That is why the best martial artists always lead by example.

Today’s goal: What can you do to lead by example?

Conscientiousness

There are no bystanders in Budo. A bystander is “a person who is present at an event or incident but does not take part.” Bystanders are people of inaction. Martial artists are kodoka (行動家) or “people of action.” Martial arts skill is not something that we miraculously get over night. There are no shortcuts or programs to download which will help us learn a martial art faster. The tried-and-true method of getting good at a martial art, or anything for that matter, is to simply put in the work. Putting in the work is one of those things that is hard because it is so simple. In order to put in the work, we must be a willing participant or in other words, we must choose to do the work. The Japanese say, “zaisan wo kuitsubusu” (財産を食いつぶす) which means “you will go broke in idleness.” The same thinking happens in the martial arts. Martial arts skill is ephemeral. If we do not keep up our skill, it will perish. John Quincy Adams said, “Idleness is sweet, and its consequences are cruel.” So true indeed! The two greatest opponents in training are laziness and complacency. That is why Furuya Sensei used to say, “Hold your sword every day so that your body doesn’t forget.” In a dojo, it is the same thing. If we allow inaction to enter the dojo, the dojo will fall into disrepair. Most things that make a dojo work go unseen. Every dojo has a small group of people who make the dojo run smoothly. They are the organizers, the facilitators, and the repair people - they are the doers. A doer is one of those people who can’t let things go idly by. If they see a piece of paper on the ground, they pick it up. If they see someone struggling, they help. There is a cruelty in watching someone suffer. That is why the best swordsman trains to kill with one merciful stroke. If nothing else, a martial artist is nenire (念入れ) or “conscientious” which means they are “a person who wishes to do what is right, especially to do their work or duty well and thoroughly.” What holds us back from being conscientious? Most likely fear. Dale Carnegie said, “Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home, and think about it. Go out and get busy.” There are no bystanders in Budo and that is why a true martial artist is a person of action.

Today’s goal: What can you do to be more conscientious?

Watch this video to better understand the bystander effect

Teamwork

Aiki Dojo Message - Teamwork

“Teamwork makes the dream work.” - John C. Maxwell

The best dojo works together as a team. Being able to work together as a team demonstrates the level of training inside that dojo. If the teachers and students in a dojo work well as a group, then one can surmise that the level of training in that dojo is good. However, if the members of a dojo don’t work well together or there are too many “individuals,” then one could suspect that the training there as a whole is not good. Teamwork demonstrates our level of training because it is one of those things which cannot be faked. Teamwork requires, among other things, respect, communication, mutual trust, and most of all self-sacrifice. In an Aikido dojo, more so than any other type of dojo, the members have to work together as a group because Aikido relies on having a person to take ukemi. Also, the ai (合) in Aikido means “to meet” or for things to come together which seems like the definition of group. When something comes together well, we call it harmony. That is why Furuya Sensei used to say, “In a dojo, you must learn to work together in harmony.” Someone once said, “it takes a village to raise a child.” Likewise, it takes a dojo to develop a student. From cleaning the dojo to taking ukemi, none of these things can be done alone and they require a bit of self-sacrifice. A dojo is supposed to be a bushidan (武士団) or “a group of warriors that come from related or dependent families.” In this sense, we win or lose as a group. In a dojo, we are trying to learn the seven virtues of bushido: Justice (義 gi), Courage (勇 yu), Benevolence (仁 jin), Respect (禮 rei), Honesty (誠 makoto),  Honor (名誉 meiyo) and Loyalty (忠義 chugi). If we look deeply into these traits, none of these things can be achieved without hard-work and self-sacrifice. Thus, the only way any of us gets anywhere is by working as a group and helping one another. The Way is hard enough, but the journey is made a little bit easier when we go as a group. Leadership guru John C. Maxwell said it best: “Teamwork makes the dream work.” A dojo is a group of people working together toward the common goal of improving themselves. Our teamwork exemplifies our true level of ability and that is why the best dojo works together as a team.

Today’s goal: What can you do to be a better dojomate?

Watch this video to better understand teamwork

Throwback Thursday - On Guard

Throwback Thursday - On Guard

Furuya Sensei posted this to his Daily Message on June 7, 2003.

It is easy to learn the physical techniques in martial arts but it is very difficult to catch the right mental attitude and spiritual posture to understand the martial arts. This is where most students need more effort and perseverance.

Most people follow what they think is right but what is right for you yourself personally may not be the same "right" for your training and Aikido. We may be very intelligent but this does not necessarily mean that we will be right in our training as well. Because of this, we must constantly be in awareness and constantly on guard. . . .  - to catch everything there is to learn.

In this regards, the health spa mentality will not do. Martial arts training as I constantly remind everyone is not sports or exercise. Nor is it play or just a game.

As the Ancients say, it is Life at the border of Life and Death. Don’t misunderstand this! It means that Life must be taken to its fullest and to its highest level within one's self! In this regard, it is definitely not play or a game, it definitely requires a great deal of personal focus, effort and courage.

The attitude which lacks focus and the mentality that one knows it all or is too arrogant are both the worst enemies to our training. For this, we must ever vigilant and constantly be on guard.

True Freedom

“Mind over matter represents the triumph of will over physical hindrance. Our thoughts are our weapon against the world.” - David Adam, 'The Man Who Couldn't Stop'.

The true battle is within. One goal of martial arts training is to achieve kikentaiichi  (氣剣体一致) or the juncture where “spirit, sword and body become one.” At this juncture, we find busshinichinyo (物心一如) or this liberation where mind and matter are one and there is no mind and there is no body. Getting to this place physically is the easy part where all we need to do is put in the reps. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “The ancestor of every action is a thought.” Thus, to be able to put in the reps requires that we have the mental fortitude to do so. Therefore, the harder and more important training happens in the mind.  Being able to push ourselves physically past the point of failure requires mental fortitude. Understanding this, we realize that all martial arts training is shuyo (修養) or “mental training” or in other words that the true battlefield lies within. It seems like the older I get, the more training becomes mental, and I realize that physical toughness pales in comparison to mental toughness. One thing that surprises me about aging is how quickly and easily my body falls out of shape. I remember reading a study in college that stated that the average professional athlete starts to lose conditioning after 10 days of inactivity. I also recently read an article that stated that we lose 50% of our muscle strength after three weeks of inactivity and a 20 % decrease in VO2 max after four weeks of inactivity. Shocking! To me, putting in the work is easy, but actually motivating myself to stay active is hard. 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.” Thus, staying in shape requires things like passion, motivation, drive, persistence, etc which are all mental constructs. Yagyu Tajima No Kami who founded the Yagyu Shinkage-ryu school of swordsmanship once wrote, “The goal of training in swordsmanship is to overcome six kinds of disease: the desire for victory, the desire to rely on technical cunning, the desire to show off, the desire to psychologically overwhelm the opponent, the desire to remain passive in order to wait for an opening and the desire to become free of these diseases.” Understanding Yagyu’s admonishment, martial arts training is all seishinsen (精神戦) or “a mental war.” Strangely, the more we age or the more proficient we become, the stronger  our inner foe seems to become. Later on in our training, we realize that pushing ourselves in physical training was just a mental dress rehearsal for the real battle later on which lies within. That is why O’Sensei advocated masakatsu agatsu (正勝吾勝) or that “the true victory is self-victory. Once we reach the apex of our training or as we get older, our minds will play a greater role in our training. Understand this, we realize that we can only truly be free when we have won the inner war of the mind and that is why the true battle is within. Happy 4th of July.

Today’s goal: Begin the journey now to master your mind.

Watch this video of ultra-marathoner David Goggins to better understand the battle within.

Self-care

Every good martial artist is a black belt in self-care. Self-care is a modern concept which has only recently become fashionable. Self-care is defined as “the practice of taking an active role in protecting one's own well-being and happiness, in particular during periods of stress.” In the past, most martial artists followed Judo legend Masahiko Kimura’s work ethic of outworking their opponents. Kimura was famous for san bai no do ryoku (三倍努力) or “Tripling one's effort.” He said, “If my opponent trains for one hour, I will train for three.” Martial artists of old, wouldn’t let anything stop them from training. They trained through world wars, injuries and illnesses, and things like broken bones and concussions were badges of honor to them. There is some merit to this “no pain, no gain” mentality, but it can also become a detriment if not balanced out correctly. Today, we are “standing on the shoulders of giants” and have the benefit of not only hindsight but science as well. People of the past only knew how to work harder and they didn’t understand things like moetsukishoukougun (燃え尽き症候群) or “burnout syndrome.” In the past in our dojo, personal time was frowned upon. Furuya Sensei lived in the dojo and taught a majority of the classes and so he couldn’t understand the need for days off or the need to have a work-life-dojo balance. The unspoken feeling was that “Sensei wasn’t taking any days off and so neither should we.” In my opinion, this mentality created a lot of good Aikidoist but it also contributed to a lot of people quitting because of burnout or battle fatigue. Burnout is about how our body deals with stress and the signs of stress that aren’t readily apparent or how little injuries can gradually become big injuries. Today, we understand stress and have things like smartwatches and Fitbits to monitor our inner health. By working smarter not harder we understand that rest and recovery are just as important, if not more important, than working hard. O’Sensei said, “The real Way of a Warrior is to prevent such slaughter — it is the Art of Peace, the power of love.” Thus, true peace and love begins with the self and so self-care is really about the compassion we give ourselves. Jack Kornfield said, “If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete.” Before we can truly defeat anyone, we must first master ourselves and that mastery begins knowing thyself and at the heart of that is healthy self-care. Every person will have different needs and so each person’s self-care will be slightly different - it is a personal journey. Aikido is about balance and true balance at its core is about self-care and that is why every good martial artist is a black belt in self-care.

Today’s goal: You matter. How can you take care of yourself?

Watch this video to better understand self-care.

Learn to Let go

剣は瞬息心氣力一致
Ken wa shuniki shinkiryoku itchi
“You must use your sword in an instant with mind, spirit, and body in unison.”
- Chiba Shusaku Taira no Narimasa, Founder of the Hokushin Itto-ryu Hyoho school of swordsmanship

The best martial artists learn to let go. How we grab our opponent is an indicator of where we are in our training. In swordsmanship, Chiba Shusaku Taira no Narimasa advocated Ken wa shuniki shinkiryoku itchi (剣は瞬息心氣力一致) or that “You must use your sword in an instant with mind, spirit, and body in unison.” To have this unison in an instant begins with how we hold the sword. Watanabe Sensei said, “Proper grip usually means proper posture, a balanced center and a clear mind.” When we face off with our opponent and touch the tip of their sword, the sword acts as a conduit and will tell us everything we need to know about our opponent. Through how hard or soft they are gripping the sword, we can gauge their inner calmness, balance, and posture, just to name a few. All of these things that the sword is telling us are indicators of how well the opponent is trained and their level of prowess. O'Sensei often said “We should execute Aikido technique as if holding a sword.” Thus, that which holds true in swordsmanship also holds true in Aikido. In Aikido, how an opponent grabs us is an indication of their level of ability. In the beginning, we are taught to grab strongly and purposefully with our whole body. However, what happens is that beginners think that more is better and end up putting so much strength into their grab that their body can no longer move with the technique which causes them to get tired faster and maybe even injured. Later on, we learn to grab with that same intensity but also with a sense of legerity or to grab properly and with the right power which creates a connection with our opponent but at the same time allows our bodies to move with the technique rather than against it. Grabbing with legerity enables us to protect ourselves in the movement. How hard we hold on is also an indicator of where we are in life as well. One of the highest teachings in swordsmanship and just about every other traditional Japanese art is equanimity. Equanimity is the ability to notice what our minds are holding on to, letting go of that thought and returning back to the present moment. Yoda said, “Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose.” Yoda said that because being able to let go demonstrates one’s true prowess while holding on too long to something only shows our real weakness. In life and in the martial arts, we shouldn’t hold onto any one thing too tightly and that is why the best martial artists are learning to let go.

Today’s goal: What are you holding on too tightly to?

Throwback Thursday - Forget The Self

Throwback Thursday - Forget The Self

Furuya Sensei posted this to his Daily Message on February 15, 2004.

A good Iaido student always keeps their teacher's words in mind when they practice, a so-so student only hears their own words and opinions and nothing else.

This is an attitude of "Only I know what is best for me!” This type of student never understands the kindness of the teacher and thus, will never become a good one themselves.

If a teacher's talks just to hear the lovely sound of their own voice, their students will never go very far. If a teacher teaches to truly guide and develop their students, it would be silly for the students not to listen eagerly and with sincerity.

Some wise person once said, "In order to study the self, one must first forget the self.” How true this is! In order for the teacher to teach, they must forget about themselves. In the same light, in order for a student to learn, they must also forget about themselves.

We never really forget about ourselves, but this is the only way to lose our “obsession" with ourselves - our greatest obstacle in all aspects of our lives. Please think about this point well in your practice.

Fight Like Hell

地獄のように戦
Jigoku no yoo ni tatakau
To fight like hell

A good warrior knows desperation. Once Furuya Sensei asked the class, “Do you think I would rather teach in heaven or in hell?” We all sat there silently thinking that his question was rhetorical. From the silence, one student abruptly answered, “heaven!” Sensei replied, “No, I would rather teach in hell because those people would be fighting desperately to get out while the people in heaven would be too complacent.” I remember it was a cold and rainy day, the mat was crowded elbow to elbow and there were buckets out because the roof was leaking. Everyone in the class was trying to be cautious of the conditions so we were all naturally a bit slow. However, it seemed that we were a bit out of it and so Sensei was admonishing us for being too complacent. I think that Sensei’s question was trying to instill in us the idea that we should always be “fighting like hell.” Jigoku no yoo ni tatakau (地獄のように戦) or “to fight like hell” is to “use all of one's power or effort to fight against something.” In order to fight like hell, we must imagine that we are in hell and trying desperately to get out. To know hell or at least imagine it, we must first have known desperateness at some time in our lives. To be desperate is defined as “feeling, showing, or involving a hopeless sense that a situation is so bad as to be impossible to deal with.” Once we have known desperation and its sting, we know we never want to feel it again and so we fight like hell to get away from it. In Japanese, this is known as yuusen (勇戦) or to put up a “desperate fight.” On a certain level, we can only truly learn when we are desperate. To be desperate is to feel hopeless, but in this context, it means to be so hungry for something that we will do anything to learn it. Thus, the feelings of desperation are what create the hunger for true learning. When we feel desperate, we will shichukyukatsu (死中求活) or will “desperately look for a way out.” Understanding this, a teacher tries to create an environment which brings out the student’s fire or their hunger. Sensei once wrote, “There is an old saying: ‘Do not fire until you see the whites of their eyes!’ I would like to say, ‘Do not teach, until you see the fire in their eyes!’” We should use our past feelings of despair as motivation to push us to achieve our goals in not only the martial arts but in life as well. A good warrior knows desperation and uses it but never gives way to it.

Today’s goal: Be desperate enough to fight for what it is you want.

Watch this video to motivate yourself to fight like hell

Don’t Make it Personal

A true warrior doesn’t take anything personal. To take something personal is to internalize another person’s actions and become offended or upset by it. When we take something personal, we are allowing something from the outside to affect how we feel on the inside. Becoming agitated or losing focus creates a suki (隙) or an ideal opening for our opponents to attack and defeat us. That is why one of the highest goals in swordsmanship is said to be equanimity or the ability to mindfully act and not mindlessly react to an attack. Epictetus said, “It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.” Therefore, we should look at attacks from the standpoint of our internal stamina or self-esteem versus self-compassion. Self-esteem is something that we have to build up like the main wall of a castle. Self-esteem is our overall opinion of ourselves or “the confidence in one's own worth or abilities; self-respect.” We build up a strong immovable barrier to stave off any attack but once that rampart breaks, we have to start all over again and build up our defenses up from zero. However, in the meanwhile we also have to come back from total personal devastation. If self-esteem is a wall, self-compassion is a process. Self-compassion is not so much a strong barrier to repel invaders but a way to deal with the attacks as they come. Author Kristin Neff has defined self-compassion as being composed of three main elements of “self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness.” Aikido is the art of compassion. We are, just like our attacker, a human being and human beings by design are fallible. Understanding this, Aikidoists realize that every person is suffering and because of this, we give them compassion instead of destroying them. The true goal of all martial arts is to achieve mindfulness in action. When we are mindful and give ourselves compassion, we realize that an attack is not personal but only a way for a suffering person to incite us to create an opening to attack. O’Sensei said, “In our techniques we enter completely into, blend totally with, and firmly control an attack. Strength resides where one’s ki is concentrated and stable; confusion and maliciousness arise when ki stagnates.” Thus, an Aikidoist harmonizes and never allows the external to influence the internal and that is why a true warrior doesn’t take anything personal.

Today’s goal: Realize that person is suffering so don’t take anything personal.

Watch this video to better understand taking things personal

Throwback Thursday - Finding Happiness

Throwback Thursday - Finding Happiness

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

We think we will find happiness in freedom but most people do not know what true freedom is and therefore happiness becomes another illusion for most, only in their heads. We think that doing anything we please is freedom but we do not know where the line exists between such carte blanche activity and simple self-indulgence.

Of course, we are self-indulgent, it is a part of our Nature as human beings but it is not the key to freedom. Freedom only comes through self-knowledge acquired through our relationships with others. I have to make this qualification because, more often than not, most people, in thinking that they have found freedom, have only replaced one self-indulgent activity with another.

When I see my students all practicing hard on the mats - I feel like I don't need anything else in Life - I don't even feel like eating, I am so happy. It is the simple things in Life which mean something to us that will make us happy.

There are really no (natural) rules between one person and another, we make them up to express our ideals of what human relationships should mean to us. These should be the highest ideals nurtured through wisdom and experience. In this context, we are coming closer to the true meaning of Aikido and now we are getting closer to true happiness.

MacGyver

Aiki Dojo Message - MacGyver

Every good martial artist is a MacGyver. MacGyver was a hit TV show in the 80s/90s where the titular character would get himself out of tight spots by making or fixing something with whatever he had on hand. MacGyver is part of the lexicon now and is defined as “making or repairing something in an improvised or inventive way, making use of whatever items are at hand.” To MacGyver from a martial arts sense is to find a way to work around whatever problem or situation that we have which is confronting us. In MacGyvering there is no blueprint, so it is really a mindset. A good martial artist knows that there will never be a moment when everything lines up and things go perfectly. Most times, we have to make do with what we have and find a way to work around it. The Japanese equivalent to MacGyver could be gaman (我慢) or to “persevere” but perseverance is too simplistic of a definition. Someone defined gaman as “enduring the seemingly unbearable with patience and dignity.” Gaman is a really a mindset where a person keeps on going no matter what happens. To gaman is to find a way and not let anything hold us back from accomplishing our goals. Every day in training we are learning how to gaman or MacGyver challenges and overcome them. Sometimes the challenge is just getting to class while other times it is having to train through an injury. For instance, when I was a student, one of the students lost his keys when he was taking Furuya Sensei around on errands. Hearing about what happened and how much Sensei scolded him, I taped an extra key to the underside of my car just in case. Then one day, I was on a date and lost my keys, but my hide-a-key saved the day. Each person will have to figure out a way around their own problems and each time we do surmount an obstacle, we become a tiny bit stronger. The Japanese say, “chiri mo tsumoreba yama to naru” (塵も積もれば山となる) or “Even specks of dust if piled up can become a mountain.” Thus, the incremental changes over time are what mastery is built upon. No matter who we are or what we have accomplished, at every stage in life and in training, we will be confronted by something that we will have to overcome - no one is immune to this. Training teaches us how to have a mindset which doesn’t give up and to find a way around our obstacles. That is why a good martial artist is a MacGyver.

Today’s goal: Think, “What would MacGyver do?” He’d make it work somehow.

Watch this video of the creator of MacGyver explaining how to think like him

Throwback Thursday - Reality

Throwback Thursday - Reality

Furuya Sensei posted this to his Daily Message on August 16, 2004.

Things are what they are. It is our choice to make it good or bad for ourselves. Even a sword can become a great saver of lives, instead of a weapon of destruction. Even a bad deed can be turned into something good - this is the power we have over the world - please use it wisely and for the good.

As if

神社を尽くして天命を待つ
Jinji wo tsukushite tenmei wo matsu
Do your best and leave the rest to fate

The best martial artists always act as if. Starting in the 1970s, it became popular to say, “Fake it until you make it.” “Fake it until you make it” suggests that by pretending to be confident or competent, a person can cover up their shortcomings and attain some semblance of success until they actually realize those qualities in their real life. The problem with “faking it” is that it carries with it an air of dishonesty and martial artists are never supposed to act dishonestly. Long ago, there was a master of the tea ceremony who was challenged to a duel by a samurai. The samurai wanted to make a name for himself and accused the tea master of touching his sword which was a common way to challenge someone to a fight known as saya ate (鞘当て). Not being a trained fighter, the tea master consulted his master who was a samurai of importance. His master said, “When you cross swords, just act as if you are going to serve this samurai a cup of tea.” When he met the samurai the next morning, the tea master drew his weapon and steadied himself with the same spirit as if he was going to serve this samurai tea ceremony. Touching swords, the samurai felt the composure and calmness of the tea master. This either meant that the tea master was a trained swordsman or that he was ready to die. Regardless, it scared the samurai and he immediately bowed and ran off. Usually, we have to fake it because we don’t feel good enough about ourselves at our given level. Therefore, instead of faking it, I suggest that students act as if. Acting as if is a positive way to overcome our feelings of not being good enough. By acting as if, we can be honest and comfortable with doing our best regardless of our level or the outcome. All that we can do in the martial arts and in life is meet adversity with calmness and put forth an effort which is sincere and honest. Therefore, don’t fake it until you make it but rather do your best and leave the rest to fate. The best martial artists always act as if.

Today’s goal: What in your life can you change from faking it to acting as if?

This post appears in a slightly different form @ www.aikidocenterla.com/blog

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