Furuya Sensei posted this to his Daily Message on March 25, 2002.
Nowadays, I think that many think of Aikido practice as mere “play." This is why I think we do not have the focus and mental direction as we had before. In everything we do, play, work, study or even sleeping, we need to be in the moment, focused and aware. Until we can appreciate this, we will never become the true warrior that we continually dream about.
大取りより小取り
Ootoriyorikotori
Light gains make for a heavy purse
A good martial artist minds the small steps first. Sometimes things become overwhelming when we take them as a whole. Therefore, in order to fully digest something, sometimes it is better to take them in smaller bites. Author Darren Hardy called this the Compound Effect. “The Compound Effect is the principle of reaping huge rewards from a series of small, smart choices.” The Japanese called this idea kaizen (改善) or the “continuous Improvement” method. In kaizen, improvements are created with continuous small and ongoing positive changes which end up affecting the success of an entire project. Skill acquisition in Japanese traditional arts is very much based upon this idea of kaizen or the Compound Effect. For instance, in meditation, students are asked to search for one place within themselves which is calm. By noticing this one place of calm, we hope to build upon that mindfulness and carry that calmness to every part of our body. The same can be said in the martial arts. Whatever technique we are trying to improve, we should first focus on one aspect which we are doing well. From this point, we add a layer to it to improve upon it. We don’t have to do something drastic in order to change something. Sometimes, the most meaningful change comes from something small and seemingly insignificant. For instance, if we were trying to improve our kirioroshi (切り下ろし) or “overhead cut” in swordsmanship, Furuya Sensei suggested that we first “focus on our grip, then stance, and then posture.” By focusing first on these three small things in succession, we should be able to eventually do a good overhead cut. This is what Aristotle meant when he said, “Well begun is half done.” One of the biggest killers of our motivation is to become overwhelmed. When we are overwhelmed, many of us shut down and can’t seem to get the motivation to improve upon something let alone start at all. Understanding this, the US military uses this strategy called Compartmentalization where the soldier is supposed to break up a large or overwhelming task into smaller more palatable bites. This enables the soldier to avoid becoming overwhelmed and help them to complete their mission. This is perhaps the logic behind Sun Tzu’s quote, “Opportunities multiply as they are seized.” Smaller more achievable steps build upon themselves and lead to greater and lasting success and that is why a good martial artist always minds the small steps first.
Today’s goal: Make it small and achievable. “Even specks of dust if piled up can become a mountain.” - Japanese proverb
Watch this video to better understand how small steps add up
吾 唯 足 知
Ware tada taru wo shiru
I seek only to know contentment.
A good martial artist seeks only to know the truth. Every day, a normal person spends a majority of their day mired in their “story.” The story is a narrative that our ego creates to help us interpret the events that are happening around us. Most times, the story is not entirely true and is an inaccurate or one-sided interpretation of things, people, or situations which are happening all around us. These preconceived interpretations which we craft into stories, color the way we “see” things and it influences how we negotiate them. Sun Tzu famously said, “All warfare is based on deception.” O’Sensei advocated that “In true budo there is no enemy or opponent.” If it is true that all warfare is based upon gihen (欺騙) or “military deception” and if “the true victory is self-victory” or masakatsu agatsu (正勝吾勝), then the only real battles are then the stories that we tell ourselves. Understanding this, martial arts training has to always be based upon jitsu (実) which means “truth,” “sincerity,” or “honesty.” We, as martial artists, cannot prepare ourselves properly if we are basing our training on falsehoods or misinterpretations. The more the narratives are untrue, the more likely we are to be defeated as we incorrectly estimate our own true ability or the true abilities or strengths of our opponents. In training, Furuya Sensei used to say, “Cut off your head and leave it at the door.” His metaphor was supposed to caution students against not only bringing their own personal baggage into the dojo but also coming in with preconceived notions about Aikido or training. Training is hard enough, but it is much harder when we add things in especially if they may not be entirely true. Long ago, a university professor visited the Zen master Nan-in searching for enlightenment. Before Nan-in could speak, the professor began to tell him all he knew about Zen. Nan-in smiled and began to pour him a cup of tea. The professor kept talking and Nan-in kept pouring. At one point, the cup began to overflow and the professor shouted, “It’s overflowing, no more can go in!” Nan-in stopped and said, “Like this cup, you are full and nothing more can go in. How can I show you what Zen is unless you first empty your cup? Please come back when your mind is empty.” Anais Nin said, “We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are.” When our minds cannot see things objectively, then our minds are apt to react mindlessly. With proper training, our minds can see things objectively and then we can act mindfully with spontaneity and appropriateness. A good martial artist understands that the only true opponent is the self and thus the only true deception is the story that we tell ourselves. Armed with this understanding, seeing things as they are enables us to reach contentment and that is why a good martial artist seeks only to know the truth.
Today’s goal: What is the story that you are telling yourself? Is it actually true?”
Watch this video to better understand how we use the story
A good martial artist faces their fears. Given a choice between the easy Way or the hard Way, a martial artist always chooses that which scares them or makes them uncomfortable. The reason why is because each of us has a kitai (鬼胎) or “secret fear.” This secret fear is the underlying barrier which keeps us from growing or reaching our highest level. Typically, it is the thing which keeps coming up over and over again and it keeps reoccurring because we haven’t yet dealt with it. Martial artists understand this cycle and that is why they actively choose to osore ni tachimukau (恐れに立ち向かう) or “face their fears.” Martial artists know that facing their fears is the only way to break the cycle and create true and lasting change. Each person’s uncomfortableness or fears might be relative, but the feelings of fear are the same. Our apprehensions range from mere uncomfortableness to full blown fear with the desire to run away. Regardless, fear is “an emotional response in reaction to something that may be dangerous or threatening.” Martial artists know that despite feeling real, the feelings of fear are not tangible and thus like President Franklin Roosevelt once said, “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Understanding that the feelings of fear are the same from fear to fear, a martial artist trains to deal with managing the response to the feeling. Everyone experiences some level of apprehension or fear and only a liar or a fool says otherwise. Thus, a dojo is a safe place to confront the feelings of fear and the fear of failure. Every day in training, we are confronted by something that is uncomfortable or causes us fear. These things run the gamut between something as benign as not wanting to go to class because we are tired to being scared because someone bigger than us is trying to hit us on the head. By facing the fear, we become desensitized to its paralyzing nature and by overcoming the fear, we learn to be calm and act appropriately to the situation. This is how the martial arts build self-confidence. It is not that martial artists don’t feel uncomfortable or feel afraid, they just don’t get overly emotional and paralyzed by it. Whether we are facing a difficult technique, working with a difficult partner, working on a difficult work project, or being confronted by a bully at school, the feelings of fear are the same. In the dojo and in life, don’t let uncomfortableness or fear keep you from trying something new or doing something that you want to do. It is like what William Hewlett, one of the founders of Hewlett-Packard once said, “If you don’t fail on a regular basis, you are not trying hard enough.” Whatever it is that makes you feel uncomfortable or afraid is the route you must take - the struggle is the Way. True change lies at the center of struggle and that is why a good martial artist faces their fears.
Today’s goal: “If it scares you, it might be a good thing to try.” – Seth Godin, The Practice
Watch this video to better understand facing our fears
Furuya Sensei posted this to his Daily Message on March 26, 2002.
Sometimes we have to start the learning process at its most basic level. Sometimes it is important just to look and listen very carefully and then try to "understand" or "do" what has just been taught. I say this because I find that most people only "see what they want to see," “hear what they want to hear," and "do only what they want to do." At these places, there is no room for any learning to take place. To open up to another, to be vulnerable in this state, or to be a little humble and obedient to another's suggestion or ideas is very difficult for many people. We like to be in control. In learning, we are never in control, we are always in a state of flux, - growing, changing, developing, emerging, discovering, questioning, learning, receiving, giving. There is no control for us here - we must lose many of your defenses, walls, closures, and protective mechanisms in our brains and become open and receptive and then something will come to us. This is very hard. Learning is like investigating an unknown land. We do not know what to expect but we have to be prepared for everything and at the same time be able to absorb everything around us. Only a few students have the humility to undertake this brave quest for discovery and growth.
Read more about Furuya Sensei here: http://www.kenshofuruya.com
A good martial artist always gives compassion. In Japanese, jin (仁) can be translated as “benevolence” or “compassion” but as with most things Japanese, there isn’t really a one to one translation. Jin may mean benevolence and compassion but the two are not quite the same. Benevolence is the “disposition to do good” while compassion is “the deep awareness of the suffering of another, coupled with the wish to relieve it.” Thus, they both have the desire to help or do good but only compassion has the awareness of suffering. In the beginning of one’s training, the natural course of development is to focus on the physical. Hardening our bodies and acquiring technical skill leads to a certain type of ego as most people over identify with their strength and defeating others without any type of moral deliberation. This can be the understanding of satsujinken (殺人刀) or “the sword that takes life.” Later, as we develop and mature, we realize our own humanity and discover katsujinken (活人剣) or “the sword that gives life.” At this place, we come to understand another definition of jin - humanity. Humanity is to have “compassion, sympathy, or consideration for all living beings.” With this understanding of humanity, a martial artist learns that in order to get compassion or humanity, they have to be willing and able to give it. The Japanese say, “nasakewahitonotamenarazu” (情けは人の為ならず) which means “By doing good for others, we do good for ourselves.” The literal translation is “Compassion is not for other people's benefit.” We see this same understanding in the movie Seven Samurai as Shimada Kambei says, “This is the nature of war. By protecting others, you save yourself. If you only think of yourself, you'll only destroy yourself.” All martial artists have the ability and temperament to destroy others. Therefore, because the potentiality to destroy or hurt others exists, we need to temper it with compassion. Today marks the third anniversary since my friend and student Michael Stinson took his own life. Many of us trained right alongside Michael and never knew how much he was suffering. It is not that his problems are any of our business but rather that as martial artists, we train to be aware and perhaps we should have at least suspected it. Michael’s passing reminds us that in order to give life, we need to be aware of what is happening around us. John Watson once wrote, “This man beside us also has a hard fight with an un-favoring world, with strong temptations, with doubts and fears, with wounds of the past which have skinned over, but which smart when they are touched. It is a fact, however surprising. And when this occurs to us, we are moved to deal kindly with him, to bid him be of good cheer, to let him understand that we are also fighting a battle; we are bound not to irritate him, nor press hardly upon him nor help his lower self.” Understanding this, the best martial artists know that to destroy others is to destroy oneself and thus to get compassion, we need to give it. That is why a good martial artist always gives compassion.
Today’s goal: Remember Michael today and “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”
If you or someone you know may be struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or dial 800-273-TALK (8255) any time day or night, or chat online. Crisis Text Line also provides free, 24/7, confidential support via text message to people in crisis when they dial 741741
Learn more about compassion and how to better see others by watching this video.
敵を知り己を知れば百戦危うからず
Teki wo shiriono wo shireba hyakusen ayaukarazu
Know your enemy, know thyself, and you shall not fear a hundred battles
A good martial artist isn’t scared of anything. I’m not talking about not being scared from a foolish standpoint because one thinks that they can beat people up. In a martial arts sense, I mean not allowing fear to overtake our inner composure. Martial artists are not impervious, indestructible, or invincible. In fact, they are human beings just like everyone else, but they have learned to have courage. Mark Twain said, “Courage is not the lack of fear. It is acting in spite of it.” Thus, having courage in a martial arts context means having strong inner composure regardless of the opponent or situation and having the wherewithal to act even if one is afraid. A normal person has something called fuuseikakurei (風声鶴唳) where they “hear the enemy in every leaf that rustles” and become scared at the slightest thing. To become frightened means that our Ki has become upset or ki ga dotensuru (氣が動転する). Conversely, having composure means that our Ki is calm or heiki (平氣). Martial arts training teaches us to be calm and composed and always do our best no matter what comes. Through training, we realize that all foes are the same regardless of size, demeanor, or fierceness. That is because in training, we realize that the real opponent is ourselves and the only true task is keeping ourselves calm in the face of adversity. That is why O’Sensei advocated masakatsu agatsu (正勝吾勝) or that “the true victory is self-victory.” Having inner calm is not something that always comes as second nature. Some people have to learn it and it can be learned. One way to learn it is to seek out those who are bigger, stronger or cause us fear in class; for they are the ones who will teach us how to stand firm. With every knock down, hit and stand back up, we become firmer and firmer and over time we develop not just thicker skin but the heart of a warrior. It is not that martial artists don’t get scared - they do and only a fool or a liar says otherwise. A person with a true martial artist’s heart doesn’t allow themselves to be overtaken by the fear. Nelson Mandela said, “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” Martial artists are always supposed to be calm, composed and centered and they never let themselves be overtaken by fear and that’s why a good martial artist isn’t scared of anything. Have a safe and happy halloween!
Today’s goal: “Don't shrink. Don't puff up. Stand your sacred ground.” - Author Brené Brown
Watch this Brene Brown video to better understand fear
“Sieges weathered, fight together, friends forever.” Maria V. Snyder
The best martial artist know that there is no cause without camaraderie. The journey of a martial artist is fraught with trial and tribulation. Because our journey is our own, it is easy to think that it is a singular adventure. However, nothing can be farther from the truth. The martial arts might seem to be a singular pursuit, but it is not something that we can do alone. No matter who we are or how great we think we are, we all need people to help us get to where we are going. Teachers need students, students need teachers and students need one another. Without others, our journey is just an exercise in egoism because no one can tsukiyonobanbakarijanai (月夜の晩ばかりじゃない) or “Sleep with one eye open.” Having someone to depend on enables the journey to be just a little bit easier. The Dalai Lama referred to this as interdependence and commented on this by saying, “We human beings are social beings. We come into the world as the result of others' actions. We survive here in dependence on others. Whether we like it or not, there is hardly a moment of our lives when we do not benefit from others' activities.” In Japanese, this interdependence is referred to as sougoizon (相互依存). My favorite example of interdependence comes from a scene in the 1958 movie The Loyal 47 Ronin. This specific scene does not appear in many of the other remakes, but it is one which I think typifies the interdependence of samurai honor. In this scene, the 47 ronin are trying to secretly move their weapons cache. While examining his papers, a high-ranking samurai of another clan catches the main character Oishi Kuranosuke in a lie. When he is caught in his deception, Oishi immediately apologizes and explains the situation. Hearing about Oishi and the other ronin’s plight and their plan to kill the rival lord and regain their honor, the samurai in charge lets them go and gives them safe passage through his territory. Hearing the verdict and overcome with emotion, Oishi responds, “Fellow samurai must support each other. We are never so keenly grateful for the kindness of others as when we have fallen on hard times.” Without this samurai’s help, there would be no story of the 47 Ronin. In Japanese, yuujou (友情) means “friendship” or “camaraderie.” Every martial artist is on the same path of self-discovery and self-development. This path can be hard and lonely as we live and die by our own merits. The bumps and bruises of following the Way tend to add up and can take their toll, but our journey is made just a little bit more bearable when we have people who support us. Every day in training, we need people to train with who will throw us down and we in turn need to throw them down too. This shared reciprocity creates a special bond that develops between people who have a common goal - following the Way. The best warriors know that nothing is accomplished alone, and no one gets to where they are going by themselves and that is why there is no cause without camaraderie.
Today’s goal: Remember, nothing is as valuable as friendship.
Watch this video to better understand camaraderie
Throwback Thursday - Remain True
Furuya Sensei posted this to his Daily Message on August 2, 2003.
Viewing the flowing waters - suddenly, I perceive the Essence of Zen! - Zen poem
Water changes according to its immediate circumstances but it never changes its Nature and always remains true to itself.
The wooden ladle for the tea ceremony or hishaku (柄杓) continually goes from the hot water to the cold water but never changes its Nature and is useful in any and all of its changing circumstances.
This, I think, is what we are searching for in Aikido and in our lives.
Photo: From a late 90s photo shoot at Black Belt Magazine for Furuya Sensei's book The Tao of Aikido which never came out. Uke: David Ito
Watch this video of Furuya Sensei explaining and demonstrating Aikido in 1988
Martial artists have the power to heal themselves. This is not some arcane secret, but this “self-healing power” or shizenchiyuryoku (自然治癒力) is more of a mindset - it is the ability to pivot and create self-change. Our ability to self-heal begins as we try to improve our martial arts techniques. In order to gain mastery, we need to be able to “see” the most subtle incorrect detail in our movement and change it. When I say “see,” what I mean is to become aware of it. Typically, we become aware of how well we are moving by the corrections given to us by our teacher. The teacher gives the student a correction which helps them “see” the areas which need improvement. With time and experience, we should be able to “see” our own shortcomings and improve upon them ourselves. From the mat, we take our ability to see subtleties and apply that self-awareness to our daily lives. Seems easy, right? The biggest problem is not in our ability to see but in our ability to make a change. When we notice something subtle that we know needs to be changed, it takes a lot of courage and humility to change. Human beings are funny. Most need to be hit over the head before they make a change. Author, Stephen Aitchison said, “People change for two main reasons: either their minds have been opened or their hearts have been broken.” Having our hearts broken is much more painful. This is where the true power of martial arts training comes into play. Training gives us not only the humility to see the subtlest detail but also the courage to act upon it. As a martial artist, we know that sooner or later a shortcoming will fester and become an opening ripe for attack. Knowing that not facing it will create a problem in the future, our martial arts training compels us to address it now. William James said, “If you can change your mind, you can change your life.” Being able to see what needs to be changed and then changing it gives us the ability to heal ourselves and that is why a martial artist has the power to heal themselves.
Today’s goal: Don’t wait for it to hit you over the head, change it while it’s still subtle.
Watch this video to better understand how to heal yourself.
Being a good martial artist is something that we have to live up to. Nobody starts out on top nor does anyone start out good. Likewise, there is also no such thing as a prodigy. In the martial arts, every person has to put on their pants one leg at a time. When I was a student, Furuya Sensei once said “A student must become the rank that they are promoted to.” As a student, I used to think this was an odd statement because he also used to say, “Students earn their ranks long before they get promoted.” As a student, I didn’t really understand and thought that Sensei was just being contradictory. Now as a teacher, I totally get it. Both of those statements really mean the same thing. They both are about “becoming.” We often think that attaining rank means that a person has arrived or that they have somehow made it. From the outside looking in, most think that a black belt means that we have become invincible or as the old joke goes, “that our hands are now registered as deadly weapons.” For the most part, rank, titles, and colored belts mean nothing. With that being said, rank is actually something that we must live up to. With each rank or promotion there is a standard that is commensurate with that rank. It should be a given that all ranks should be accompanied by some level of physical competency, but that isn’t the only qualification. More than physical capability, each rank should come with a sense of responsibility or as Voltaire put it, “With great power comes great responsibility.” In other words, a person who is 6th dan should act like a person who is ranked 6th dan. If a person has the mindset that they must “become the rank that they are promoted to,” then they would have humility and would be less likely to let their egos go awry. If a person adopts the mentality that they must “earn their ranks long before they get promoted,” then they would understand the value of hard work and would be less likely to become egotistical. The biggest problem with promotion is entitlement. With entitlement, we think that being given rank means that we are given something which makes us special and with that attitude, our egos flare up. On the contrary, with every advancement, we are supposed to be living the Way more and more. For instance, a person who is 5th kyu has less responsibility and expectation than a person who is 5th dan, but they still have responsibility nonetheless. Sensei likened the discipline that a high-ranking martial artist must have to the rings on a tree. He said, “The closer you get to the center, the tighter the rings get.” Rank does not come with entitlement; it comes with responsibility and that is why being a good martial artist is something that we have to live up to.
Today’s goal: What does responsibility mean to you?
Watch this video to better understand
Throwback Thursday - The Power of Thought
Furuya Sensei posted this to his Daily Message on January 18, 2005.
Real & Un-Real: The Power of Thought
In the physical, real world, it is easy to say, "O'Sensei is passed away and gone." In the spiritual world, he is still alive and well and always watching over us. As long as we know or believe O'Sensei is here with us - we always must correct our practice and do good deeds.
Whether we can prove his presence with us or not by science is not the point in our practice. As a way to guide and instruct our selves and develop our Aikido practice, it is always better for him to be “here.” Sometimes, when we think in a certain way, it is good for us and helps us to lead better lives.
In the old days, there was no real proof that smoking was bad for us. For some, it is quite deadly and for some, there was no effect at all. However, it is simply better for ourselves, whether it is true or not, to think that smoking is bad for us and then not even try it.
Some people may find this silly. We think we are only directed by the real facts in daily life but if we look carefully, we will discover more than anything, we are directed by impressions, and judgements and ideas which are not necessarily true at all.
In the tea ceremony, we try to think of ourselves as making tea for our guest as if it is the last time we will ever see them again. This is called ichigo ichie ( 一期一会). Of course, it is not true, and we might see them in our next practice but in thinking this way, we find that we can draw the energy and effort to make the best tea possible for someone else.
On the other hand, I used to have a student who thought that whatever he did was better than anyone else. He always thought that he was better than others. He was always disappointed in life and, of course, he could never understand why. This led to a lot of disappointment, confusion, and frustration in his life. Many things are like this in life and even in our Aikido practice.
The other day, I read about a photographer who was blind. This seems impossible in theory, but in real life, it is quite true. Many years ago, when I was quite young, the best Muso Ryu Jo teacher in Japan only had one leg. Can you imagine to do Jo with only one leg? If we think that something is impossible, then it is quite possible to be impossible. When we go ahead and think, "I can do it," whether something is seemingly impossible or not - we probably can do it. I am a firm believer in this.
The other day we were discussing how to teach Aikido to a person who is blind. Of course, if they say to themselves, "How can I do Aikido if I am blind?” maybe they can't do it at all. Of course, if they say to themselves, “I can do it whether I am blind or not," then I think that energy drives them to become very good at Aikido despite their lack of vision.
If we want to become very good in Aikido, we can certainly do it. The main point is whether we believe it or not.
Watch this video of Furuya Sensei demonstrating and explaining Aikido in 1988.
This Road
by Matsuo Basho
この道や Kono michi ya This Road!
行く人なしに Yuku hito nashi ni With no one going —
秋のくれ Aki no kure Autumn evening.
A true martial artist follows the Way alone. Every year, as the heat of summer begins to retreat and the coolness of autumn arrives, I always think about Basho’s poem This Road. There is this weird sadness that comes with the ending of summer which perhaps coincides with the fact that my birthday is always the last day of summer. Regardless, summer is over and with it comes this loneliness as less students come to class, and I become frustrated because all the work seems to be left for me to do by myself. On one hand, with this loneliness, I find myself becoming pessimistic about the Way (道) and frustrated with my students’ seemingly lack of discipline, progress or dedication. In another way, I find myself forgetting that the Way is a singular pursuit or something which must be practiced “alone.” Reading Basho’s poem and Robert Aitken’s commentary on this poem in his book A Zen Wave, always helps to remind me that there are at least two ways to understand the Way. In a pessimistic superficial interpretation of this poem, This Road is about Basho’s frustration with the lack of people on the path or how none of his students are living up to his expectations. To support this interpretation, Asataro Miyamori commented that Basho’s poem reflects that the Way is as “dreary and lonesome as an autumn evening.” One deeper but different meaning of this poem is Basho’s realization that the Way is a road which each of us must travel alone. Aitken commented on this poem by saying “You are born alone, you have realization alone, you die alone.” Understanding this, we realize that following a Way is a singular pursuit which means that it must be done itteni (一手に) which can translate as “alone” but can also interpreted as being done “single-handedly.” A teacher can teach something to us, but we alone learn it. A martial art is something which can only be practiced by ourselves - nobody can do it for us. Sure, people are in the room and a teacher might even be teaching us, but the learning is done alone or by ourselves. We can travel with other followers of the Way whose paths can merge at time with ours, but ultimately we must walk the path by ourselves under our own power. We are born alone, we have realizations alone, we die alone. The Way can be frustrating but that is why Furuya Sensei used to regularly say, “The Way is hard.” We must walk our own path under our own power and that is why a true martial artist follows the Way alone.
Today’s goal: Understand, as Furuya Sensei once wrote, “To be discouraged is part of training.”
Watch this short video by Alan Watts discussing the self.
武士はみな誤りに陥りがちだ
Bushi wa mina ayamari ni ochiiri gachida
All warriors are fallible
A good martial artist embraces their fallibility. This may seem like an odd statement to make because most people think that a martial artist strives to be perfect or is a person who is beyond reproach. The perfect martial artist might be thought of as someone who is infallible, indestructible, invincible or doesn’t make mistakes. However, nothing could be farther from the truth. Truth be told, a true warrior is someone who is not only fallible but is also defeatable. It is in knowing that we are not perfect which is the catalyst which drives us to improve ourselves. Improving ourselves physically is easy and only requires reps. Improving ourselves internally is much harder and thus to the true warrior, the perfection that we seek is within. That is why O’Sensei advocated masakatsu agatsu (正勝吾勝) or that “the true victory is self-victory.” William Butler Yeats confirmed this when he 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.” Understanding that the true journey is within, one aspect which is sometimes the most uncomfortable is to examine our own mistakes. Our mistakes demonstrate our true level of ability - they show us where we need to put in the work. Facing our mistakes or shortcomings can be painful but change is not easy nor is it comfortable. Johnny Cash said, “I learn from my mistakes. It’s a very painful way to learn, but without pain, the old saying is, there’s no gain.” So true indeed. When we see someone who is accomplished, we only see the end result and we don’t see all the struggle, suffering or mistakes which made them into the person who stands in front of us. When it comes to being a martial artist, there is no such thing as being a prodigy. No matter who we are, the road to mastery is paved with mistakes and so every person has to struggle and struggling is all about making mistakes. We should take care to remember that there is a difference between a mistake and a failure. Mistakes are errors that we learn from which become the foundation of later successes. Mistakes that we don’t learn anything from become failures. Our fallibleness is what makes us genuine, they make us unique. A person who is incapable of making a mistake is not only not a human, but they are also a person who isn’t growing either. Don’t shy away from your mistakes. They are one of the few things which are completely genuine and authentic - they are the things which make us human beings. That is why a good martial artist embraces their fallibility.
Today’s goal: “Make mistakes, be rebuked, stand corrected, and learn.” - Soshitsu Sen XV
Watch this video of Denzel Washington’s speech on failure.
Throwback Thursday - Watching the Back
Furuya Sensei posted this to his Daily Message on July 22, 2004.
Senaka wo miru: Watching the back
In English, we have a saying, "Watch your back!" which means to be careful of betrayal. In Japanese, we have a similar saying, “Watching the back," but the meaning is very different.
We often say, "They grew up watching their father's back." Or "They trained watching their teacher's back."
What this means is that the child was raised always by their father's side, not really saying anything, but quietly sitting there and watching his every move. Or, the student was always there by their teacher's side - or rather, sitting quietly behind him and watching his every move, always there.
In the early days, this is how we trained - quietly, always by our teacher’s side - not, "in their face" as we like to be today. Today, most students want to be "in the face" of the teacher and I think maybe some people like this.
Maybe I am of the old school, but just to have a student there - it is always such a comfort to me. . . and it is these students I think of the most.
It is not necessary to be in the teacher's face, I think, it is not necessary to be the "difficult" student either. Ultimately, focus on your practice and enjoy the practice. Whether it appears to be or not, the teacher is always there for you.
Many years ago, there was a teacher I followed all over Japan because I loved his Aikido so much and tried so hard to capture it. Yet, as much as I was there, he never paid much attention to me. Thus, I had to practice nusumi keiko (盗み稽古) or “steal” the technique because he wouldn’t teach me directly. As a matter of fact, I thought that he didn't even notice me or perhaps he didn't like me or thought I didn't have the talent to follow him. I didn't know anything at all. Many years later, I was surprised to find out that he had remembered me and knew all about me and had noticed how much I tried to “steal" his Aikido. I was so surprised. In those days, I think teachers were very subtle about the way they taught. Most of the time, such silly students like me, didn't even know what was going on. I wish students today could understand such wonderful and mysterious methods of teaching and learning between the sensei and the student.
This article originally appeared in the September issue of El Budoka magazine
The Way I go Alone
The greatest swordsman in all of Japan’s history was Miyamoto Musashi. Musashi lived in the 17th century and was said to have fought in at least 61 duels and was never defeated. Musashi died on June 13, 1645 at the age of 61. Upon Musashi’s death, a text was discovered that he intended for his last disciple Terao Magonojo. That text was known as the Dokkodo (獨行道) or “The Way to Go Forth Alone.” Musashi must have wanted to help Magonojo attain mastery after his death and left him this manuscript with 21 rules to live by.
Some of these rules are straight forward while others more are difficult to understand. From the point of view of an Aikido teacher, here is how I understand them.
1.Accept everything just the way it is.
To accept things as they are means to let go of our expectations of how things “should” be. Rev. Kensho Furuya Sensei often quoted his Zen master as saying, “Nandemo omoidori ni ikanai” which means “Nothing goes the way you want it to.” When we can accept our reality then we can move forward toward changing our reality.
2. Do not seek pleasure for its own sake.
Pleasure in this sense means complacency. The Japanese proverb katte kabuto no o wo shime yo (勝って兜の緒を締めよ) which means “After victory, tighten your helmet.” When things are easy, they lull us into a certain complacency which opens us to being attacked. Even when times are good, we should never let your guard down.
3. Do not, under any circumstances, depend on a partial feeling.
Martial artists are supposed to be resolute. We either do or we don’t - there is no half way in martial arts training. This is about integrity. Does what you say match what you are doing?
4. Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world.
Ego is the most dangerous opponent in all martial arts. To stave off our ego, we focus on others. There is a great line in the movie Seven Samurai where Shimada says, “By protecting others, you save yourself. If you only think of yourself, you'll only destroy yourself.” The Way of the martial arts is really the Way of helping others and we can’t do that if we put ourselves first.
5. Be detached from desire your whole life long.
Long ago, Rabbi Hyman Schachtel said, “Happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what you have.” We must first appreciate what we have before we can set about on the journey to conquer the world.
6. Do not regret what you have done.
Every person makes mistakes, but only a good martial artist makes them wisely. If we regret what we have done then we are spending time in the past and not being present in the moment. A mistake is only bad if we either continue to repeat it or if we don’t learn from it. Don’t hold on to it. Learn from it, let it make you stronger and move on from it.
7. Never be jealous.
To be jealous is to envy someone and their achievements and advantages. Jealousy exists in those tangible things which exist outside of ourselves. Our true self has not need for material things but Society conditions us to acquire, accumulate and accomplish things. This competition sets us up for jealousy which clouds our ability to see the abundance we have in our own lives. This is one reason why O’Sensei does not advocate competition in Aikido.
8. Never let yourself be saddened by a separation.
I think this is about the loneliness of following a Way. People who don’t practice a martial art can’t understand what it takes to follow a Way. This creates a sense of loneliness as people misunderstand us. Don’t be saddened by the separation that following one’s Way creates. We are doing something which most of the population will never understand.
9. Resentment and complaint are appropriate neither for oneself nor others.
In Japanese, when something bad or untoward happens, they say, “shoganai” which means something like “it can’t be helped.” If we complain or are resentful, how will that change the circumstances? In a way, complaining or being resentful holds us back in the past which disables us from living in the future. The Dalai Lama said, “What’s past is past, nothing can change that. But the future can be different if we choose to make it so.” Only focus on what can be done right now in this moment.
10. Do not let yourself be guided by the feeling of lust or love.
I think this is about mushin (無心) or “nothingness.” Nothingness doesn't mean that nothing exists at all but that nothing stands alone. Because nothing stands alone then all things stand together as one with a shared sense of connection, compassion and love. This is what O’Sensei means by “love” in an Aikido sense.
11. In all things have no preferences.
The monk Sengcan said, “The great Way is not difficult for those who have no preferences.” According to the Hagakure, a warriors only duty is to move forward and cut. If we have a preference between living or dying then we will hesitate. To do nothing more than our duty in this present moment, then our minds need to be clear.
12. Be indifferent to where you live.
Some things we can change, some things we cannot. The “place” where we live is only physical and could change at any moment. This goes along with the idea of “oneness” where man, earth and universe are holistic. In Taoism, the first principle simply states that everything in nature is all part of the same whole.
13. Do not pursue the taste of good food.
This is not so much about food but over indulgence of any kind. In tea ceremony, Sen Shoshitsu IV writes, “The principle of harmony means to be free of pretensions, walking the path of moderation, becoming neither heated nor cold, and never forgetting the attitude of humility.” Martial artists are always supposed to live the middle way.
14. Do not hold on to possessions you no longer need.
We can think about this rule in terms of baggage. Baggage can be physical but it can also be mental. What we hold on to can slow us down mentally and physically. A martial artist always needs to be light and fast.
15. Do not act following customary beliefs.
We all should have a belief system and up to a point those beliefs need to be followed without question. However, after a certain point we need to understand and figure out if we share in those beliefs and what those beliefs mean to us.
16. Do not collect weapons or practice with weapons beyond what is useful.
Another Musashi quote which might be useful in understanding this rule is “do nothing which is of no use.” So much of our lives can be lost chasing things which are nothing more than a waste of our time. Another aphorisms that Furuya Sensei loved to say was, “There is no time left.” Time is not our side, don’t waste it chasing foolish things.
17. Do not fear death.
We shouldn’t fear death but in realizing that we are going to die, that realization teaches us how to live. Most of us don’t think about our death. However, in confronting the reality of our forthcoming demise, it could help us act or live a different way. If you knew the day that you were going to die, how would we live out the rest of your days?
18. Do not seek to possess either goods or fiefs for your old age.
Similar to some of the other rules, we become accustomed to accumulate but what do we really need to survive? Material things are great but can be taken away from us. Relationships and skills can never be taken from us and are much more valuable and important.
19. Respect Buddha and the gods without counting on their help.
The ancient Greeks used to say, “The gods help those who help themselves.” Someone said, “Our timing isn't God's timing.” Thus, who can we really rely on? As human beings, we cannot wait around for god or someone else to improve our situation. We must be proactive but at the same time respectful.
20. You may abandon your own body but you must preserve your honor.
The Buddha said, “Wherever you live is your temple, if you treat it like one.” To treat our bodies well brings us honor. In treating our bodies poorly, we are usually engaging in dishonor and will not be able to use it when the time comes which also brings us dishonor. If you are the temple, then how should you treat yourself?
21. Never stray from the way.
This is probably the most important of Musashi’s precepts. Every day we will be challenged.” Sometimes we will win, sometimes we will lose. No matter what happens, don’t lose heart, never give up and never stray from the way.
武士を見たら泥棒と思え
Bushi wo mitaradoroboutoomoe
Warriors always assume the worst in people.
Every good martial artist is at least a little bit pessimistic. This tendency towards seeing things negatively is something that stems from our martial arts training. In the beginning of our training, we are supposed to be training ourselves to see the suki (隙) or “openings” in other people’s defenses. These openings or weak points are what we will capitalize upon to seize victory. This methodology of looking for weakness has to become second nature but this oftentimes creates a mindset of negativity because we are always searching for the worst in people. Sun Tzu said, "All warfare is based on deception.” Understanding this, that is why in budo they say, “Bushi wo mitaradoroboutoomoe” (武士を見たら泥棒と思え) or “Warriors always assume the worst in people.” It is in the best interest of the warrior to see the negative that a person is hiding. The problem is that this search for negativity starts to become pessimistic or seiakusetsu (性悪説) or “the belief that human nature is fundamentally evil.” This seems like a paradox because in today’s martial arts, we are supposed to be developing ourselves into good and well-adjusted human beings. It is thought that a person who studies a martial art should be calm, balanced and maybe even happy. The problem with this assertion is that with balance usually comes complacency and we lower our guard. When we lower our guard, that is the time when our opponents will usually attack us. An oft quoted martial arts proverb is “kattekabutonoo wo shimeyo” (勝って兜の緒を締めよ) or “In victory, tighten your helmet!” This proverb admonishes us not to become complacent and be ever vigilant. A good warrior, regardless of situation, has to always err on the side of caution because they never know when they will be attacked. Thus, a good martial artist has to always be at least 51% ready because as the Chinese proverb dictates, “It is better to be a warrior in a garden than a gardener in a war.” In the beginning we program ourselves to see our opponent’s weaknesses and tendencies but later on, we are supposed to focus that lens on ourselves so that we might become aware of our own faults and shore them up. This is the beginning of becoming a good and well adjusted human being. This is also where we realize that negativity or pessimism has become our all of the time outlook and strive to change it. Hopefully, with time and training, we can get to a place where we can not only see the bad but also the good. A good martial artist should be slightly pessimistic in outlook but wholly optimistic in nature.
Today’s goal: Try to understand how you see the world.
Watch this video to better understand how pessimism can be helpful.
“Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.” - Sun Tzu
Every good martial artist strives to be surefooted. In the past, a traditional martial arts dojo would display a banner with a sickle or kama, a rice bowl or chawan and the Japanese character nu (ぬ). This was a pun that was supposed to mean kamawanu or “You better watch your step!” Students and visitors were warned to watch their step because how they move or step shows not only how well trained they are physically or on the outside, but also how well they are trained mentally on the inside. To be surefooted is defined as “unlikely to stumble or slip” or “confident and competent.” Reading these definitions for surefooted, we see that there are two ways to look at being surefooted. In one way it is about how we physically move. In swordsmanship it is said, “80% with our lower body or footwork and 20% with our hands or sword.” Therefore, being surefooted from an outside or physical standpoint means that we pay attention to how we are moving or more importantly how we are stepping. How we move or step is referred to as ashisabaki (足捌き) or “footwork.” In olden times, footwork was considered a secret and so students were always taught footwork last. That was because every style, clan, or martial system had a particular set of techniques or way of moving. It was thought that if a person knew someone’s footwork, then they could figure out the technique. If they could figure out the technique or how someone moved, then they could either out maneuver them or come up with a counter to defeat them. Nowadays, we are not at war, and we understand the importance of footwork and so that is why we teach or emphasize footwork early on. Another way to look at surefooted is from an internal point of view. In order to be surefooted internally or have confidence in ourselves, we must first know ourselves. Carl Jung said, “Knowing your own darkness is the best method for dealing with the darknesses of other people.” What Jung’s quote means is that the true enemy lies within and once we know ourselves, no enemy will be able to truly defeat us. A quote from Sun Tzu can help us to better understand this point: “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.” Being surefooted demonstrates our true level ability because it shows not only how well we are trained physically but also how well we are mentally trained as well and that is why every good martial artist strives to be surefooted.
Today’s goal: In everything you do, make sure you are surefooted.
Watch one of our first 2 minute videos on footwork
Throwback Thursday - Warrior's Mind, Customer Mind
Furuya Sensei posted this to his Daily Message on July 14, 2004.
When the warrior builds a castle, their main concern is where are the weak points, where is the castle most vulnerable to attack? When a smith forges a sword, their main concern is if it will not bend or break and cut well. When an artist fashions a dish or bowl, their main concern is that it does not break easily or crack. In the same way, when a warrior, or true student, trains themselves, they are most concerned with their own weak points and where they are vulnerable. This is what a true student endeavors to learn about in their practice.
A customer mind is quite the opposite. The customer only wants to hear good things about themselves - whether they are true or not. They want to know that they are right - whether they are right or not. Most are only concerned with money, fame, or personal comfort, whether they have earned it or not.
The Path of the warrior is very different from the way normal people live.
To teach people with the "customer" mind, teachers have to smile and grin and pretend their "customers" are good. To teach a warrior, we must be wise and astute enough to bring out all of their weak points so they know exactly where they stand in the world so that they can become stronger.
To stand at the top of the world is the work of a mediocre mind. To stand exactly where one really stands in the world is the true work of a true seeker of knowledge.
I am a bad teacher - I always get mixed up, who are the students and who are the customers! Haha!
“The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person's determination.” Tommy Lasorda
The best martial artists are determined. It is easy to think that the best martial artists are the ones with the greatest ability or talent. However, to the Japanese, a person with determination is admired more than a person with talent. The reason why is because talent is thought to be a “gift” which not every person has, but determination is something that any normal person can develop. The Japanese love stories about the little guy, the underdog or the person fighting against the odds. These stories are relatable because they are about the normal person who perseveres or wins not because they have talent but because they have ishikengo (意志堅固) or “strong determination.” We can see this most notably in Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai as seven normal samurai defend a village from a large group of bandits. These seven samurai are ronin (浪士) or “masterless samurai” and are masterless because they are either unemployable or thought to be talentless. Despite this, these seven “normal” samurai successfully defend the village and defeat the bandits. Understanding this affinity for determination, perhaps this is why all Japanese traditional martial arts are based upon kata (型) or “repetitionized movement.” The act of doing something over and over again like a kata indirectly teaches us how to be determined. Talent won’t make the repetitions go any faster nor will passion. No matter how difficult, strenuous, or boring the training, the only way to get through it is to have determination. Having determination is what gives us the basis for konjou (根性) or “fighing spirit.” Konjou means “fighting spirit,” but it is defined as “having willpower, grit, or determination.” When we are up against the odds or a seemingly larger than life foe, we will need something more than talent or ability - we will need strength of character. Yamamoto Tsunetomo in his book Hagakure wrote, “A warrior is worthless unless he rises above others and stands strong in the midst of a storm.” The world can be a cruel and unfair place and thus the only way we rise above and stand strong is by having the strength of determination. That is why in the martial arts and in life, the best are determined.
Today’s goal: No matter what happens, lean in and be determined.
Watch this video to better understand determination.
