Starting Over

“The hand must be like a bamboo leaf, the feet like rolling logs, the eyes like a flitting sparrow, the heart like a polished mirror, and the mind must always remain in its beginning.” - A quote attributed to Rev. Kensho Furuya

The best martial artist has a starting over mindset. Every morning when a martial artist wakes up, they should think to themselves that they are starting over. I don’t mean starting over from a negative or defeated sense. I mean starting over from the Japanese sense of shoshin (初心) which means “original intention” or what Zen Buddhists refer to as “the beginner’s mind.” To have a beginner’s mind is to have a mind that is wiped clean and freed from all the baggage that one has accumulated from the trials and tribulations of life and all of its social conditioning. In Japanese, yarinaosu (遣り直す) means “to start over.” Yari means “to do” and naosu means “to fix.” Understanding this, starting over is to do something better because we have, theoretically, fixed it and would then become more successful. Interestingly, we can see this yarinaosu or starting over mentality in author, Brian Tracy’s Zero-based Thinking. He said, “Practice ‘zero-based thinking’ in every part of your life. Ask yourself continually, "If I were not doing this already, knowing what I now know, would I start doing it again today?" If it is something you would not start again today, knowing what you now know, it is a prime candidate for abandonment or creative procrastination.” So, each morning, we should adopt Brian Tracy’s approach and think about starting over. In starting over, we should think about the things, habits, situations, or people which have served us, helped us, or were of some benefit to us. Those things which are a benefit to us, we should embrace or accentuate. Those things, people, or habits which are not beneficial or are not supporting us, we should move away from them. We should also carry this same starting over mentality into the dojo. Furuya Sensei used to say, "Cut off your head and leave it outside the door.” What he meant was that we should leave the cares, worries, and baggage of the external world outside. The dojo is supposed to be a sanctuary or a place of respite from the outside world where we go to improve ourselves. However, the dojo is just a place. It can only become a sanctuary when we can step over the threshold without the cares of the outside world. In a sense, we have to walk in with a cleared state of mind or as if we have “cut off our heads.” A martial artist is a person who is trying to better themselves. One way to do this is to take a regular inventory of ourselves and those elements in our lives. The best time to do this is in moments just after we wake up where our subconscious minds are supposedly in the most susceptible state and open to suggestion. By taking an inventory and using “knowing what you know now, what would you do or do differently,” we can imprint our subconsciousness for success and seemingly start our lives over. This is something that any person can do martial artist or otherwise. A true martial artist is an alchemist because they have the ability to change themselves and they do this by continually starting over.

Today’s goal: Think about those things which don’t serve you and wipe the slate clean.

Editor's note: We attributed this quote to Furuya Sensei because we cannot be 100% sure it was from him or written by him as the source is not verifiable.

Watch this video of Brian Tracy explaining Zero-based Thinking

Open Heart

In time, all things work to your advantage when you pursue them with an open heart. - Miyamoto Musashi.

The best martial artist strives to be open-hearted. In Japanese to be kisaku (氣さく) means to be “open-hearted,” “kind,” or “ready.” Thus, from the kanji (氣) we can see that being open-hearted has something to do with putting our energy into something. To be open-hearted is “to be kind, wishing for good, or benevolent.” In the martial arts, to be open-hearted is demonstrated at the highest level of enlightenment by an open stance. To stand openly is to seemingly not put up any defenses. To the uninformed, “to stand completely open to an attack” or kyo (虚) is the fastest way to be defeated. However, when a person of experience stands openly, they are implying that “no matter how you attack, I can defend” and their stance is a demonstration of their level of development. In the past, a person who studied the warrior arts had to be muzan (無残) or “ruthless” because it was their job to engage in violence and so it was in their best interest to stand with a closed stance. Interestingly, muzan literally translates to mean “nothing left” which paints this picture of a person who is closed off and capable of utter destruction. As with standing in an open stance, having an open heart is a dangerous thing unless a person understands how to manage it. Without discernment, we can accidentally set ourselves up to be used or abused by others. In the dojo, we train to develop ourselves so that no person can take advantage of us physically. Some training partners try to give their partners a “real” attack and attack them harshly or recklessly. With this rough attack, they're thinking “no one on the street would ever hold back” and so by attacking with all their strength, they are “teaching” them what it is like to be attacked for real. They are not wrong and there is some truth to this. However, by attacking this way, they aren’t showing their level of awareness for their partner’s level nor are they showing their partners any compassion or empathy - they don’t show their open-heartedness. Furuya Sensei advocated that we “train with people to their level and one step farther.” Training to their level shows our level of awareness. Pushing them only one step farther demonstrates our compassion - we push them to help them grow. Most times, we train roughly with people because we are scared, closed off, or clouded by our own baggage. Miyamoto Musashi said, “In time, all things work to your advantage when you pursue them with an open heart.” What he could be alluding to is that the beginnings of becoming a person with an open heart begins with intentionality. Having the intention of being “open” enables us to train to our fullest and also train with others to their fullest. Pouring our hearts into our training will lead to opening our hearts in all aspects of our lives. When we work hard and develop ourselves, we will gain the courage to open ourselves up to whatever the powers that be have in store for us. That is why the best martial artists are ready for anything and thus strive to be open-hearted.

Today’s goal: Furuya Sensei said, “Trying hard to learn, also means to be easy to teach. Easy to teach means to come to the dojo with an open heart and mind.”

Watch this video to better understand intentionality and an open heart

Use Fear

“Never fear another challenger, no matter how large;
Never despise another challenger, no matter how small.” - Morihei Ueshiba

The best martial artists use fear to their advantage. Osore (恐れ) or “fear” is defined as “an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.” Every person has fear and all of our fears are relative. The problem is not so much the presence of fear but in how we deal with it. Morihei Ueshiba said, “Never fear another challenger, no matter how large; Never despise another challenger, no matter how small.” With the addition of “never despise another challenger, no matter how small,” O’Sensei’s assertion helps us to understand discernment and the development of equanimity in our training. Equanimity is the ability to have composure in the face of adversity and its attainment is one of the highest skills in the martial arts. One way to develop a mindset that is not swayed one way, or another is through something I like to call confrontation therapy where the martial artist confronts that which causes them fear. They confront it because they want to see what is on the other side of that fear. In confronting our fears, we could find out that our fears are true, or we could realize that they are unfounded, just some story we tell ourselves, or just something that we make bigger the more we focus on it. Regardless of the outcome, we learn something about ourselves. For instance, every person has someone in their school that they don’t particularly like for one reason or another. Because that person causes us to be uncomfortable or afraid, we avoid them. Avoiding them, on a certain level, gives them an invisible advantage over us because their mere presence controls us. Because they control us, our minds are not equanimous. Understanding this, we actively seek them out to train or engage with them. We may or may not become best friends with that person, but by sitting with our fears or feelings, we take the edge off it and dissolve their advantage over us. With every fear we confront, we come to realize that we can be our own worst enemy and that we sometimes give our fears more power than they deserve. All martial artists are trying to become undefeatable. Carl Jung said, “Knowing your own darkness is the best method for dealing with the darknesses of other people.” Thus, to become undefeatable, we must know ourselves and confront our fears. When we become undefeatable, fear alone won’t be able to stop us. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “He who is not everyday conquering some fear has not learned the secret of life.” Emerson could be alluding to the fact that managing our fears is the secret to life and that it is a skill that needs to be practiced every day. Perhaps that is why the Japanese say, dojo de naki, senjou de warau (道場で泣き戦場で笑う) or “Cry in the dojo, laugh on the battlefield.” Everyone has fear and so do martial artists. The only difference is that the best martial artists have learned how to use their fears to their advantage.  

Today’s goal: Remember, Mark Twain said, “Courage is not the absence of fear but acting in spite of it.”

Watch this to better understand using fear to your advantage

See No Problems

“Perception is strong and sight weak. In strategy it is important to see distant things as if they were close and to take a distanced view of close things.” - Miyamoto Musashi

The best martial artists don’t see problems. Don’t get me wrong. It is not that martial artists don’t “have” problems; they just choose not to “see” them in terms of being something negative. This is more than having a positive mental attitude. A martial artist is supposed to approach problems unemotionally and just see them as challenges that need to be overcome. That is why one of the highest teachings in the martial arts is equanimity. One way to say “problem” in Japanese is nukisashinaranu (抜き差しならぬ). Nuki (抜き) pertains to “drawing one’s sword” and thus one gets into a “sticky situation” and has a problem drawing their sword. Martial artists choose not to get tangled up in problems because they are supposed to be solution based people who kaitouranma (快刀乱麻) or “solve problems swiftly and skillfully.” Kaitouranma is supposed to refer to the legend of Alexander the Great who solved the puzzle of the Gordian Knot. A Gordian Knot is a famous problem that consisted of "several knots all so tightly entangled that it was impossible to see how they were fastened.” An oracle had been foretold that any man who could unravel the Gordian Knot would become the ruler of Asia. In 333 BC, Alexander the Great was challenged to untie the knot. At first Alexander struggled to untie the complicated knot as everyone in the palace looked on. Supposedly, he eventually realized that the method of untying the knot was inconsequential. At that moment, he stepped back, drew his sword, and cut the knot with one stroke. Alexander shifted his focus from the intricacies of the problem (a complicated knot) to seeking a solution (just cut it) – a powerful psychological shift. Psychologically, when we focus on the problem and all its complicated details, it causes the problem to become more complicated or the knot gets tighter. Conversely, when we focus on finding solutions, our minds tend to see the in-betweens and solutions begin to arise or the knot becomes looser. Thus, focusing on the problem is just the negative way we look at a circumstance while focusing on solutions is the positive way we look at a problem. Author Byron Katie noted, "Everything happens for you, not to you." Embracing this notion, perceiving events as happening "for" us, rather than "to" us, enables us to reclaim our power and our problem-solving ability. When Alexander faced the Gordian Knot, he could have viewed it as a challenge that highlighted his shortcomings. Instead, he chose to see it as an opportunity that would elevate him to greatness. This philosophy also has parallels in martial arts training too. Each challenge in the dojo serves to elevate us. Opportunities like difficult techniques, injuries, or difficult people all contribute to our growth. Thus, when we change our perception, we can begin to see everything as an opportunity “for” us which is leading us to our highest level and that is why the best martial artists don’t see problems.

Today’s goal: “Everything happens for you” and thus, choose to change the way you see your circumstances.

Watch this video to better understand having a solutions based mindset

Self-Care

“Do not let the body be dragged along by the mind nor the mind be dragged along by the body.”
- Miyamoto Musashi

The best martial artists are masters of self-care. Self-care is “anything you do to take care of yourself so you can stay physically, mentally, and emotionally well.” On a certain level, the Japanese don’t have an actual word for “self-care.” Typically, they use serufukea (セルフケア) which is Japanized from English. Because they borrow a word, one could posit that they don’t have one because Japanese society functions as a group and thus openly spending time on oneself could be seen as being wagamama (我が儘) or “selfish.” Nevertheless, self-care is important because how we care for ourselves can be a window into our shinrijoutai (心理状態) or “state of mind.” When I was in graduate school for acupuncture, we learned in the Psychology of Patient Care to look at things like hygiene, physical appearance, and clothing as clues to ascertain the patient’s true state of mental health. The idea is that the more a person takes care of their physical appearance, the more stable their mental health is or at least how well they put up a good front. In the martial arts movie, Bodyguards and Assassins, the protagonist Master Li enlists the help of a despondent homeless person in the final battle. This bearded and disheveled homeless man is depressed over the death of his father and girlfriend and spends his days drinking, and doing drugs. As the two drink wine, they reminisce about their life sacrifices, disappointments, and the desperateness of the upcoming battle. A few scenes later the beggar is seen cleaning himself up. While looking in the mirror and shaving, he seemingly remembers himself. In the final battle, the beggar turns out to be none other than Liu Yubai, a famous martial artist who specializes in the use of the iron fan. He courageously and skillfully holds off a group of assassins before becoming mortally wounded. When called upon, Liu Yubai cleaned himself up so that he could face his death with dignity and die as a hero instead of a beggar. Seeing this, I realized that self-care is the precursor to self-dignity or the value we place upon ourselves. The act of taking care of ourselves is what creates self-dignity. In the martial arts, if an opponent can figure out our mental state, then they would know how to defeat us and so we practice self-care as a means to keep our opponents at bay. Self-care is one method of improving our minds and moods. Who doesn’t feel better after a shower, coming back from the dojo, or taking a break? Thus, self-care is not just about hygiene. Self-care is the dignity with which we approach the mundane things in our lives like brushing our teeth, meditating, or exercising, to name just a few. This could be one of the reasons why etiquette in the martial arts is so important. The idea is that those who have taken the time to master something as benign as etiquette probably have taken the time to master the intricacies of the technique because as Martha Beck stated, “How you do anything is how you do everything.” Thus, in the martial arts and in life, taking care of ourselves isn’t selfish, it shows how we feel about ourselves and demonstrates our true inner state of mind. We take care of ourselves to show others that we won’t go easily and that is why the best martial artists are masters of self-care.

Today’s goal: Take care of yourself because you matter.

Watch this video to better understand self-care.

Worry Better

The best martial artist uses worry to make them better. Worry or shinpai (心配) is the martial artist’s frenemy. Worry is our frenemy because it can be used to our advantage but in excess it can hurt us as well. In Japanese, they say bushi wo mitaradoroboutoomoe (武士を見たら泥棒と思え) or that “Warriors always assume the worst in people.” Warriors have to always err on the side of caution because they never want to be on the receiving end of a surprise attack or an act of betrayal. Therefore, up to a certain level, worrying is a tool that helps to keep us safe. However, too much worry like in a catastrophizing way can mi wo kezuru (身を削る) or “take a toll on our bodies.” Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “The ancestor of every action is a thought.” Emerson’s quote could be the impetus that led to the idea that if we want to change our circumstances then we should merely change our thoughts. The only problem is that thoughts are hard to change. Some researchers think that the average person has up to 60,000 thoughts per day and that 80% of those thoughts are negative. Martial artists understand that things on the inside are harder and slower to change. Therefore, they attack their problems from the outside and seek to change their minds with action. From a neurological standpoint there is some evidence that supports this idea from something called muscle-brain cross talk. In muscle-brain cross talk, the theory is that when we contract our muscles, they secrete hormones and chemicals into our bloodstream that travel to our brains and act as an antidepressant. This is one reason why exercise makes us feel better. Therefore, when we feel the pangs of worry, we should use that as a signal that it is time to get up and move and this supports the assertion that “every action begins with a thought” but we don’t change our thoughts to change our actions. We change our minds by moving our bodies which in turn will improve our moods. Martial arts training deals in things that are designed to be lethal and so it is only natural that its practice can elicit fear or worry. On a certain level, martial arts training is exposure therapy or that it helps people “to overcome their fears and anxieties by breaking the pattern of fear and avoidance.” Ideally, the more we stand up and move to confront our fears, the less our fears manage us and the faster we can overcome them. At a certain point in our training, this desensitization begins to crossover into our daily lives and worry controls us less and less. There is no one who is without worry or fear. A good martial artist learns how to manage their fears or worries. However, the best martial artists use worry to motivate them and go from good to great. In Yamamoto Tsunetomo’s book Hagakure, he writes, “Whenever you meet difficult situations, dash forward bravely and joyfully.” Thus, in the martial arts and in life, whenever something causes you concern, don’t worry, just move forward and attack. The best martial artists don’t mind a little worry, they just use it to make them better.

Today’s goal: Whenever you feel yourself start to worry, get up and move.

Watch this video to better understand using fear to make you better

Unsung Heroes

“By protecting others, you save yourself.” - Kambei Shimada, Seven Samurai

The best martial artist strives to be an unsung hero. In Japanese, an “unsung hero” is ennoshitanochikaramochi (縁の下の力持ち) and is considered to be someone who does a “thankless task.” A person who is capable of being an unsung hero has put in the work to suppress their ego and developed themselves as a human being. To engage in unsung hero behavior is to work for the benefit of others even if it means sacrificing oneself. The place that we are all trying to get to in our training is mushin (無心) or “nothingness.” One way to get there is that we have to learn to abandon ourselves. To abandon oneself is to be able to move with kouzennoki (浩然の氣) which means to be “unencumbered” physically, mentally, and spiritually. To be able to shed our attachments in the spiritual world, we must first shed them in the physical world. One way to do this is to work selflessly for the benefit of others and that is possibly why the term samurai (侍) means “one who serves.” One of the main tenets of a warrior’s life is to act without the desire for reward. In Buddhism, “to let go of any desire for reward or fear of punishment” is called mukudoku (無功徳). Selfishness, on a certain level, is a primal survival mechanism and thus, if we don’t take of ourselves, we won’t survive. However, this is not the Paleolithic era, and we don’t live in caves. The modern martial artist is supposed to be a sophisticatedly evolved human being who uses martial arts training to develop themselves. To effectively work for the benefit of others, we have to develop a high level of sensitivity. In class, one way to develop this sensitivity is in terms of attacking suki or “weak points.” In martial arts training, we train ourselves to become “good at finding weak points” or suki wo mitsukeru noga jozu desu (隙を見つけるのが上手です). Being able to find  weak points enable us to suki wo mitsukeru (隙を見つける) or “to seize an opportunity” and gain the victory. The idea is that stronger opponents have weak points which are harder to find. To effectively find them requires a certain level of sensitivity and self-development. To capitalize upon an opening which is fleeting in the moment also requires a large amount of self-sacrifice. We cannot jump into the void if we hold our lives near and dear. Wars are not won by grand gestures but by the little and oftentimes intangible things which aren’t readily apparent to the uninitiated. The best martial artists do things that no one will ever see to ensure that others have a good time, are cared for, and are safe even if it means sacrificing their own good time, comfort, or safety. Quietly working for the benefit of others is the highest level in martial arts training and that is why the best martial artist strives to be the unsung hero.

Today’s goal: Do something for someone without letting them know. 

The Lucky Ones

武運長久
Buunchoukyuu
Continued luck in the fortunes of war - Japanese idiom

The best martial artists are one of the lucky ones. Oftentimes, our egos make us think that we are somehow the best because we are gifted or talented. Being able to become the best is really more about luck than skill. In Japanese, one way to say blessed, luck, or fortune is sawai (幸い). Luck is defined as “success or failure apparently brought by chance rather than through one's own actions.” In the Professional Athlete Index, it states that “only one out of 51,346 golfers become a professional in the United States.” That’s a shocking 0.001946%! To become good at something is a function of five things: time, opportunity, wealth, energy, and, of course, discipline. If you aren’t lucky enough to have every single one of these, then you can’t get good at something let alone become the best. Luck is not about being able to hit the target but about being in a place to via to hit the target. Thus, luck plays a huge role in becoming successful not only as a martial artist but in all walks of life. To be lucky enough to have time implies that we can allocate our time to getting good but also that we don’t have any other responsibilities that are burdening our schedule. Sun Tzu wrote that “Opportunities multiply as they are seized.” If, to name just a few, we are lucky enough to have a place to train, someone to teach us, and people to train with, then these opportunities add up enabling us to get good. If we can afford to take a martial art, then we are lucky enough to be among the top eight percent of the world’s wealthiest population who can afford it. Martial arts training requires having a body which is capable of strenuous movement. Thus, if we have the energy or youth to train, then we are luckier than the nearly 150,000 people who won’t wake up tomorrow. Most importantly, success is directly related to having the discipline to finish what we have started. Martial artists are lucky enough to be people who have either learned or were born with a sense of discipline which enables them to see things through to their end despite setbacks, obstacles, or lack of talent. Most of those 51,346 golfers, if not all, were lucky enough to have had the time, opportunity, wealth, energy, and discipline to devote to their craft, but still didn’t make it - they weren’t lucky enough. The kanji for saiwai (幸) also means “happiness.” One could posit that happiness is not the obtaining of one’s goal but in its pursuit. I wonder how many of those golfers who didn’t make it would still consider themselves “lucky.” Lucky enough to have had the chance to pursue their dreams. Furuya Sensei used to say that “training is a privilege.” It is a privilege because not everyone finds themselves lucky enough to have the time, opportunity, wealth, energy, or discipline to follow their desired path. Rabbi Hyman Schachtel said, "happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what you have.” If that is true, then happiness is being able to appreciate how lucky each and every one of us is to be doing what we are doing despite the outcome. Happiness calls us to be grateful and we show our gratefulness by not squandering the privilege that we are being given. The best aren’t the best because they are the best. They are the best because they make the most out of the luck that they have. If you find yourself lucky enough to train, then you are one of the lucky ones - don’t squander it.

Today’s goal: Furuya Sensei said, “When the opportunity presents itself, throw yourself into your training.”

Watch this video to better understand luck

Make Mistakes Wisely

“It is said that one should not hesitate to correct himself when he has made a mistake. If he corrects himself without the least bit of delay, his mistakes will disappear.” - Yamamoto Tsunetomo, Hagakure

A good martial artist makes mistakes wisely. It is said that there is only one type of person who doesn’t make mistakes: Liars. Martial artists are supposed to be honorable and not lie, cheat, or steal. We are human beings and humans by design are not perfect and thus apt to make mistakes. We have to make mistakes from time to time to remind us that we are not in fact perfect and keep our egos in check. We also should want to make mistakes because they shows us where we need to put in the work. One way of saying “mistake” in Japanese is misu (ミス). Misu is borrowed from the English word “miss” and is japanized to the Japanese language. Miss implies that we fail to hit the target or in other words we make a mistake and fail to be the person that we are striving to be. A martial artist is a person who strives for perfection, and they know that perfection is a journey and not a destination. In class, around half of the time, we are on the “receiving” end of the technique or taking ukemi (受身). Ukemi is the art of gracefully recovering from a fall. When we take ukemi, we are on the mistake side of the technique. We have committed the mistaken act of attacking another person. Our partner takes our blunder and turns it into a technique to their advantage. Obviously that technique is designed to hurt us but in the course of our training, we learn to fall in a way that minimizes the damage to our bodies - we make the mistake wisely. A mistake is only a mistake if we don’t learn from it. A martial artist does their best to learn from their mistakes. Hence, the act of learning from our mistakes enables us to make them wisely. Nobody is perfect. Perfection is a journey. If it is a journey then, from time to time, there will be bumps in the road. Sometimes, we might stumble or even fall down. What really defines us is not the mistake but how we recover from it. Life is a process of falling down, learning, getting back up, dusting ourselves off, and trying to do better the next time. In Japanese, this process could be best summed up by the proverb nana korobi ya oki (七転び八起き) or “To fall down seven times, but get up eight.” In the martial arts and in life, a mistake is only a mistake if we do not learn from it. A good martial artist knows this and that’s why they learn to make mistakes wisely.

Today’s goal: Tread lightly and go easy on yourself. You’re not perfect so just learn from your mistakes and do better next time.

Watch this video to better understand learning from your mistakes.

Exercise Discipline

“There is nothing outside of yourself that can ever enable you to get better, stronger, richer, quicker, or smarter. Everything is within. Everything exists. Seek nothing outside of yourself.” - Miyamoto Musashi

The goal of all martial arts training is to learn self-discipline. Jishuku (自粛) or “self-discipline” is like a muscle but I am not talking about Bruce Lee or Jean Claude Van Damme type muscles. Discipline is like a muscle in the sense that it needs to be constantly worked out or it will atrophy. When our discipline atrophies, we lose the ability to achieve our goals. Perhaps that is why when someone needs to work hard to achieve their goals people say that they must “exercise discipline.” Discipline is the ability to muster the strength to push ourselves to do things that we don’t necessarily want to do to achieve our goals. However, discipline is different from other character traits that other successful people might have like: time management, tolerance, willpower, or habit. Those traits all require discipline to some degree in order for them to come into fruition. If something is easy, convenient, comfortable, or we are good at it, then it doesn’t require any self-discipline. Also, if something is inconvenient, uncomfortable, stressful, or hard, then it requires a tremendous amount of self-discipline to accomplish it. A while back in swordsmanship class, Watanabe Sensei said, “Proper grip usually means proper posture and a balanced center which enables us to create an effective attack.” In Japanese, one’s grip is referred to as tenouchi (手の内). Gripping a Japanese sword is different than holding something like a baseball bat. Tenouchi refers to holding the sword with the palm of the hand or as much as the palm as possible which can be difficult or uncomfortable. That is why in swordsmanship they say, “Our hands conform to the sword, the sword does not conform to our hands.” Interestingly, tenouchi wo miseru (手の内を見せる) means “to reveal one's true intentions.” Thinking about this, gripping the sword then becomes a metaphor: to have the discipline to do something properly is difficult but will ultimately lead to achieving our goals. In life and in the martial arts, if something doesn’t challenge us, it doesn’t change us. The best martial artists know this and that is why they are constantly seeking out challenging ways to exercise their self-discipline.

Today’s goal: Discipline yourself to do something every day that you know you don’t want to do but that you know will help you achieve your goals. If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you.

Watch this video of former Navy Seal Jocko Willink discussing discipline

Read the Air

Editor's note: This article originally appeared in the Spanish language magazine El Budoka. Translated by Santiago Garcia Almaraz Sensei. Read it here: El Budoka

Read the Air

The best martial artists can anticipate their opponent’s next move and defeat them. In Japanese, one way to say “anticipate” is (見越す) or mikosu. Mikosu translates as “to see” (見) and “to exceed” (越す) and thus it implies that anticipation is “to exceed what can be seen.” The word anticipate was coined in the mid 16th century and means “To be aware of (what will happen) and take action in order to be prepared.” In the martial arts, to be able to anticipate is to understand a person’s tendencies and use that knowledge to defeat them.

Anticipation is a form of strategy. It is one way to engage our opponents and defeat them. Sun Tzu once wrote, “Engage people with what they expect; it is what they are able to discern and confirms their projections. It settles them into predictable patterns of response, occupying their minds while you wait for the extraordinary moment — that which they cannot anticipate.”

Anticipation begins with learning to develop one’s eye. In this sense, we are not talking about having sharper vision. To develop one’s eye is to be able to see subtleties and understand them within a certain context. The beginning of developing one’s eye starts with something called minarai keiko (見習い稽古) or “The practice of watching and copying.” The teacher demonstrates and the student carefully watches and copies. This “no teach” method of teaching forces the student to apply themselves or to have self-discipline. Thus, a dedicated student learns to watch so carefully that they are able to see every subtlety of their teacher’s technique, good and bad.

In a 1967 study by researcher Albert Mehrabian, he found that “93% of all communication is non-verbal.” He said, “55% of communication is body language, 38% is the tone of voice, and 7% is the actual words spoken.” Therefore, if we only pay attention to “what” is being said and not “how” it is being said or the body language, then we are apt to misread the words and make a mistake.

In the old days, teachers said very little because it was thought that it was the student’s responsibility to learn. That is why it is said that “the best teacher is the one who is the most unreasonable.” They are unreasonable because they don’t teach us the way we want to be taught. We want to be taught in a way which is the most comfortable for us and reaffirms our egos. The teacher teaches us in a way that brings out the best in us and isn’t necessarily concerned with our comfort. Even a bad teacher can make a good student because, on a certain level, the “worse” or more unreasonable a teacher is, the harder the student has to work. The more unreasonable the teacher, the more it forces the student to “steal” the technique from the teacher. In Japanese, “the practice of stealing the technique” is known as nusumi keiko (盗み稽古).

These types of keiko or teaching methods were also a culling process that was supposed to weed out the students who didn’t have the heart or dedication to follow the art.

Once a student has mastered their kihon-waza (基本技) or “basic techniques,” it is naturally thought that they have developed their eye or ability to see the movement, technique or art. From this mastery is where we develop kan (勘) or “intuition.”

Kan is the basis of being able to anticipate. Intuition is defined as “the ability to understand something immediately, without the need for conscious reasoning.” Without conscious thought makes intuition feel like something spiritual. However, this type of intuition isn’t spiritual but rather learned. It is more of an instinctive feeling that is based upon intelligent repetition. Intelligent repetition means that the movement, technique, or ability improves with every repetition and thus becomes intuitive or done without conscious thought.

In swordsmanship, a person learns to see the next move based upon their awareness of the situation and an intuition built upon repetition. To the outside looking in, it appears intuitive. In the martial arts, this awareness or intuition based anticipation of our opponent’s next move, is known as kuuki wo yomeru (空氣を読める) or “read the air.” To read the air is a metaphor for being so aware that we can see something that can’t be seen like air. From a martial arts standpoint, a person with training is supposed to be able to see and anticipate their opponent’s next move even if they are trying to conceal it.

There’s a similar concept in chess. The average chess player can supposedly think one to three moves ahead. However, the Norwegian Chess Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen can supposedly see or anticipate 15-20 moves ahead of his opponent. Carlsen’s fastest game was with the Indian Chess Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi and it took only 6.17 seconds and five moves for Carlsen to offer the Grandmaster a draw.

Learning to read the air is a special type of training that is typically reserved for apprentices who are acting as the teacher or master’s 0tomo (お供) or “attendant.”This training usually happens outside of the dojo. It is the otomo’s job is to see to the needs of the teacher or master. They cook, clean, take their ukemi, teach lower ranking students, and accompany their teachers on errands and travel. If a student or deshi is trained properly or is at a certain level, the master will never have to ask them for anything. The otomo or deshi is supposed to be able to anticipate what the teacher needs before they have to articulate that they need it. To be able to anticipate the needs of the one we are caring for is a demonstration of a very high level of training or ability.

When we face off with our opponents, we are trying to read their movements and at the same time look for any openings to capitalize on. We use our intuitive eye for movement that we learned in minarai keiko and nusumi keiko and apply it to reading the air. With that knowledge, we make it look easy as we handedly defeat our opponents because we know before they know what they are going to do. At this level, we want to get to a level where we can “feel” what is coming next rather than think of what is coming next. This ability to anticipate enables us to make the opponent miss or mikiri (見切り) and then allows us to maneuver and hit them or amashi (余し).

In swordsmanship they say chotan ichimi (長 短 一 身 ) or“strong point, weak point, one body.” This means that every person’s body has both weak and strong points. The best martial artists understand this and apply themselves to be able to see their opponent’s weaknesses and capitalize on them even though they are trying to hide them. That is why the best can read the air and anticipate what’s coming next.

Kuuki wo yomeru calligraphy done by Yoshida Kuniharu Instagram @kuni_rhythm

Read the Spanish version here: El Budoka

Unselfish Loyalty

“A warrior is worthless unless they rise above others and stand strong in the midst of a storm.”
- Yamamoto Tsunetomo, Hagakure

The best martial artists are loyal. Loyalty in Japanese is chuu (忠). To be loyal is defined as “giving or showing firm and constant support or allegiance to a person or institution.” The kanji for loyalty is made up of the characters for inside (中) and heart (心). Understanding this, loyalty is based upon our true desires, intentions, or feelings that reside in our hearts. Normal people get to engage in duplicity, but as martial artists, we are trying to get to a place where what is on the outside matches what is on the inside. This integrity comes about because martial arts training is supposed to be a form of misogi (禊) or “purification.” To purify oneself is not necessarily religious but rather the act of becoming less selfish. That is why in traditional Japanese arts they say that the opposite of loyalty is selfishness. In the old days, it was thought that acting out what is truly in our hearts was selfish. When a person studies a traditional Japanese art, there are all these acts of purification which are supposed to combat selfishness like bowing, cleaning, or taking ukemi to name just a few. Each of these acts is supposed to bring us closer to unselfishness. That is why the more we train, the more we sei (精) or “purify” ourselves. Every person’s loyalty has a limit and ideally, our loyalty is inversely proportional to our selfishness or that the more loyal we are, the less selfish we are. However, that is not necessarily the reality because up to a certain level, anyone can say that they are loyal and untested loyalty can be faked. No one knows what’s truly in our hearts but us and that’s why the true definition of loyalty is what we do when no one is looking. There is a saying in traditional arts, “When the teacher is gone, the student reveals themselves.” In other words, who we really are only comes out when we think no one is watching or when we think we won’t get caught. Who are you? Where is your limit? What would it take for you to give up your loyalty? No one knows the answers to these questions for sure. Only time will tell how truly selfish we are in our hearts. The best martial artists are aware of the struggle and thus they are always striving to be less selfish and more loyal.

Today’s goal: Don’t give up so easily. True loyalty is where intention meets character.

Time to do Suburi

塵も積もれば山となる
Chiri mo tsumoreba yama to naru
Even specks of dust if piled up can become mountains.

The best martial artists have a suburi mindset. In swordsmanship, practicing the “overhead cut” or kirioroshi (切り下ろす) is called suburi (素振り). Actually, any type of swinging practice with a tennis racket or baseball bat is called suburi. In swordsmanship, we are all trying to develop a cut that is effortless but at the same time still effective, and powerful. To achieve this, we need to put in the reps or in other words, practice our suburi. We have to do our suburi because like all martial arts techniques, our cut is a perishable skill. In other words, it is ephemeral so if we don’t use it, we lose it. In swordsmanship, they say that your cut is only perfected “cut after cut” which implies that we have to be willing to put in the work to make it good. In the 1980s, there was a series of commercials for Dunkin Donuts featuring Fred the Baker. Each commercial was some aspect of Fred tiredly waking up before dawn and muttering to himself, "Time to make the donuts.” The commercial was implying that to get a quality product, you have put in the effort. If Fred doesn’t wake up and do his work, then we can’t enjoy his delicious and fresh donuts. In the martial arts it is the same. In order to be good, we have to wake up every morning and say, “Time to do suburi.” Muttering this mantra to ourselves when we first wake up and as a reminder throughout the day, helps us to get into a mindset of self-development. Interestingly, when we change the kanji pronunciation from suburi to sobori, it means “behavior” or “attitude” and thus we can see that suburi is really a mindset. Those that are willing to do suburi will get good. Every day we are standing on the precipice of change. Either we let ourselves deteriorate or we discipline ourselves to improve. Focusing on suburi as a mindset enables us to put in the work. If we want to lose weight, then not eating a donut is suburi. If we want to improve our ukemi, then coming to class early to work on it is suburi. If we want to buy a house, not wasting money on Starbucks is suburi. In the martial arts, we don’t improve by leaps and bounds but by small incremental changes or in other words, only cut after cut. 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 mountains.” Understanding this, “time to do suburi” is a mantra that reminds us that battles are won by the little things that we do and not by grandiose gestures and thus specks of dust can become mountains. Saying to ourselves, “time to do suburi” helps to remind us to stay in the suburi mindset and focuses us to put in the work to achieve whatever it is we want.

Today’s goal: Come up with your own mantra that resonates with you and helps you stay on track. Mine is “brick by brick.”

Throwback Thursday - Being Human

Furuya Sensei posted this to his Daily Message on August 6, 2004.

Zen Saying: Shitenno wa Kongo-zue de iga wo muku (四天王は 金剛杖でいがを剥く) or “Even the Four Ferocious Guardians of the Faith Use the Diamond Staff of Infinite Wisdom to peal the burs off a chestnut.”

What this means is that even very great people have their humanity and suffer as regular humans.

Whether it seems like it or not, I think that all humans have equal shares of happiness and sadness. It is often the people who seem to have all the advantages can suffer and some people who almost nothing to their names at all can be very happy.

I don't think our station in life is due to fate or circumstances or whether we are happy or sad - I think it is all a personal choice. If we focus on the bad things in life, the world will seem very bad. If we choose to focus on the happy or positive things in our lives, our lives can appear to be very happy.

Kisaburo Ohsawa Sensei used to say, "Just practice good Aikido and enjoy. . . " He didn't mean that we can do anything we want as we please, but I think he meant that we should approach the hard and difficult training of Aikido with a positive and joyous attitude. Many students, I see, do not understand this point.

Typically, this saying is displayed with a picture depicting two mountain monks who are famous for their rigorous training deep in the mountains. From a thousand years ago, they are known for their courage and strength. In the picture, we see them using their staffs to break the sharp burrs off the chestnuts. This is pretty funny to me!

Even a great martial artist can show their weakness in the most humane way. Martial arts is not all strength and power and winning - it is after all about being very human.

Watch this video of Furuya Sensei demonstrating and explaining Aikido in 1990

Overcoming the Impossible

“The only way to discover the limits of the possible
is to go beyond them into the impossible.” - Arthur C. Clarke

The best martial artists believe in the impossible. In Japanese, to “to accomplish the impossible” is fukanou wo kanou ni suru (不可能を可能にする). To believe in the impossible is more than having a positive mental attitude. A positive mental attitude is about having optimism. Believing that the impossible is possible is a form of willfulness that is tinged with a bit of pessimism. The pessimism in this sense is the disbelief that something is impossible to accomplish. A martial artist has to be a little bit stubborn. It is said that the best student has iji (意地) or “willfulness” and it is the teacher’s job to turn that willfulness into konjou (根性) or “fighting spirit.” Therefore, a martial artist has to steadfastly believe that if something or some idea exists in this world, then it was created by a human being and if it was created by a human, then it can be reproduced, achieved, overcome, or defeated. Spitefully, a martial artist says to themselves, yonojisho ni fukanoutoiumoji wa nai (余の辞書に不可能という文字は無い) or “The word ‘impossible’ does not exist in my dictionary!” Normal people have self-limiting beliefs. These self-limiting beliefs cause them to judge things as being possible or impossible. If they deem it as possible, then they will try to accomplish it and if they think it is impossible, they won’t even try. For instance, since the late 1800s, people have been trying to run a mile in under four minutes. Prior to 1954, it was thought that running a mile in under four minutes was physically and physiologically impossible. On May 6, 1954, Roger Bannister ran a mile in 3:59.04. His record only lasted for 46 days and since that time thousands of people, even teenagers, have run a sub four minute mile. The current world record is 3:43.13 and is held by Hicham El Guerrouj. Martial arts training is all about overcoming the impossible. From the moment we start training, we are confronted by things that are seemingly impossible. For instance, people are trying to hit us with all their might, and we are supposed not to deftly defend their strike but also do it calmly as well. All martial arts are skill based. If it is a skill, then anyone can achieve it and gain some level of proficiency with time and experience. In the beginning, it might seems as if getting good is a shinannowaza (至難の業) or “Herculean task” because we move our bodies in such a clunky way and can’t seem to move with the same precision or smoothness as our seniors. Later on, with every foe or challenge we overcome, our ability grows, and we can take on bigger challenges and stronger opponents. At some point, we realize the transparentness of our self-limiting beliefs and not only come to doubt them but challenge them as well. This is where martial arts training crosses over into daily life. Arthur C. Clarke said, “The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible.” In the martial arts and in life, impossible is only a state of mind. Martial artists understand this and that is why the best martial artists believe in the impossible.

Today’s goal: Let go of your self-limiting beliefs and think, “If they can do it, so can I.”

Watch this video of goats to better understand what is impossible

Tipping Point

The best martial artists patiently toil towards the tipping point. The tipping point is defined as “the critical point in a situation, process, or system beyond which a significant and often unstoppable effect or change takes place.” In Japanese, one way to say, “tipping point” is ichidaitenki (一大転機) which literally translates as “one big turning point.” The tipping point is this seemingly magical place where all our efforts pay off and we bakeru (化ける) or “dramatically and unexpectedly improve.” The main problem is that none of us knows exactly when or where the tipping point will take place. Another notable and irritating problem with tipping points are that they are preceded by odoriba (踊場) or “plateaus.” Plateaus are these annoying flatlands where we don’t necessarily get any worse but nothing seems to be getting any better either. Interestingly, odoriba also means “dance hall” which implies that a plateau is just a place where we feel like we are just aimlessly dancing around while we wait for our efforts to pay off. In the martial arts, when we throw someone, we are looking for the tenshin (転身) or “pivot point” in the technique. The martial arts pivot point is this optimal body position which creates the most mechanical advantage to throw or unbalance an opponent. In class, the teacher shows us physically where the pivot point is which will generate the most leverage to create a clean and smooth throw and efficiently use our opponent's energy or momentum against them. Later on, as the attacks become faster and the throws become quicker, we have to know where the pivot point is by “feel.” To be able to feel the pivot point requires patience and experience. Furuya Sensei would often quote his Zen master Bishop Kenko Yamashita as saying, “Nandemo omoidori ni ikanai” which means “Nothing goes the way you want it to.” Because nothing goes the way we think or want it to, we must have patience. Seneca said, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” Therefore, to have luck or reach the tipping point, we must prepare ourselves by putting in the work. John Ruskin said, “The highest reward for a person's toil is not what they get for it, but what they become by it.” The Japanese version to Ruskin’s assertion could be 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 mountains.” Martial arts training is about incremental improvement and frustratingly some of those changes aren’t necessarily visible to the naked eye. Understanding this, the only thing we can do is be patient and toil on. In the martial arts and in life, when things aren’t going your way, don’t lose hope or give up. I can’t tell you when your tipping point will happen but all I can promise you is that if you patiently toil, it will happen sooner or later - I promise. The best martial artists know that nothing happens overnight and that’s why they patiently toil towards the tipping point.

Today’s goal: Don’t lose hope. Be patient and toil towards your tipping point.

Watch this video to better understand the tipping point

Be Positive

The best martial artists have positivity bias. In Japanese, Kokorogake (心掛け) is one way to say “way of thinking.” Kokoro means “heart” or “mind” and gake means “to hold.” Thus, the way we think is based upon the things that we hold in our hearts. Anais Nin said, “We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are.” A normal person tends to think more negatively or be more negatively biased. Negativity bias means that “our natural tendency is to give weight to and remember negative experiences or interactions more than positive ones.” Martial artists are not normal people and so they tend to think of things in a more positive way. Don’t get me wrong, martial artists have their bad days too, but the difference is that they don’t allow themselves to wallow around in their misery and if they do, it is not for too long. To have a positive mental attitude is to have “a mental and emotional attitude that focuses on the bright side of life and one that expects positive results.” One metaphor for a positive mental attitude can be something called komorebi. Komorebi (木漏れ日), in Japanese, means the “sunlight coming in through the trees.” In the forest, when the trees darken the light of the day, we can focus on the dark or take some solace in the little rays of sunlight that are peeking through the branches. Seeing the sunlight peek through is natsukashii (懐かしい) or “nostalgic” but in this sense it means the “nice feelings” that focusing on the rays of light bring us. Martial artists strive to live their lives in the present moment by focusing more on the good rather than doomsdaying on the bad. In the Hagakure, Yamamoto Tsunetomo wrote, “There is surely nothing other than the single purpose of the present moment. A man's whole life is a succession of moment after moment. There will be nothing else to do, and nothing else to pursue.” Therefore, a martial artist knows that focusing on the positive things might not change the outcome, but it makes the unbearable just a little bit more bearable. In training, it is the same way. Every day in class, we are supposed to be challenging ourselves to improve. To improve, we focus on changing the minutest details of each technique which we know will influence the whole. By focusing on the small things that we can change, we are unknowingly teaching ourselves how to focus on the good and not catastrophize on the negative things which we may not be able to change. For instance, sometimes when we can’t best our partner, the only thing we can do is keep attacking. By not giving up and with every repeated attack, we learn to have heart or to have unwavering perseverance in the face of adversity. With time and experience, this mindset then carries over into our daily lives and we learn to focus on the good or the things that we can change. Henry Ford famously said, “If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right.” Thus, we learn that what we choose to focus on is a choice. We can choose to see the dark or we can choose to see the sunlight. The best martial artists have positivity bias and so they always choose to see the little rays of sunlight breaking through the trees.

Today’s goal: Nothing is 100% bad. Choose to focus on the good even if it’s only 2% good.

Watch this video about fishing to better understand a positive attitude

Be Resilient

“The imperturbable mind is the secret of warfare.” - Adachi Masahiro

A good martial artist rolls with the punches. In Japanese, utarezuyoi (打たれ強い) means “to be able to take a strong hit.” Being able to take a hit is a metaphor that is intended to mean “be resilient.” In a martial arts sense, resiliency should look like indifference. We should never show any reaction to any situation or opponent because how we react gives away our intention or level of ability which our opponents will use to defeat us. One way to say, “indifferent” in Japanese is kiganai (氣がない). Kiganai translates as “no energy” but from a martial arts standpoint it is supposed to mean that our energy is not easily moved or swayed. To be swayed is to mindlessly react. A good martial artist is not easily swayed and thus always acts mindfully and appropriately. Indifference is an attitude that demonstrates to those that would intend to harm us that we are ready and thus don’t care who they are, how big they are, what they do or what the circumstances are. In Japan during the Edo period (1603 - 1867), a popular martial artist’s pun was kamawanu (鎌輪ぬ) which meant “we don’t care.” One way this pun was often displayed on a sign was with a sickle (kama), a rice bowl or chawan (wa) and the hiragana character (nu). Kamawanu was a warning to the people who would enter the dojo that we don’t care and won’t hesitate to fight you so you should be on your best behavior. Training teaches us how to be indifferent to all opponents or circumstances. For instance, in class, when we first learn to roll, we are afraid to roll, and our rolls are kind of boxy. The more we practice, the more our rolls smooth out and the more indifferent we become to doing it. Later, the better we are at rolling, the harder our opponents can throw us and we barely even think about the whole act of rolling. The same thing happens when we encounter bigger or stronger opponents or when we face multiple opponents. Understanding this, the dojo becomes a microcosm of life. In life and in the martial arts, things are going to happen, and every foe or adversity will seem bigger than life but regardless, we still have to face that adversity. The martial arts teach us to be indifferent to adversity, but that doesn’t mean to be careless. It means that, as a martial artist, we don’t care who we face because we are going to stand up regardless and standing up to adversity just becomes another day on the job. Thus, no matter how hard we are hit or who hits us, we should never show that it affects us and that is why the best martial artists roll with the punches.

Today’s goal: Whatever BS comes your way today, be indifferent and take that punch.

Watch this video to better understand resiliency

Accept Change

替えることは勇氣を持たなければなりません
Kaeru koto wa yuuki wo mota nakereba narimasen
To change you need to be brave.

The best martial artists embrace change. A martial artist has to embrace change because they know as Heraclitus once said, “The only constant in life is change.” Normal people fear change and resist it because they perceive it as being uncomfortable and scary. A martial artist isn’t a normal person and they know kaeru koto wa yuuki wo mota nakereba narimasen (替えることは勇氣を持たなければなりません) or  that “to change you need to be brave.” Martial artists know that comfort and fear are the currency that they have to pay to get the change that they want. In terms of change, there are four distinct levels in learning: shu (守), ha (破), ri (離), and myou (妙). Shu is the beginning or rote stage of learning where we precisely master the form or kihon-waza (基本技) or where we change our bodies into the art. Ha is the details stage where we break the kihon-waza into its smallest details and gain a real understanding of the technique and solidify the change. Ri is the transcendence where we lose the form entirely and are completely changed. The form does not disappear but transcends to where we can see it but in a certain way we cannot. In Buddhism they call this shikisokuzeku (色即是空) or “form is emptiness, emptiness is form.” At the end, shuhari transforms into myou which is the last stage but it really isn’t a stage but rather what ri or true mastery looks like. Myou is a person’s enlightenment. When we watch martial arts masters move, their movements seem almost supernatural or not of this world - that is myou. Myou means “wondrous” or “mysterious” where we can see that it is Aikido or Karate, but at the same time not really Aikido or Karate. For instance, in swordsmanship, we are taught to defend our centerline with a strong stance. Miyamoto Musashi’s myou can be seen in his happou biraki (八方開き) or “open on all eight sides” stance where he is seemingly completely open to attack and not defending his centerline. A normal person cannot stand with all eight sides completely open - they would get completely destroyed. To get to Musashi’s level of myou requires a lot of change. Musashi’s completely open stance is a kind of metaphor for martial artists in that to get to his level of enlightenment or change requires a certain level of vulnerability. Researcher Brene Brown said, “Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it’s having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome. Vulnerability is not weakness; it’s our greatest measure of courage.” Therefore, to truly change requires vulnerability and a lot of courage. We need vulnerability to trust the process and we need courage to step into the unknown. In life and in the martial arts, change is never comfortable. However, if we perceive it as painful and bad, then it will be painful and bad. If we can perceive change as being the gateway to our greatest selves, then the fear and uncomfortableness is a little bit more tolerable and manageable. The best have the courage to be open and vulnerable to the possibility of what can be and that’s why the best martial artists embrace change.

Today’s goal: When you feel the pangs of fear creep in, have courage and say to yourself, “I am open and vulnerable to the possibilities of what can be.”

Watch this video to better understand change

Value of Defeat

“Failure is the key to success; each mistake teaches us something.” - Morihei Ueshiba

The best martial artists understand the value of defeat. Most people, even seasoned practitioners, think that the martial arts are about winning and losing. However, the goal of the martial arts is not to vanquish our foes or to even win. The true goal of martial arts training is to change - change into better people. Therefore, losing is almost a necessity. In losing, we receive the two greatest gifts: humility and graciousness. We can exhibit humility and grace in winning but we cannot learn humility or grace in winning. Therefore, the only way to learn humility and grace and ultimately become a better person is to lose. Author Steven Aitchison wrote, “People change for two main reasons: either their minds have been opened or their hearts have been broken.” Understanding Aitchison’s quote, our hearts have to break in order for our minds to be opened. Interestingly, the Japanese kanji 心 is interchangeably used as either “heart” or “mind” depending on the context and lends itself to this idea of the heartbreaking creates an opening in the mind. Understanding this, the idea is that a person who has never lost will be incapable of showing true humility or true graciousness. We have to lose in order to learn the value of humility and when we have learned that then we naturally come off as being gracious. In most cases, we cannot be truly gracious without a sense of humility. When people watch Aikido or just about any other martial art, they are naturally only focused on the nage (投げ) or the one “doing the technique.” It is only human nature to focus on the hero as we identify with their dominance or confidence which we desire to have in our own lives. However, being the nage is the culmination of ability but to get there we must first focus on being the uke (受け) or the one who “receives the technique.” The reason why is because to take ukemi (受け身) or “receive the technique” is to be on the losing end of the collaboration. By taking the ukemi, we are unknowingly teaching ourselves humility as we not only accept but perfect the losing side of the partnership. In the martial arts, it is said that “winning too much is a bad habit.” Winning too often or being the nage too much is bad for us because it feeds our egos and that is why losing is so crucial to our growth in the martial arts. Perhaps that is why in the martial arts we are forced to take ukemi because to take ukemi is the physical practice of higher conscious concepts like humility, perseverance, or courage just to name a few. Someone once said, “Never let success get to your head and never let failure get to your heart.” Understanding this, winning, or losing is not really the point. In the martial arts and in life, we are all searching for a way to positively experience the ups and the downs. Losing teaches us so much more than winning but the thing which all the best martial artists are trying to really lose is their egos and that is perhaps why O’Sensei said, “Failure is the key to success; each mistake teaches us something.” Martial artists aren’t losers, but they understand the value of defeat.

Today’s goal: Nelson Mandela once said, “I never lose. I either win or I learn.”

Watch this video featuring Denzel Washington to better understand losing