The Journey, not the Destination

Almost There

2018-12-07T13:51:00.000-06:00

In one week, seven days, I will be a seminary graduate.

In three weeks - roughly - I will get to train at my dojo twice a week instead of just once.

I cannot say how ecstatic I am ...

It's been a bit over a year since I started up with Goju Ryu. I still have so much to learn and I've grown antsy to focus on this instead of seminary work. Not that what I was learning in seminary isn't terribly important - it is. And my Master of Divinity is crucial to the work I have been called to.

But karate is my refuge.

Karate saved my life when I was in high school and struggling with the effects of familial alcoholism.
Karate saved me in my early twenties when I couldn't see a way through what I was going to do for a living.
Karate saved my life when I was recovering from the domestic violence I suffered during my previous marriage.
Karate saved me when I remarried and our respective ex-spouses kept us in and out of court with custody battles.
Karate saved my life when I wrestled with the call to seminary.

Karate saved me - every time my life turned upside down, every time I questioned my worth, every time my insides wanted to vomit all over the world from emotional distress.

Sure, I train on my own. I've been doing that for quite a while. But there is something about being at the dojo - with the Little Dragons, with the kids, with the amazing teens who have just reached shodan, with my adult karate-ka friends who just get it.

Most of all, I have been blessed with senseis along the way that totally understand why I do what I do. There's a deep connection to this life in martial arts that I cannot explain, you just *know* when someone else is there with you. Knowing you are not alone is one of the most freeing things that a person can experience - and it empowers you to do what you never thought possible.

Jan 2 2019 cannot get here soon enough ...

Part of my karate family from American Karate and Martial Science in Hutchinson KS.
I trained here from May 2007 to Sept 2017.
I am on the far right, middle row.

So many kata, so little time ...

2018-08-01T21:25:00.001-05:00

Wow. It's been quite a while. Seminary has taken precedence over my blogging, but not my training.

In Sept 2017, I switched dojos - due to moving too far away from my dojo of the previous ten years. Even as I am frustrated with how many times I have moved and had to switch dojos, I am pumped about where I am now. I am studying Goju Ryu - from the very beginning. I am grateful beyond belief that my new Sensei has allowed me to keep my sandan rank.

So - this morning, instead of my usual yoga/stretching routine outside on my back deck, I went through all of my new kata, a bunkai, and a renzoku. Mind you - I've only learned the patterns, not the essences.

I share this list as much for you as for me to remember.

Gekisai Dai Ichi
Gekisai Dai Ni
Geki Ha
Kaka Ha
Saifa
Jin Choi
Seiyunchin
Gesaku Sho

I'm still learning the patterns for Sanseru and Tensho.

Y'all. My heart is full of energy and excitement and joy as I learn new techniques, new patterns, and new ways of being a martial artist. All I can say -

Domo arigato gozaimishita!

Growing Edges

2016-09-07T21:37:00.003-05:00

It has been a long time since I posted ... I am now a full time graduate student and prioritizing things has been a challenge. Not my training, but other things ... like my blog.

Tonight's thoughts are inspired by a meme on Facebook ...

It was in a dojo in 1983 ... hot, humid, no a/c in the summers, freezing cold in the winters, hardwood floors, no fans, no stopping for drinks, bow out and you leave ... it was in a dojo I learned to take myself to the floor and examine who I had been, who I was, and who I wanted to be ... it was in a dojo I learned to accept and embrace correction ... it was in a dojo that the truest part of myself began the arduous task of emergence.

And I will do it again tomorrow night. It will be in a dojo ... I will face myself and grow.

And the answer is ...

2014-11-25T15:11:00.000-06:00

As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving in a few days, my mind is straying to whether I have been the kind of karate-ka that others are thankful for.

Have I shown integrity in my training? Have I lived a life that is the same in and out of the dojo? Have I encouraged a distressed fellow karate-ka? Have I pushed through the difficulties I face in my own training and in doing so give someone else hope? Have I modeled well for others training with me?

I just recently received my second degree black belt rank. During that test, I ran head-on into some places in my training I have neglected. Somehow I dug deep and made it through. Now, I feel the weight of rank again – much the same as I did when I was first awarded shodan. So I reflect again on what I am revealing to others in my training.

I have much to be thankful for. And I join in with my dojo brothers and sisters in thanking my Sensei and all who have trained before me for setting such amazing examples *and* for always believing in me.

The question remains. Am I living a life as a martial artist that leads others to be thankful for me? I train and study purposefully, and trust the answer to this question is yes.

Do I really want the gold medal?

2013-04-28T20:26:00.001-05:00

Last summer several of us watched Olympic athletes from all over the world compete in just 2 weeks to see who would go home with the gold medals. Many times, the difference between silver and gold,
or between bronze and 4th place was thousandths of a second or hundredths of a point. It really drives home the realization that only ONE person wins the gold.

Even though those of us who train in martial arts aren’t necessarily running a race or trying to stick a landing or touch the pool wall first, ask yourself this: what would your journey as a martial artist look like if you WERE training for the gold medal?

Let’s redefine what the gold medal might look like for us. Is it achieving the next belt rank? Showing up at Spirit Week every night it’s held? Is it losing enough weight to get into the next lowest size uniform? Is it making it through a class without jumping cadence and doing pushups?

Although in a track event the finish line looks the same for everyone racing, our finish line is unique to each of us. It changes over time, it changes as we grow, and it changes as we hone our craft. Hundreds have run and won their race, passing on their wisdom over the years. Although we are racing with others, our race is our own. One of the coolest things about being in martial arts today is meeting people at other dojos running with you. We also have tons of material telling the stories of
the ancients running their races.

Training with purpose and focus is one of the main ways to win our respective races. Olympic and pro athletes become serious masters of self-control. They maintain self-control in how they train, how they rest, what they eat, what they drink, and how they spend their time – in essence, EVERY part of their life comes under the microscope. Everything I do in reaching my finish line must have precision and purpose or I’ll end up off track. I must focus continuously so I can eventually use the tools in my toolbox without thinking. The cost of strict self-control is so very worth the prize at the finish line.

As we progress through the colored belt ranks, we hear that we must begin to train outside the dojo. What clutter is in your track lane that prevents that? What might trip you, distract you, or injure you as you are running this race? Clear it out!

Everyone needs support and encouragement. Who is in your bleacher stand cheering you on? Who can you turn to for coaching, constructive criticism, a kick in the pants when needed? Not just in the dojo but outside? Build your personal cheerleading and coaching staff.

Many self-help gurus correctly tell us to develop a mental vision of our goal. Who has gone before you that you can use as a visual image to pull you along when it gets tough? One of my weekly affirmations lists all of the black belts I’ve known over the years that possess traits that I want. Some of them I haven’t seen since 1986. Some of them are at our dojo. Some of them have passed on. But reminding myself of their abilities and their bushido journey keeps me going when I get weary. Create a mental picture of who you strive to become.

So, lace up your shoes (put on your uniform), get to the track (go to class or your backyard), and run (train). Tweak your path as you go but never ever take your eyes off that finish line.

Bushido Virtue #7 Chugi - Loyalty

2013-03-01T18:38:00.001-06:00

In America today, loyalty can be seen in many forms. The most blatant example might be avid sports fans. Even when a beloved team is having a terrible season, a loyal fan will still cheer them on, hope for the best; and even attend games where a loss is expected.

When the going in life gets rough, however, do we stay the course? Do we remain focused on our path and our goals and refuse to allow what’s around us drag us off course?

The last of the traditional Bushido tenets, loyalty, or chugi in Japanese, seems to be the epitomal manifestation of the previous six tenets in a samurai’s life.

Judging from the origins of the word according to Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, its meaning is rooted in “allegiance to the sovereign or established government of one’s country”. Over time, loyalty has come to embody allegiance to just about anything. Dictionary.com defines loyalty as “faithfulness to commitments or obligations” and gives fealty, devotion, constancy, and fidelity as synonyms. Inherent in all of these descriptions is that loyalty comes from a choice.

So, first and foremost, to what are we loyal? Our dojo, sensei, fellow karate-ka? Our family, friends, country? Our faith? Bushido itself? Ourselves?

Secondly, how deeply are we loyal? On a scale of 1 to 10, what is your loyalty to your martial arts training? To the study of Bushido? To striving for excellence not only during class but every second of every day?

If you ask a black belt, your spouse, a co-worker what their honest appraisal of your loyalty is, would you truly honestly be willing to hear what they say? Even better, what would you do with what they say?

Ultimately, the choice is up to you. Loyalty springs from understanding and choosing to follow the previous virtues of Bushido. The path lies before you, clear and well-traveled for centuries. Many travel it now and you will not be alone when the going gets tough. Will you stay the course?

Bushido Virtue #6 Meiyo - Honor

2013-02-26T18:11:00.000-06:00

Politicians and celebrities using the media to downplay the shame of their misdeeds. Fathers killing their children for choosing a different point of view. Our culture’s understanding of honor – meiyo in Japanese – is seriously distorted and sullied. It seems today that if we can get away with something or “sincerely apologize” if we get caught, then it’s ok to do whatever we want. Our reputation, our family name, our honor doesn’t matter much anymore. On the other hand, much arrogance and selfishness has been perpetrated in the name of one’s “honor”. So what is it really?

This is the 6^th virtue of Bushido. Wikipedia states that honor is “a perceived quality of worthiness and respectability that affects both the social standing and the self-evaluation of an individual or corporate body such as a family, school, regiment or nation”. The key word is perceived. From multiple definitions of the word comes the idea that my honor is only as good as what other people see it to be. But is this what honor means for us in the martial arts?

In “Bushido: The Soul of Japan”, Nitboe explains “A good name—one's reputation, the immortal part of one's self, what remains being bestial—assumed as a matter of course, any infringement upon its integrity was felt as shame, and the sense of shame was one of the earliest to be cherished in juvenile education.” Here lies the difference. My honor does not depend on what others think. It *does* take into consideration what others have taught me. It *does* heed what my mentors, my fellow karate-ka, and my sensei says. But ultimately, my own personal honor is judged from within. And without the previous 5 tenets of Bushido, my judgment will be skewed.

This is why I am glad I feel ashamed if I do not drop for pushups if I miss cadence during class.

But, what about when I am insulted? What about when I am accused of something I did not do? Nitobe reminds us that we must temper and balance these outward perceptions of our honor with magnanimity and patience. Rather than fly into a rage at a perceived insult, we must rely on the previous 5 tenets of Bushido and respond from them.

This is where it gets tough. From the beginning, following the tenets of Bushido transforms us from inside out. Honor is where what is inside us shows itself to the outside world. What will others see? Will they become hungry for what we have? Will they see a life lived so differently than everyone else around them that they ask?

As said previously, gi points the way for us, yu kicks us in the pants to move, jin keeps us mindful of others on the same journey, rei is how we act toward everyone on the same path (including ourselves) – and makoto keeps us on the path. Meiyo either repels or draws others to join us on our journey. Would others want to join you?

Bushido Virtue #5 - Makoto - Honor

2013-02-24T21:07:00.002-06:00

Honesty – makoto in Japanese is the 5^th virtue of Bushido. Defining honesty is kind of like throwing jello on a wall and expecting it to stick. So much of what the word means depends on the context and culture in which the word is used, unfortunately.

The quality of being honest; uprightness, fairness, truthfulness, sincerity, frankness. This is what you see when you look up the word in a dictionary. Looking up the word honest, though, you find a deeper attempt at definition: honorable in principles, intentions, and actions, upright and fair; gained or obtained fairly; genuine or unadulterated.

Nitobe relates that a samurai could not even comprehend living a life that entertained anything but honesty. He writes in ‘Bushido: The Soul of Japan’, “The bushi held that his high social position demanded a loftier standard of veracity than that of the tradesman and peasant. Bushi no ichi-gon --the word of a samurai […] was sufficient guaranty of the truthfulness of an assertion. His word carried such weight with it that promises were generally made and fulfilled without a written pledge, which would have been deemed quite beneath his dignity.”

Can you imagine our world today if everyone could trust each other’s word to this degree?

Sadly, our Western culture accepts and even encourages dishonesty at certain times. Little white lies, living in denial of reality, lying to protect yourself or others; these are all ok today. Very few people bat an eye when adults tell stories of lying to a police officer to get away with speeding. In fact, if a ticket isn’t given, the audience celebrates the person’s ability to twist the truth.

In opposition, the samurai strove to accept the reality of truth – truth of the world around them and truth of how they were seen by the world around them. Likewise, accepting the reality of truth within was a battle samurai fought. Being able to look at yourself in the mirror and truthfully accept who you are inside must happen before you can begin to accept the reality of the world.

Gi points the way for us, yu kicks us in the pants to move, jin keeps us mindful of others on the same journey, rei is how we act toward everyone on the same path (including ourselves) – and makoto keeps us on the path.

It is so easy for us to lie to ourselves and this is the first and bloodiest battle we fight. Did we *really* cheat on cadence? Did I *really* bow correctly? Did I *really* do all of my pushups? Does it matter if I screw up on cadence and have to drop and do pushups? Especially as a black belt – how embarrassing! BUT! The damage done *inside* if we don’t honestly admit to ourselves that we cheated on cadence is a million times worse than what it looks like for a black belt to do pushups for cheating cadence.

We can justify and rationalize all we want and today we most likely will not get caught when we “cheat the system”. This is one of those places within martial arts that “the rubber has to meet the road.” Are you striving to live the virtues of Bushido? Honesty is not up for negotiation. Can you truthfully say that when you give your word that it means the same to you as it did to the samurai?

Achieving Serenity, Tranquility, and Confidence

2012-05-17T09:34:00.000-05:00

"For the true master, martial arts are essentially avenues through which one can achieve spiritual serenity, mental tranquility, and the deepest self-confidence."

-- excerpt of Chapter 1 from "Zen in the Martial Arts" by Joe Hyams

After reading this chapter, my thoughts ...

Am I true? I am definitely not a master, but am I true? Not right now. Please grant me the courage and strength to do so. To be true.

Am I willing to travel the avenues necessary to achieve what I want? Without a dojo where I live? Without a teacher 3 times a week? Well, at least in the traditional sense. Am I willing to let it all go and redefine my "dojo"? I have plenty of places to practice. I have so many memories of dojos past that I can create my own "dojo" wherever I am. I must if I want to stay on the avenue. I must let go of the restrictions in my own mind, the grief of not having a dojo right down the street, the wishing for what isn't. I must embrace where I am and build a "dojo" for myself.

Is there a difference between spiritual serenity and mental tranquility? Sometimes I think they are the same, sometimes I think they are different. Ultimately, both led to peace. I have always had to work out until all of the pent-up energy is spent before I can sense and rest in my inner peace. So is all this saying the same thing?

My deepest self confidence has always come after my natural tension-filled, Type A, ready-to-spring self has been tamed by intense training. And I have a tremendously difficult time pushing myself to that level of intensity on my own - without my sensei calling the shots. So maybe part of being a true master is when I can do this for myself.

In other words, I've only begun the battle, and I think it's going to be a long time before I win it.

Bushido Virtue #4 Rei – Respect

2012-04-25T17:17:00.000-05:00

I’ve had lots of people ask me why we bow in martial arts. What I never knew until now was that the commanding word in Japanese that a sensei uses to instruct his students to bow – “rei” – is also the word for respect, the “why” we bow.

Dictionary.com states that respect as a noun means “esteem for or a sense of the worth or excellenceof a person, a personal quality or ability, or something considered as a manifestation of a personal quality or ability” or “deference to a right, privilege, privileged position, or someone or something considered to have certain rights or privileges; proper acceptance or courtesy”. As a verb, respect means “to hold in esteem or honor”, or “to show regard or consideration for”, or “to refrain from intruding upon or interfering with”. The kanji character is also translated as “thanking; gratitude”. This is what we learn bowing is all about – thanking our sensei for teaching, our fellow karate-ka for working out with us, whoever pays the bills that keeps our dojo open, all those who’ve trained before us so we can learn, etc.

Interestingly, Nitobe treats this virtue as politeness. He says, “Politeness is a poor virtue, if it is actuated only by a fear of offending good taste, whereas it should be the outward manifestation of a sympathetic regard for the feelings of others. It also implies a due regard for the fitness of things, therefore due respect to social positions; for these latter express no plutocratic distinctions, but were originally distinctions for actual merit”. Basically, I believe this means that respect means nothing if it’s only given because you feel like you have to, or you’re scared into it. It’s supposed to be a reflection of what you really feel – an admiration, an appreciation for the person, place or thing.

The rituals that we have in martial arts were developed as training devices for youth and produced “power in repose”. As you practice the seemingly mundane and monotonous motions of a ceremony (or kata perhaps), you begin to understand what Nitobe describes: “[the ceremony] denotes the result of long observation as to the most appropriate method of achieving a certain result. If there is anything to do, there is certainly a best way to do it, and the best way is both the most economical and the most graceful”. Our elders, senseis, instructors, and the great masters of old have learned, fine-tuned, and passed on to us this knowledge (basics, kata, dojo etiquette, etc). We show them respect when we give 110% in our efforts to practice what they’ve taught us. We also show them respect when we respect others in martial arts, no matter their background, style, or differences.

So, gi (rectitude) is the compass that points north, yu (courage) is the gut-level decision to go north, jin (benevolence) is the mindframe of helping others on their journey north with you … then let’s add to that – rei (respect) is the outward actions shown by you to your instructors, fellow karate-ka, and yourself as you journey north.

What does this look like? We bow when we enter the dojo, the training floor, before and after kata, to our partners, to our instructors. We line up our shoes as carefully and as meticulously as we can. We keep our uniforms clean and in good repair. We stay silent during class so we can listen, then learn, then practice. We bow to black belts when they enter the room. At tournaments, we still practice what we’ve learned even if others don’t. We dig deep and practice with all that we have.

Be prepared for those who claim you are OCD. Even Nitobe noted Western criticism for the seemingly ridiculous attention placed on Japanese ceremonial observations. But remember – respect is not something you demonstrate to win someone’s approval. Again, bushido is a way of life and can’t simply be checked in and out at the dojo door. If respect is simply an outward manifestation of rectitude, courage, and benevolence; then we should be showing a lot of respect.

Now that we’ve investigated where we are regarding the previous three bushido virtues, let’s begin looking at where we can improve how we let it show in terms of respect. Start by thinking through all the little bitty details at the dojo. Are you just going through the motions of bowing, putting your shoes in line, etc? Or are you aware of the respect attached to these actions? Where can you take this into your life outside the dojo?

Bushido Virtue #3 : Jin or Benevolence

2012-04-21T12:34:00.000-05:00

Whoa! Benevolence is not a word we see on a day-to-day basis! It brings up images of religious saints, philanthropists, and Boy Scouts helping someone cross the street. It seems to be reserved for those special people that do not get caught up in the rat race of trying to keep up with the Jones’.

The World English Dictionary defines benevolence as “inclination or tendency to help or do good to others”. It stems from Latin – meaning disposition to do good. Similar words are altruism, amity, compassion, generosity, kindness, charity, mercy. Benevolence is one of the five tenets of Confucius, perhaps the most fundamental. It has also been translated as selflessness, good will toward humanity, and brotherly love. The kanji itself is described as a man and the number two – implying the unity of two human beings.

Mencius, a follower of Confucius, sums it up, as “a benevolent man is ever mindful of those who are suffering and in distress”. Nitobe theorizes that benevolence is seen as the tenderness of a warrior giving mercy intentionally when justice demands payment, and the warrior has the power to exact the payment.

If gi (rectitude) is the compass that points north, and yu (courage) is the gut-level decision and action to GO north, then jin (benevolence) might be the mindframe of helping others on their journey north with you.

There is a distinct difference between being benevolent and doing something benevolent. Every time a new person comes to our dojo, we make an extra effort to introduce ourselves and make them feel welcome. It’s not something we have to think about, we just do it. Think of how many dojos out there treat newcomers like dirt until they survive their first belt test, or even far beyond that. When we go to tournaments, we help each other and our competition with getting gear on, knowing where to go, and what to expect. We step in to coach kids we don’t know whose instructor is tied up simply so they can do well in their sparring match. Our dojo and its members operate from a base of benevolence, not cutthroat rivalry. It isn’t a one-time event; it is our mode of operation.

Step outside the dojo doors in your mind and ask yourself – what opportunities do I face every day to be benevolent? Bushido is a way of life and can’t simply be checked in and out at the dojo door. Nitobe urges us, “The cultivation of tender feelings breeds considerate regard for the sufferings of others.” We must work at it constantly – especially in today’s culture that drives us to focus only on ourselves.

On a scale of 1 to 10, low to high, how would you rate your level of benevolence overall? Does it vary depending on what life situation you’re in? Is it easy for you to be selfless? Has any one ever been benevolent to you when you didn’t deserve it? Do you see the suffering around you or do you turn your eyes from it?

Think of what you can do to increase your own benevolence level. Think of someone you know who seems to always see where there is need and suffering. Think of someone you know who is overly selfish. How can you strive to cultivate mercy toward others and selflessness in yourself?

Bushido Virtue #2 - Yu or Courage

2012-04-19T10:36:00.000-05:00

Bushido Virtue #2 : Yu or Courage

The word courage is seen in the media frequently. Often, stories regarding our troops and their families describe their courage in the midst of turmoil. Sometimes we focus on a once in a lifetime story of courage such as the “Miracle on the Hudson” when Capt. Sullenberger successfully ditched his airplane in the Hudson River and saved 155 lives. Most of us will never be faced with such situations where others are seemingly endowed with supernatural courage. So what *is* courage anyway?

Courage is defined in the Random House dictionary as “the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc. without fear; bravery”. The word comes from Old English, Old French, and Latin – all referring to the heart. Other words we use similar to courage include: fearlessness, valor, pluck, spirit, valiance. One of my favorite definitions is “courage is fear that has said its prayers and keeps going”.

Kanji for courage or "yu"

A different perspective is that of Nitobe. ‘The spiritual aspect of valor is evidenced by composure—calm presence of mind. […]. A truly brave man is ever serene; he is never taken by surprise; nothing ruffles the equanimity of his spirit. In the heat of battle he remains cool; in the midst of catastrophes he keeps level his mind. Earthquakes do not shake him, he laughs at storms. We admire him as truly great, who, in the menacing presence of danger or death, retains his self-possession;’

If gi (rectitude) is the compass that points north, then maybe yu (courage) is the gut-level decision and action to GO north.

In the dojo, one can see much evidence of courage. Getting to class when you are so sore you don’t know how you’ll make it through. Performing a kata that you mess up over and over, in front of everyone, until you get it nailed. Donning your sparring gear to face that black belt that terrifies you. Patiently working with an underbelt on a technique that they just can’t seem to get, even though you have other things to do. Belt test – need I say more? Personal out-of-the dojo training, whatever that looks like for you. And if we ever have to defend ourselves for real, isn’t level-headed composure during the attack something we must have to survive?

Again, bushido was meant to encompass one’s whole life, not just their military training. Like the Cowardly Lion, sometimes we believe others simply have more courage than we do and that becomes our reasoning for not stepping out of our comfort zone. On a scale of 1 to 10, low to high, how would you rate your level of courage overall? Does it vary depending on what life situation you’re in? Is it tied to your self-confidence or to your guiding compass? Have you had an experience where you were courageous in spite of quaking in your boots, so to speak? Are you naturally full of courage or do you have to work at it?

Think of what you can do to increase your own courage level. Think of someone you know who seems to have an abundance of courage. Think of someone you know who could use some extra. How can you strive for the coolness of spirit in the midst of catastrophe that Nitobe talked about?

Bushido Virtue #1 : Gi or Rectitude

2012-04-10T12:18:00.000-05:00

Let’s face it. Rectitude is not a word used much in 21^st century America. So what does it mean?

According to the Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, rectitude is a word that originated from the Latin word rectus, meaning straight, or right. From here, the definitions given include: moral integrity, righteousness, being correct in judgment or procedure, justice.

Inazo Nitobe said in “Bushido, the Soul of Japan” that ‘Nothing is more loathsome to him [the samaurai] than underhanded dealings and crooked undertakings.’ He also refers to the analogy of the human body. He likened rectitude to the human skeleton, for without the skeleton the body has no shape, and likewise, without rectitude, one’s life has no framework within which to live.

Essentially, Gi represents that which keeps one on “the path”, knowing right from wrong – and choosing the right. It’s like a hiking compass that always points to true north no matter which way you turn while holding it. The magnet inside the compass never varies in its sensing the magnetic pull of the North Pole and as such always, without fail, directs you north.

So what does this look like in martial arts training? From the very beginning, Gi demands of you complete adherence to the smallest of requests. For a white belt, it might mean making absolutely sure you stop long enough and focus to execute a correct bow – feet together, hands at your sides, calming your mind for a moment, and trying your best. For an intermediate belt, it might mean continuing to struggle with a kata or technique that is really tough for you that everyone else gets and refusing to compare yourself with others. For a black belt, it might mean choosing to stay calm in the midst of others wanting you to show them your “Bruce Lee” moves or never giving up on the most difficult student in class that drives you crazy.

However, this virtue was never intended to be limited to a samaurai’s training time. It was a way of life. It invaded every thought, deed, & word that they had. Ask yourself, do you *really* know what is right and what is wrong? Do you choose what is right EVERY time? Do you live a life that is above reproach? Do your life choices cause consternation in others because you didn’t just do what everyone else does?

We as humans do not naturally follow these virtues – we must work at pursuing them in our lives. Think of others that demonstrate a life guided by Gi that you can emulate and think of things in your life that you need to get back in line and pointed north so you can be an example of Bushido.

Introduction to Bushido

2012-04-07T12:07:00.000-05:00

If you’ve been around the martial arts for any length of time, you’ve probably heard the word “bushido” at some point. But what does it mean? Bushido is a Japanese word that translates to “way of the warrior”. Bushido represents a Japanese code of conduct and way of life – similar to European chivalry. It was developed by the samurai between the 11th and 14th centuries and was born of philosophy and hundreds of years of military training. Many people in modern countries and Japan still strive toward making the values of bushido a part of their everyday lives today.

The core of bushido revolves around seven virtues. I will list them, then I will explore each one in detail. The Japanese word is given first, then its translation, then a small description:

Gi Rectitude (moral integrity, justice, righteousness)
Yū Courage (mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, withstand danger, fear, difficulty)
Jin Benevolence (to do good, act of kindness, a generous gift)
Rei Respect (hold high or special regard for, to show deference)
Makoto or Shin Honesty (sticking to the facts, fairness of conduct)
Meiyo Honor, Glory (a good name or reputation, to show earned respect, keen sense of ethical conduct)
Chū Loyalty (faithful, unswerving in allegiance)

Others that are sometimes added to these:

Kō Filial piety (faithfulness to parents, honoring and respecting your elders)
Chi Wisdom (accumulated learning, ability to discern inner qualities, good sense)
Tei Care for the aged (taking responsibility for elders)

In an excerpt of James Williams' article "Virtue of the sword", a fairly simple explanation of modern bushido can be found:

"The warrior protects and defends because he realizes the value of others."

The challenge is; how can you embody these virtues in your everyday life outside of the dojo?

-Translations from: Random House's Japanese-English, English-Japanese Dictionary