Zen Mentality: The Bushido Way

by Sensei Carol, posted in Internal Power

What is Zen?  There are many interpretations and various opinions of how Zen can be accomplished.  Philosophers from all walks of life have given their thoughts on Zen, even the ones that called it something different – like enlightenment, self-fulfillment, self-actualization.  This article will show you how we are misled in the pursuit of Zen, and with a little bit of practice and the proper mindset, this state of mind really isn’t all that difficult to attain.

When you have one eye on your destination,

there is only one eye left with which to find your way.

Zen is a discipline practiced universally.  Do you breathe without thinking about it?  What activities do you do during the day that have nothing to do with thought, and everything to do with the moment?  When you become engrossed in your work, if you play an instrument or are an artist and you reach that moment where nothing matters but what you are doing, this is Zen.

We think the state of Zen is difficult to obtain, that it takes years of meditation practice, putting your body in a certain position for long agonizing hours, perhaps fasting for days on end, or not speaking for weeks at a time.

These are practices meant to achieve enlightenment, and most of us don’t have the time or inclination to do these things!

Zen mentality is where you are, at this moment.

In his book, “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” Earnest Hemingway summed up this Zen concept very nicely.

The story is about a soldier who came across a woman that “made his earth move.”  In one day, the young man went from a dedicated soldier, intent only on his mission, to thinking about his future, and how he wanted to spend it with this woman.  He was to go on a very dangerous mission in two days; one he believed was fool hardy, but like the good soldier he was, he followed orders.

These were his thoughts on the subject:

I did not know I could ever feel this way.  Not that this could happen to me.  I would have it for all of my life.

You live in NOW and that is your whole life – now.  There is nothing else than now.

There is neither yesterday, certainly, nor is there any tomorrow.

There is only now, and if it is only 2 days, then 2 days is your life, and everything will be in proportion.

If you stop complaining and asking for what you never will get, you will have a good life.  A good life is not measured by biblical span.

Do not worry.  Take what you have and do your work, and you will have a long live, and a very merry one.

Living in the now is a very hard concept for most of us.  Those few who do reach this pinnacle of enlightenment do indeed live a very merry life.

So here we are.  Zen mentality – the way of the Bushido.  The way of the warrior.  (武士道)  Bushi – warrior; do – the way

You don’t have to be a soldier of war to practice Bushido.  When referring to a Bushido, one thinks of a samurai.  A swordsman.  A person who wields weapons and uses them responsibly in wartime.

Traditionally, practicing Zen meditation is a ritual that modern day citizens have a hard time grasping.   In this busy world of work and family, carving time for oneself to practice meditation is a challenge.

The following is taken from Miyamoto Musashi’s book The Book of Five Rings.  This is a 1981 out-of-print edition, an excellent publication and translation, my favorite edition, by Nihon Press.

Here are a few tips to help you along the way.

What is Zen?

Zen is breathing, eating, walking.  It is an awareness, a heightened sense of feeling and sensitivity developed by doing what comes naturally.

It is a discipline, an attitude, and approach to life; a set of values and beliefs.

The samurai took this to an extreme because the code of the Bushido says they will protect their lord above all costs and will put their safety ahead of their lord’s.  The samurai of ancient times were beholden to rulers of the land, the head of clans, they worked as protectors of these men and their families and were completely dedicated to protecting them.

Traits of character, not just of the loyal samurai, but traits that are in all of us.  The secret is knowing they are there and expressing them.  Like anything else, practice makes perfect, and the more you practice your goal of becoming an exemplary martial artist, the more attuned to this concept you will become.

Four Characteristics of Zen

  1.  Will power.  There is no special doctrine, no deity to depend on.  You are responsible for you.
  2. Self-reliant.  Learn to depend on yourself.  Profound honesty of your habits, traits and abilities is necessary to accomplish this.
  3. There are no results in Zen practice.  The measure is the effort you put in to improve yourself.
  4. A strong work ethic.  Nor work.  No food.

The posture of meditation is called Zazen. When sitting Zazen, do not try to stop your thinking, but let it stop by itself.  Realize that nothing outside of you causes you trouble, anguish, fear, or doubt.  These are all self-inflicted emotions and states of being.  When these thoughts arise, acknowledge them, but don’t spend time on them.  Let them float by like the clouds in the sky.

drawing of man sitting in zazen meditation
Sitting Zazen

Stopping Mind

The phrase “stopping mind” may make you think that you must control your mind and force the thoughts away.  In reality, stopping mind is spending time on a thought that occurs to you – stopping to question or judge is concentrating on that thought and you lose track (and time) of the flow around you.

“The flow does not stop when you do!  It passes you right by.”

An instant is too long for stopping mind.

“When you have guilt, or fear, or anxiety or regret, or nervous anticipation,
you are living in the past or the future.”

The mind of an infant

Watch an infant to see how they interact with the world.  They are completely in the moment!  If they have pain or discomfort or hunger, they cry.  They sleep when they are tired and demand fed when they are hungry.  They have no thought of their future, or whether their parents are rich or poor.  They just are.  An infant is the perfect example of living in Zen.

To act now gives you the power to cope

Practice acting in the moment.  When you have a thought, execute it.  Thought precedes action, but if there is no action to follow the thought, then it just stays an idea and goes nowhere.  Out of nothing comes something.

Out of your thoughts (nothing) comes something (action).

When practicing kata, you only concentrate on the kata.  If you practice stopping mind, checking and criticizing every move you make, then you are not in the flow.  Does a musician think about what he plays, or is he so entrenched in the music that is all he thinks and feels?  The same with kata practice, sparring practice, or walking your dog.  Enjoy the moment and think of nothing more.

When you practice something over and over, it becomes internalized.  You do it well and you do not “think about it.”  People say, “It looks so easy,” little do they know the hours and hours of practice you put in to make it look easy. Reaching this state is what training is all about – internalizing the movements so when you react, you react effortlessly.

Zen is a social philosophy

The goal is to realize your potential as a human being.  “To be the best you can be.”  By practicing self-perfection, one becomes aware of one’s place in the world.  Not “better,” just “more sufficient.”

Self-satisfaction comes from dedication and purpose.  If you have confidence in you and not just your skills, if you are satisfied with yourself, you are humble, quiet, and peaceful.  Benevolent and compassionate.

No ego.  Dr. Wayne Dyer coined the phrase, “Edging God Out.”  E-G-O. God or Dao, whatever your definition, is at the core of your being.  More than intuition, it is your Guiding Light, your North Star.  The trouble is, we let our E-G-O get involved, thinking we can control life’s situations, and we lose the essenence of our true being.

Where there is no intention, there is no thought of being.

Munen muso is the Japanese term for this.  Dogo, a zen master had this to say:

“If you want to see, see right at once.  When you begin to think, you miss the point.”

To coin an overused phrase, but very Zenlike – Be natural, just do it!

If you try not to intellectualize the experience, when there is no mediation by the intellect (that nasty critical voice), Zen becomes an intuitive experience.  Understanding without words.

The important advice here is to see the situation for what it is, not for what you think it is, or what you want it to be.  We create anxiety by wanting to drive the bus, to make our wants and desires work out the way we want them to.  We get frustrated because things are not going our way, whatever we touch turns to mush.

Intuition is not instinct, but a quick action without hesitation, no resistence of thought or action, allowing the body to act on it’s own volition and wisdom, free of “mental steering.”

Moving meditation

Perhaps you’ve heard this phase in reference to performing kata.  For those of us who find it difficult in sitting Zazen, there is the kata.  Practicing kata puts you in the moment, you think about your body positioning, your power, utilizing rhythm and flow.  With all this going on, you don’t have time to think about your grandmother who just died, or the fight you had with your spouse, or what you are going to do after practice.

You are in the moment.  Experiencing the NOW.

Qigong and Tai Chi are other examples of moving meditation.  Both of these teach you how to focus by staying in the moment, by clearing your mind and thinking of nothing other than an empty space.  This is relieving to your mind.

Our poor brains are fatigued by the worry and stress of today’s life, and you are doing it a favor by taking it off-line for a few minutes to give it a break.

“Stopping mind” interrupts the flow of the vibrations of the world from finding you.  With worry and despair, you are like a rock in a stream bed.  The water flows right around the rock.  We are vast receptacles of universal energy.  Stopping mind sends that energy along its way and you miss out.

Try it out, see if it works for you.

When you have a thought, act on it.  A thought is the Universe trying to get through, to manifest itself through you.  Naturally, there are thoughts that are best left alone, so discretion is advised.

 

Kanjo for chaos

Six Easy-to-Use Self Defense Weapons You Can Find Almost Anywhere

by Sensei Carol, posted in Uncategorized, Weapons

women throwing an elbow to a man's face

 

When you hear “self-defense”, what do you think? An attacker on the street with an elbow to the face and a knee to the groin?

You are being attacked, and you look around for something you can use as a weapon.  Depending on where the attack occurs, you might see several options, if you can get to them fast enough.

A good self-defense weapon should be something you can carry around with you and is easy to use, like a kobuton on your keychain or a knife concealed in your hand.

The problem with carrying a gun is it takes time to get it out of the holster and take off the safety before you can fire.  This may take precious seconds and is a distraction that your attacker will take advantage of. Unless you have hours at the practice range, most people don’t fire a gun often enough to be proficient at using it. An experienced fighter does know how to disarm someone with a gun, so the chances of your weapon being turned against you are quite high.

For this article, I opened my bag of tricks of common items that make handy weapons. You can have these scattered around the house, or carry them in your car, and they do not draw attention to the fact that you can use them as a weapon. Taking advantage of the element of surprise will take your attacker off guard long enough to do some damage and get the hell out of there. Who would think the straw in your cup can put out someone’s eye? Or how about a credit card?

a straw in a potato

 

While you are thinking about that, let me introduce you to six types of weapons you might find useful. These are just suggestions. Look around your house, your shop, your office. Use your imagination and see what you can do with some of the “weapons” that are right under your nose.

With Tomari-te, sometimes all it takes is one punch, properly placed.  In Hollywood movies, people fight to the death with butcher knives. It takes twenty minutes to put the other guy down. In real life, your goal is not to fight to the death, but disable your attacker and then run away like the wind.

 

SIX WEAPONS YOU CAN USE FOR SELF DEFENSE

Household weapons for self defense  

1.  KUBOTAN – Read how to use a kubotan here.  There are several types of kubotans made out of metal or wood, some have a pointed end, some are flat.  The best way to carry this is with your keys.  It is easy to slip into your pocket and easy to find in your purse. However, no weapon does any good unless it is in your hand, so make it a habit to carry it with you.   It fits nicely in the palm of your hand, which lends to a great surprise when the attacker is struck in the temple with this.  Be sure to check out the blog on kubotans, because it shows the best points to strike to disable someone.

 

2.  SHARP OBJECTS – Orange sticks or cuticle sticks have nice shar points and can be used in many ways, as can a a bundle of orange sticksspoon, chop sticks, keys, your toothbrush.   As you see, size is not important.  The thinner the point, the sharper the penetration.  Use these in much the same way as a kubotan, but aim for soft tissue, like the eyes or temple.    

 

 

3.  CREDIT CARDS – A quick swipe across the eyes will stop any attacker for a moment or two.  The edges and credit cardscorners of the card can be used to jab just about any soft tissue – the top of the hand, across the face.    

 

 

4.  HOBBY TOOLS – This is a leather working tool.  Let your imagination take over and decide what you would do with this leather toolsharp-edge, seemingly harmless tool.  Look through your crafts, your wood shop, your sewing kit.  If you see a use for it, then it is a good weapon.    

 

 

5.  PEPPER SPRAY – This is one of the most sought-after self-defense tools on the market.  Once sprayed in the pepper sprayeyes, it pretty much disables your attacker.  However, this is one of my least favorite self defense weapons.  You don’t want a weapon that will harm you!  Because it is a spray, you cannot control the blowback.  Unless you have a high-powered tube that will spray 30 feet away, you take the chance of being blinded yourself.  If your attacker ias 30 feet away, he is not a threat because he hasn’t entered your red-zone.  There is also the problem with accessibility.  Where will you carry it?  Like a kobutan you can carry it in your hand, but you are sending signals that you are expecting trouble.  A kobutan and other household items are much less obtrusive.

6.  KNIVES –   Most self-defense is up close and personal, and a knife is held in the palm of your hand, easily knifeconcealed.  The knife in the picture has an assisted opening; simply push the lever and the blade pops out! 

When you take a knife to a gun fight, you must first disable your attacker by getting the gun out of his hand.  When you are fighting knife on knife, you still take out the knife hand in much the same way.

PROCEED WITH CAUTION

Any weapon can be taken away from you and used against you. Be sure you practice with your weapons of choice until you are comfortable using them.

With home invasions on the rise, people feel unsafe in their homes.   Too many people are angry at just about everything and you never know when you will become a victim of their anger.  But an intruder into your home, or an attacker on the street, is not in his right mind, and will do anything to make sure you do not overcome his attacks.

That is why guns are not a good idea for the novice.  If you own a gun, you must become proficient in it.  If you must use it, do not hesitate.  How does the saying go?  “Shoot first and ask questions later.”

Unless you are willing to deal with the consequences of shooting another human, you might rethink your options as to which weapon is best suited for you. Most martial art styles have some kind of weapon in their arsenal, and as an experienced martial artist, you must know how to defend yourself against various weapons, and how to use them proficiently.

These are simple weapons women and children can use without coming across as a victim.  The last thing you want your attacker to see is your fear.  If you feel confident in your self-defense, then you will not exude the fear most attackers look for. 

That alone may be enough to send him down the road and not bother you. But you never know.  With illegal drugs that make people feel invincible, with the high degree of anger in our society, you never know what the other guy will do.

This is why awareness of your surroundings is the best defense.  The best block is not being there.  If you sense danger, get out of the woods! 

Martial arts are about protecting yourself, your family, and your possessions.  Protection does not mean confrontation.

I hope this short list will give you ideas on how common everyday household items can be turned into weapons of self-defense.

 

Stay safe.

 

Sensei Carol  

 

Six Self Defense Weapons You Can Find Just About Anywhere

by Sensei Carol, posted in Uncategorized

women throwing an elbow to a man's face

 

When I say “self-defense”, what do you think? An attacker on the street with an elbow to the face and a knee to the groin?

You are being attacked, and you look around for something you can use as a weapon.  Depending where the attack occurs, you might see several options, if you can get to them fast enough.

A good self-defense weapon should be something you can carry around with you and is easy to use, like a kobuton or a knife.

The problem with carrying a gun is it takes time to get it out of the holster and take off the safety before you can fire.  Unless you have hours at the practice range, most people don’t fire their gun often enough to be proficient at using it.

This may take precious seconds, and a distraction that your attacker will take advantage of. An experienced fighter does know how to disarm someone with a gun, so your chances of your weapon being turned against you are quite high.

For this article, I opened my bag of tricks of common items that make handy weapons. You can have these scattered around the house, or carry them in your car, and they do not draw attention to the fact that you can use them as a weapon.

Taking advantage of the element of surprise will take your attacker off guard long enough to do some damage and get the hell out of there.

Who would think the straw in your cup can put out someone’s eye? Or how about a credit card?

While you are thinking about that, let me introduce you to six types of weapons you might find useful. These are just suggestions. Take a look around your house, your shop, your office. Use your imagination and see what you can do with some of the “weapons” that are right under your nose.

With Tomari-te, sometimes all it takes is one punch, properly placed.  In Hollywood movies, people fight to the death with butcher knives. It takes twenty minutes to put the other guy down. In real life, your goal is not to fight to the death, but disable your attacker and then run like hell.

 

SIX WEAPONS YOU CAN USE FOR SELF DEFENSE

Household weapons for self defense

 

1.  KUBOTAN – Read how to use a kubotan here.  There are several types of kubotans made out of metal or wood, some have a pointed end, some are flat.  The best way to carry this is with your keys.  It is easy to slip into your pocket and easy to find in your purse. 

 However, no weapon does any good unless it is in your hand, so make it a habit to carry it with you.   It fits nicely in the palm of your hand, which lends to a great surprise when the attacker is struck in the temple with this.  Be sure to check out the blog on kubotans, because it shows the best points to strike to disable someone.

2.  SHARP OBJECTS – Orange sticks or cuticle sticks have nice shar points and can be used in many ways, as can a a bundle of orange sticksspoon, chop sticks, keys, your toothbrush.   As you see, size is not important.  The thinner the point, the sharper the penetration.  Use these in much the same way as a kubotan, but aim for soft tissue, like the eyes or temple. 

 

 

3.  CREDIT CARDS – A quick swipe across the eyes will stop any attacker for a moment or two.  The edges and credit cardscorners of the card can be used to jab just about any soft tissue – the top of the hand, across the face.

 

 

4.  HOBBY TOOLS – This is a leather working tool.  Let your imagination take over and decide what you would do with this leather toolsharp-edge, seemingly harmless tool.  Look through your crafts, your wood shop, your sewing kit.  If you see a use for it, then it is a good weapon.

 

 

5.  PEPPER SPRAY – This is one of the most sought-after self-defense tools on the market.  Once sprayed in the pepper sprayeyes, it pretty much disables your attacker.  However, this is one of my least favorite self defense weapons.  You don’t want a weapon that will harm you!  Because it is a spray, you cannot control the blowback.  Unless you have a high-powered tube that will spray 30 feet away, you take the chance of being blinded yourself.  If your attacker is 30 feet away, he is not a threat because he hasn’t entered your red-zone.  There is also the problem with accessibility.  Where will you carry it?  Like a kobutan you can carry it in your hand, but you are sending signals that you are expecting trouble.  A kobutan and other household items are much less obtrusive.

6.  KNIVES – This knife is my favorite.  Most self-defense is up close and personal, and a knife is held in the knifepalm of your hand, easily concealed, with an assisted opening.  With this knife, simply push the lever and the blade pops out!  When you take a knife to a gun fight, you must first disable your attacker by getting the gun out of his hand.  When you are fighting knife on knife, you still take out the knife hand in much the same way.

PROCEED WITH CAUTION

Any weapon can be taken away from you and used against you. Be sure you practice with your weapons of choice until you are comfortable using them.

Many people feel unsafe in their homes these days with home invasions are on the rise.  People are angry at just about everything and you never know when you will become a victim of their anger.  But an intruder into your home, or an attacker on the street, is not in his right mind, and will do anything to make sure you do not overcome his attacks.

That is why guns are not a good idea for the novice.  If you own a gun, you must become proficient in it.  If you have to use it, do not hesitate.  How does the saying go?  “Shoot first and ask questions later.”

Unless you are willing to deal with the consequences of shooting someone, you might rethink your options as to which weapon is best suited for you.

Most martial art styles have some kind of weapon in their arsenal, and as an experienced martial artist, you must know how to defend yourself against various weapons, and how to use them proficiently.

These are simple weapons women and children can use without coming across as a victim.  The last thing you want your attacker to see is your fear.  If you feel confident in your self defense, then you will not exude the fear most attackers look for.  That alone may be enough to send him down the road and not bother you.

But you never know.  With illegal drugs that make people feel invincible, with the high degree of anger in our society, you never know what the other guy will do.

This is why awareness of your surroundings is the best self defense.  The best block is not being there.  If you sense danger, get out of the woods!  The martial arts is about protecting yourself, your family and your possessions.  Protection does not always mean confrontation.

I hope this short list will give you ideas on how common everyday  household items can be turned into weapons of self defense.

 

Stay safe.

Sensei Carol

 

Morality in the Martial Arts. The Ten Components of Conduct.

by Sensei Carol, posted in Internal Power, The Martial Arts

core values

THE WAY OF MORALITY

It seems the only way this world is going to come out of this deep moral funk we are in is through the teachings of traditional martial arts.  People are at unrest.  We have defuncted all traditional ways of thinking and are searching for a compass to lead us out of this moral depravity.

What better way to teach morality and proper conduct than through the martial arts.  This article covers the ten components of conduct all martial artists should strive for.

Gichin Funakoshi, known as the “Father of Karate,” says it this way:

As a mirror’s polished surface reflects whatever stands before it,
and a quiet valley carries even small sounds,
so must the student of karate render of their mind empty of selfishness and wickedness
in an effort to react appropriately toward anything they might encounter. 
This is the meaning of the kara or “empty” of karate-do.”

It isn’t the technique as much as the attitude that makes a true practitioner of the martial arts.

Think back on all the great masters.  Do they exude arrogance and egotism?  Are they calm and wise?

This calmness and wisdom did not come about by boisterousness and conceit.  There is no room in the martial arts for an ego, however large or small.  The bully, the narcissist, the slouch, none of these types of personalities last long in a dojo.  Respect for oneself and others is the #1 requirement for exemplary conduct.  After all, the martial arts turns your body into one of fitness and strength, and the same happens to your mind.

When Da Mo came across the Buddhist monks that did nothing but sit around and meditate, he whipped them into shape because he believed the body and spirit were connected.  If you neglect one, you neglect the other.

With that in mind, read on about the importance of morality in the martial arts.

Respect.  One of the most important words in the martial arts.

Morality.  Why is it such an important component of the martial arts?

 

martial arts is good for kids

Respect, morality, and the martial arts go hand in hand.

The training of a child through martial arts in correct behavior and right-thinking forms lifelong good habits of mind and body.

However, the level of achievement of morality is directly dependent on how far a student advances in practice.

A boisterous and brazen person is limited in their achievement, narrow-minded and egotistical, thinks their style is the best and their main goal is to kick someone’s butt. This better-than, bullying mentality does not take one very far in life.

In this day and age, the lack of morality is readily apparent in societies across the world.  People seem to forget that it takes community to survive, and community means getting along.  Getting along means respecting one another’s property and person.  Respecting oneself is the ultimate sign of getting along, because if you do not like yourself, you do not like anyone else.

cartoon kids
Respect for oneself and each other

It is not a surprise that Da Mo went to live with the monks, since he was a monk himself.  Under his guidance, the practices of the monks in the Shao Lin temple became the basis for Zen Buddhism.  The moral precepts of Buddhism were originally integrated into the training of the monks by the emperor because after Da Mo’s death, some of them took to the countryside, marauding and pillaging the villagers.

But just because the martial arts and Buddhism carry the same moral precepts, read on, and you will see morality has nothing to do with religion, but with a state of mind and attitude.

Buddhism is a way of life, just like martial arts becomes a way of life.  The two are directly related in the most unlikely place – the practice of morality.  Both lead to a way of exemplary living, a way of life.

 

never depart from the way of the martial arts

 

The Way – the path to an enriched and fulfilling life.

The way of morality in the martial arts is not an easy road.  Only the dedicated will survive, but the benefits are great.

Morality is a living a life of acting and thinking, of living present in every second in both thought and deed.  Morality, as described here, is not what you normally would think. 

The Oxford English Dictionary defines morality as 1) principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong, 2) a particular system of values and principles, 3) the extent in which an action is right or wrong.

For our purposes, a particular system of values and principles most easily describes the role morality plays in the martial arts.  If the monks had not learned to be humble with their art, it would not have survived for nearly 2000 years.  Violent acts eventually die down.  A true sign of an art is how it is preserved over the ages.

This “true art” is threatened.  Traditionalists keep the spirit going, but in today’s world, traditions of all kinds are fading fast, and the carrying on of traditional martial arts is no exception.

The rigid training of the Shao Lin monks, the life-and-death commitment of the samurai, and the struggles of the Okinawans to keep their fighting art alive; they all had moral principles to tame their weaponless defense.

The student learns ways to disable an attacker.  As the techniques increase in level, the ways of defense become more brutal.  Target points on the human body meant for disabling or killing are also target points that will heal.  The student must learn the difference between these two.  Within his two hands he holds the power to heal or kill.  With that comes a huge responsibility.  And that is why there is a system of values and principles that define the martial arts.

Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming and Jeffery Bolt in their book on Shaolin Long Fist Kung Fu wrote about the dual development between deed and thought:  Morality of Action and Morality of Mind.

 

morality in the martial arts

Morality of action.  How one behaves in society, in the outside world.

Humility gains and pride loses

1. Humility.  Humble people admit there is something greater than themselves, something beyond their reach.  This promotes continuous learning, and humility is the foundation for learning.  One must admit they know next to nothing to absorb the gap that is filled in by learning and practice.

“Humility gains” by reminding the martial artist that his training can always be improved upon.  There is always someone better than you.  For every day you don’t train, your opponent gains a day.  No matter how much you know, how perfect your techniques are, there is always more to learn and perfect.

“Pride loses” by creating a feeling of satisfaction and adequacy.  Pride gives the practitioner a false sense of achievement.  Why practice?  This thinking halts your growth in a heartbeat.  Remember the adage, “Pride goeth before a fall!”

Humility is the building block for the other four levels of morality of action, because if one isn’t humble, they certainly won’t be respectful.

2. Respect is intimately related to humility.  Both recognize the goodness in everything.  There is no “bad” style of the martial arts, most are closely related.  There is no reason for dojo wars or cock-of-the-walk mentality.  Each is in this for their own reasons, and each reason is valid.  Who are we to judge whether another person’s reasoning is good or bad, or our style is better than theirs.

Respect gives the martial arts the pure spirit it deserves.  In the dojo we show respect in many different ways; to other students by treating them well, to the dojo by keeping it clean and in repair, to oneself by wearing a clean gi and having a clean body.  And especially, respect to the master of your art, for this is the person that can guide you to the higher levels of ability.  Bowing shows respect to the sensei, the dojo, the other students, and to yourself.  These gestures are important because they help us acquire correct behavior.

3.  Righteousness.  Steadfast and upright.  Doing the right thing.  

Just like the monks of old, fighting for the old reign, for the life they lost to the Manchus, you find yourself standing up for justice, compelled to fight the evils in the world.  It is not an easy torch to carry.  This is what it means to be righteous – morally good and virtuous.  Live a clean life because others are looking up to you and they trust you.

4. Trust – If you are respectful and humble, and stand up for what is right, then people learn to trust you.  They know your word is good and you do what you say.  To be dependable shows honesty and good character, and it shows you are loyal.

5. Loyal – to be faithful to the ideals that one believes in – ideals of family, culture, country, and the martial arts.  A student may be called on to teach, which he must honor.

If your master has taken the time to reach you to the level of achievement where he feels comfortable allowing you to teach, then he deserves your loyalty and respect by passing on what he has taught you.

This is the ultimate compliment to the masters before you.  Without you, your art dies.

Morality of thought.  If a man is a ship, then the will is the rudder.

Can you spend three hours a day training?  If the will is strong, if the desire is there, you can.  It takes long hours to become proficient at your art, it has been said after you throw 10,000 kicks and 10,000 punches you are well on your way to perfection.

That’s a lot of kicks and punches.  How many do you throw in an hour’s practice?  It all adds up.  Without the will to succeed, you quit before the 10,000 is close.

1. Will is the heart of the matter.  The will is the force that gets us through, not only the 10,000 punches and kicks, but through life’s challenges.  In times of personal trouble, sadness, grief, loss, laziness, self-doubt, it is your will to overcome, to survive, that gets you to the other side.

2. Endurance supports the will; it is the will’s physical fuel or energy source.  You may want to succeed, but not have the endurance.  Can you endure those 10,000 kicks over the course of many years?

3 & 4. Perseverance and patience are the will’s mental sources of energy.  Endurance is physical energy, perseverance and patience are the mental energy that gives you the right mindset.  Those long years of practice can only be endured with perseverance and patience.

5. Bravery is the principal action for the will; the spiritual courage to fight truth.  This is not an easy task, fighting truth.  People do not want to see it; they do not want to hear there is a better, more peaceful way to live.  It takes great strength and bravery to endure the onslaught that goes along with standing up for what is right.  Sometimes it means physically defending yourself or your family; sometimes it means speaking out when you see someone wronged; sometimes it means just getting through your day!

As you can see, the five components of morality in action: Humility, respect, righteousness, loyalty, and truthfulness are intimately tied to the five components of morality of mind: Will, endurance, perseverance, patience and bravery.  Perhaps you can also see how these ten components are necessary to advance in the martial arts.  As these qualities are practiced, they become a part of one’s character.  Just like learning respect in the dojo transfers to treating others with respect in the community.

 

Humility is indeed the building block, the foundation for moral character.

 

 

“Once humility becomes a living ideal the thought of showing off or boisterous disappears.”
Master Yang

Whether you are a practitioner or an instructor, it is important to carry these precepts with you.  These are not just for the dojo, but a way of conduct throughout your life.  Your training as a martial artist sets you off from the others.  People look to you to see if you are a bad-ass or if you are someone they can trust.  You are a reflection of your dojo and of your art.  Just like the mirror looking back, you are the mirror for your art.

Promote kindness and goodwill in your world.  It only takes one or two to start the momentum.  Advertise your dojo by putting your best foot forward and being helpful and kind.  Practice humility.  It is practice because understanding what it takes to be humble doesn’t happen overnight.  Perhaps that is why the old masters are calm and wise.  It took a lifetime to get there.

 

Sensei Carol

Rules to follow in the Dojo that will never let you down

by Sensei Carol, posted in The Martial Arts

Mushin Kenpo Karate is based on mutual respect for all people in class or out.  As martial artists in a class, the people around you are your brothers and sisters.  Treat each other well.

Rules are not made to be broken, but to be followed.  Showing respect for one another is the most important aspect in a dojo. It is important to show respect to the dojo itself, the instructors, past and present, other students, your parents, friends, and anyone else that comes into your life.

When people treat each other well, there is a sense of comradery and teamwork.  Everyone in the dojo has the same goal; to learn to protect themselves and the ones they love.  The instructors of Mushin Dojo do not tolerate bullying of any kind, inside or outside the dojo.

Students are expected to conduct themselves with utmost decorum.  You are representatives of Mushin Dojo, and if you are out on the streets picking fights and showing off your stuff, you are not a representative of the art.

Below are the rules of Mushin Dojo.  They are simple and straightforward.  Act responsibly and the rules are easy to follow.

When to Bow:

  • Upon entering or leaving the dojo.
  • Upon formal opening and closing of class.
  • Before engaging in a workout with a training partner (bow to each other).  This expresses to your training partner that you are there to work out and not to hurt or damage each other.
  • Whenever you wish to address an instructor directly.  (Bow and wait for the instructor to return bow before entering the instructors’ area or training)
  • When entering a mat or ring.
  • Bowing upon entering a dojo shows respect for the past masters that had spent their lives training and developing the martial arts.
  • Bowing to your instructor shows respect and to thank the instructor for taking the time to teach you.

Other Mushin Dojo Rules:

  • No gum chewing during work outs.
  • No smoking in class.
  • Never interrupt the instructor – wait for questions.
  • Wait for permission before leaving the dojo floor. 
  • Never walk away from a workout.
  • No swearing in the dojo.
  • No eating in the dojo.
  • Keep the dojo immaculate.
  • Always wear clean uniform and have a clean body.

Show Respect for Others in the Dojo

  • Refrain from losing your temper.
  • Never make fun other other’s mistakes.
  • Immediately move away from an injured person.
  • Never put down another person’s art.
  • By loyal to your own art.
  • Seek approval of your instructor before entering a tournament or giving a demonstration.
  • Never handle weapons that you are not qualified to.
  • Apply yourself fully to periods of meditation.

Traditional Okinawan Karate is not a sport!  Do not refer to it as a sport. It is a martial art.