Fall Sword Haiku

I cut once in fall 

problems require action

use of the sword.

My Story

It's not what happens to you that's important , it's what you choose to believe about 'what that happening is.' 

Your your choices shape your reality and the story is who you become.  If you truly wish to live by your own measure then you have to change the narrative. Your thoughts and words are a result of the meanings you have been programmed to believe. In aikido we talk about how the mind leads the body, I am beginning to believe that the mind creates the body. Our thoughts can change our very DNA and sequence the traits we physically become.

What is Self Defense

I had a gentleman come in to the dojo yesterday for a private lesson on self-defense. I interviewed him first to see what exactly he was looking for and what his character was like etc…

It became apparent that what he needed was a shift in thinking. To escape and evade is the primary focus of self- defense not to subdue or to pay back the insult with injury. He asked me several times what would you do in this situation, I explained I would parry the attack and leave to escape the situation. He was puzzled by this, the client asked me again wouldn’t that make you weak? or how could your ego allow you to not answer back when confronted.  I again explained that as soon as the immediate threat was neutralized I cannot engage someone with becoming the aggressor and facing possible charges and jail time myself.

I offered to show him some basic drills and footwork to increase his balance and reaction times, after a ½ hour I thanked him for coming in and again explained I don’t teach people how to fight I teach them how to escape and avoid dangerous situations this is a far more valuable skill. The gentleman thanked me and signed up for 2 months of private instruction.

I changed his mind and shifted the paradigm of what is self-defense and what is just being another aggressive person in a volatile situation.

Self-Defense

Self-Defense is Found in the Simple Things

We teach self-defense --and self-defense is found in the simplest of things. Kindness, for example; kindness is a beautiful form of self-defense. Good food --and the appreciation of it; there’s a fine, fine kind of self-defense. Oh, and how about love of community? Participation in --and love for --one’s community is a kind of self-defense that’s impossible to put a value on. And my favorite kind of self-defense is found in a simple rule, The Golden Rule:

Treat others as you would want them to treat you.

Simply perfect.

We like Tom Callos’ (www.tomcallos.com) description of self-defense too: “Self-defense isn’t only about personal protection, it’s about taking care of the people around you and the place you live as well.”

And of course, self-defense training is all you already imagined it to be, but with this particular attitude about it, self-defense becomes about living a good life. What a great idea.

For information about our school and self-defense lessons for today’s world, contact us here. contact@olathekiaikido.com

Self Defense for the New Year call for free class.

www.olathekiaikido.com

Ki-Aikido is more than the sum of its parts

Aikido  and engaged training , In other words making every day life, your monastery/Dojo.
 We are all connected, and the cause of suffering is ego, we live in an illusion of separateness.

 This is craving, covententness and dogmatic desire, the opposite or being empty of separate self is selflessness and this enables connection.

We need to adopt multiple viewing places--give up attachment to one view places. selflessness is the ability to to adopt others point of view and position.
If I don't see you as separate I see you as me, to Judge, criticize, and blame come from separate self. Ego is a mental construct due to the craving for permanence. Once you realize that we are all connected, and that karmic disposition is created now!!! You are responsible for you actions, both conscious and unconscious thoughts, and the role you play in every interaction and relationship. There is no other to blame, if I harm you I am truly harming myself. This is the nature of my study and the reason for making a deeper connection to my self and others.
 I can not throw another person with out first seeing things from their viewpoint, then once there i can lead them to where I need for them to go.

Olathe Ki Aikido

Yamato

What is the legacy of your example.

I have thought about the nature of my commitments lately.
I look to my vows for guidance as well as my daily affirmation. I sit Daily ,I practice and Teach Aikido both of which require time. Loyalty is essential to any training regardless of style or affiliation. However it is on a personal level as much as is one’s character. If you practice for personal gain there your loyalty lies, and your development will suffer. We have all seen people come and go in training. Both Formal study in OPB and Aikido are training for life and it demands a certain commitment. This should obviously imply a sense of duty or obligation to one's teacher.

Jou dori with bob