Finding a place of peace within the turmoil
The practice of Aikido is not to overcome an attacker nor to try to avoid them. Rather it is to find that point of connection where the attacker cannot affect you. Zen Story#2 A man travelling across a field encountered a tiger. He fled, the tiger after him. Coming to a precipice, he caught hold of the ...
React or Respond … opens the Gates of Heaven or Hell!
Zen Story#1 A soldier named Nobushige came to the Zen monk Hakuin and asked: ”Is there really a paradise and a hell?” “Who are you?” inquired Hakuin. ”I am a samurai”, the warrior replied. “You, a soldier!” sneered Hakuin, “What kind of ruler would have you as his guard? You look like a beggar”. Nobushige became so angry ...
Having the power … of Acceptance
Aikido practitioner and dispute resolution author, Tom Crum, tells this charming story of the power of acceptance in his book, “The Magic of Conflict“: My wife and I once had our early morning mediations punctuated daily by the sound of an automobile horn announcing to our neighbour that his ride to work had arrived. I ...
Now it is proven! Draw last, draw fast.
Warriors throughout history have dueled for survival. Often evenly matched with the same sword or gun, yet one survived and one died. Which was better, to draw first or last? To get the advantage of reaching for the gun, or drawing the sword first? The “first strike” capability. OR to stay relaxed (but alert) and only ...
No hands fighting
The story is told of a 16th Century Japanese warrior Tsukahara Bokuden, and his art of “mutekatsu“, or “no hands fighting”. Bokuden, like many samurai warriors of that time, was traveling around Japan to test his martial skills. One day, when crossing lake Biwa on a ferry boat crowded with passengers, he was challenged by a ...
