Not Yet Nirvana

“Sensei” is a Japanese word we in the West, interpret as, “teacher.” We usually think of it in terms of martial arts training but in fact, it is applied to many other things such as flower arrangement or learning the board game Goh. The more accurate definition of “sensei” is: “the one who came before.” As a martial arts instructor, I always liked the more accurate definition; it indicated I had personally experienced the trials and tribulations of my own hard won journey to get to the level where I could share with students, that which was taught to me. I think this is the sentiment, the essence of the word’s meaning. Take away any martial arts connotations, use the Japanese terminology of sensei, the one who came before, and apply it to those from whom we seek advice. Once you do that, you will have a different point of view of those who freely provide insight into how you should live your life or how you should react to situations. Now, I am in no way suggesting that...

2019! Already? Yes, the New Year is now two days old as I am writing.  This is the year I turn sixty-five. I will retire in August and the plan is to sell the house and move to Florida. So, facing lots of major life changes.  The fact is I am moving even further away from my kids, my family, and friends in Canada. This saddens me a great deal. ( Of course, since our destination is to be Florida, they have all assured me they will be visiting us. I hope so. ) There is now more sand in the bottom of the hour glass than at the top and reflecting on my life causes me some consternation.  It is so because I am coming face to face with my own mediocrity.  I had hoped my passions of music, martial arts and writing would have brought more acclaim, more financial reward despite the fact I engaged in them from love and without the thought of financial recompense. My life’s mistakes haunt me, as do the consequences born from poor decisions.  Oh, I know,...

I love films. I have always loved films. In high school during the very early seventies, I was able to take a film arts course along with English courses, media and communications. I loved it. Film is art. The famous MGM logo with the lion’s roar that prefaces so many famous movies incorporates the Latin, “ARS GRATIA ARTIS” which means “art for art’s sake,” and was designed in 1916 by Howard Dietz. The saying is credited to the 19th century French philosopher, Victor Cousin and was written as “l’art pour l’art.” One of the basic lessons I learned in film arts was the concept of aesthetic distance.  This concept originally applied to literature refers to the gap between the readers, or as in the case of film, the viewer’s conscious reality and the fictional reality constructed by an author of a book or the director of the film.  Of course, in film there are so many more variables to be considered, actor’s craft, lighting, cinematography, music et ce...

It has been a long time since I last wrote in this blog. I have been busy with music projects and writing novels. In fact, I am writing my ninth novel right now and am just taking a break. I wanted to get back into keeping up with my blog but didn't want  it to become a format for political rants. Let's be frank, the political landscape is abysmal and folks have never been so divided and so entrenched in their views. I am no exception! Rather than regurgitate the dogma and doctrine of one party over the other, I am guided by the tenets I have long adhered to: democracy, equality under the law, opportunity, justice and a strong social safety net. I welcome diversity in all forms. I believe we should all be accountable and responsible for our actions. Worker's rights, women's rights, these are important to me as basic human rights. Income inequality is a huge issue. Of course, captains of industry deserve the right to have the largest piece of the pie. T...

This brings us to the end of the ten week series of articles attempting to apply martial art principles and mental attitudes to non-martial situations in everyday life. And it's appropriate that the series ends with the beginner's mind set. Soshin , refers to what is called, “the beginner’s mind”. This is the act of maintaining an open, inquisitive and eager mind when learning martial arts even at an advanced level. The concept is to approach each subject as a beginner with no pre-conceptions.  Personally, I have found this to be the hardest task to attempt. Ego always gets in the way. In training in three different disciplines, Shotokan karatedo, the hard techniques of Soke Morris’s JJI syllabus, and the efficient techniques of Hakkoryu, which shares the same root art, Daito-ryu, with Aikido and Hapkido, I had some difficulties emptying my mind.  I would want to throw uke in karate class, kick uke in aikijujutsu class and finesse uke in JJI class; I was very mixed u...

Zanshin, is considered to be the stillness after the technique has been executed.  It is in martial arts circles, considered as controlling the attacker after the attack. A cinematic example and favourite of mine is a sequence in the movie; The Last Samurai.  Tom Cruise has sided with a samurai clan and a political battle ensues eventually resulting in the hiring of assassins by the Meiji inspired politician. Their target is Cruise who leaves his hotel room and walks into the night unarmed. He is immediately surrounded by katana wielding attackers. A fight sequence (one of the better scenes I have yet seen filmed in which traditional martial arts are used) ensues ending with Cruise the lone survivor and in the state of Zanshin.  The scene continues and you watch as the fight is replayed in slow motion and black and white. Suddenly a “dead” guy moves and Cruise finishes him because he was able to react due to the state of stillness and mental clarity he mainta...

Mushin , for the martial artist, refers to the reaction time or process used to react to any situation. The word is translated as “ no-mindedness ." The instantaneous reaction to a deadly situation by a professional soldier would qualify as mushin .  This is the result of cultivating a mental preparedness by “ triggering ” the so-called “ reptilian brain ”. Considered the most primordial region of the brain, the reptilian brain or R-Complex is part of the triune model of the brain as proposed by Paul D. MacLean.  The other two parts that make up the triune model of the brain are the Limbic System that controls emotions including remorse, compassion and empathy along with fear, love, hate and aggression.  The Limbic System developed around the existing R-Complex. The Neo-cortex developed around the Limbic System and is responsible for what we call the higher brain functions including the ability for future context and planning.  The R- Complex cont...

Seishin , the second mental attitude refers to transferring energy or our focus into the technique to make it more effective.  The word Seishin , I am told, can have several meanings. It can mean “ honesty ” as in giving a task an honest effort, the proverbial “ old college try .” Another interpretation of the word can mean “ heart ” and/or “ mind ” referring to applying oneself to a task with passion, putting your “ all ” into it.  Non-martial artists can think of Seishin as directing their mental focus. For example, you have a huge presentation to prepare and present to important clients. You need to focus and calm your mind in order to prepare for the work that lies ahead.  Seishin would be the marshalling of that focus and bringing it to bear on a specific item in your presentation. It is the directing of the intense focus you have already invoked.  This is Seishin as applied to a non-martial situation, the essence of directing your concentrat...

The Five Principles of Seishindo deal with the physical techniques of sex protection. I thought the Five Concepts, strategies that are used in all martial arts, and clearly defined in Seishindo, could also be applied in a non-martial sense and thereby be helpful in everyday, non-martial circumstances. These next five posts are based on the Five Mental Attitudes, also employed in martial arts and defined in Seishindo. I think these "mental attitudes" can also be helpful in non-martial circumstances during everyday life. The first is KIME. Kime , the first mental attitude is the focusing of your energy into the thing, the action, the specific technique being employed. ( Nothing esoteric here just simple mental and physical acuity increased by training and consciously brought to bear on the activity at hand. ) This concept of focus and concentration is antithetical to the multi-tasking, plugged-in, fragmented, sensory bombarded and frenetic paced lifestyles to which most ...

Mr. Thomas Makiyama of Keijutsukai Aikido has a particular interpretation of the concept of Kokyu-ho as: “ the way of compatibility .” This is an explanation that resonates with me.  During my Hakkoryu Jujutsu training the same concept was referred to as “ yielding ,"  the avoidance of pitting force against force.  “ Surrender to win ” is a phrase used in recovery programs to define a strategy of surrendering to a Higher Power rather than futilely banging one’s head on the wall of addiction. (I am stretching to the point of breaking in order to make a point, but I like the phrase).  I am not suggesting a religious meaning or implying anything outside of the human purview, but I think the phrase applies well to the concept of kokyu-ho.  Life presents many tough challenges. Despite our fervent wishes and hopes we can never “force” something to happen in life.  Acceptance, the ability to see reality as being accurate and real, is a sound strategy....

From a martial perspective, movement, tai sabaki , is crucial. As a boxer, you cannot simply be a good puncher and stand in the middle of the ring waiting your turn to throw a mean left hook. There is footwork to consider, yours and your opponents. The same can be said of every martial art, wrestling, karate, judo, aikido and so on.  Movement is life. Life all too often throws challenges and obstacles our way. Many of us have experienced, unemployment, divorce, injuries, financial problems, even the loss of loved ones, maybe even the destruction of our homes and the lives we once knew.  I am equally confident many of us have experienced joy.  It could be meeting the love of our life, the birth of a child, accomplishing something we had worked so hard for, an unexpected windfall of money, a promotion, accolades from our peers, or simply the mindset necessary to enjoy a magnificent rainbow, a sunset or sunrise, or a funny joke with a cherished friend.  L...

Martially speaking, kuzushi , the stealing of your opponent’s balance, is a very good strategy. It also serves to illustrate how important our own balance is in terms of our martial efficacy whether throwing a punch or kick or taking the opponent to the ground and neutralizing the threat.  Life sometimes unbalances us. We juggle many issues that can at any time threaten our serenity. This causes stress and undue stress can steal our balance.  Certainly there is nothing I know of in life, assuming one is participating fully, authentically and with volitional consciousness, which is absolutely stress free. Some stress is good; it can push us to greater heights and it can help us overcome hardships. That being said, too much stress whether in intensity or duration can cause health problems.  Stress can be linked to back pain, intestinal problems, headaches and insomnia all of which can adversely affect your immune system and make you susceptible to illness....

It is acceptable in martial arts to adopt any particular kamae, or “posture,” as an expression of one’s self in an artistic or stylistic manner provided it is a sound stratagem in and of itself or that the individual is so adept at the posture it makes her effective in a self-defence scenario.  In many cases, a particular kamae or posture signals the style of martial art the person has studied. The straight up posture, fists clenched, arms out and slightly bent, legs in a wide stance could indicate a karate practitioner. Arms up, away from the body, palms toward the opponent, might mean a Muay Thai fighter. The various forms of Kung Fu, indicating the Tiger, the Dragon or the Praying Mantis are distinguished by their exotic postures, and so on. How we present ourselves in daily life and in a non-martial context gives people hints about ourselves. Whatever way we present ourselves can be considered our kamae, our posture.  This begs the questions, just how does the w...

I have stated martial arts have more to offer than just self-protection techniques. But to what degree can the Five Concepts and the Five Mental Attitudes affect anyone’s life in a non-martial way? Can these concepts and attitudes be of use in the day-to- day life of a non-martial artist? Let us explore that possibility with the first of the Five Concepts.  Maai , is the distance between defender and an attacker. The distance that is involved changes based upon the strategy the defender employs. This is a fluid situation.  A safe distance is usually considered approximately six feet. This is considered the industry standard as far as self-defence training is concerned.  For a person to strike at you from that distance they would need to move toward you and that should give you warning regarding their intent allowing you to escape to a safe place.  If you respond to your attacker from that distance, your strikes will not have any power. And the same...

About seven years ago, I was teaching a class of black belts when I severely damaged my knee. All three ligaments were torn and I had to have the knee rebuilt. During my recuperation, I thought  I should write a follow-up book to my first book on the martial art syllabus I had developed over three decades called Seishindo . Roughly translated, " Seishindo " means " spiritual energy way ." The first book, which is no longer available, was called " Seishindo: A Modern Method of Self Defence. " It catalogued the techniques I was teaching and provided a philosophical basis for each ranking. It also provided a Use of Force Continuum spelling out the behaviour of an assailant and what under most laws would be considered the appropriate use of force to be used in defence of self. It was a unique aspect of my teachings. But I wondered, as I lay on the bed, my rebuilt knee wrapped tightly, ice water pumping through to reduce the swelling  from the s...

The pampered middle class suburbanite that I am, complaining of back pain as those of us who are of a certain age often do I dragged myself to work. I work the afternoon shift. I managed to stop at a convenience store to pick up a sandwich and coffee. I bought a lottery ticket. My wife and I are not poor we are middle class, barely. But with two years, four months until I retire at sixty-five, a lottery win would erase all anxiety about our retirement years. Are we not driven to wish a better life for our loved ones? Our spouses, our children, grandchildren, our parents, if they are still alive, these are the people we would first like to help with a windfall. That was my altruistic view when I paid for my food, drink and chance at being a hero. Laden down with my wares and my car keys, I exited the store. A dishevelled man of indeterminate age, dirty looking, with bad teeth, uncombed hair and beard asked me for change. Honestly, I had no change. I paid for my stuff with a c...

I love movies. I always have, so naturally, I took a course in film arts and though I’ve forgotten the intricacies, (the year was 1973); I still appreciate the art form. For instance, the mood or tone of a movie begins with the opening music and credits. That whole thing has been crafted to set what the director thinks the tone of the movie should convey. The goal of a film is to convince you, as the viewer, to willingly suspend your disbelief. The colour, texture, the music, camera angles and even the pace of the edit and scene changes, all conspire with the actors, the dialogue and the costumes, to make you lose your ascetic distance and become part of the experience. You, as the viewer, are persuaded to be part of the film and not apart from it. Movie viewing is intended as an inclusive experience. The part of the bargain, the quid pro quo , when you pay for a ticket or a rental fee, is that you will put aside your cynicism and critique and allow the film the opportunity to c...