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Thoughts from Sensei Dan

Respect

In an effort to help make the news section of the web page a little more interesting, I am writing my humble thoughts on the various arts taught at our dojo. I spend as much time as I can reading about other dojos and various other ways of training. I have noticed that many seem to have left out some of the more basic aspects of martial arts as a whole.

One of the most noticeable things is the attitude of many martial artists. The giving of respect to others is often nowhere to be seen. Making rude comments about a person's ability or style is very unseemly to me. If we allow ourselves to feel or act as if we are the only correct way or that we are the "best", we lose sight of what being a student of the martial arts is about. When we let the "belt level" be our goal or what determines whom we respect then once again we have lost something.

It is my opinion that we are all students. One will find that even the greatest of all Masters considered themselves merely students. In Kendo we refer to Shoshin or "Beginners Mind." One is often reminded to keep your beginners mind. This refers to the idea that, like a beginner, one should always be open and ready to learn, be ready to find faults in their own technique, and most importantly to practice with all their energy in everything they do.

I find that I am always learning something from someone else. Once I learn something then I desire to teach it to someone else. So I encourage everyone to always respect others and learn from them what you can. There are many, now and in the past that have achieved many great and wonderful things in the martial arts, and have been duly honored for these things. I believe also that there have been many who have achieved as much or more but have preferred to live a less noticeable life. I am reminded of something someone once said, "Some people strive for greatness, some have greatness thrust upon them." Just because you don't have a great title doesn't mean you cannot be a great person. As I walk down a street, I consider everyone I pass a great person deserving of respect. It is how we act that will determine what we achieve.

Fudoshin vs Mushin - Flowing and intuitive mind

Fudoshin is translated as: immovable heart or immovable mind and stems from the Japanese Buddhist deity: Fudo Myoo destroyer of delusion (attachment). Mushin is a Zen Buddhist expression meaning: mind of no mind. Fudoshin means to have a calm mind an indomitable spirit, flowing not focused on anything in particular, not attached to any physical aspects or mental thoughts, in the midst of calamity this is an ego-less state of mind, free of delusion, free of worrying about winning or losing, a mind not moved by distractions (attachment to any particular thought, emotion or physical aspect.) Mushin is also the same state of mind but it encompasses the physical aspect of not worrying about what technique to use, responding to any opening without conscious effort (no mind), a clear mind. Mushin is purely an intuitive response obtained by rigorous training to an opening in the opponents defense, attacking without hesitation, it is the minds eye that instantly and without thinking sees the correct moment and method of attack, this is the mind of no mind. Fudoshin and Mushin are not lofty, super human powers that only masters experience but experiences we all have had from time to time. Champions and masters are able to sustain fudoshin and mushin consistently.

- David Aguero, Kendo Thoughts and Insight
http://www.bestkendo.com/kendoblog/?tag=fudoshin

Beginner's Mind

"In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few." - Shunryu Suzuki-Roshi

Shoshin is a Japanese concept meaning Beginner's Mind. It refers to having an attitude of openness, eagerness, and lack of preconceptions when studying a subject, even when studying at an advanced level, just as a beginner in that subject would. The term is especially used in the study of Zen Buddhism and Japanese martial arts.

Two Wolves
Cherokee Wisdom

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.

He said, "My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all.

One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

Our annual trip to Pittsburgh has come and gone. There were lots of familiar faces, and great new ones as well. Each year keeps getting bigger and better!

Every year, we go to visit the hall of fame there, with plenty of excellent seminars including our own Kendo seminar, and ending in an awards banquet honoring our achievements throughout the year.

More info can be found at

http://www.eusaimaa.com/

or you can contact one of our instructors for more information.

...and see pictures of this past year's event below, and in our picture gallery!