Most Japanese to English dictionaries list Yakusoku as – Noun. やくそく 約束: a promise, an arrangement. A simple word that has extensive and profound meaning in methodologies of Budo and Bujutsu. A physical, practical term as well as a social contract. In karate, yakusoku kumite are prearranged exchange drills between the defender Tori (the taker or...
True Humility Is Not Thinking Less of Yourself. It’s Thinking of Yourself Less. C.S. Lewis Although humility and ego might initially appear contradictory, like good and evil, they are in fact dualistic elements to be balanced through martial arts growth. If self-effacement aligns with respect, restraint, kindness, patience, diligence, honesty, decency, charity, and temperance,...
Seated quietly, you pause and think about the time you should have done something but didn’t or remember a situation where the outcome fell short of expectation. At the other end of the spectrum, you stop and contemplate the steps that led to success. Assessing your shortcomings or appreciating your achievements are acts of...
Beyond aesthetic or sentimental value, makimono (brushed scrolls) feature timeless guidance for personal and martial growth. Other martial advice, transmitted in the form of letters and doju-kun, appeared at the turn of 20th century. In his book Karatedo Taikan (published in Showa 13, 1938), Nakasone Genwa includes Itosu Ankoh’s 1908 precepts, (originally written in...
January 1, 2020 marked the beginning of a brand-new decade that many looked at with optimism and as a chance of improving our all around condition. But very quickly the year took a contradictory turn. Although we maintained effort and positive attitude, there were challenges at every turn. We felt things were simply out...
Living through arduous times, makes us wonder. What we should do and what we can live with (or without). It seems that our emotional balance is simply ‘off kilter’. There’s a well-known story about a sitar player who was discouraged with his meditation practice, music and felt deeply stressed in his everyday life. He...
Covid-19 has resulted in seismic cultural shifts. An endless stream of foreboding news reports and alarming statistics have left children and adults frightened, confused and isolated, as they grapple with changes in sleeping and eating patterns, bouts of depression, screen burn-out and stress. Survive and thriving in a post-pandemic world requires a battle plan...
When the Father of Canadian Karate, Tsurouka Masami sensei, returned from Japan in late 1957 and began teaching, he used a different rank model than the one employed today. Students advanced from white, to green, brown, and eventually, black belt. When I started practicing Chito-ryu, the system expanded to six kyu: white, yellow, orange,...
Full disclosure: A few weeks ago, as we moved into another new year, I’d planned to expand on the concept of Kaizen and began writing a very different blog. However, as I penned the first draft, my thoughts shifted from Personal Development to Other Development, and the relationship between Budo and Benevolence. The term budo...
Out with the old and in with the new! In Japan, where the new year is a time to purge and purify, rituals abound: from burning last year’s o-fuda (御札) amulets that bring luck or good health, to joya-no-kane (除夜の鐘) ringing a temple bell 108 times. Other customs to ensure a happy, healthy and...