Hero’s Journey. Musha shugyō 武者修行 or “training in warriorship” was inspired by Zen monks, who would engage in similar ascetic wanderings (which they called angya, “travelling on foot”) before attaining Satori, enlightenment. During musha shugyō the samurai would take on various roles within society. This included helping peasants, providing justice and upholding high moral...
READ MOREExploring the Traditions and Spiritual Beliefs of the Ryukyu Islands
The Ryukyu Islands, located between Japan and Taiwan, have a rich cultural history. Though ruled as an independent kingdom for centuries, they were influenced by various cultural practices. The kingdom’s royal court drew inspiration from Ming, Qing, and Japanese elite culture, but each island also maintained a distinct sense of identity. The Ryukyu Islands...
READ MORESword of violence or compassion. A story of two sword makers.
The Honjō Masamune (a famous sword and a national treasure) represented the Tokugawa shogunate itself. It was passed down from one shōgun to another. It is one of the best known of the swords created by Gorō Nyūdō Masamune and is believed to be among the finest Japanese swords ever made. Yet his student,...
READ MOREFour Simple Characters That Educate and Inspire, Yojijukugo 四字熟語
Yojijukugo refers to Japanese compound words consisting of four kanji characters. The four-kanji compounds have a particular (idiomatic) meaning that cannot be inferred from the meanings of the components that make them up. There exists a very large number, perhaps tens of thousands, of four-character compounds. A great majority of them are those whose...
READ MOREGiri (義理)
Giri (義理) is a Japanese word that is most encountered in the study of martial arts. Giri means roughly duty, or obligation, in English, but as is often the case I believe there are important nuances that are difficult to convey. If the senpai–kōhai relation is a snapshot of vertical hierarchy (senior-junior, teacher-student) ) that...
READ MOREKoryu or Gendai, which is best?
Gendai budō (Japanese: 現代武道, modern budō) or Shinbudō (新武道, new budō) are both terms referring to modern Japanese martial arts, which were established after the Meiji Restoration (1866–1869). Kobudō or koryū are the opposite of these terms referring to ancient martial arts established before the Meiji Restoration. While koryū are often considered to be traditional...
READ MOREWhy You Should Never Stop Learning
Okay, no one technically stops learning because life teaches you at every step of the way. However, most stop actively learning. This means they stop going out of their way to gain new knowledge. But I feel like that’s just a life wasted. In my opinion, learning new things is the single best way...
READ MOREThe Truth About Dim Mak or Kyushu-jutsu 急所術
Kyusho-jutsu is a contentious discipline, and many interpretations exist for its effectiveness. Through my practice and teaching I’ve come to understand what works best through personal successes or failures – but everyone’s experience may be unique, and different. So let’s briefly uncover the age-old martial art of Kyusho-jutsu, also known as Dim Mak –...
READ MOREGanbatte 頑張って, or Chibariyo チバリヨー!
For centuries, in Japan and the Ryukyu Kingdom (modern-day Okinawa), an inspiring encouragement to do your best has been echoed: “Ganbatte Kudasai” or “Chibariyo”. But what does it mean to strive for excellence? To rise above mediocrity – striving towards our utmost potential by pushing ourselves further than we ever thought possible; this is...
READ MOREOmotenashi おもてなし
Omotenashi おもてなし, meaning ~ hospitality; reception; treatment; service; entertainment, experience. Omotenashi in Japanese society. In Japan, there is an age-old culture of omotenashi – a tradition which originates from sado (tea ceremony). Its essence embodies the Japanese mindset of warmth and kindly care towards their visitors, while expecting nothing in return. This gracious hospitality has become...
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