No. 07
Thanks
my John.
This
story was translated by John Uchikura of my student
from Aikinews-magazine vol.140
Lessons passed down from my predecessors – teachings
(kun「訓」).
So you believe that
bushido is based on teachings?
Yes. All religions have a founder, but
there is no sole founder for bushido.
The wisdom found in bushido and the
customs of samurai society were established over many years through experiences
both joyful and tragic. At the heart of all this were teachings known as kun. This included
family mottos and constitutions passed down from generation to generation, and
instructions left by fathers to their heirs.
As I’m doing aikido, I always think that
my aikido is so different from Nishio Sensei’s. It’s
also different from O-sensei’s. But that doesn’t mean that suddenly, one day, I
had invented my own brand of aikido. I am where I am because of what O-sensei
taught me, Nishio Sensei, many other shihans, senpai, and
co-workers. In other words, I am who I am because of my predecessors. I also
learn from bad examples as well.
A father telling his children to live in
a certain way because “this is our family policy,” is passing on knowledge that
has been gained from his own experience which he believes will benefit his
family and future generations. This is the essence of family policy and family
tradition.
I think of family policy as one’s
grounding principles and strongest beliefs. When I read written versions of
these principles, I feel as if I can hear the dreams and expectations our ancestors
had for us.
In the beginning of the Edo period, the Yagyu family’s writings on military strategy, or Musashi’s “The Book of Five Rings” have a strong emphasis
on martial arts techniques, but in the middle of the 18th century, Muro Kyusou’s “Meikun kakun”, the Matsushiro-han’s “Higure suzuri”, and Uesugi Youzan’s “Denkoku no ji” display philosophy which exhorts the highest principles
of service to family and country. I believe that these works are at the heart
of the birth of Japanese democracy.
Works such as “The Book of Five Rings”
and “Hagakure” are very popular amongst people
practicing aikido in
Training and learning does not take place if there
isn’t a moment of resonance between the teacher and the disciple.
This is something you
try to teach to your students through aikido, isn’t it?
To be continued next