INSIGHT.... INSPIRATION...
…….observations and thoughts for contemplation and inspiration
Morihei Ueshiba - O’sensei 14th December1883 - 26th April 1969
The beginning, for if it was not for O’Sensei’s insight, dreams and dedication…..
…….observations and thoughts for contemplation and inspiration
Morihei Ueshiba - O’sensei 14th December1883 - 26th April 1969
The beginning, for if it was not for O’Sensei’s insight, dreams and dedication…..
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T. Kazuo Chiba Shihan
No such thing… “There is no such thing as a failure or a loser in life, except when we become a failure or a loser in ourselves” T. Kazuo Chiba Shihan Eventually… "I try to stick to the traditional ways as much as possible. The martial warrior spirit is something I admire greatly and is something I try to preserve. The combative arts have a profound body history in them and I don't want to lose it. But it's more than that. We follow the artwhich is struggle. And through the struggle, we transcend into the path of Aikido. Eventually, it brings harmony between you and the external world." G. McMaster Choose… “It is not only what you choose to know… It is what you choose to ignore.” Experience… “In time; with practice, start not to intellectualize or think technique, But feel technique, experience technique.” Control… “How can you expect to control the attacker if you cannot control yourself? First Control Self.” Summit… “From the summit, look to the next” Darrel Haigh Sensei For yourself… “Do your Martial art for yourself (sounds selfish until you think about it):- In kyu grades this means learn for yourself never follow anyone else, think of the technique for yourself as this can mean many things to other people but they are not you and their ability is different to yours. It’s the kyu grade’s path to Dan grade- no one else’s. For Dan grades i think Do the Martial Art for yourself means this:- If you don’t understand your own way and your own beliefs then your students may lose the way or path, you must want to do your Martial art to teach your students , my club is somewhere i can help others achieve their goals, I want to learn more from my students and i want to teach them all i have learnt so i can say i do my martial art for me so that i can help others to help me teach my sensei's teachings.” Christian Tissier Sensei Spirit and Humility… “Strength of spirit… not arrogance, Humility… not weakness” Henry Ellis Sensei Nothing more… As a direct student of the legendary Budomaster Kenshiro Abbe Sensei from 1957, I have worked endlessly to protect our Aikido history and proud lineage. We must remember the words of Abbe Sensei "No matter your pretence! You are what you are and nothing more "The early Aikido was a martial art, the dojo was a martial arts dojo and not a social club, Remember the quote of Abbe Sensei before multiplying your grade or title "No matter your pretence! You are what you are and nothing more’ Virtues We are not samurai, but such virtues are for all, and may live on; not in words, but in what we do (Anon) The Way… “Practice and study Aikido and Budo and seek to live the Way. Making all welcome, no politics, no conceit nor belittling; Do not concern yourself with those who turn away, They are uncomfortable when faced with integrity and humility. In this day of so many wanting and taking the easy way, and attitudes of convenience; it is refreshing, continue, respect the traditional ways and values” Master Wei Chueh Let go… "No matter how much external circumstances change, if one can see through the outer manifestation and let go of vexations, delusions, and attachments, with the mind always in equanimity and suchness, having clarity and true understanding, then that is Chan (Zen)." (Consider as Mushin (No - mind) Courtesy of Sensei Phil Better to be... A student said to his master: "You teach me fighting, but you talk about peace. How do you reconcile the two?" The master replied: "It is better to be a warrior in a garden than to be a gardener in a war." - unknown G. McMaster Principles… “People may change Dynamics may change Principles remain the same” |
Intriguing
The actual lineage of Traditional Aikido from its original inception with O'Sensei to present day practice can be and is indeed short (consisting of 3 or 4 links depending on when and with whom one receives instruction)..., fascinating. Determination Seven times down Eight times up (Anon) Choice…… “It is lamentable, those that feign that they are on the path of Budo, they augment their self-delusion behind veiled desperation, in vain hope that the pedestals they build for themselves might not collapse beneath them. Arrogantly and self importantly seeking accolades and the approval of sycophants. Such ignoble spirits do not even try to walk the illuminated path; by their own choice they travel merely a tainted imitation of what might have been” Steven Seagal Sensei Beyond force… "With Aikido, you have to unlearn first. That is why it is so hard. You are learning something that is very, very sophisticated. It is something that Warriors, after hundreds and hundreds of years of dedicated endeavors, of life and death situations, have finally figured out that there is a point of least resistance, and that there is something that works beyond strength...physical strength. It is 'Ki', its attitude and its adept movements that seem to go beyond force and that a lot of times using strength is completely secondary to learning a way. It is moving without resistance, a non-resistant movement, a relaxed movement. So you have to unlearn in order to learn. It does take longer." G. McMaster Perfect… “Nobody is perfect” Obligation… “If you owe someone an obligation- no matter how long a time, It is not for them to remind you; It is for you not to forget. Philip Smith, ZKA student No bad nights… “You don’t really have bad nights, you just have some nights that enlighten others” Alan Pirie Sensei 1927 – 1995 Something good… “If you can not find something good to say about someone, don’t say anything” A memory courtesy of Glyn Evans Sensei Joe Curran Sensei Sincere… “Just keep studying and do your best-there's no magic formula. Just enjoy the Art and be sincere in your study” Grade What does your grade indicate…? “Whatever obi/belt you wear (whether white, colour or black) does not necessarily denote quality… Quality is proven by the standard of your ability, your attitude and integrity” G. McMaster One day… “Maybe one day; but for now…, focus on now” Adaptation from the film; The Last Samurai… Intriguing… “They are an intriguing people. From the moment they wake they devote themselves to the perfection of whatever they pursue. I have never seen such discipline. Understand that the word Samurai means, ‘to serve’.” Unneeded... “Ordinary people do not have ordinary minds, for ordinary people have too many confusions, worries, and afflictions in their minds. Even when conducting daily activities, the minds of ordinary people are not in equanimity and suchness because of self-centered judgments and unneeded discriminations. A disturbed, confused mind is not the tranquil, pure mind of Chan (Zen).” Vince Thompson Sensei One throw… “One throw equals a thousand words” Pat Neary Sensei “I don’t know” An open mind… “Keep an open mind, because just as something old is not necessarily best, so something new is not necessarily better” Keith Hayward Sensei Centre… Do not separate, keep to centre and remember Timing, contact, movement, position, technique |
Yoshimitsu Yamada Shihan
No matter… “We must keep the spirit of Aikido and Budo no matter how we practice” Shoshin…. After an evening of practice A Student of approx. 3 weeks practice said.. “I am trying to understand Ikkyo” A Student of approx. 16 months practice heard the comment and said.. “I am trying to understand Ikkyo” A Student & Sensei of several years practice heard the comments said “I am trying to understand Ikkyo” Warrior of peace… "Budo means to stop war. Stop arms, stop war. So Budoka is a heihoka, a warrior is really a warrior of peace, or a man of peace. You have to be powerful enough to stop war, because if you're weak you can't stop war. And Budo has that yin and yang, it has that Tate to yoko no ito, izu no mitama to mizu no mitama. They are all Shinto terms. Yoko no ito means moon, feminine, water, love, the power of forgiveness, the power of love. Tate no ito means sun, we talk about masculine, we talk about fire, we talk about the power of decision. That is the time when you don't forgive, that is the power to cut." Shoshin… You will have many questions, the more you learn, the more questions will arise. Darrel Haigh Sensei Wisdom… "Remember the wisdom of being patient, your eyes and ears stay open, the mouth, unless asked for, is not needed but only to breathe". Outside… One day as Manjusri stood outside the gate, the Buddha called to him, "Manjusri, Manjusri, why do you not enter?" Manjusri replied, "I do not see myself as outside. Why enter?" Philip Smith, ZKA student Mind… “An open mind can accept and redirect. A closed mind will face conflict and struggle.” Gwynne Jones Sensei Unless… “An error does not become a mistake unless you refuse to correct it” Integrity… “Some qualities in one’s life, such as Integrity, do not come cheap, yet cannot be bought; however, out of ego, some sell it for nothing” Martin Lonsdale, Sensei/ZKA student Achieving, nothing… “If you achieve your goal (for instance, black belt ‘status’), and think there is nothing left to achieve. Then you have achieved nothing at all.” Less… “People say- ‘The more you put in, the more you get out’. With Aikido, with practice (and insight) the less you put in, the more you get out.” Arthur Lockyear Sensei Principles… “I first met my teacher, Chiba Sensei, in September of 1969 when as a young Karate student I visited the old Sunderland Martial Arts Academy where he was teaching a course. Two things particularly struck me about his Aikido; his martial dynamism and his level of control. His dynamism was embodied by movements that were expansive, awesome and yet graceful, but at the same time economical. He employed a use of atemi that complimented the flow of energy between uke and tori, and brought to the proceedings a powerful martial edge that was breathtaking. His control of each partner was absolute, projecting them in such a fashion that they were able to safely respond with ukemi. As I sat and watched Chiba Sensei lead this class, I was deeply impressed by his powerful presence, he was like a panther stalking the dojo, relaxed, but seemingly aware of every nuance of the Aikido being practiced, all that was happening around him. His ZanShin (awareness, martial perceptivity and responsiveness) was almost a tangible thing. This was a pivotal moment in my life, and I have been deeply impressed and influenced by this great martial artist ever since. His development of Aikido body arts, founded on and structured by the principles of sword and stick, do I believe, create new and radical perspectives on traditional arts without betraying their martial lineage and values.
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Inspirational people...
( in no particular order and there are others... )
( in no particular order and there are others... )
- James Cleveland "Jesse" Owens September 12, 1913 – March 31, 1980 was an American track and field athleteand four-time Olympic gold medalist in the 1936 Games.
- Rosa Louise McCauley Parks (February 4, 1913 – October 24, 2005) was an activist in the Civil Rights Movement, whom the United States Congress called "the first lady of civil rights" and "the mother of the freedom movement".
- Emmeline Pankhurst (née Goulden; 15 July 1858 – 14 June 1928) was a British political activist and leader of the British suffragette movement who helped women win the right to vote.
- William Shakespeare (1564 – 1616) English poet and playwright
- Martin Luther King (1929 – 1968) Civil Rights leader
- Abraham Lincoln (1809 – 1865) American President during civil war, helped end slavery
- Edith Louisa Cavell (4 December 1865 – 12 October 1915) was a British nurse. She is celebrated for saving the lives of soldiers from both sides without discrimination and in helping some 200 Allied soldiers escape from German-occupied Belgium during the First World War, for which she was arrested. She was accused of treason, found guilty by a court-martial and sentenced to death. Despite international pressure for mercy, she was shot by a German firing squad. Her execution received worldwide condemnation and extensive press coverage. She is well known for her statement that "patriotism is not enough, I must have no hate in my heart".
- Nelson Mandela (1918 – 2013) Anti-apartheid leader, first President of democratic South Africa in 1994
- Socrates (469 BCE – 399 BCE) Greek philosopher
- Mahatma Gandhi (1869 – 1948) Indian nationalist and politician
- Albert Einstein (1879 –– 1955) German physicist
- Mohammed Ali (1942 – 2016) American boxer and human rights activist
- Carl Maxie Brashear (January 19, 1931 – July 25, 2006) was a United States Navy sailor. He was the first African American to become a U.S. Navy Master Diver, rising to the position in 1970 despite also having an amputated left leg.
- Todd Beamer and the other passengers on United Airlines Flight 93 realized their plane had been seized by terrorists, they worked quickly and courageously to reclaim control. Flight 93 crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
- A man standing directly in front of a tank near Tiananmen Square in China, but he was never identified. The photo was taken on June 6, 1989, the day after China's bloody crackdown on student protesters. Despite his anonymity, Tank Man has become an internationally recognized symbol of resistance to government oppression.
- Malala Yousafzai passion and perseverance in standing up for education and girls’ rights in Pakistan and around the world is extremely moving.
- Mary Wollstonecraft ( 27 April 1759 – 10 September 1797) was an English writer, philosopher, and advocate of women's rights.
- Marie Skłodowska Curie ( 7 November 1867 – 4 July 1934; born Maria Salomea Skłodowska) was a Polish and naturalized-French physicist and chemist who conducted pioneering research on radioactivity. She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize.
- Jim Thorpe (1888 – 1953) (US, athletics, American Football, baseball and basketball) One of the greatest all-round sportsman, Thorpe won Olympic gold in the decathlon and pentathlon (1912). Also had successful career in the NFL.
- Leonardo da Vinci (1452 –– 1519) Italian scientist, artist, polymath.
- William Wilberforce (1759–1833) Fought tirelessly for ending the slave trade, at a time when many accepted it as an ‘economic necessity’. He awakened the conscience of many of his fellow countrymen and helped to make slavery appear unacceptable.
- Anne Frank (1929–1945) Anne Frank was nobody special, just an ordinary teenage girl. But she became a symbol of how ordinary people can get caught up in Man’s inhumanity. Despite the most testing of conditions, Anne retained an optimistic spirit and faith.
- And in respect, to each and every unspoken hero, be they man,woman or child, that suffers and yet fights on, often against seemingly overwhelming and unfair odds, for that which is morally justified in a world that can seem at times far, far too unfair.