“Never worry about what others are doing.” (end quote) – Zenpo Shimabukuro 10th dan Shorin-ryu Seibukan . . Some people that always seem to be preoccupied with what those around them are doing, and what those around them are saying, or posting on social media, can’t seem to get ahead with their own lives. They…
Tag: Mind
Live in the moment.
Live in the moment. It sounds simple enough, but we as human beings have an incredibly difficult time staying in the moment. . Why is that? . I believe we spend so much time replaying past memories, or planning too much for the future, that we miss out on the great moments that are unveiling…
“Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them.”
We all make mistakes, and we do so with regularity. Some errors are small, some not so. No one enjoys being wrong. It’s an unpleasant emotional experience for all of us. The question is how do we respond when it turns out we WERE wrong? . Some of us admit we were wrong and say…
“…a mind without fear..”
“The aim for personal development. Mental strength; that is a mind without fear is needed for that strength to be pursued.” – Hiroshi Akamine . Photo of Shorin Ryu Karate and Ryukyu Kobudo Master Hiroshi Akamine 9th dan with turtle shell ‘timbe’ (shield) and ‘rochin’ (short spear). . . Life just doesn’t hand you…
“How good you are, you cannot decide for yourself.”
“How good you are, you cannot decide for yourself – karate makes it that way. What you put out is what you get.” – Seikichi Iha 10th dan Shorin Ryu . . Sometimes in life, we find ourselves at a dead end, or a crossroads, or on a path that seems to go nowhere. ….
“..the important thing is to be on guard at all times.”
“The secret principle of martial arts is not vanquishing the attacker, but resolving to avoid an encounter before its occurrence. To become an object of an attack is an indication that there was an opening in one’s guard, and the important thing is to be on guard at all times.” – Gichin Funakoshi ?? . ….
The Way of the Warrior.
The 7-5-3 code is very much influenced by the Bushido codes of honor that dictated the Samurai, or Japanese warriors, way of life. Bushido is a code of conduct that emerged in Japan from the Samurai who spread their ideals throughout society. They drew inspiration from Confucianism, which is a relatively conservative philosophy and system…
Always do your best.
“ ‘Ishiki’ (意識) is very important. ‘Awareness – Take more attention and focus’. Without ‘Ishiki’: you wouldn’t realize what is happening here and there. By doing it you see and realize things happening. During everyday training with more attention and focus you will see and realize how your stance, form and technique are. Do not…
Great emphasis was placed on balancing physical and mental learning.
“During Matsumura’s generation, unlike today, great emphasis was placed on balancing physical and mental learning.” . Nagamine Shoshin (1907-1997), the founder of Matsubayashi-Ryu, published a book called “Tales of Okinawa’s Great Masters”. The quote above comes from that book, and highlights the importance of “Bun Bu Ryu Do” (roughly “Cultural and Martial Studies Together”) in…
Keep your word, integrity matters.
“In my dream I was sharpening my katana.” ~ Adam Carter 7th dan Ryukyu Karate Jutsu ~ Shuri Dojo . What does it mean? Preparing for battle, or conflict? . Dreams about sharpening a sword could be a sign for your never-ending quest in acquiring knowledge and a deeper understanding. To dream of yourself holding…
Educating hearts and minds.
“The strength of the dojo lies not within the four walls, rather it lies within the hearts of the students.” ~ Prince Loeffler Shugyokan Dojo . . Many teachers—especially new teachers—think that the way to create good relationships with their students is to make their dojo fun. Although having fun in the dojo is important,…
“The trouble is, you think you have time.”
“The trouble is, you think you have time.” This quote often related to Buddha was actually written by Jack Kornfield, in Buddha’s Little Instruction Book. The quote means that, we put off important things, assuming that we can do them later. But there may not be any “later.” Life is short; so make good use…