My karate career is only 37 years old, but I wondered how many times I have repeated the Heian Nidan that I first learned. I practice every day, sometimes 10 to 20 times, but if you count once a day, that comes to more than 10,000 times. “Why am I not bored now, just like I was 37 years ago?” I have practiced on the floor of the dojo, on dirt, sand, grass, pebbles, rocks, slopes, wet roads, and in rivers and oceans. I have practiced holding sticks, swords, driftwood, rocks, dumbbells, barbells, and balloons. Looking back on my life, I have been conscious of not doing repetitive exercises, hoping to make new discoveries every time, and to prevent getting bored or accustomed to them. As I continued to ask myself further, I realized that more than the effects and results of the training, I feel joy and value in the various reactions that my students show, and that this is one of the reasons I continue.
In just 15 days! The Wado-Ryu Karate Renmei’s 90th Anniversary, 9th International Tournament, and 60th National Tournament will be held at Tokyo Budokan.
After Saturday morning practice at the dojo, I visited the shrine. The 15th summer camp I will hold for three days and two nights starting next Friday. I promised God that I will do my best to ensure that the 24 students who will be participating have a fruitful time.
誰も傷つけたくないから、喧嘩したくないから、戦争を起こしたくないから、自分達にとって大切なものを守りたいから。私たちは武道から学び、心を正しています。 「戦う相手は Myself 乾いた心が泣いてる Hey 夢の途中必ずみつかるそれはひとつ 君に会った yesterday 銃を捨てた brand new day すべては Yes, it’s love Yes, it’s love」
Because we don’t want to hurt anyone, because we don’t want to fight, because we don’t want to start a war, because we want to protect what is important to us. We learn from Budo and correct our minds. “The opponent I’m fighting is myself. My dry heart is crying. in the middle of a dream I’m sure to find one thing. I met you yesterday I threw away my gun It’s a brand new day. Everything is Yes, it’s love Yes, it’s love”
I thought and felt about “two sides of the same coin” and “attack and defense as one” on Friday night’s practice. Master and disciple, teacher and parents, parent and child, husband and wife, old and young, man and woman, offense and protection, blade and sheath. Things that at first glance appear to be conflicting or separate are actually closely related. The outside and the inside are one. working together as one with those who are active in the public eye and those behind the scenes. I think that Improving educational outcomes is possible when teacher guidance and family cooperation are two sides of the same coin.
On Fridays I am exhausted from training every day, but there are four classes for children, elementary school students, junior high school students, high school students, university students, and adults, so I head to the dojo, looking forward to seeing everyone’s reactions.
Today is the start of August. It’s been so hot for about a month now but I’m not going to give in to the heat, and in the remaining 23 days, I’m going to face myself more than ever and improve my mind, technique, and body!
I worked hard with my trusted teammates in the Sunday class, and each of us was able to clearly define the tasks we needed to accomplish in the remaining 26 days.
The birth flower for July 26th is the bougainvillea. The bougainvillea has the flower language of “passion,” “I can only see you,” and “overflowing charm.” Today, I will practice with passion.
There is one month left until the Wado-ryu Karate Renmei 90th Anniversary, the 9th International Tournament, and the 60th National Tournament. For over a month now, I have not done any strength training using barbells or medicine balls, and have instead been practicing using swords, Bo, Eku and Tonfa, focusing on abdominal pressure, center of gravity and axis. I am able to live without injury or fatigue, and my weight and body fat are at their best. This morning I suddenly wondered, “I wonder if my muscle strength and stamina have declined?” and decided to try it for the first time in a while. I once again realized that exercising feels good. Today I will be practicing hard in three classes from now until 9pm.
Last night I had a strong desire to teach my students the techniques I learned from my Master Setamatsu Sensei, and their joy and excitement made me happy, of course. While browsing through various posts on Facebook, I discovered that the Bon Festival was being held in Salt Lake City today, Utah, the US where I had been living for three and a half years from 2000. The Bon Odori festival that is held every year in my hometown is about to begin!. Today I am thinking of my ancestors, those who sacrificed their lives for their country, my Master Setamatsu Sensei, Grandmaster Otsuka Sensei, my father, and I dedicate this video to you, my dear friend who shares such wonderful memories with me.
