Yesterday, the day before New Year’s, I went with my student to have a new saya made for his sword. I was sitting there talking with my friend who has been making saya for the last 30 years now. He was looking at my student’s sword and recognized his work, both the old saya and the tsuka or handle.

Looking at the handle, he said, I don’t do this kind of work anymore.

Surprised, I said, What do you mean? I remember how long it took for him to catch the gentle center taper of the handle.

He replied,Nowadays, all the Iaido guys who do tameshigiri are complaining that the handle breaks too easily so I make it thicker and straighter now.

I had to laugh to myself and suddenly realized that there is NO compromise in the way sword must be taught. As I teach my students over and over and over again, most people put too much power in the arms and hands and the power is never projected to the monouchi or upper, cutting portion of the blade. My students are always frustrated to catch this point. When I heard my friends comment, I realized that these people are not cutting properly so all of the impact of the blade is focused in the hands, not the blade itself. This is what causes the handle to crack and break so easily. If you cut properly, the handle will never break. In addition, this tapered style of handle was popular in the late 16th century at a time of fierce battles and proved itself over and over again as the superior grip.

There is no way to compromise sword training. It is either right or wrong. It is black and white. I think this was a sign from my long gone teachers and it came right at the last day of the year at a time when I was most discouraged! It must be a sing I think! I will continued as I have before in my teaching, whether it is outdated or not, in or out, popular or hated, accepted or not accepted. It was good enough for me teachers, and still good enoug for me, I don’t know why it is not good enough for people today. I teach to pass on the teachings of my teachers and hopefully preserve this art for your generation, I do not teach to gather numbers of students, be popular, or personally profit from it or enhance my personal image. Whether students want to learn for me or not, is purely their choice, not mine, and I should not be crass or greedy enough to try to sway or attract them to me. As long I can focus on this, I will be fine. . . .

IAIDO – OVER  OVER OVER AGAIN: Last Evening’s Talk In Iaido Class: More and more, I feel that it is necessary to give you more time for individual training. From my observations, you need more time to practice and less instruction, actually, you have heard over and over all the instruction that you need – you just haven’t had time to swallow and digest what you have. It is like eating and keeping all the food in your mouth!

When you do have this opportunity for individual practice, take one basic and practice it over and over – who cares if you are doing the same thing for an hour – you need it. Each class, a little of this and a little of that will no longer do you any good. You are only doomed to repeat the same mistakes over and over again. Work with something such as your suburi or chiburi or noto, until you really begin to feel comfortable with it, until you become one with it. If you practice suburi over and over, you will begin to feel some kind of transformation through deeper understanding.

Becoming bored and distracted, only means that your mind is not focused and balanced. Like watching television, the bored mind needs all kinds of different stimuli to keep it occupied. This is like baby-sitting – trying to keep a little child distracted so he won’t get into trouble – this is not the learning process at all. Please do not make this mistake!

As you repeat the same exercise over and over, you will also develop a stronger sense of focus and concentration so essential to good Iaido. When you are finally beginning to gain a deeper understanding of what you SHOULD know, then we can go on to the next level. . . . .

Just do not baby-sit yourself, you must awaken to the fact that this is not a learning process. Learning is much more profound and deeper. . . . . something much different than what we are doing most of the time. Please keep up your training.

In Class Briefly: Last evening, I had this talk with my Iaido students: We must not limit our Iaido to mechanical movements, but be mentally, emotionally and spiritually active on our practice as well.

Not only in the technique itself, but in how you move, walk, talk, think, see, hear, in everything, you express your art. In counting off to do our beginning exercise, by the delayed and lackadaisical manner in which everyone sounded, it is easy to tell that no one has their heart in it. We are being so mechanical and so not there. Just by counting, one, two! we are not even paying attention, how can you expect to draw a sword? Just because your body is there standing on the mat, does not mean you are practicing. You must be here, in the moment, physically and mentally, 100% – it is only in this manner can we get a glimpse of what training really means.

Perhaps, in everything we do in our lives, we pass through in a dream-like state, half here and half somewhere else. Maybe we can get away with it and some are actually very good at it, but, in Iaido, it does work at all. From ancient times, we say, the sword is like a mirror. It reflects everything you do and your mental state as well. In Iaido, there is no place to hide, there is no one to fool, the sword reveals everything. From this perspective, one great sword master said, the sword is merciless.

Although we are so busy during this time of year, please keep up your training as much as possible! You are the only one who loses. Even though we are busy, we still brush our teeth and take a bath each day. We do this because it is a part of the quality of our lives. We take care of our bodies each day, it is reasonable we take care of our minds and spirits as well. This too is the meaning of training.

To practice one hour, one gains one hour of practice. Miss one hour of practice, means to lose 5 hours of practice. In training the body, we always gain, in training the mind, we always lose.

Mean Sensei Again: Some people came to watch Iaido the other day and at the end of class, one comment to me was, Iaido involves a lot of concentration, doesn’t it!

I replied, Well, of course, – – it is a martial art! Then everyone laughed.

I think my students were embarrassed at me and laughed because later someone said, Sensei is mean.

Actually, I was quite surprised at what this person said and really didn’t know how to reply to him. I was shocked that he didn’t understand that Iaido involved such a high degree of concentration and focus, so I simply expressed my feeling at the moment. I thought everyone knew that already!

I was not trying to be mean but I am so surprised at the things people say to me. I am sure that he will never return to my Dojo.

It reminds me of something I overheard, that happened many years ago in Little Tokyo. Before the renovation of Little Tokyo with the new Japanese American National Museum, there was a tiny restaurant called, Koharu on the site. I think they served the best Japanese food in the area and we patronized them for years. Not years, decades! Unfortunately, the renovation of the area and construction of the new museum totally eliminated them, instead of preserving them as a part of Little Tokyo. I will never understand this!

The owner, Mrs. Shibata, was an elderly lady but full of fire! One day, sitting at the counter having lunch, one lady customer complained, I think this fish has too many bones in it!

Shibata-san looked at her and without hesitation and in a split second replied, Well, bring me a fish without bones and I will cook it for you!

When this person, asked me this question about having concentration in Iaido, this is what crossed my mind. Iaido without concentration is like a fish without bones! I mused to myself.

Some people thought Shibata-san was a little mean, I suppose. Although she was the nicest person you ever met. Maybe I am mean afterall!

Furuya’s Law: Only a complete fool will answer you totally honestly.

Today, we had an interesting discussion in our Iaido Class. In practice, we work on our techniques and follow a step-by-step process of getting each movement correctly. However, as we progress, we must begin to think about the movement and the “empty spaces” between the movements as well. It is like viewing a Japanese ink painting. The empty spaces of the composition are equally important as the painted in areas. In Iaido technique, the empty spaces are equally important.

In each movement, there is a contrary or contradictory movement which is created simultaneously with each movement. This is the “yin” and “yang” of all movement or we can say the “kyo” and “jitsu” of the technique. In other words, the “reality” and the “falsehood” or “empty space” of the movement. As much as we fill in the actual movements in our normal training, we must also cover the “empty” movements as well. This is what we must begin to consider in our practice.

As we cut and raise the sword above our heads to make the second overhead cut, for example, there is an “interval” or “empty space” in the time in between the first and second cut. How do you “fill” it in? It is this space of “false” or “negative” movement where we are vulnerable and open to attack. It is this “suki” or opening which we must begin to “fill in” in our training.

In Aikido we think about the “out pouring” of our ki energy. Most of us think that this is the way to create power in our techniques against the opponent. There is another aspect of this as well in practice. The outpouring of ki is much like the strong outpouring from water from a spring. This outpouring also creates “no space” where another energy can enter. . . . . It is in this same respect, that we create a strong outpouring of energy that we also create a pose in which there is no opening as well.

In an old Japanese ink painting, we immediately look at the painted in parts and areas of ink. We should look more carefully at the treatment of the “empty” spaces as well – these spaces of “non-painting.” In Aikido and Iaido, we look at the movements but now we see the “non-movement” aspects of each of these techniques. This is not easy to understand – and harder yet to explain! Please continue to practice hard. . . . Good luck!

Furuya’s Law: All movement has its contrary or opposite movement. There is no true form without content. There is no true content without from.

It is often the case, where the teacher must make the art easier to understand. This is not an easy task. It helps greatly, if the student makes himself easy to be taught. Some students are just very difficult to teach. It is not that they have a hard time learning, they are just difficult to teach. It doesn’t make the job easier, please think about this.

When I was very young, I had a very hard time learning Aikido or anything. In concentrated and focused my attention to this and eventually was able to catch on. Whatever technique or strategy you use to learn Aikido, there is nothing more important than just wanting to learn it very, very much.

I can’t stand it when students treat Aikido like a buffet, bouncing here and there, trying a little of this and that. You know, as everyone knows, a buffet never make the best meal – you are only satisfied because you can have quantity but not necessarily quality. What kind of way is this to learn Aikido? I knew a chef who never put salt or pepper on the tables of his guests. He was so proud of his skill in cooking and prepared the best meals he could with the best ingredients he could find, he felt that they would never need it – and he was right! This is the real meal – and this is the real way to enjoy Aikido.

Miyamoto Musashi ate like a poor man and dressed in rags and really didn’t care about it. But his swords were always of the finest qualily – this is how a real warrior acts and thinks. He wrote this as a rule to himself and followed it all of his life.

Please don’t do this yourselves! But in your practice, there should be no compromise of quality. This is the point!

What people have the biggest misunderstanding of in this world, I think, is the misconception in regards to: “receiving is not taking,” and “giving is not losing.” I think if we can clear up these two simple issues in our lives and in this world, this existence will become a slightly better place to live in. I truly believe this and think about this every day of my life. Indeed, I think this is what Aikido is trying to tell us.

Today, is sword class in our Dojo so I hope everyone will really try hard to catch the fundamentals. I think students may misunderstand that sword is simply swinging a wooden stick around but it is much, much more than that. If you have the opportunity to closely examine a real samurai sword, you will find that it is truly a magnificently constructed, highly precision work of art of great skill and tradition. I think you will immediately appreciate that this is not a crude or simple weapon to master. Swordsmanship is far different from what you see in the movies. So many students misunderstand that what you see in the samurai chambara movies and actual swordsmanship exist to two completely different worlds. Please do not be mislead by what you see in the movies or you will be greatly disappointed in real training. Finally, swordsmanship is becoming a “performance” art nowadays and this is completely wrong and not true swordsmanship at all. “Posing” and twirling swords like batons is not swordsmanship either. This is only “dance” with swords and this again is something competely different.

In over forty years in the martial arts, I have only encountered a few who I thought really taught true swordsmanship. I can count the numbers on one hand. These teachers did not have many students either so I understand that swordsmanship will never be popular if you try to stick ot its true path. Many years ago, my teacher said to only teach a few and it is not necessary to teach many people the sword. I thought that he meant that I should keep its techniques confidential and not reveal them. But now I understand much better, I now think he meant that it is much too difficult and most people will only misunderstand and criticize what you are doing. If you want to learn sword, you really have to committ yourself to the sword, there is no other way. . . . .

Bushido to Mogido: Bushido means the “way of the Warrior,” or the samurai who stood for courage, duty, patience and loyalty. It was these qualities which made the warrior what he was and it was these qualities which made him a great martial artist as well. Nowadays, we do not talk about the “Way of the Warrior” or Bushido. Nowadays, we are follow Mogido, “The Way of No Shame.” Occasionally, such as the other day, I meet old friends who still aspire to the Samurai and it makes me feel good. Perhaps, these ideas may seem dated and outmoded to most and may be they are not relevant in today’s world. Yet, I find great comfort in these qualities and still I want to see them in my students. Indeed, another name for the way of the warrior is the “way of humanity.” And ultimately, it is through the way of the warrior that we become true humans in the world.

The other day someone quoted one of my Furuya’s Law: Great potential equals great hardship equals great achievement. Even today, I still find it so true.

More than anything nowadays, we like the break rules, not keep them. Breaking rules expresses our freedom, I suppose – at least, this is how we think nowadays. As a teacher, it only means the student does not understand the purpose of these rules – especially in Aikido and especially in a Dojo. Rules are not to oppress or humiliate, rules are there to create a good sense of harmony among all members and to create a sense of order in which we can study and practice. In Japanese, this is referred to as “etiquette,” or “saho.” “Saho” is made of two kanji characters, one “to make” and the other, “order.” In other words, “to make order.” This order is very important to create a good atmosphere in which to train. We should never forget this.

However, order is not simply “following” or “mimicking” various rules – bowing when you have to bow, saying ‘hai!” when you have to say, “hai!” More than anything this saho is a spiritual practice. Saho is practice of the mind and spirit. If you cannot bow with the proper mental attitude and spirit, it is not a bow, no matter how much you lower your head. It is something you must practice with the proper spirit. It is like someone telling you, “thank you,” although it is obvious that he really doesn’t mean it. You don’t feel that your kindness was appreciated at all, in fact, you may feel badly that you efforts were neglected or unappreciated. This bad feeling is always the cause of dis-harmony.

To show proper spirit in saho is a very difficult part of practice. This is only because we think of ourselves too much and not others. Thinking of others, we learn how to appreciate their efforts, only thinking of ourselves, we never have time to care for others. We become selfish people and this is not Aikido at all. In fact, it is contrary to all Aikido principles.

Practice saho in the Dojo and learn to practice it with the proper mental attitude and spirit – maybe this will be the most difficult of all to learn – more difficult than the hardest throw or pin. Once you master it, then practice it in your daily life.

I once had a student who never said “thank you” for anything. One day I asked him, “Why don’t you ever thank a person when they do something for you?”

He replied, “My mother never taught me how to say ‘thank you.’” (Blaming everything on your poor mother, how sad!)

“How silly” I thought to myself. Later it turned out that he never appreciated anything from anybody, he was much too busy thinking of himself. It is not any pleasure at all to teach someone like this – they would never appreciate it anyways. What a waste of time!

When you know that someone appreciates your efforts – you feel good and warm and you feel like doing more and more for others – this is what we mean by “harmony.” When people think only of themselves, it creates an atmosphere of selfishness. “If he only cares for himself, I might as well think only of myself as well!” What kind of world is this we are creating?

Saho means to create order. Ultimately, we create this order by thinking of others. What is so bad about this? How silly to break the rule of such a wonderful practice!

In all practice, watch your “ma-ai.” We see Aikido as an exercise or sport, this is why we are not conscious of our spacing. We only appreciate this “spacing” because we are practicing a martial art. Please be careful in this!

We do this because this “sports” consciousness permeates our present culture so deeply. We must be careful at all times not to bring this attitude into our practice. This is how martial arts is changing today. . . . How sad!

When someone attacks with katatetori or menuchi, for example, we start talking so busy gossiping away or wait for the blow to make contact – this is sport. As soon as we “sense” his attack, we are already blending with him and moving out of the line of attack – this is martial arts.

After we throw, we pat him on the back or begin yakking away again, this is sports and exercise. After we throw, we try to maintain our spacing and timing and focus our zanshin on the opponent, this is martial arts.

When we come to the Dojo, we chit-chat away in the dressing room so it takes ten minutes to put on the uniform, this is how we act is a sports gym or health club. When we come to the Dojo, we change into our uniform as quickly as possible to get onto the mat to begin warming up, this is the proper attitude in a martial arts dojo.

When we come and go in the Dojo, we always make a proper greeting to the Sensei, this is a martial art. When we come to the Dojo, we always treat the Sensei as a waiter or janitor or clerk, this is a health club or spa.

When we come to the Dojo, we bow with the proper spirit of respect and modesty, this is a true martial arts Dojo. When we come to the Dojo, we are too busy yakking away with others and finding out the latest gossip from our classmates, this how we act is a fancy beauty salon or coffee shop.