The Warrior's Path

I've been writing a book about Warrior's and have had some thoughts. I noticed that the martial arts, the real ones, require a long time (a lifetime or two) to master. There are no short cuts to the deeper levels Budo has to offer. To begin to "see" these deeper teachings of wisdom involves a great deal of discomfort and pain.

As a counselor working with people who are addicted to substances like alcohol, pot, crack, pain pills and what ever they can find to get a buzz, I have noticed they are looking for convenience and comfort. They are no different than most of us, except their path is more dysfunctional in our society. Most of us, however, are always wanting the fastest most convenient method to get what we want. After all, Time is Money in our society and we have to have comfort.

In fact, a few years ago, when I was researching to set up a private counseling practice, the research stated people will visit the counselor who has the most convenient and easy parking! What's up with that? People don't care about your credentials, just that they can park easily and it be convenient for them.

The Warrior's Path is a lonely one. Take a look at ancient times when a student of martial arts or Zen wanted to study with a teacher. The teacher usually rejected, humiliated and scorned the student. Gave him/her impossible tasks to do and basically demean the student. The student who kept coming back, over and over, was finally accepted.

Don't have that now...I ask myself now after 41 years as a Martial Artist...do I do what I do because it is easy, convenient and comfortable? If it is...it is time to move outside my comfort zone. Why? Growth only comes about through struggle...and nothing makes you squirm like pain and inconvenience. These two allies, when embraced, lead you to dig deep within yourself and find resources you never knew you had...it brings you to relief...to a great inner peace...to the ceasing of the struggle...ah! Budo: To Cease The Struggle.

I am moving to Madison in a few months. Perhaps I should just set up an old school Dojo...it will be inconvenient and uncomfortable...any takers?

Hands palm to palm,
Shinzen

Train like you mean it.

Ernie Paulson & Rob Shepard/Goshindo Karate  

When you are in the dojo are you training or jawing?

I tend to see, yes, even in my dojo, too much talking and not enough training. I am all for having fun during the workout, but it must also be vigorous and have adrenalin pumping intensity. It must simulate real life as much as possible while ensuring safety. Why?

If you have sloppy habits in the dojo...you will have sloppy habits on the street. Sloppy on the street gets you hurt, if not killed. Train vigorously in the dojo with intensity of mind, body and spirit helps you shape yourself for the rigors of a street defense situations.

Injuries will happen in the dojo, but those will heal. Injuries on the street could be crippling if not death inducing. Endure the dojo dings and your mind and body will have a better chance of street survival if need be. Facing your fears of injury in the dojo will help you face the fears of injury on the street...but only if the practice in the dojo pushes you to your limits and makes you question what the hell you are doing.

So, get ready Broken Bokken Dojo....especially the Yudansha...you've only just begun. Get the ice packs,jow and bandaids ready.

Hands palm to palm,
Shinzen

It's about deep respect

If you were to go to a modern day martial arts studio you will notice they look a lot like a gym or a dance studio. You will see a clean floor, gym mats, striking dummies, kicking shields, mirrors on the wall, etc.  Also present would be trophies and weapons on the wall, as well as pictures of students and teachers.

Now, if you were to go to a very traditional martial arts dojo you would notice they all have the same things, with one exception....an altar.

Traditional dojo typically have an altar that pays respects to the founder of the style, ancestors or guardian/family spirits.  This altar has a very important part to play in classical budo and has been removed in most commercial studios for one reason. Money.

Modern day teachers have removed the altar because they are afraid of losing students for fear of being thought of as idol worshippers. This fear is based on a lack of understanding of why the altar is there...and why we bow and meditate before it. Respect...not worship.

It is unfortunate that the prevailing Christian culture views bowing and meditating as a form of idol worship and won't partake in it. I know not all Christians have this view, but for modern day Karate-ka who try to run a dojo, the altar was removed because of these views.

When I was operating a commercial dojo in Lincoln, Nebraska I was working with a martial arts association that promised to help build your student base. One thing they emphasized was the removal of the altar or anything that looked like an Eastern religion...no buddhas, no altars, no ancestor lists, etc.  I refused to do this.

I am not sure how if effected my bottom line, but I did attract students. The type I liked. Those who were interested in Zen and all the bells and whistles. My dojo also housed the Lincoln Zen Group that was linked to the Nebraska Zen Center in Omaha. Nonin would often come to visit for workshops and seminars on Zen.

I attracted martial artists who were highly ranked in Aikido, Tai Chi, Ninjutsu, Jujitsu and Karate.  They wanted the altar. They wanted the spiritual side of Budo as it had not been emphasized in there schools and wanted more than just the physical and mental developments and transformations.

At the Brokken Bokken we have a broken bokken and a small buddha as our altar. We meditate before and after in its presence. The altar represents our higher self. It represents the gateway to the creative consciousness that allows for healing and deep transformation. It is this altar that reminds us of the true purpose of Budo... "to cease the struggle"  This is what Budo (the way of the warrior) actually means on a deeper level. It is about putting away the swords and realizing inner peace.

I encourage all martial artists to reconnect with this part of their traditions....or develop your own based on your spiritual insights. It doesn't have to be religious...just respectful. Oh well...I have rambled enough.

Hands palm to palm,
Shinzen

New Dojo!

Sensei's Rick, Verna, PJ and myself have started a new dojo at the Mohican Family Center. It is on the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican's Reservation near Bowler, Wisconsin. We've started off with two classes. One class for kids ages 7-11 and 12-18.

We had a great turnout last week and are expecting more kids in the next few weeks. I had forgotten the great energy young kids bring to the dojo. At the Broken Bokken my kids have all grown up and four of them will be graduating high school this year.

What is really special for myself is that Sensei's Rick, Verna and PJ (Patrick) are members of the Stockbridge-Munsee Nation. They are well known and respected in the community. Our aim is to give the kids another positive activity to do after school that incorporates teaching ancient wisdom of warriorship....that is also fun. We plan on bringing in elders and warriors to talk about what real warriorship is within their culture and traditions.

It is amazing that warriors from all traditions share a remarkable similarity in teaching respect, honor, dignity and many warriors evolve into healers of the community. I am looking forward to what the elders will teach...as well as the kids. They help me reconnect with my own inner child.

Now we just need to come up with a new name for dojo....been thinking of Many Trails Dojo, as the Stockbridge-Munsee Nation has been moved on many trails from the New York Hudson Bay area to here in Wisconsin, thus their logo. However, I will leave the naming up to the students as the dojo evolves....the name will reveal itself. (A side note: Jesse Frank will be testing for his Black Belt in April...I believe it was his grandfather who designed the Many Trails logo for the tribe....and Jesse himself is quite the artist)

Wish us luck...and Jesse too (we're gonna kick the snot out of him :D),

Shinzen

Felicia found Black Belt Healing in New York!

Felicia, one of the readers of the Broken Bokken, found 'Black Belt Healing' at the Kinokuniya Japanese Bookstore at the Palisades Mall in New York.

If you go to their website you can purchase it now if you desire. Go to www. kinokuniya.com and then click on Bookweb USA.

I am a white belt in the publishing world and all I can think that this is a test market run for the book. I will check with my editor or publicist. So much I don't know about.

Felicia: I owe you one big hug for the fun news.

Hands palm to palm,
Shinzen

Why a Broken Bokken?

I am sometimes asked why we named our dojo, The Broken Bokken. The basic story is a simple one. Verna Micik (Shodan), a white belt then, broke a bokken during a training session. She felt so bad cause she thought she did something wrong. Verna has always trained vigorously (former military). From there, her son Rick (also now a Shodan), thought we should call the dojo, The Broken Bokken. I liked it and it stuck. Little did they know, or me, what the name would come to represent.

Now, looking back at the name of the dojo, it is so appropriate, but on a deeper level. This is one of those stories where there are 'no accidents'. When you think about it, the Bokken is a wooden Samurai Katana used for training prior to engaging in the practice with a live blade. It is safer, period. As most of my readers know, the Samurai's sword was considered his soul, his spirit and was held in very high regard. In Japan, this identification exists through today.

A broken bokken, to me, symbolizes the delusional state of humanity's perception. Their soul or spirit appears broken, fractured, split into the delusion of individuality, black and white, us and them. A broken bokken also symbolizes the wounds we have as we travel through life. It can be the loss of a loved one, someone yelling racist remarks at you or even as simple as slipping on the ice and feeling stupid. Emotional wounds that hurt us, and if not healed properly, alter and shape the way in which we go about our day. These wounds can make our life feel heavy and full of pain.

As a Karateka, a dojo is not only a place where we practice the martial arts, it is a place of transformation and healing. It also means 'hall of enlightenment' in some circles. So, those of us who have 'broken bokkens' come to the dojo to heal, to grow and to shape new lives. Here, the wounds of our lives can be healed as we gain new perspectives about ourselves and life in general.

Most importantly, it is to help us see past the illusion that we are even broken, because on a deep level we are perfect just as we are. Nothing is actually needed. It is just that we live in this delusion that we are broken, that our spirit is damaged and we need restoration, salvation, enlightenment.

It is through the vigorous physical, mental and spiritual training of a traditional dojo (those who still house a shrine) that we can begin to see this wholeness and that we were never broken in the first place. But there are those of us who are hard-headed, like me, who need to get bopped on the head a few times with a real bokken to see this!

So, this is what the Broken Bokken Dojo is about and how we came about.

Hands palm to palm,
Shinzen

Lessons from my Zafu: Who's in Charge?

This morning while I was sitting (zazen) the thought went through my head, "Who's in Charge?"

I have often spoken of how your mind is your dojo...so I have a few questions for you. In your real life physical Dojo, would you just let transient people walk through and dirty up the place? Would you let someone disrupt your class with disrespect and negative energy? Would you let someone insult your students and attack them? Of course you wouldn't.

So, who is in charge of your inner dojo? Who is in charge of your mind? A little koan for you...and me.

In Gassho,

Shinzen