Don't want to go to bed and can't sleep... Don't want to come out of bed and can't get up... Don't want to move and can't walk forwards, backwards, left and right... Don't know why and can't explain...
It was a beautiful day... I saw the people happy and celebrating arrival of the spring...
On that particular day I saw things from different angle and I appreciated what I had... We easily miss the beauty we have around us.
Anyway, we all go thorough up and down, and have good days and bad days...
I have friends and they are sometimes my Senseis, but not always in the Dojo... I have known one of them for a long time, since the beginning of my years in Europe (London). His name is Michael Rice, an architect living in Ireland.
I enjoy listening and talking to him and I have learned many things from him about life. When we are together, we could turn anywhere into the Dojo, it could be in the field, on the couch or in the car...
I often don't understand what he tells me at that time, because it is sometimes very philosophical, technical or something very crazy for me, and may be because of his Irish accent! Although I don't fully understand I always listen what he says and it stays somewhere in my brain. Very often I "visualize and experience" things he said to me afterwards, may be next day, may be a month later or sometimes 3 years later... and it could be anywhere, in the bathroom, while cooking or driving. I recognize those moments, "Ahaa! this is what he told me!!" Like opening the cloud around your head and seeing the lights.
It just came to my mind what Master Funakoshi says: Karate goes beyond the dojo 道場のみの空手と思ふな Dojo nomino karate to omou na
I often realize, discover and learn "Karate" beyond the Dojo... Not only my friends, the children are also great masters, too and I learn a lot from them. They are just like a mirror because they behave how we are...
Extras: By the way, In Japan, good Senseis don't explain and tell you much. (I can't be a good Sensei because I talk a lot!) Anyway, even if you don't understand what Senseis say don't stop seeking what exactly he or she means. Better stop understanding from the words they say. Try to "visualize and experience"!!! If you do that you will find out what and why more correctly. Sometimes, don't think too much. Often the answers comes up when you are on holiday! "No mind...!"
Content copyright 2009-2010. Shinji Akita. All rights reserved.
Karate practitioner, living in Germany, running a Dojo in Limburg and visiting Dojos in different countries for Karate courses . I like cooking and I enjoy taking photographs in my spare time...
