Vegetables and Jita Kyoei

Good morning readers! Aloha Kakahiaka! Ohayou gozaimasu!  Actually it is Good afternoon in New York and everybody is still sleeping in Yokohama. Another start of a wonderful day in Honolulu.  I hope that the weather is just as fine in Yokohama and New York.  The vegetables in the picture were grown by Sensei Tony in his backyard. What a green thumb! I could have used that jar of relish on the greasy burger I had last night. Maybe I can start a mini-garden on the veranda. I sure miss the times I actually was able to grow some veges in the backyard!

 Karate to me is like growing vegetables. Without the attention and proper care,  vegetables wither on the vines. On the other hand too much water or fertilizer can kill the vegetables as well. Our karate students are the same. As instructors,  we need to teach with love and care. We need to continuously monitor their progress and ensure the amount and quality of training is proper and suited to the individual student's needs. Tomatoes have different requirements from zucchinis just as apples have different requirements from potatoes.  Likewise, our students are not all the same. We cannot just put them all in one barrel and have the "survival of the fittest" mentality. That is not what Budo is about. With the proper love and care students will grow into fine outstanding members of the community. That is the goal of Budo.

Fellow students need to look after one another. A competitive spirit is fine and has its place, but we should never forget the spirit of Jita Kyoei. One progresses only because he has others that help him progress.

Cassius Clay, did not become a champion on his own. He had a good coach and many other boxers that helped him train. The Dojo is like a vegetable garden, students grow depending on the attention and care the Senseis, Sempais, Douhais, and Kouhais provides them.  A pinch of "salt" or cayenne pepper once in a while to add a little "spice" to training. Not too little, not too much! Fufufu.

Under Tony Sensei's love and care his vegetables grew. Now he can enjoy his fruits of labor and be energized by the nutrition  his vegetables returns to his body. Jita Kyoei in a different form. (^^)

Have a beautiful day! Life is too short, enjoy every minute to the fullest!

Hmmmmm. Which greasy burger joint to try out today.

Good news! Yachi made a big sale yesterday! We can pay the electricity bill! Gahahahaha (^^)

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