Sunday, January 30, 2011

When challenged Kyokushin does not show his back (Oyama Sousai)

こら!いい加減にせーや!喧嘩売ってるんかい!
     My wife, Yachiyo works in a very competitive world of property sales involving Japanese clients.  As anyone knows it is a world of " No sales, Out the door." On top of that, the sales division is paid solely on commission with no hourly wages. Once again, "No sales, No income."  On the average,  she goes to work by 0700 and returns at 1900 for a 12 hour work day. From my point of view,  sales demands considerable mental strength as you deal with a variety of clients. Some are great, come act as though they are bonafide Yakuza!
妻のやちよは競争が激しい日本人をクライアントにしている不動産ぎょうであり。誰でも知っているようにこの業界は「売れなければクビ」の世界である。その上にセールス部門はコミッシイオン制で「売れなければ収入ゼロ」で時給は無い。平均朝七時に仕事場に行き、帰宅は夜の七時。12時間勤務である。自分の視点からではセールス業様々なクライアントを扱うのでメンタルの力を大分要求あれれる。良いクライアントもいれば、ヤクザになりきっているのもいる。
     I think mental fatigue/stress is harder to recover than from physical fatigue/stress. But work is not done when I pick her up at her office in the evening. Once home, she hits the PC and phone emailing and talking to  her clients. Due to the time difference, to catch a client in Japan at a reasonable hour, requires her to make the call past midnight Hawaii time. This makes it early evening Japan time. It is a demanding job even  without co-workers attempts to mess with and obstruct her sales efforts. I truly believe her Karate training has made her tough enough  to live such crazy hours!
メンタルの疲れとストレスは肉体の疲れとストレスよる回復が’難しい。彼女の場合帰宅しても仕事は続く。帰宅して直ぐにPC や電話で日本に居るクライアントと連絡がある。時差があるので日本との電話は真夜中過ぎでないとクライアントに都合の良い時間にならない。日本の夕方早くになる。それでなくても大変な仕事だ。それにの関わらず同業者からの妨害や嫌がらせはキツイ。
空手のおかげで彼女はそのような苦労を乗り越えている。
     Yachiyo has always been at the top or top 3 in Sales and Marketing.  Her awards overfill the living room. Naturally, there are those who are not happy with that. Some actually connive and try to drag her down. They have all failed as her sales record speaks for its self. She has always been the epitome of Budo principles in dealing with such underhanded actions by spiteful co-workers. Like water, she has successfully diverted any head to head conflicts, like the pine tree she is rooted solid in her work ethics and skills and stands strong against the storms cast against her. Budo, to stop conflict. I can truly say she has done that.
やちよは常にセールズやマーケチングではトップ又上位に入っている。リビングルームには数え切れない褒章の盾などがある。そのなか、彼女の実績を良く思わない同業者がいる。彼はは実際いろいろな嫌がらせで彼女を引きずりおろそうとする。全部失敗に終わっている。なぜなら彼女の’実績があるからだ。それに彼女は武道で習った精神と心構えがある。水のように上手く流したり、松の木みたいに根をしっかり作りどんな煽りにでも自分の仕事に対する道徳と技術で不動のままでいる。武道は戦いを止める。彼女はすれが出来る。
     However, as Oyama Sosai once stated, "Kyokushin wa urareta kenka ni senaka wo misenai" Kyokushin does not show his back when challenged. Of course, Oyama Sosai also stipulated that if at all possible try to settle the differences peacefully. A recent incident has made me step in and advise Yachiyo not to hold back but to counterattack 10 fold. I felt that "enough was enough" and now it was time to take action.
しかしである、大山総裁が言われたように「極真は売られた喧嘩には背中を見せぬ」もある。
無論、大山総裁は出来れば無闇な戦いをせずに穏便に収めるとも言っている。つい最近起きた件で自分はやちよに耐えずに反撃する事をアドバイスした。もう「いいかげんにしろ!」の枠を超えて攻撃のみと自分は判断したからである。
Of course, in the end,  it will be up to the company's Human Resources to officially take action. But at least Yachiyo will have gotten her "licks in" and I can guarantee her attacks are accurate and  painful. (^^)
最終的には会社の人事部が正式に行動をとるのだが。まー10発も仕返しができればいいとおもっう。彼女の攻撃は的確で痛い事は自分が保障する。
     The point of this entry is "When do you take off the gloves?" When do you stop bearing the unbearable?
When do you stop suffering the pain? It is relatively simple when it comes to physical violence, you do not need to ponder. You react in the most efficient manner to protect yourself , your friends and your loved ones.
You do this with the "Use of Force Pyramid" ingrained in your mind. Appropriate level of response. But how do you deal with non physical harassment such as Yachiyo has been subjected to? Yes, there are rules and parameters set out by HR for such things. But HR is not the one at the receiving end.
今回のブログのポイントは「何時立ち向かうのいか?」「何時絶えるのをやめるのか?」「何時痛みをこらえるのを止めるにか」肉体暴力に関しては簡単である。直ぐに対応する。一番てきした方法で自分や家族、友人を守る。適切なレベルで対応する。しかし非違肉体暴力はどうなのだろう。無論人事部に元ずく規則や方針はある。しかし、受けているのは本人であって人事部ではない。
     Now, I ponder if I gave Yachiyo the right advice. (**:) Well it just shows my Shugyo is not complete.
I kinda feel sorry for her antagonists though, they really don't know that they have done. As Admiral Yamamoto stated after the attack on Pearl Harbor, "I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve."
今になってやちよに適切なアドバイスをしたのかと考える。自分の修行が足りないのを痛感する。
但し相手がかわいそうである。ふふ。真珠湾攻撃に関して、山本五十六元帥が言った「われわれは眠っている巨人を起こし、恐ろしい程の決意を持たせた」だと思う。

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Message in Hagakure (RTK interpretation)

葉隠 Hagakure

名人も人なり、われも人なり、いかで劣るべき


This proverb can be found in “Hagakure” which some refer to as the “Bible” of the samurai.



Hagakure, 葉隱, which is often referred to as the “Bible” for the samurai or warrior, is a collection of commentaries by Yamamoto Tsunemoto (, June 11 1659 - November 30, 1719) of the Nabeshima Han (clan) which is now Saga Prefecture.


As usual, I will interpret this proverb in my own simple thinking. Scholars may not agree to my interpretation. It would behoove the readers to read Hagakure for themselves and to come to their own understanding. I believe in the saying “ 十人十色” Ten people, ten colors. We will always have different interpretations. What is important is that we retain the tolerance and ability to understand each other’s interpretations. After all, some think that Blue Cheese is great while others get sick just thinking about it. (^^)


Back to the proverb. In any confrontation it is only natural to think that the person with superior skills and mental training will be the victor. Not only in combat, but in any other crisis situation, internal or external. So what makes the difference between overcoming a situation  and being overcome by the situation? Is superior training the only key?  In actual combat or serious situations, when faced with “real” dangers what makes the difference in life or death? I believe it is the innate spirit that dwells in each and every one of us to overcome adversity. Whether it be Sensei, Senpai, CEO, Special Agent in Charge or the local Hell's Angels rep, we are all human (人間).  What makes a difference is the “spirit” or "driving spirit" 気迫 kihhaku with which we confront our adversities or take on our missions or tasking.
"Dam the torpedoes, full speed ahead!!"


I think this is what “Meijin mo hitonari, waremo Hito nari, ikade otosubeki” is conveying.



Neko chan Ganbatte! You can do it!!
猫ちゃん 頑張って!やればできる!!

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Quick pictures from New York










Roushiichi, Just took a shot out the door hear at home, want to show you the snow we have got in New York, that little black dot in the middle of the picture to the left is my mail box, the post if 5 ft. and its 1 degree as I am writing you...

The second photo is from our Kagami Biraki, Kevin, Sensei has typical look on his face, when I set out the mochi...Jen and I made Ichigo daifuku, Mochi with anko....then Jen found a new daifuku, its call peanut butter cup daifuku. Its kind of East meets West...but she tells me she found this daifuku in Bubishi under "medicinal cures"....Told her I would ask the master if He had ever heard of it...(^^)

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Snow, Ice Close Halekala Park - Honolulu Weather News Story - KITV Honolulu

寒いよー!!!ガタガタガタ

Snow, Ice Close Halekala Park - Honolulu Weather News Story - KITV Honolulu
Yes folks! It does snow in Hawaii. (^^) I am sure it is not as bad as up there in Mechanicsville.
Have a safe day.

Monday, January 17, 2011

Dr. Martin Luther King

Dr. Martin Luther King

Today is a national holiday commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King. I was just a High School kid in 1968 when he was taken by an assassin’s bullet.
今日はキング牧師祝う祭日である。キング牧師が人権問題, ベトナム反戦運動の最前線で戦った。そして1968に撃たれ亡くなった時、自分はまだ高校生だった。


Dr. King is probably best remembered for his “I have a dream speech”. I wanted to share with you some other speeches he made. These speeches also have left an impact on my life. To me they supplement the other philosophers, Western and Eastern and the many martial arts Senseis that I have had the fortune to receive their instructions. Budo, the art of preventing violence.
キング博士は、おそらく彼の"私は夢を持っている"が最も知られているだろう。キング牧師
作ったいくつかの他のスピーチを共有したいと思う。これらのスピーチは、私の人生に影響を残している。私には、他の西洋と東洋の哲学者ならびにの多くの武道の先生から幸運に受けられたし指導を補助してくれる。武道、戦いを止める。

そして友よ、今日私は諸君に告げる。如何なる今日、明日も如何なる困難に直面しようとも、私にはまだ夢がある。それはアメリカンドリームに深く根ずいている。私の夢はいつの日かこの国が立ち上がりそして信条の真の意味を実行してゆくことだ:/そしてこの真理は明確に人間は皆平等である。
“Now, I say to you today my friends, even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: / we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”

今の時代の重要な政治的、道徳的な質問に答えているのが非暴力である:人間は弾圧と暴力に頼るなく弾圧と暴力を克服しなければならない。人間は人間の対立にたいし復習、侵害、報復否定する方向に進化しなければならない。その土台となるのが愛である。
 "Nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral questions of our time: the need for man to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to oppression and violence. Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love".
人間はの仲間の男を殺しその肉を食べることが生まれた存在の正常な状態でした。そして人間が良心を授かった。、そして、今、別の人間に向かっての暴力は、他人の肉を食べるように憎しみに満ちたようになった。
"Man was born into barbarism when killing his fellow man was a normal condition of existence. He became endowed with a conscience. And he has now reached the day when violence toward another human being must become as abhorrent as eating another's flesh."
暗闇は暗闇を排除できない;それは明かりにしかできない。憎しみで憎しみわ排除できない;それは愛にしかできない。憎しみは憎しみを増加する;暴力は暴力を増加する;強情は強情を破壊に舞い上がらせる。
その悪の連鎖反応は - 憎しみ、より多くの戦争を製造する戦争を生む性質は壊さなければならないさもなければ私たちは絶滅の暗い奈落の底に急落しなければならない。"
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction....The chain reaction of evil--hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars--must be broken, or we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation."


キング牧師の演説を翻訳したいのだが、今ひつ正確にできたが不安である。誤訳はご了承お願いします。ふー難しかった。武の道と同じだね。


Sunday, January 16, 2011

Some things never change (**;) (^^) (- -#) (^^)

Michele's display case.
     My daughter Michele is graduating from college this March. Hoooray! Hopefully she is gainfully employed following her graduation. Her major? Voice actress/Theatre.....Hmmmm. Last year in Japan, only 40% of college graduates were successfully employed at full time jobs. I hear it is worse in China. Well at least she has a part time job at the local convenience store for now. (^^)
     Well back to the topic. Michele has always been fond of putting together model kits from an early age.  Not the usual run of the mill model kits of ships and castles but model kits of her favorite anime characters. My study is full of the empty boxes which she insists on keeping. Since the apartment cannot hold all the model kits she has made they are also in storage here in Hawaii, except her favorite ones. Hmmmm. I am resigned to the fate that upon my return from Japan in March my suitcase will be full of empty boxes and her model kits. (**:) Gahahaha.
     But that's OK! (^^) I think it is good to have some things that never change. Sometimes I sneak a look at the animes she is really into. To be honest they are better than your soap operas such as "As the World Turns" or many of the current TV series that bombard you with nonsense. The animes,to include Pokemon , actually has the core values that I value in Budo. Loyalty, Persereverance,  Honor, Ethics, Morals,Self Control, Benevolence. Granted there is violence in most of the animes, but then I grew up with Popeye, Mickey Mouse, Road Runner which was also filled with violence, often times violence for violence sake.
Martial Arts is filled with violence as well. The key difference is that the violence we learn in Martial Arts teaches us not to use violence for violence sake. Through the hardships of training we reinforce our key core values, regardless of the different cultures we were raised in.
     The only complaint I have is.........I'm running out of space!!!! Oh well, perhaps that is not bad thing either. It helps control my spending $$ to get my "junk". (^^)
     I am really looking forward to attending Michele's graduation in March! Perhaps I will take back to Japan all the boxes and model kits I have stored here??!!?? Nyahahahaha. (^^)
Michele when she was nice and quiet.
How time flies! (^^)

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Hatta-ism Part 2 Balancing right and left. 右左の平均

左右の平均
       How often do we hear, "I'm right handed" or "I'm left handed". We also see competitors who are undefeatable when playing on their "strong side" but once they are attacked on their "weak side" they are easily defeated by "lesser" opponents. Hatta instructed his wrestlers to be able to use both sides.  Which ever side was the strong side, his wrestlers would use the opposite in daily life. Brushing their teeth, using chopsticks, hanging on to straps on the train, etc..  in addition to practicing their techniques with their "weak side". Perhaps it may seem extreme, but then it probably is the fastest way to gain dexterity with your weak side. Imagine being in the Orient and there were no spoons or forks, only chopsticks! To eat I would definitely master the use of chopsticks to a point I could pick up a marble in a bowl of oil! (^^) Try this one time! A good party game for sure.



      Another Hattaism was 「負ける理由をさがすな」"Don't search for excuses to lose"  Often at overseas competition, excuses such as "the food didn't agree with me" or " I couldn't get enough rest because of the noise" Hatta made it a point to choose a training area which was noisy even late at night. He would even change the diet from rice to bread, In this way none of competitors would have an "excuse" to blame their performance. In a sense, taught them the mental fighting art.  How often in our daily lives do we make "excuses"? (^^)  As one pursuing the martial way, shouldn't we never have excuses?