(21 and March 22, 2003).
We are here today trying to "decide" the future of martial arts in Cuba, a great responsibility, a difficult task and we wonder if we are prepared and know the true meaning is hidden in the characters (kanji) from the true Budo and Bujutsu, knowing it fully dominate the Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc. even and could not understand its true connotation, since it is not a semantic problem that defines it, but something entirely spiritual and not even that, we could reassess spending many years in the practice of a particular martial art, since is not the sweat poured and the time spent and the potential of technical skills and to have attained high rank who attest to the vast knowledge of the true Budo (Bujutsu).
To understand this we need first of something high and pure, it takes courage, not the "courage" that is often misinterpreted by relating to rudeness, bullying, arrogance or just doing a great show of our potential abilities. We talked and we talked about the principle and the concept of "Yuki", the modest and quiet courage, the courage it takes to not give in to the "social pressures", such as, for example, bad attitudes of the spirit, the monetary gains , profit, vices, practice witchcraft, etc.., fume these negative and very common these days, closely related to what calling or called unfairly, some, "martial arts" or "combat sports." "It is worth adding that the parallel drawn between the weakness of spirit that promotes a tendency to drunkenness and the use of sorcery or divination to try to see or influence the future, based on which, according to the old codes of Bujutsu (Budo) nor the courage, or loyalty, ethics and integrity an individual who allows these weaknesses are worthy of trust. " As has often taught us: to be Budoka is needed to stop doing foolish things. Thus today we call a deep conscious reflection, all teachers and students who pass through the arduous and profound journey of martial arts, practicing them as it truly is a privilege, which also requires character and relentless dedication, which should not become mere purpose of learning a number of techniques and achieve high levels of strength and physical prowess as many believe, but through them pursued receive and achieve the wise and ancient teachings of true Budo and this does not deserve to be taught to anyone without an iron test that shows loyalty and purity of heart.
The true meaning of martial arts practice inspires humility and compassion as cornerstones wing leading to humans that represent them, to fill your mind with good and great virtues, which are reflected in the transition from trails conducted their lives difficult, but truly worthy from the first time they take a firm decision to acquire in order to transmit love and peace for all the humanity, reason enough to consider who budoka, perfume-flavored spirit immaculate in every action and express the pure feelings drive him to study a martial art, this forged a brilliant and unwavering discipline for fellow citizens, just so he or she will fan the fire of love of justice, honor and kindness, these seeds without which neither students nor Martial arts masters ever consolidated the true and noble purpose of Budo.
instruction martial arts (Budo or Bujutsu) are based on giri (duty of every budoka to his style) and ON (debt of gratitude he feels toward his teacher) without these obligations of honor, without this spirit of gratitude can not and could call Budokas, or express a word connected with the martial arts.
The ancient codes of ethics and conduct written to educate and train the conscience of ancient warriors or martial artists, have not lapsed, on the contrary, in today's world becomes much more valuable, because humanity needs return such as honesty, kindness, loyalty, courtesy, loyalty, honor and courage as new trends, twisting and prevailing painfully cynicism, sarcasm, something as unworthy and obscure to the human spirit to expand beyond the walls of the Dojo poisons society and undermines the contemporary world. Martial arts should and can help save these noble values, because the spirit of Budo is to consider training as something that is offered, not as something that is received, and accepts no dichotomy in the heart of true budoka. It is or is not a true budoka, we can not be men at times and not others. The strength of character required to practice martial arts is like an elixir for the spirit, not as a consuming fire which then gradually turns off. Onishi
Akisaguro Sensei gave us a lesson that we believe is important to mention for those who teach martial arts, he wrote:
"There is merit in teaching techniques only, anyone can give lessons on how to kill. Everything you need for that is latent fear. The hardest thing to teach is how to live. Budo is life and a true master of Budo is one that educates by example and this requires courage and wisdom. Unless we understand these things can not in itself considered a master. "
In the real martial arts, there are no champions or medals or trophies are awarded. There is no other reward than the daily effort in practice style and techniques of cultivation of the spirit, there are no advertisements in terms of exalted rank or personality, but each budoka becomes a representative of his style (Ryu) in the eyes of other unannounced and takes place in the relative anonymity of a real life budoka, there is an incentive that someday he can pass it without changing to other generations.
Belonging to a style is only a privilege, not a right that is achieved by paying a monthly fee, this is something you should never lose sight of (budoka, either student or teacher) should make respectively the right day to be trained or instructed others. This is the difference between the true teachings of Budo and "modern versions of the same" as diluted and ignore the ethical and moral precepts, discipline in which essentially are based martial arts.
budokas The new generation, like generations before, should pursue their art with the same devotion with a concert dedicated to his music or an apostle of their faith. It's more just the offer entirely to the art we learn and transmit, to demand "their benefits."
We have seen with regret and displeasure to individuals who call themselves carrying budokas immodestly on his uniform the family crest (Mon) of its kind, representing a martial art, just above the left side of his chest, which, like all traditional martial art was founded by an honorable teacher and in many cases this was a fitting emblem own standard of a family or clan raised on the battlefield, which we feel is demeaning, seeing manifest incorrectly to these individuals, which often, shamefully, know the origin and philosophy it represents, this is an indelible stain for any Ryu and founding teachers. This can not be defined as Budo, this is cynical. What will we do to solve such shameful acts? What our response to such degrading acts? Even with severe pain might not know, for these reasons we call today to all Cubans budokas not permit or allow others to tarnish the true image of Budo (Bujutsu). The arts we learn and we transmit are not our own, are not sources to augment a monetary treasure, not a commodity to sell, were not created for profit and emerged as a means of exalting our own ego, is a road, a road and a purified path that leads us to forge our identity every day are in our view the most dignified way we can return to our home and found ourselves, are invaluable sources purify philosophical and elevate our lifestyles and living, are the necessary food we consume and serve future generations to never cease to exist and to instruct the most worthy human virtues. This is the true path of a true warrior and a sincere martial artist. The same path represented by the suffix "C" to which teachers referred many times as Morihei Ueshiba O Sensei, Kano Jigoro Sensei, Funakoshi Sensei and former teachers Gishin these as Tanomo Saigo Sensei, Takeda Sensei Sokaku, among many others.
now understand the wisdom teachings of Hanmura Iezuke, who said:
"No instructed in the art of the sword any man who takes delight in war, do not trust who calls himself a "warrior" and is proud of his own skill. A man of true strength and virtue delights in peace and quietly cultivated their spirit, their martial skills are for him a matter of duty, not vanity. "
This is a great truth to remember and turn as something vital in our hearts as we pretend to be martial artists.
question arises again: Is that so much wisdom, so much effort and much love is lost? Is the selfishness, ambition, money, ignorance will have much more courage in our hearts that honor, respect, dignity, decency and spiritual purification of the lives of many men? If the answer is no, we hope to continue calling budokas without shame and get our faces in the eyes of the teachers who came before us, whose images are present in our dojo and out of them or maybe to the people watching worthy. If the answer is yes, then no grounds whatsoever to tread the path of true Budo, the better away forever and let others continue the good causes, "it is better, as expressed Ichikawa Sensei-made diamond pieces a tile intact. " We still have a choice: Create a generation of men unsure of themselves, disloyal, incompetent, lazy and ignorant, are these our future students?
We may be classified as persons lunatic, chauvinistic, dogmatic or obsolete, but we want to see are virtues that should not be forgotten. This was what we were taught and this is what we consider fair for teaching: "True Budo is not a sport, a discipline of body and spirit that requires an absolute commitment, an absolute fidelity and absolute honesty . True Budo is totally incompatible with the arrogance, rudeness, lewdness and selfishness. Technical skill means nothing if you lack the dedication, humility and the right spirit. The student unable to follow these precepts is a hypocrite in art worthy to be taught. "
We caution those who are related to the practice and martial arts instruction. "The virtues of true budoka are tested in everyday life and are not decided in an instant by a referee's flag. The right way, of course, is the most difficult. Betray the weak, the ignorant and stupid reject the insult " as we pointed out the St. Ayako Yamamoto Sensei.
We encourage this vital discussion that we have been taught, for the sake and future of Cuban Budo.
gosai Mashita Domo Arigato! Samadeshitá Gokuro! Maximum
Roy Fernández Rodríguez.
President of the Cuban Association of Daito Ryu Aiki Bujutsu