Volume 5 Number 3,
Fourth Quarter 1999
What is Shuygo?
by Pierce Sensei, as a requirement for his Shodan testOne of the requirements for SHODAN is writing an essay on, “What is Shugyo?” I put off working on this for a long time as I tried to come up with an angle. I mean finding a text book definition for Shugyo was fairly easy. Shugyo - “determined training that fosters enlightenment”. Its purpose is to “tighten the slack”, toughen the body, and polish the spirit.” But the problem was how could I, with my meager background in Aikido, relate to Shugyo and what could I say on the subject that was meaningful? After all, when I think of determined training that leads to enlightenment I have visions of O’ Sensei in his garden the night he was inspired to create Aikido. Certainly nothing I have ever done in my Aikido training has ever led to such a burst of profound new awareness. Although there was that time I hit my head on the mat real hard. I suddenly saw a brilliant bright light and I did learn a very valuable lesson about tucking my head when I roll. But somehow I doubt that experience qualifies as Shugyo.
Then one day, as the deadline for the essay was growing very near, an idea came to me. Or, could it be it was an inspiration resulting from sudden enlightenment? (Yeah, right. It was more like grasping for straws out of desperation.) But, hear me out on this, just suppose that rather than your brain suddenly swelling up with new knowledge after days of endless training with no food or water; what if enlightenment is more of a gradual process? Let’s suppose for a minute that earning your SHODAN doesn’t automatically empower you with the meaning of life. Maybe there’s no Big Bang theory for enlightenment. What if it’s a continuous process that’s actually taking place in our subconscious as we strive to overcome life’s many challenges? And what if it takes some major milestone or event in our life to force us to sift through and reflect on the data that’s been accumulating in the back of our minds in order to format it into a meaningful context?
After all, as I look back and think about it, the last four months of intensified training in preparation for my SHODAN test has helped me understand myself better. I have had to come face to face with many of my weaknesses and develop a training plan to overcome them. I have learned that, even at the age of 46, with discipline, motivation and the support of others I can still achieve certain physically oriented goals (e.g. pursing my black belt) that are generally the reserved domain of much younger men and women. Along the way I’ve had to work through injury, frustration and other distractions to maintain focus on my goal. But while it’s not always comfortable, learning to cope with frustration and adversity is also a part of Aikido training.
To put it in to a Western context - for me Shugyo is not only about the physical side of Aikido. It’s also about setting goals, self-assessment, self-discipline, and striving to improve. All of which, over time, lead to personal enlightenment. The only way to advance in Aikido is through continuous training. With each step that we take in this great art we learn new things about ourselves. Shugyo is about breaking out of our “comfort zone” and forcing ourselves to reach beyond our current limits. Over time, our Aikido goals usually change as our knowledge grows. Typically everyone starts out focused on physical techniques and the martial side of Aikido. Later our attention may turn more to teaching and working with others. For some the physiological and maybe even the spiritual side are intriguing. But only through honest self-evaluation can we continue to set meaningful goals for ourselves; and only through diligent training and an open mind can we hope to ever achieve those goals.
Manny Moe and Robert Pierce received the rank of Shodan at the 1999 Georgia seminar.
1999 Georgia Seminar with Toyoda Shihan
by Kathy O’Kane
Safety in the Dojo
Keeping everyone safe during training is our top priority. This means more that not running with scissors or wearing clean underwear in case you’re in a wreak. Read the following and educate yourself to avoid these “at-risk behaviors.” — from Laura Diviney
- Crazy Glue on bokken handles “to enhance grip.”
- Wesson Oil on soles of feet to “increase the smoothness of yoko falls.”
- Replacing Gatorade with Budweiser to “help relax in the line of ukemi.”
- Bronx cheers during randori. (Bloody tongues on the mat make more work for others.)
- Sinking teeth into nage’s knee in nikyo pin “because I forgot the signal is patting out.”
- Lee Press-On Nails
- Clapping the ears of the Aikidoka next to you at the end of class “because they ring like a temple gong.”
- Playing Frisbee with the wall clock.
- Complementing Sensei on his “lovely black prom gown.”
- Trying to bring a little WWF into Aikido by jumping onto the mat from the ceiling fan.
- Treating sore back muscles with ice (somebody else’s back and down their gi coat.)
- Sucking Skoal during practice and using the video camera case to ... (oh, never mind. Nobody has the guts to do that.)
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