How to Practice the Way of the Samurai

Samurai means "service." Several hundred years ago, your commitment as a trained samurai might have emphasized sword-slicing opponents down the middle in the service of the emperor. In a modern Aikido practice, your focus is perhaps a bit different, but the underscore of service remains present. Here's how to embody the spirit of the samurai in your daily training.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Place yourself in the service of every new student who comes to your dojo, and every ongoing student who ranks below you. You are "sempei" to them, which means "older brother or sister." Help them develop in the techniques, through the silent guidance of your body movements. Pay attention to your sempei--the older brothers and sisters with greater acknowledged skill than your own. Learn from them, and show appreciation with your quiet respect.

2. Serve your sensei. With gratitude, follow the rules they set for your dojo. Accept their corrections with grace and intelligence. Act at all times in the dojo with discipline, maturity, kind manner and as much cheerfulness as you can reasonably muster on a given day.

3. Help clean your dojo. Sign up for jobs and do extra jobs you didn't sign up for. Weave into the threads of your dojo community fabric.

Who Can Help:

• Tired of Being Tired? Fight Fatigue and Try FRS for FREE!