Vision and Courage

"Intellectuals solve problems. Geniuses prevent them"
- Albert Einstein

An advanced and effective martial artist is intimately connected to his or her environment. They feel things others do not feel. They see things others do not see. They understand things others do not understand. None of these abilities are "magical" or due to some esoteric capability that is unattainable by ordinary people. All of these abilities are attainable by anyone provided they follow the same path as the masters.

All of this may sound a bit unreal or spectacular now, but there is nothing unreal or spectacular about it. Living in an open state of connectedness to our environment is actually very natural. What is unnatural is shutting ourselves off from that environment and attempting to build a wall separating ourselves from the world in order to eliminate our suffering. This wall can become an emotional shell within which we hide and, in many cases, do not allow others inside of. It can also become a filter to try and take the world as we know it and change it into the world as we wish it to be. Advanced martial artists understand the futility of these actions. They understand that to cut one's self off from the world in order to eliminate suffering or to place conditions on the world to change it into what we wish it to be is a useless effort and one that will bring nothing but additional suffering.

If we attempt to hide from things we wish not to face, we only delay and potentially magnify the suffering they cause later. As problems are ignored, they become more complicated and therefore more difficult to solve. It is best to engage a problem, or a potential problem, early while it is still small and manageable. This way, we can shape the outcome more effectively and in a way that reduces suffering (both ours and other's), and, if we are lucky, turn the problem into an advantage.

Einstein believed it took genius to prevent problems. I respectfully disagree. I believe it requires vision and courage, neither of which are required to be a genius. It requires vision to see potential problems before they become manifest and it requires courage to face them head on without hesitation. Both vision and courage are very accessible things and can be developed and cultivated; genius implies a certainly level of god-given ability that is beyond the ability of humans to affect.

Both vision and courage can be developed simply by opening ourselves up to our environment and immersing ourselves into its natural flow. This is where our regular aikido practice can be helpful. In the dojo we try to open ourselves up and flow with our partner. The more open we are to our partner's ki (or intention) the more easily and smoothly we flow with their movements. If we are closed to our partner's ki, our technique flow will be filled with friction and tension.

As we practice (especially by practicing as uke, the one presenting the attack and being countered), we must focus on the relief of this tension. We must see where it is that we are creating tension with our partner and do what we can to relieve it. By placing our mind in the technique and being open to our environment, we are cultivating the growth of vision. We are developing the ability to see friction and tension in the techniques before they materialize. As we grow vision, courage will naturally result. By becoming more comfortable with facing problems (ie. conflict) on the mat, we will naturally become more comfortable facing problems, or preventing their formation in the first place, outside of the dojo. There becomes no need to build walls or create shells to hide from our problems. Problems are seen before or as they arise and are addressed with little to no conflict.

This is all advanced martial artists do. They cultivate vision and courage. This is what gives them ability to feel or see or understand that others do not and to prevent or solve problems before or as they arise.

To cultivate vision and courage should be our purpose every time we step into the dojo and onto the mat.