Empower your Inner Warrior

by John J. Trakselis Coaching Essay
“’You see, ‘he went on, ‘some people live all their lives without knowing which path is right. They’re buffeted by this wind or that and never really know where they’re going. That’s largely the fate of the commoners—those who have no choice over their destiny. For those of us born as samurai, life is something else. We know the path of duty and we follow it without question”– 47 RONIN, by John Allyn

This quote comes from a fictionalized account related to a real conversation that occurred in Japan almost 300 years ago. What was your reaction to the quote? My guess is that there would be a variety of responses if we took a survey. Some of the responses might be:

  • I want to be like that.
  • Who does this guy think he is? He sounds like he knows it all. He is arrogant.
  • Gee, I feel bad. I don’t have that going for me.
  • That doesn’t apply to me. I didn’t live in Japan at the time of the samurai.
  • Easy to say, hard to do.
  • It’s a guy thing. Women don’t think or act this way.

Whatever your response, I did not use the quote to rile you, make you feel put down, to pass judgment on you or to suggest that this is what being a warrior is all about. Stay with me as I comment on tapping your inner warrior, using the above quote as a starting point for all that follows in this short essay.

In reality, I believe all of us operate on a spectrum between not having a clue and absolute certainty. We always have at least a little indication, and we are never absolutely sure. We might bump up against the floor (not having a clue) or hit the ceiling (100% sure), but we never reside at one of these extremes – not if we are honest with ourselves.

The samurai relied on 2 key guideposts that can help to inform our lives: values and a code of conduct (principles). For an interesting discussion about the Samurai’s values and their code of conduct click this link: http://www.artofmanliness.com/2008/09/14/the-bushido-code-the-eight-virtues-of-the-samurai/. In my martial arts study, I became aware of the term Bushido, commonly known as the Way of the Warrior. The write-up on the above-referenced web page discusses the following 8 virtues of the samurai:

  • Rectitude or Justice
  • Courage
  • Benevolence or Mercy
  • Politeness
  • Honesty and Sincerity
  • Honor
  • Loyalty
  • Character and Self-Control
“Getting in touch with your true self must be your first priority.” – Tom Hopkins.

I am most drawn to the virtues of Politeness, Honesty and Sincerity, Honor and Character. You may have a different evaluation of the above list but I would ask you: What are your values or virtues? The second question I would ask is: How well do you live them? We aren’t always a 10 (best score) or a 1 (worst score). We operate in a range of adherence to our values. Some days are on the money and other days we may feel lost and out of control.

The point is, you too can be a warrior by standing up for something lest you fall for anything. Can you develop the warrior habit of staying true to the things you value the most in your life – your values? Will you adhere to your code of conduct when others bait you with their hooks and try to foster bad behavior on your part?

The quote from the 47 RONIN highlights the samurai’s strong sense of purpose. Over the years I have approached the notion of “life purpose” from a number of viewpoints, but there is one way that continues to resonate. For me, it is not so much what I believe about myself – but rather what I do that is important.

“Action Expresses Priorities.” – Mahatma Gandhi

One of the most respected teachers of Karate is Master Gichin Funakoshi. Kara-te means empty hand. It was the belief of the early Karate practitioners that the arm, including the hand, was the replacement for the Samurai sword. In one of the books of his writings, THE ESSENCE OF KARATE, Master Funakoshi composed an interesting series of thoughts, as follows:

“Those who choose to talk about their fights are braggarts who only wish to boast of their victories….But such things are nothing to brag about…It is safe to say that I have never boasted about striking another person. But I can cite countless examples of winning conflicts without having to resort to fighting. This was the parting lesson left to me by my teachers…Master Azato often said: ‘Invincibility in battle does not make a man virtuous: a virtuous warrior is one who defeats his opponent without engaging in battle.’”

Part of learning Karate is to learn Kata, also known as a pre-arranged (i.e., choreographed) technique – with many different moves. When you are first instructed in Kata you are told you are fighting an imaginary opponent. Over time you learn the imaginary opponent is you – with all of your weaknesses and limitations. In the execution of the Kata, you learn to flow from one movement to the next. When performing to the best of your ability, you are fully engaged mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually.

“People can’t live with change if there is not a changeless core inside them. The key to the ability to change is a changeless sense of who you are, what you are about and what you value” – Stephen R. Covey

When you think about it, isn’t life a constant Kata, as you transition from one situation to another? Also, like Kata, don’t you want to be seamless in your execution, and confident in your actions and decisions? You can move more confidently when you have a sense of who you are, what you value and how you will conduct yourself. A well-developed person, like an excellent karate-ka, should have a great awareness of who they are because they have tested themselves in the battlefield of life and learned from their experience. Most importantly, they have learned from their mistakes and understand their weaknesses. They muster up courage, and are willing to look at their mistakes so that they can learn from them. Lastly, they confront their imaginary opponent, themselves, constantly trying to adhere to their code of conduct.

“When your values are clear to you, making decisions becomes easier.” – Roy E. Disney

So who is a warrior? A warrior is a person who utilizes a set of core values and abides by a code of conduct that considers Namaste – the light in me recognizes the light in you. A warrior does not seek to subdue others but rather to relate to them in a spirit of mutuality and respect. A warrior engages with others in a way that exhibits courage rather than the kind of fear that can foster detachment and disengagement. The warrior understands that in vulnerability there is strength and allows both to be present in dealings with others. A warrior has a clear sense of himself and a deep acceptance of others. A warrior’s communications are clear and effective, and utilize reciprocity as a way to increase understanding. The warrior is transparent; he does not feel a need to hide himself from the rest of the world. Lastly, things and people change for the better because of their interactions with the warrior.

In closing, I bid Namaste to you. In the United States the expression means: The God/Goddess Spirit within me recognizes and honors the God/Goddess Spirit within you. Yoga Journal (http://www.yogajournal.com/basics/822) offers this additional interpretation: “The teacher initiates Namaste as a symbol of gratitude and respect toward her students and her own teachers and in return invites the students to connect with their lineage…” Finally, I wish to express my thanks to my instructors in the martial arts who have assisted me in developing my inner warrior. As follows: Sensei Czochara, Sensei Cimo, Sensei Rabbit (R.I.P.), Sensei Cortez, Sensei Moneymaker and Sensei Gunderson for sharing your warrior spirit with me.

Suggested Readings:
  • 47 RONIN, by John Allyn (2012)
  • THE ESSENCE OF KARATE, by Master Gichin Funakoshi (2010 English Translation)
  • THE WAY OF THE PEACEFUL WARRIOR, by Dan Millman (1980)

And, there is more, there always is.

Be genuine.

Copyright 2014 © John J. Trakselis, Chicago CEO Coaching

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