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What
is the Daruma? ....The
Daruma is best known for his shape. He appears to be both legless
and armless and has large, blank eyes. Fashioned after a Buddist
monk who is said to have spent nine years in uninterrupted meditation
to reach complete awareness, the story goes that he stayed in
this position for so long that he lost the use of his legs. The
arms, although they appear to have been lost as well, are carefully
tucked away in his red dhoti ( indian style robe). Though legless
he may be, the round fellow is weighted so that he always rights
himself when knocked down to represent the " try and try
again " spirit. The Daruma comes in sizes from tiny to 3'
tall with both eyes blank--the owner paints the first eye when
making a wish or beginning a new project; the second eye is painted
when there is a successful conclusion.
Renshi
?...
1. A trainer 2. A teacher Yodan or Godan. Renshi does not imply
teaching it indicates someone who leads a class through repetitions
of the basics to polish their style minimun age of about 25 years
Kyoshi
?
.. 1. A teacher 2. honorary title given to equivalent of Rokudan.
Minimum age of about 40
Hanshi
?
... A clan member; a samurai belonging to a hub. A master instructor
2. An honorary title given at Hachidan and above The headmaster
of a ryu minimum age of about 60
Sempai
?...A sempai is
the senior member of a group. It can be by age, rank, position
or social standing. In the dojo it is the honor given to the ranking
belt.
Shinai ?.....A bamboo
sword used in kendo. It is made of four strips of bamboo attached
together. It is less than 118 centimeters in length and more than
485 grams in weight. This bamboo sword is used in place of a real
weapon in a kendo match.
Shoshin ?....In Japan a phrase which means "beginner's
mind." This does not mean a closed mind, but an empty mind
and a ready mind. If your mind is empty, it is always ready for
anything. It is open to everything. In the beginner's mind there
are many possibilities; in the expert's mind there are few.
Bu-shi-do
?...a code of daily
living for the fighting nobles. Bushido encompassed a system of
moral principles. Those instructed in the code were expected to
discipline themselves according to it. One studied with the master
and copied him.
Bushido means literally
( Military-Knight-Ways ) the ways which fighting nobles should
observe in their daily life as well as in their vocation. It is
true courage to live when it is right to live, and to die only
when it is right to die. The feeling of distress is the root of
benevolence Part of the Japanese way of life is politeness, courtesy
and excellent manners.
Honor Honor
is the portrayal of your own personal values. Inside, everyone
has his or her own idea of what's right and what's wrong. Sometimes
those ideas clash with the ideas of society, or with the ideas
of the group they are with. Honor is the ability to distinguish
for yourself what is the right thing to do and to act on it. Honor
is in your heart; it's what you believe. Honor is your word, it's
the ability of others to trust you, it's your credibility. Honor
is your ability to be an individual and stand up for yourself
and what you believe in. Even if what you have to say won't be
taken well by your peers or by others if you stand firm by your
believes you have honor. Use it when you make decisions for yourself,
and say " If I do this will I be able to look at myself in
the mirror? Will I still be proud of myself when it's all over?"
If you can say yes to those questions you know that you have made
a sound decision and that your honor helped.
Dishonor
is
like a scar on a tree, which time, instead of effacing, only helps
to enlarge. A vivid consciousness of personal dignity is implicit
in the word honor. The sense of shame was regarded as one of the
earliest indications of moral consciousness. Disobedience to a
code or to a superior produced feelings of guilt and shame. The
basic framework of Bushido consists of chi ( wisdom ), Jin ( benevolence
) and you ( courage ).
Hakama ....What
is it and who wears it ?...Also how to tie the Hakama
Muk
so is emptying of the mind
but more than that, not mushin or empty mind. It is done in seza
kneeling position with the hands resting in one another left hand
on top left knucles in right palm. The eyes are focused to a point
about 6 to 8 feet in front of you about half to three quarters
closed. Breathing is essential. Breathes are taken through the nose
and out the mouth slowly for no less than a count of 10.
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