Recently I encountered an interesting saying about the people of Aizu-Wakamatsu, a town near where I`m living at the moment, which was visited by some of the school on the last Japan trip. Its still known as a very traditional place, and famous for being the last holdout of the shogunate. I think it has an interesting parallel to our school.
This saying refers to what is called "Aizu no san naki", that is "The Three Weeping times of Aizu".
The first time, when one is transferred to Aizu, one weeps over the people`s unfriendly attitude.
It might seem unfair to look at our dojo as unfriendly... quite the opposite to all of our experiences, I`m sure. However, you can`t deny that its a very unfamiliar environment... Training in silence, orders in Japanese, techniques that can be complex, possibly even painful and might not have an obvious purpose when we first learn it. I remember when I first started training, coming home night after night and collapsing from mental and physical exhaustion. Its certainly not the easiest art to begin and you must be exceptionally dedicated to master it. Plus, with the broad range of our school, the amount to learn can seem insurmountable. I certainly think Ten Shin Sho Kai has higher expectations of its students than most other schools, and Aiki can be quite a humbling art to practice.
Next, as one builds friendly relationships with the people there, one weeps for the second time over their warmheartedness.
As intimidating as our school might seem at first, training so closely and being required to trust you partner, relax with them and move harmoniously builds bond which I feel are almost unavoidable. And our school is full of people who are generous and kind-hearted.... and we don`t have to look far to see students sacrificing time and money to, for instance, help renovate the Brisbane Dojo or to allow Brinkhurst Sensei to travel to school ceremonies. But its also something we get from the support and encouragement our fellow students and teachers give us at training, and outside it.
Lastly, one weeps at having to leave Aizu for elsewhere.
And I don`t think I need to say anymore than that.
