Tenri No Maki: Natures cycles

This directly effects your fighting ability or your mind and body connection. Your fighting ability can be effected by:

The time of day. We all live on an internal clock that is effected by the location or where we live, the time of day, the weather such as light or dark; windy or still; rain/snow/sleet; hot or cold; thunder and lightning or clear and sunny; superstition; and you need to be fully "aware" of these factors in training/practice before it comes to self-defense.

The biggest opponent we have to consider and conquer is our own ego. We have to see past its influences so we may "see" and "hear" what is real or reality. If we continue to fool ourselves by not seeing our faults and foibles then those same faults/foibles will be our downfall.

One Sensei said to me that if he gets a perspective practitioner who simply wants to learn to fight then he looks for his or her strengths and builds on that. It is quick, easy, and fast so that person gets what they want. If the Sensei gets a perspective "deshi" who wants to learn the "way" of the "empty hand" or any other fighting/martial art then he or she must look for that deshi's weaknesses and help guide them in overcoming which starts with the ego.

To let go, to actively see and hear with out reservations or pre-conceived notions or ideas is difficult. That is why sometimes I tell "deshi" to shut up, listen, see, be aware, and just train. When Sensei or Sempai talk and act it is for their benefit and since they are Sensei and Sempai it is best to see, listen, and do what is being taught.

Thinking of the Kenpo-gokui and Isshinryu you will need to realize that the sun and moon also have an effect on you. Since everything is connected, think butterfly effect, the sun and moons position effects the earth which drills down to its effects on the human condition. Take it a step further to understand that the position of all the stars and planets have effects on earth and all its inhabitants be it humans or plants or animals or the tides or the ebb and flow of the earth's crust, etc.

It has been said by the old masters that to practice "sanchin" one must practice in the early morning while facing the sun as it rises up for the day. This alludes to the "facts" that we humans feel and are affected by the sun, moon, stars, time of day, location on the earth, etc.

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