Being Committed to Aiki

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[aikishihan]

Commitment is not conditional. It is not “subject to” to any reason or factor that may condone any lapse in its application. It is intended to be good for “for the duration” of the commitment itself, and does not have a “shelf life”.

Commitment can be said to be a fundamental habit of the psyche, entered into willingly and knowingly of the full impact of its onerous burden and absolute sense of accountability. In a sense, its purpose is to ceaselessly strive to fulfill the full terms of the making the commitment to begin with way back when.

Commitment is not the goal. Rather, it is a key tool with which to attain the intended goal. By its very definition, it has no end date, no sunset rule, and no termination clause beyond the satisfaction of the commitment itself.

To cease to remain committed, is to experience a death of sorts, a permanent loss of something beyond price or value, even though the body itself continues to function and exist.

One may choose to make a new commitment, similar to, or even a necessary ‘improvement” to the original one. This does not justify or mitigate the fact that a commitment was indeed broken, or that the consequences of such a self betrayal will be any less felt or inevitably accounted for.

The Japanese term “shugyo” may be defined as “training, practice, ascetic practice,” or any example of a “thorough training”. It also can mean to “train oneself”. It is this last definition that I translate as “commitment”. It is a promise to the self, and what oath or primary declaration of intent is any less permanent, any less sacred, or any less total in purpose and in need of completion?

Training in Aikido, or any other cultural art of choice does not necessitate the need for such a commitment as outlined above.
Aikido, and the application of Aiki Principles to daily life matters, remains an individual right of choice as to how strong or focused the interest will be exercised. No sense of guilt or regret applies.

Nonetheless, any and all who would declare themselves to be genuine “students” of the Aikido of the Founder, should examine carefully, after doing their honest “due diligence”, their fundamental reasons for choosing to create their own Aikido, based on aligning themselves with the Founder’s theories, techniques and unique philosophy, and wanting to be identified, and accepted as such by the Aikido community at large.

For myself, I am content to train each day, knowing how often I fail, but choosing to wake up the next day to try it just once more.

In Oneness,