Welcome to AikiWeb Aikido Information
AikiWeb: The Source for Aikido Information
AikiWeb's principal purpose is to serve the Internet community as a repository and dissemination point for aikido information.

Sections
home
aikido articles
columns

Discussions
forums
aikiblogs

Databases
dojo search
seminars
image gallery
supplies
links directory

Reviews
book reviews
video reviews
dvd reviews
equip. reviews

News
submit
archive

Miscellaneous
newsletter
rss feeds
polls
about

Follow us on



Home > AikiWeb Aikido Forums
Go Back   AikiWeb Aikido Forums > "Off-The-Mat"

Hello and thank you for visiting AikiWeb, the world's most active online Aikido community! This site is home to over 22,000 aikido practitioners from around the world and covers a wide range of aikido topics including techniques, philosophy, history, humor, beginner issues, the marketplace, and more.

If you wish to join in the discussions or use the other advanced features available, you will need to register first. Registration is absolutely free and takes only a few minutes to complete so sign up today!

Reply
 
Thread Tools
Old 11-11-2007, 10:47 PM   #1
shadowedge
 
shadowedge's Avatar
Dojo: Sensei Aikido Dojo / Marikina Metro Manila
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 115
Philippines
Offline
Ignoring "Negative" Ki

Hi everyone,

This weekend, I caught one of the building's maintenance personnel trying to get in our office. No one expected I was taking a nap so it was quiet.

He was surprised to see me there, made a lame excuse and ran off before I could even react.

Well, I reported the incident to my superiors and to the building security. This morning I pointed out the culprit after the management lined them up. Of course he denied it, and tried to discredit me.

I wasn't at all bothered since admin was on my side. It just reminded me of a lesson that my sensei once taught me a long time ago.

He said that, trouble usually starts when mean people stare at you in a provocative way. I got a lot of that from the janitor this morning. He was staring with full blown anger. Sensei called this negative ki, bad energy that you should not allow to enter your soul. When they do this, you don't have to stare back, lest it becomes an unnerving game to topple down the opponent's composure.

So I maintained the "munen mushin" ideology in the situation so that I would not get at all intimidated.

What I'd like to know is that, did I do the right thing? I wasn't looking at the guy, but I have this nagging feeling that I should have countered. Just a bit confused, since Im sure I wasn't at all scared, but I wouldn't want the universe to think im a coward or anything....

Many thanks!

J

Last edited by shadowedge : 11-11-2007 at 10:49 PM. Reason: grammar fix
  Reply With Quote
Old 11-12-2007, 12:00 AM   #2
ChristianBoddum
 
ChristianBoddum's Avatar
Dojo: Aarhus AiKiKai
Location: Aarhus,Denmark
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 263
Offline
Re: Ignoring "Negative" Ki

It seems you did the right thing,
to do the right thing doesn't always feel right or comfortable.

cheers !
  Reply With Quote
Old 11-12-2007, 12:11 AM   #3
Josh Reyer
 
Josh Reyer's Avatar
Location: Aichi-ken, Nagoya-shi
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 644
Japan
Offline
Re: Ignoring "Negative" Ki

Quote:
Rene Vencer, Jr wrote: View Post
but I wouldn't want the universe to think im a coward or anything....
Why not?

Josh Reyer

The lyf so short, the crafte so longe to lerne,
Th'assay so harde, so sharpe the conquerynge...
- Chaucer
  Reply With Quote
Old 11-12-2007, 12:49 AM   #4
shadowedge
 
shadowedge's Avatar
Dojo: Sensei Aikido Dojo / Marikina Metro Manila
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 115
Philippines
Offline
Re: Ignoring "Negative" Ki

Quote:
Why not?
Because I wasn't... I guess I might have been (well always have been) concious of how I appear to other people.

In a scene where there is one directing anger towards another who looks away... well what do you guys think? was it the "aiki" way to handle the situation?

Thanks

J
  Reply With Quote
Old 11-12-2007, 02:16 AM   #5
xuzen
 
xuzen's Avatar
Dojo: None at the moment - on hiatus
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 965
Malaysia
Offline
Re: Ignoring "Negative" Ki

Quote:
Rene Vencer, Jr wrote: View Post
He said that, trouble usually starts when mean people stare at you in a provocative way. I got a lot of that from the janitor this morning. He was staring with full blown anger. Sensei called this negative ki, bad energy that you should not allow to enter your soul. When they do this, you don't have to stare back, lest it becomes an unnerving game to topple down the opponent's composure.

So I maintained the "munen mushin" ideology in the situation so that I would not get at all intimidated.

What I'd like to know is that, did I do the right thing? I wasn't looking at the guy, but I have this nagging feeling that I should have countered. Just a bit confused, since Im sure I wasn't at all scared, but I wouldn't want the universe to think im a coward or anything....
Many thanks!
J
You saw an attempted unauthorized entry (break-in). You thwarted his effort. You reported this to the proper authority. You were brave enough to tell the truth. You are not cowardly at all.

If you would have countered his stare, what would you have achieved? Nothing!

You are not being cowardly for not engaging in a stare-down with him.

All the best,
Boon.

SHOMEN-ATE (TM), the solution to 90% of aikido and life's problems.
  Reply With Quote
Old 11-12-2007, 04:59 AM   #6
SeiserL
 
SeiserL's Avatar
Location: Florida Gulf coast
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 3,902
United_States
Offline
Re: Ignoring "Negative" Ki

IMHO, you did fine.
Calling the guy out to begin with took courage.
It isn't where you put your eyes that matter,
its where you put your mind.
The universe won't think you a coward,
because the universe doesn't think.
If you did what you thought was right,
then accept it no matter what others think.
If you think you should have done otherwise,
then learn from it.

Its not about ignoring negative ki,
its about seeing through it.
(extend)

Lynn Seiser PhD
Yondan Aikido & FMA/JKD
We do not rise to the level of our expectations, but fall to the level of our training. Train well. KWATZ!
  Reply With Quote
Old 11-12-2007, 07:32 PM   #7
cserrit
 
cserrit's Avatar
Dojo: Aikido of San Diego
Location: San Diego
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 28
United_States
Offline
Re: Ignoring "Negative" Ki

You did the right thing!!

I always find it amazing when a person, who knowingly does something wrong, gets caught (and punished) and then blames their "misfortune" on the people who called him/her on their lack of integrity.



-C
  Reply With Quote
Old 11-12-2007, 08:21 PM   #8
asiawide
Location: Seoul
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 155
Offline
Re: Ignoring "Negative" Ki

Before I was going to the Philippines, I heard that I must not blame or scold one in a public place but talk to him/her in a private place. Probably you know it better than me.
  Reply With Quote
Old 11-12-2007, 10:12 PM   #9
shadowedge
 
shadowedge's Avatar
Dojo: Sensei Aikido Dojo / Marikina Metro Manila
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 115
Philippines
Offline
Re: Ignoring "Negative" Ki

Quote:
Jaemin Yu wrote: View Post
Before I was going to the Philippines, I heard that I must not blame or scold one in a public place but talk to him/her in a private place. Probably you know it better than me.
Yeah, I know what you mean. I kinda feel sorry for the guy, I thought we would be called up the the admin's office for me to point him out. Our management was surprised when they (building admin) suddenly lined them up in our office for all to see.

I mean, they didn't have to make a show out the incident. hehehe.

Anyway, a lot of Filipino's are raw when it comes to expressing emotions. Once in a while you'll see a parent publicly scolding a kid, or lovers having a fight out in the open. I've had my share *gulp* But it doesn't happen quite often.

Quote:
I always find it amazing when a person, who knowingly does something wrong, gets caught (and punished) and then blames their "misfortune" on the people who called him/her on their lack of integrity.
Yep, first time I've experienced anyone denying what I said. It was a truly educational experience.
  Reply With Quote
Old 11-13-2007, 06:44 AM   #10
Pierre Kewcharoen
 
Pierre Kewcharoen's Avatar
Dojo: Aikido at NJIT
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 100
United_States
Offline
Re: Ignoring "Negative" Ki

How did they try to get in the office? Picking the lock? Trying to break the door?
  Reply With Quote
Old 11-13-2007, 11:49 AM   #11
MikeLogan
 
MikeLogan's Avatar
Location: Rochester, NY
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 281
United_States
Offline
Re: Ignoring "Negative" Ki

I have a hunch you didn't look away out of fear, but rather out of embarrassment and regret at the position you have put him into. A position I believe you did not intend to put him in.

Big lesson here is not where to look.

The phrase "discretion is the better part of valor" comes to mind. Bringing that into a martial sense, the personal and discreet reporting of the incident to a supervisor you can trust to do likewise. Minimizing public exposure of the incident, not just for the janitor, leaves your employer the greatest amount of discretion to exercise in any event. Whether they see and/or use this discretion is another matter entirely.

Yea, none of this seems related to aikido, self defense, or "munen mushin" until you think of the possible end results. The potential for this man to lose his job over the incident is far more dangerous to you than whatever may have transpired in the office had you not been there.

In the opposite direction the janitor may look on you with respect for your adept handling of a tricky situation ; at best a misunderstanding, and at worst just a poor decision on his part.

I mean, what if like yourself, he was just looking for a quiet place for a nap?

Naturally had the janitor been violent, or some clear and harmful motive discovered, he forfeits consideration before his employer, and/or you individually.

The proper excercise of discretion would allow you to gauge how your response would affect this person's life. Hmmm, sounds a lot more like it relates to aikido, huh?

michael.

If way to the better there be, it exacts a full look at the worst.

- Thomas Hardy
  Reply With Quote
Old 11-13-2007, 10:31 PM   #12
shadowedge
 
shadowedge's Avatar
Dojo: Sensei Aikido Dojo / Marikina Metro Manila
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 115
Philippines
Offline
Re: Ignoring "Negative" Ki

Quote:
How did they try to get in the office? Picking the lock? Trying to break the door?
He opended the door using the numeric keypad. The numbers are only known to employees. The Building personnel are off limits, and they know that. We have no idea how he got a number working, but even still, They arent allowed to step in.

Quote:
I have a hunch you didn't look away out of fear, but rather out of embarrassment and regret at the position you have put him into. A position I believe you did not intend to put him in.
hey, good point... i never thought of it that way.

Quote:
The potential for this man to lose his job over the incident is far more dangerous to you than whatever may have transpired in the office had you not been there.
Yup, I've considered that. I'll manage.
  Reply With Quote
Old 11-14-2007, 12:22 AM   #13
xuzen
 
xuzen's Avatar
Dojo: None at the moment - on hiatus
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 965
Malaysia
Offline
Re: Ignoring "Negative" Ki

Quote:
Mike Logan wrote: View Post
I have a hunch you didn't look away out of fear, but rather out of embarrassment and regret at the position you have put him into. A position I believe you did not intend to put him in.

Big lesson here is not where to look.

The phrase "discretion is the better part of valor" comes to mind. Bringing that into a martial sense, the personal and discreet reporting of the incident to a supervisor you can trust to do likewise. Minimizing public exposure of the incident, not just for the janitor, leaves your employer the greatest amount of discretion to exercise in any event. Whether they see and/or use this discretion is another matter entirely.

Yea, none of this seems related to aikido, self defense, or "munen mushin" until you think of the possible end results. The potential for this man to lose his job over the incident is far more dangerous to you than whatever may have transpired in the office had you not been there.

In the opposite direction the janitor may look on you with respect for your adept handling of a tricky situation ; at best a misunderstanding, and at worst just a poor decision on his part.

I mean, what if like yourself, he was just looking for a quiet place for a nap?

Naturally had the janitor been violent, or some clear and harmful motive discovered, he forfeits consideration before his employer, and/or you individually.

The proper excercise of discretion would allow you to gauge how your response would affect this person's life. Hmmm, sounds a lot more like it relates to aikido, huh?

michael.
My understanding of the original poster was that he stumbled upon the incident. Maybe the suspect was just trying to look for a place to take a nap. Maybe he had some unlawful plan. It was not Rene's place to decide.

It was up to the Right Authority (Management, Building Security) to make judgement.

To suggest to Rene to turn an blind eye to a security violation is not in the best interest to the organization as a whole.

Too much of looking the other way is good breeding ground for more undesirable activities.

Boon.

SHOMEN-ATE (TM), the solution to 90% of aikido and life's problems.
  Reply With Quote
Old 11-14-2007, 09:56 AM   #14
Pierre Kewcharoen
 
Pierre Kewcharoen's Avatar
Dojo: Aikido at NJIT
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 100
United_States
Offline
Re: Ignoring "Negative" Ki

Hey if I was the owner of that business and owned that office, I would have been pissed considering the maintenance worker had no authority to enter the office for whatever reason. Who knows what they could have done. The fact that they gave you a lame excuse and ran off shows that they were up to no good.
  Reply With Quote
Old 11-14-2007, 03:56 PM   #15
MikeLogan
 
MikeLogan's Avatar
Location: Rochester, NY
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 281
United_States
Offline
Re: Ignoring "Negative" Ki

Would have replied sooner, but my boss flips out even if I do 3 minutes of online banking.

I'll concur that in general practice, yield to and cooperate with the authority involved. I never suggested the willful or cowardly ignoring of anything, only the use of discretion in reporting the incident. What I will suggest, is that short of a life-or-death moment, the default approach of removing oneself from responsibility for action, and relinquishing the ability and basic human right of making a decision is the true Blind Eye.

I've worked for both public and private institutions, and I can tell you I would more likely have reported a potential transgression such as the one described when I was a federal employee, for that would be in the entire nation's interest. But I am not going to possibly ruin someone else's career opportunities to protect some commercial endeavour. Not at the drop of a hat, anyway.

One funny thing I just realized. There are plenty positions across the pay scale where I work, and if an employee were found sleeping they would have a lot of trouble keeping their jobs. Maybe you were off the clock, you were still using company property for personal reasons.

One person's "oops, my mistake" can be seen by another as grounds for termination.

When one looks for wrong done, they find it. How ironic a title for this thread.

If way to the better there be, it exacts a full look at the worst.

- Thomas Hardy
  Reply With Quote
Old 11-14-2007, 06:52 PM   #16
shadowedge
 
shadowedge's Avatar
Dojo: Sensei Aikido Dojo / Marikina Metro Manila
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 115
Philippines
Offline
Re: Ignoring "Negative" Ki

Quote:
Maybe you were off the clock, you were still using company property for personal reasons.
I was doing overtime work. Took a short nap break.
  Reply With Quote

Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
I like this definition of ki dps General 13 03-24-2015 05:46 PM
Poll: If you could be uke for yourself, would you be able to throw yourself? AikiWeb System AikiWeb System 72 08-07-2013 05:16 PM
Aikido and being Christian Nick Spiritual 178 07-31-2010 06:47 PM
Stanislavsky and Ki DaveO General 11 01-20-2006 10:11 AM
Train In Ki And Why chadsieger Training 54 06-15-2002 10:26 PM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:23 AM.



vBulletin Copyright © 2000-2024 Jelsoft Enterprises Limited
----------
Copyright 1997-2024 AikiWeb and its Authors, All Rights Reserved.
----------
For questions and comments about this website:
Send E-mail
plainlaid-picaresque outchasing-protistan explicantia-altarage seaford-stellionate