September 13th , 2015

From Tamir Sensei Denshi-Shihan
Ueshiro Neve [Oasis] Karate Dojo
Neve Yamin, Israel

Emptying our cups to learn more and improve our Gan

Onegai-shimasu SRKUSA Worldwide,

The thought-technique to share this week, builds upon Sensei Mazlen’s important thought-technique from last week — on courtesy.

I have encountered un-seasoned students of karate having a difficult time expressing "ARIGATO SENSEI’ or “ARIGATO SEMPAI”, etc. These are students with too much ego.

Without any ego, we would not have any self confidence to carry ourselves. Karate training builds up our self confidence (ego). But we must keep emptying our “cup of ego” so that it does not corrupt and impede our continued learning and our ability to sense — clouding our Gan — shutting down our “radar”.

One who has too much ego reaches a point where he/she may feel invincible and, therefore, becomes complacent and turns off their “radar” — turns off their Gan — turns off their vigilance.

Master Miyamoto Musashi often used the ego of his opponents against them — to defeat them. You may read about it in the Book of Five Rings.

When we say ONEGAI-SHIMASU SENSEI [please teach me teacher] and ARIGATO SENSEI [thank you teacher], let it STRENGTHEN your Gan and feed your warrior spirit. These words help us empty our “cups” of ego so that we may receive and learn more — to become stronger — to sharpen our “sword". The same applies to the Sensei who says to his deshi, ARIGATO SEMPAI. The Sensei learns more by teaching his deshi and learning back from them.

Every sword becomes dull and needs continued sharpening — the same applies to any Karateka [karate practitioner].

I am most excited for the upcoming opportunity to learn more from Hanshi this coming October in New York, and every other chance I get to visit him, visit Kyoshi, visit other Sensei, Sempai, and deshi; especially my own sempai and deshi several times each week at my home dojo.

Let’s empty our cups and keep training.

ONEGAI-SHIMASU and ARIGATO HANSHI, KYOSHI, SENSEI, SEMPAI, and DESHI.

Tamir Sensei

Denshi-Shihan
Ueshiro Neve [Oasis] Karate Dojo
Neve Yamin, Israel

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