Introduction

In my life, I have been greatly blessed to have achieved a great number of things. For example, I have been blessed with a family that I love. I am blessed with a wife that I adore. I have been blessed with work and hobbies from which I derive great satisfaction. My family means everything to me. Protecting and nurturing them is my primary goal in life. In many ways I am greatly blessed.

In my career, I have attained a Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree and a number of professional certifications in various fields of study. My job reviews are always very good, my students enjoy the classes that I teach, and I am frequently invited to present workshops for the College, for companies in Hot Springs and surrounding communities, and at conferences in various cities around the State. Although I am proud of these work-related accomplishments, and although I have gained respect among friends and colleagues from all over the State of Arkansas, none of these accomplishments is quite so meaningful to me as the possibility of being awarded a black belt as a martial artist. Although it is not so important to me as my family and my character, a black belt may very well be my most meaningful accomplishment up to this point in my life.

I firmly believe that people who have attained a first dan ranking in any martial art have demonstrated that they are serious about the physical aspects of the art they practice. Sadly, what often happens just after a black is awarded is that the person having just achieved their first dan demonstrates whether they are serious about the spiritual aspect of their art. In other words, do they demonstrate that they are truly committed to a code of conduct involving honor, discipline, and service to others, or do they begin to display pride and vanity at having received their very first black belt?

What a tragedy it is when a student who possesses the physical skill required for achieving a dan ranking totally misses the mark with respect to maintaining good character. Almost anyone with any physical coordination can ‘learn the moves’. The most formidable challenges anyone will ever encounter are the challenges within.

 I have learned many things since I began training in the martial arts. In training, few things are as disappointing to me in martial arts as seeing someone who has achieved any particular level of success allow that success to go to their head. Pride and boastfulness have no place in the heart and mind of a serious martial artist. Such an attitude is in stark contrast to the Aiki, or harmony of spirit upon which Aikido is founded. You may very well see that attitude develop in others, but you will not see that attitude develop within me.

 The Harmony of the Spirit (Aiki - 合 気)

After spending much time researching the spiritual foundation underlying the eastern martial arts, I have concluded that they focus on developing not only the physical skill, but also the good character of the practitioner. This can be seen it the words of the oath we recite at the beginning of each class. While training the physical body is an important vehicle in this process of development, it is secondary to the training of the mind and spirit of the individual.  

Somewhere along the way, however, the physical aspect seems to take control of many practitioners. Only a few remain true to the spiritual principles upon which the physical training is based. What a shame that the world grants more respect to those who win awards than to those who demonstrate the humility that results from being pure in spirit. My desire is to demonstrate a pure spirit, even if my physical skill develops less quickly.

The spirit has absolute power over the success of any martial artist. A body can be injured beyond repair, but a well developed spirit will prevail against much. A pure spirit can guide mind and body to accomplish much more than physical prowess.

I have known several accomplished martial artists in my life. The ones who were proud and boastful may have been quite skilled, but in the end were nothing more than athletes. They will, no doubt, eventually be defeated because genuine power comes from the spirit and the mind, not the body. A true martial artist is filled with humility and peace.

The venerated Morihei Ueshiba whom students called O’Sensei , or great teacher, was master of many martial arts. Based upon his skill and upon his religious beliefs, he decided to establish a new art based upon peace and harmony, not aggression. That art came to be known as Aikido. If one translates that word to English, Ai can mean “harmonious”, Ki can mean “spirit”, and Do can mean “the way”. The idea as a whole may be translated to mean “the way of the harmonious spirit”. In other words, Aikido is “the art of peace.”

Taekwondo is an honorable art. It is good exercise, and does build strength and discipline. I hope one day to achieve a dan ranking in Taekwondo as well. However, Taekwondo and most other martial arts are based upon aggression. In contrast, Aikido is based upon non-resistance and upon the peaceful redirection of an aggressor’s energy. I believe it may be the most spiritually evolved of all the martial arts. Furthermore, I believe Aikido may be the one martial art that most closely adheres to the truest foundations of Bushido.

Bushido, meaning the way of the warrior, is a code of conduct practiced by the Samurai in Japan. This code emphasized honor, service, loyalty, and martial arts mastery. I aspire to demonstrate my worthiness to possess a dan ranking by living my life according to the principles of Bushido, which I consider to be parallel to the Christian values in which I believe.

Ueshiba believed that, with the exception of humans, all of nature lives in a type of spiritual harmony. All beings are connected. For example, some animals consume vegetation which nourishes them. What remains as waste then becomes nourishment for the vegetation, which then grows and nourishes the animal. This circle of life exists in all of nature and is, therefore, a kind of universal law.  If the animal destroyed the vegetation, neither the plants nor the animals would continue to survive.

When a person trains his spirit and body to be capable of redirecting an aggressor’s force rather than confronting it, that person is beginning to unite his spirit with the universal law to which Ueshiba was referring. When that person’s spirit gains mastery of the concept of non-confrontational redirection, potential aggressors are defeated before the conflict ever begins. This is true because when one person attacks another, they are violating the universal law of spiritual harmony. 

Care should be taken by practitioners of Aikido not to confront aggressors with physical strength or violent opposition, but rather to redirect the aggressors’ energy in as peaceful a way as possible while protecting one’s self from harm. In doing so, the martial artist will not damage his own spirit and may even protect the aggressor from harm.

The main benefit to the practitioner of achieving this level of spiritual maturity is that, Ai and Ki have blended to create a harmonious spirit within the individual. When that individual truly achieves this level of harmony, nothing will defeat his spirit and he will possess the calm strength of character and humility required to serve others and to uphold the universal law of harmony.        

The Journey, the Method, or the Way (Do - 道)

Such concepts mentioned above can be relatively easy to explain, but can be almost impossible for people to achieve. It is for that very reason, I believe a black belt is not simply a decoration or accessory for your uniform, but rather a lifetime journey and a process of continuing spiritual and physical growth.

One of the best examples of Do I have seen were the Dojo rules when Kisshomoru Ueshiba, son of O’Sensei, began teaching in his father’s dojo.  They are:

• Proper aikido can never be mastered unless one strictly follows the instructor's teaching.

• Aikido as a martial art is perfected by being alert to everything going on around us and leaving no vulnerable opening (suki).

• Practice becomes joyful and pleasant once one has trained enough not to be bothered by pain.

• Do not be satisfied by what is taught at the dojo. One must constantly digest, experiment, and develop what one has learned.

• One should never force things unnaturally or unreasonably in practice. One should undertake training suited to one's body, physical condition and age.

• The aim of aikido is to develop the truly human self. It should not be used to display ego.

In summary, because I have been honored to be named as a candidate for  1 dan ranking in Aikido, I affirm that I will govern myself according to the principles of Bushido; according to the principles upon which Aikido was founded; according to the Dojo rules of Ueshiba; and according to the oath we recite at the beginning of each class. I pledge to be a champion of freedom and justice, to never misuse Taekwondo or Aikido, to be loyal to my instructor and fellow students, to bring honor to Hernandez School of Martial Arts and to myself, Sir.


Respectfully submitted,
Bert Clevenger, 1st Dan
May 8, 2009