Inviting each individual in.
April 9, 2008
Part of this exploration will be lessons from the mat. Other parts will be my “discussions” with O’sensei, or at least with the learnings he left us. Today, in my reading I came across this lesson:
“Large does not always defeat little. Little can become large by constant building; large can become little be falling apart.” –O’sensei
Towering a whopping five feet five inches, it’s needless for me to say that this one spoke to me on a very personal level. A level closer to the ground than may of those with whom I train.
In our training, we often speak of “leading Uke into our space” and “bringing Uke to us” as opposed to our moving out to meet Uke…
You’ll note that I capitalize Uke. Uke, to me, is an individual. Of course, he or she deserves to be capitalized, no matter now annonymous they might be! They are essential to my development. But I digress. Sorry, this is a conversation. Bear with me…
Oh, yes. Leading. In training, I have found that inviting Uke into my space means leading them to me in every sense: psychologically as well as, shall we say, geographically. When I offer a hand for katate tori, it is at the level of my center, not their’s. I don’t reach my hand up to a six foot Uke; through my posture and how I offer my hand, I invite them to my level. From that moment–when they begin to move–their balance and center are now in my sphere. What I make of the technique from there, well, that’s up to me.
The life lesson? To me, this is about knowing ourselves and using our strengths. I am a small business person, I am my only employee. I have positioned myself and my business to have this be my greatest advantage. Likewise, I am a husband and a parent. And a son. And a brother. In all of my interactions with all those around me, I invite others to experience me for who I am. I don’t try to be someone I’m not. This self truth is what helps us be strong in life, moment to moment, and able to continually build and become stronger.
It is when we overextend and become untrue to ourselves that things fall apart. I hope to always be true to myself and build my strengths. Not as easy as it sounds. We’ll see.
