Perfection: The Link Between Budo And Faith

Kashiima City Shrine, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan

I had my first taste of Aikido summer training in Kashima City near Tokyo in August 1993.  Though not new to martial arts, I was very new to Japanese Budo, the “path to enlightenment through martial training.”  Training took place at a very old dojo near an older Kashima Shinto shrine and on our last day of training, we invited to partake in a ceremonial blessing.  I had never seen anything like and I was completely fascinated, so much so that one of my teachers very lightly put his hand on the back of my head to remind me to bow when I was supposed to.  It’s one of the coolest things I’ve ever done.

Not everyone thought it was cool.  One of the other American students at the time was a very uncomfortable first lieutenant (I was an NCO) who was appalled, not only because were “forced” to participate in a pagan ritual, but also having to bow to the Japanese flag.  I can tell you, he was no fun to train with; always complaining about painful joint locks, the lack of heat in the winter, the constant aroma of old fish and cat pee in the dojo…Like I said, first lieutenant.  Anyway, we were definitely not forced to do anything.  As a Christian, I didn’t feel as though I was breaking any spiritual laws by simply being a part of a Shinto ritual.  I was not paying homage to another god; rather, I was attempting to be a polite guest in another country.  Yet, I’m sure some of my more ardent Christian brothers and sisters would be equally appalled.  But let’s face, we can’t even get along in our own church community.

One the things that has stuck with me since living and training in Japan was how much the martial culture was tied to its two main religions, Buddhism and Shinto.  Aside from basic martial ettiequte, there is a universal, deep and abiding connection between faith and martial arts practice.  We lose so much of this in western culture and I have to admit, I am just as guilty as anyone else.  Like so many other people, I find myself getting wrapped up in the validity and “street value” of Aikido and Karate, so much so that every once in while I rant about how other people train in the arts.  You’d think after 40 years of training, my ego would be tempered a more than that, but I still have so much to work on.  You see, we are so influenced by, well, influencers on social media that we want to prove what we do actually works.  Thankfully, I have been humbled enough times to know when to step back and remember why I have kept all this up in the first place.  Self-preservation, yes, but self-perfection first.  Self-perfection is the main goal in all Budo, be it Aikido, Judo, Karate, Kendo, etc.  Hence, it’s not what you do, but how much time and effort you put into doing it, especially the small details.   

Westerners have a difficult time with the concept of self-perfection. We tend to equate it with being the best at something, winning trophies and titles, or obtaining black belt.  Many of us, myself included, often mistake nominal victories over another person in sparring or grappling as a sign that we’re getting it right.  We’re not.  The ability to dominate and beat up another person is not the goal in Budo.  Rather, the goal is to be aware of and temper your ego through physical, mental and spiritual training.  Which, consequently is one the most important aspects of the Christian faith.

Believe me, I’m not preaching here.  I’m just saying that one of the main tenants of the church that Jesus established is humility; denying the self so that we can focus on God.  Christ sums this up in Matthew 6:24:  “No one can serve two masters.  Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to one and despise the other.  You cannot serve both God and money.”  You can replace money with anything that detracts from God and you get the picture.  But it all starts with attempting to reach a level of perfection that we will simply not achieve on this side of the dirt.  Achieving perfection is not the point; it is the constant refinement of our physical selves, skills and abilities that leads to self-discipline and the detachment from a world that consistently feeds the ego.

For me, martial arts and faith are inseparable.  That’s why there is a simple cross on our kamiza, the spiritual center of the dojo.  To remind me what all of this is about.  We are not here to stay comfortable.  In fact, that’s one of the worst things we can do.  When all we seek is comfort and confirmation, we close ourselves off to spiritual growth and understanding.  “…but we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.  Romans 5:3-5

Dave Magliano

Tatsu Dojo

Jissenkan Budo

Dojo Cho