On Sunday, I found myself in a church in Mt. Eliza with my family (Nyree and Jasmine). I was attending the Christening of Gareth Lewis (Sensei Richard's youngest son), and I had the distinct honour of being asked for the position of Godfather. I had never been asked to be a Godfather before (or sponsors as they are now sometimes called). It was a very interesting ceremony, and I remember looking around often at the congregation. Here I was, in a sacred place and surrounded by people I didn't know (I had never even met the other Godparents!), yet I felt very comfortable. Not only because my own family were in attendance (Jasmine stole the show with her 'special' dancing), but because I was genuinely being invited into another family, one of spiritual, not necessarily Christian, significance. I have had a long relationship with Sensei Richard, a man I hold in high esteem already, and now I was part responsible for ensuring that Gareth spiritual growth throughout his life is a strong one. I left the church that day very thankful for my own family and my life in general.

After this, however, I headed for an event I had been looking forward to for a while. In the afternoon, I was fortunate enough to attend the first Australian DNBK Tai Kai. Some of the members of the Dojo belong to the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai - International Division (General Members), an organisation that has a very long and proud history in Japan for fostering the 'Budo Spirit'.

I accompanied Soke, Sempai Matthew, Sempai Cyril and Shamus to the Tai Kai (or gathering) in Reservoir. There we were treated to various workshops covering Jujutsu, Iaido and Jodo. We met up with some old friends and made some new ones also. It was a great day with the Tai Kai culinating in a 2-hour demonstration period where every Dojo demonstrated the various arts they practised and displayed their waza. We were there on the invitation of Renshi Kevin Walsh of Idokan Australia and one of the co-ordinators for Australia for the DNBK. The other co-ordinator, Hugh Doherty, is Yamagawa's patron to the organisation and was in attendance also. Here I found myself in a beautiful Dojo, surrounded by Martial Artists who were all there to train and learn (and some of them teach). I re-couped, a little, some of the 'spirit' I felt, especially with Doherty Sensei being there, that I felt in Kyoto last year. A great sense of family and sharing was felt - something I meditated on with pleasure later that evening.


Throughout the week, as some of you know, I teach many classes of a Martial Arts and Philosophical nature. Teaching Martial Arts and Life Skills programs across different schools (and the Dojo of course) allows me to gain many perspectives. I get the opportunity to observe different behaviours, both in individuals and families, and this week has been enlightening to say the least. This week I was very pleased to see someone new down the Dojo, someone who has always been welcome but probably not had the time to come down before. 


One of the classes I taught this week had me paying particular attention to a young man who had been having serious problems with their father. It is amazing how much each of us has the ability to affect others, and most of the time it is in ways that we can never truly know. After having some words with this young man, I found out that he loved the classes I was teaching and that he looked forward to them every week, something which was corroborated by his teacher.


I also recieved some feedback this week from a concerned mother. She felt comfortable enough to let me know how much her child appreciates the classes and that she was concerned about a few things. I don't recall these things to say how much Fudoshin and Martial Philosophy  can and does help people, but mainly to amphasis the following point: family is precious.


This week, I have been a father, husband, son, brother, mentor, teacher, Sensei, friend, confidant, friend, colleague, student and listener. I have operated as these things across the varying networks and 'families' of my life. The Dojo serves as a great 'family' where we commit ourselves to training. Training to destroy the ego and strengthen our spirit. The greater lessons in Martial Arts are about compassion, benevolence, patience and community. All the great masters of old had special insights into this. Our 'Fudoshin Family' is about helping our fellow students to achieve their potential, without concern for ours. This way, we are looking after each other, and in doing so we look after ourselves.

Meditation often leads to greater focus and stronger spirit. A great step to take in part of a family.

Dedication is a strange thing really. In my life, I come across many different types of people. From school teachers to administrators, primary and secondary school students, salespeople and parents. They all have various ways of showing dedication, and to various things.

Some people are dedicated to their jobs, their families and their friends; and all of these are very admirable of course. However, it is not too often that I find poeple very dedicated to an ideal, or a virtue. The majority of the people I encounter do not necessarily lack a moral centre, but they seem to change what is personally important to them depending on who they are with. This is saddening because it means that they lack courage and strength to 'stand up for what they believe in', something that we try and address at the Dojo.

Our Dojo is a not-for-profit club. It relies solely on volunteers to run, manage and organise it. I often see the few people who are involved in this and their dedication go un-noticed or un-acknowledged. Of course these people would not ask for recognition in the traditional sense, it goes against the spirit of humility, an important Samurai virtue. But recognition, acknowledgement and respect can come in many forms. It might be suprising for some to learn that no less than 43 hours a week are volunteered regularly to keep things working and available for the students, and that is on a regular week. Of course more is required when there are events to organise, communications with councils or local groups, advertising or fundraising ventures and such like. All of this is time spent away from the volunteers' own training and development. As has been recognised internationally, the power of volunteers in this world serves as a great example to everyone.

The dedication that these volunteers show every week, every lesson, is amazing. Amazing that they would choose to firstly put others before themselves, and for no other benefit than the simple pleasure of being part of something that enriches and develops people in the traditional Japanese Martial Arts, thus making them stronger human beings. I would personally like to acknowledge everyone who volunteers at the Dojo to help it stay strong and remind others to consider this.

There is no requirement to volunteer at the Dojo, although volunteers are always needed. It is perfectly fine to attend classes, pay your fees and go home, but before you see something wrong or inefficient, or even inconvenient; just take a moment to consider that all these volunteers themselves have lives outside the Dojo, lives consisting of the same pressures and pleasures that you yourself have. Yet despite this, they consistantly make efforts to bring the spirit and technical instruction of the Martial Arts to the mat, and maintain a club and facilities to ensure it is there for you again next week, next month, and indeed years to come.

I would like to suggest that next time, instead of pointing a finger, raise a hand.