The Bushido Guy

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In my life, I follow the ancient code of the samurai, know as Bushido. Bushido, or the way of the samurai warrior, was the code of moral principals the Samurai were required or instructed to observe. It is not a written code, but rather one that was handed down from mouth to mouth, and grew organically over decades.

This unspoken “code” was the instinctual sense of divine virtues that through their martial careers and practice, the samurai came to not only follow or observe, but it actually became part of them. The most common virtues of bushido: Recitude, Courage, Benevolence, Respect, Honesty, Honour and Loyalty were unuttered or written as a specific set of instructions, but were common throughout Japan and its many Samurai families.

The most common virtues show us a better way to live and interact with each other and live within modern society. In this age of technology there is a freedom of information and idea exchange that is unprecedented but, has its drawbacks. Lack of civility is the biggest problem. Too often things are said on screen or by e-mail that a person would never say to someone’s face. This behavior degrades our society and all of us.

Living the Samurai way, we can disagree and still be polite. We can interact on matters of common good and remove any hostility about the things we do not agree on. We can be of service to each other and honor and respect our differences.

Just as bushido was not forced upon the Samurai warrior or Japan but was a natural and organic way of living, so too can we find a new “code” for our modern society in the world today. The virtues are already known to us we simply have to choose to practice them. If we can do this, one at a time, we may find that just as Bushido became the heart of Japan so might this new “code” become the heart of the world. Those who learn the Samurai Way find it has a powerful effect on them. Their lives are changed as they learn things about themselves they did not even know they were looking for. I invite you to come and learn about Bushido and let it have a powerful effect on you!

Tony Whetstine (The Bushido Guy)
Owner/Instructor of Poway Samurai Martial Arts

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