Posts Tagged ‘way of the warrior’
Samurai Lecture in San Diego
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This class will be held Sunday May 23rd, 1 – 3pm
I’m very excited to have been asked back to speak at the Japanese Friendship Garden again. The Japanese Friendship Garden is an expression of friendship between San Diego and its sister city Yokohama that binds the two cultures to create a unique experience for visitors from all over the world. In addition to the beautiful stone arrangements, Koi pond, tea house, ornamental tree collection, and display of Japanese artifacts, the Garden also serves as an educational resource to the community, providing a variety of seminars, classes and workshops as well as accredited horticultural classes.
I am pleased that they want to share the topic of Bushido with their members and guests. The topic that I have been asked to lecture on is called:
“Bushido: Why the Code of the Samurai Matters Today”
Bushido is the “Way of the Warrior”. I will be discussing how this ancient Japanese code of conduct is important in modern times. Bushido is defined as a unique philosophy that spread through the warrior class during the Muromachi period. It is the code of moral principles which the samurai were required or instructed to observe, which was frequently unuttered and unwritten.
It is typified by the Seven Virtues: Recitude, Courage, Benevolence, Respect, Honesty, Honour and Loyalty. Codes of conduct and moral principles, like that of the Samurai, are lacking in the youth of today. Gangs and peer pressure have a strong influence and are putting children at risk. I will discuss how martial arts programs can aid in getting these kids back on the right track.
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. Come and learn about Bushido and let it have a powerful effect on you!
Call the Garden to RSVP for this event: #(619) 232-2721
The lecture will take place this Sunday, May 23rd from 1 – 3pm at the Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park. Cost is $10 for Garden members, $15 for non-members.
See you there!
Tony Whetstine (The Bushido Guy)
Poway Samurai Martial Arts
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Lecture Series
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Professional Martial Arts Instructor Anthony Whetstine of Poway Samurai Martial Arts, has used his years of study and research in the samurai martial arts and the code of Bushido, (The Way of the Warrior), to create a series of lectures that capture the “Virtues” of the code of Bushido. In these lectures, Mr. Whetstine will provide a historical look back, and a modern view, to see how the lessons of some of the most renown and enigmatic warriors of the past can offer a “code” for today that aids in rebuilding respectful disagreements, dialogue and encourages respect.
Bushido: Why the Code of the Samurai Matters Today
Our Most Popular Lecture looks at the origins of the Samurai and Bushido, examines the Seven Virtues as listed by Inazo Nitobe: Recitude, Courage, Benevolence, Respect, Honesty, Honour, and Loyalty and offers a look at them in a modern perspective. This lecture is aimed at moving Bushido back out of the dojo of Japanese martial arts schools and using them as seeds that can become the “soul” of the modern world just as it became the heart and soul of Japan.
Business and Bushido: How the Code of the Samurai Made Japan an Industrial Super Power
A must for any company that considers ethical business and responsible business practices as important as the quality of their product or service. This lecture examines how the code of Bushido gave not only a rebirth to a post-World War two Japan and built it into an economic super power but how those same virtues can help turn around a worldwide economic downturn. If your organization has an ethics department or has ethic requirements as part of its’ company handbook, then this lecture is a must!
Bushido and the Law: Restoring Ethics and Respect to the Field of Practicing Law
This lecture should be part of every law school in America. This in depth look at the code of the samurai and how it was used not only as a personal code of ethics that is nearly universally respected, but how it took common soldiers, mercenaries and warriors and turned them into a respected class of Japanese society that fought for, administered and most importantly served justice and the laws of ancient Japan and how these same virtues can help restore respect and ethics to the field of practicing law.
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The Samurai School
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We call ourselves The Samurai School because we maintain the heritage of the Samurai and Ninja lineage by teaching these Japanese arts directly from the ancient scrolls. This is different from any other school you will find offering Karate and Martial Arts in San Diego. Our teachings of kobudo (old martial arts) traditions harkens back to field combat tactics that involved large groups and complex strategies to win battles.
Too often the “modern” martial arts of today fail to provide much skill, focus or purpose in life other than to fight. They have thrown away the traditions, lessons and philosophies their arts were based on. The focus of the Japanese warriors was not simply to be a good fighter or warrior (bushi) but to temper those skills with the lessons and philosophies for a fundamentally more full, abundant and happy life. That is why Samurai means essentially “to serve” and Ninja essentially means “to persevere or be patient”.
When you choose to study the traditional and authentic Japanese martial arts of the Samurai and Ninja, you learn martial arts with meaning. By following Bushido, (the way of the samurai), our students find meaning in their lives they did not even know they were looking for. The traditional arts of the Samurai and Ninja teach effective skills for self defense and combat from techniques that have been practiced for hundreds of years. And, they also build character, self esteem, focus and self discipline skills which help increase mental agility. This can give those who practice it an advantage in the workplace and build a solid moral and ethical approach to life which leads to a safe and happy existence. Plus, as a physical activity, our training provides a non repetitive form of exercise that can relieve stress both physically and mentally.
Come to The Samurai School and train with us to change your life. It’s not just martial arts, it’s Bushido!
Tony Whetstine (The Bushido Guy)
Owner/Instructor of Poway Samurai Martial Arts
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The Bushido Guy
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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Bushido: Why the Code of the Samurai Matters Today
Traditional Samurai 1860s
Bushido is defined as a unique philosophy that spread through the warrior class during the Muromachi period. It is the code of moral principles which the samurai were required or instructed to observe, which was frequently unuttered and unwritten. It is typified by the Seven Virtues: Recitude, Courage, Benevolence, Respect, Honesty, Honour and Loyalty. Codes of conduct and moral principles, like that of the Samurai, are lacking in the youth of today. Gangs and peer pressure have a strong influence and are putting children at risk. I’ll be discussing how martial arts programs can aid in getting these kids back on the right track.
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. Come and learn about Bushido and let it have a powerful effect on you!
Pacific Martial Arts is located at: 2266 San Diego Ave. San Diego, CA 92110 #619-299-8361 www.pmakarate.com
For more information about the instructor, call Tony Whetstine of Poway Samurai Martial Arts.
#858-486-0059. www.PowayMartialArtsSCHOOL.com.