Intoku (Good Done in Secret)

Koichi Tohei, the founder of Ki Aikido enumerates the concept of Intoku as a practice of self enlightenment or as a necessary concept to incorporate into our life’s path. This practice of Intoku is the philosophy that guides our “gift giving”. Kokua as I have come to understand is service and giving and the best way to give is to give is without expectation of reward - something the AJJF strives and succeeds to do at its best moments...

An early definition: Just as the number One can never be reduced to zero, once we act or speak, our action or speech is never completely erased. An old Oriental saying tells us, Sow good and the harvest will be good. Sow evil and reap evil. We must understand that everything we do comes back to ourselves. Therefore, before wishing for our own happiness and welfare and that of our children, we must do good in secret. To do good in secret means to act without seeking attention and praise, to act without any hope of reward. This is called Intoku.

Among the various ways of performing Intoku, to walk the way of the universe and to lead others along this way is best.

Simply put, in the West, many times when we do good we expect accolades. We say, "here I am, I did it." This secret agenda slows our growth and self-development. True "good" acts are done with a selfless attitude. We can do this best when we are mind and body unified.
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Above written by Sensei Franko Ferris, High Sierra Jujitsu Dojo, Sept. 30, 2007, email to AJJF Blackbelt email list.

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In other words, Karma Yoga.

Goals

This week in Karate class the subject is goals. Talking about how successful people set and strive for goals. The assignment in my yellow belt book this month is to write down 25 goals for your life. Here is my list today in the order I wrote them down. (Some are goals and some are steps/milestones.)

...write a wish list of 15 to 25 experiences or accomplishments that you will have by the end of your life. Wisdom does not come with age, but with experiences and opportunities to learn.

• Topend style jigs at a fast session, play effortlessly
• Effortlessly play tunes that are in my head on the whistle without fumbling
• Recognition of Yodan rank in Danzan Ryu Jujitsu
• DZRSI Module III certificate
• Dance a jig on Sharon's grave (or at her wake if no burial is planned)
• Develop something cool, innovative, powerful and useful at work:
• Develop an automated test data generator and execution system for the Bio-Plex 2200
• Replay bead data across BPX builds with golden result analysis
• Comfortable serene home
• Space for me to retreat/meditate
• Develop Qi
• Do push ups with good form
• Do proper crunches
• Karate Kate practices in 4 styles: yin, yang, left, right
• Be sought out as a tango lead
• Hindu Press Ups and Squats with shoulder stand fish set conditioning (or some daily physical culture development done independently)
• Spend an extended time in Ireland

Hindu Press Ups and Squats

The book I'm reading this week is about a Japanese American assassin. My ears perked up this morning when he talked about his conditioning routine.

He does 250 Hindu push ups and 250 Hindu squats with forward and backward neck bridges and a few other exercises. All in 30 minute in his hotel room, no equipment necessary.

I imagined that the push ups were a variation of the sun salutation (surya namaskar) but I really hadn't heard of these before. Wikipedia rocks!

Turns out the Hindu press ups are similar to the Japanese pushups we do in Okazaki's Kawami.

FYI, the book is Killing Rain by Barry Eisler. This is part of the John Rain thriller series of which I am planning on continuing.

Shihan Tom Serrano

I met Shihan Tom Serrano when I was taking the DZRSI Module 2 course in Pasadena. He had a very nice dojo at 2560 E. Colorado Blvd that he was generous enough to close for several weekends so that we would have a place for the classes.

He gave me a VHS tape of a class that he developed called Bo-Aerobics. It was gruelling for the grip and the legs. Nancy and I have been looking for this tape for years (last seen at Kodai No Bushido Dojo).

Shihan is part of the International Karate Association. Learn more about this fine man in his interview with Martial Force.