Spiritual Path of Budo (Way of the Warrior)

I was 13 years old when one of my classmates came over and mentioned something he was doing over the weekends. He described with detail the intense training and how hard it was to keep up with the rest of the class while they executed all kind of kicks and punches.

Chinese Boxing was my first step into the path of the warrior; that was more that 30 years ago and I am still walking the path. It is not a sport -- it is a way of life.

I realized after all these years that martial arts (Budo) saved my life many times, but not because I did some ninja technique to kick10 guys at once.

My life was spared because I had the strength to overcome obstacles, some of them small, some of them big. It kept me out trouble during my teen years, and in the darkest moments, it was a loyal companion.

I have been practicing Japanese traditional martial arts for the last 10 years. While training at the dojo during one of the I-aido lessons (Japanese swordsmanship), I was having a hard time keeping the postures (kamaes) and executing the precise cuts (happo–giris) that I-aido training requires.

My Sensei (teacher) is “Old School” -- That means his Dojo is not a commercial Dojo. Let me explain: He lives there. The Dojo is his home, his personal space, and when he allows you to learn and practice at his place, that means a lot.

That day, no one else was on the floor but Sensei and I. My arms were killing me. My katana (Japanese sword) felt like a ton of bricks. I was about to give up. I felt like I wasn’t doing anything right.

Sensei was very patient while conducting the class, making small corrections after small corrections. I was making very little progress on the ancient art of samurai combat techniques.

Then Sensei did one more correction. He set up my arms and shoulders in to a more relaxed posture. When Sensei did that, he did it in a way that affected all my senses.

It was as if a beam of light fired up throughout my body. His motion was done completely with the most delicate touch, yet I could feel the strong energy of his presence. He was glowing with a gentle expression on his face.

In that instant I realized, “ I have found my spiritual path. I have found my teacher.”

Chief Grand Master Rico Guy will be honored at the Martial Arts Hall of Fame on January 16, 2011 at the Madison Square Garden in New York City.