Tuesday, April 5, 2011

D is for Dojo


  


A dojo is a miniature cosmos where we make contact with ourselves - our fears, anxieties, reactions, and habits.~~Joe Hymans; Zen in the Martial Arts

Today I chose to discuss the word dojo for my A-Z Challenge.  I chose this word because my dojo is a very special place to me.  In Japan the training hall for the martial arts is called, dojo.  In Korea it is referred to as, dojang.  And in China it is known as, kwoon.   Regardless of what it is called, it is agreed upon among martial artists that the dojo is a place of self-enlightenment.

I have been training in the martial arts for the past 4+ years.  I am, by my best guestimation, about 11 or 12 weeks from black belt, and the dojo is where it all comes together.  It is a place of confrontation, where I confront my fears, my doubts and my shortcomings.  It is a place of learning, where I discover more about myself, the more time I spend there.  It is a place of focus and concentration, blood, sweat and tears.  It is also a place of great joy, as each old fear is conquered and each new challenge is mastered.  In this place, this dojo, I learn the discipline that I carry with me into my everyday life.

For me, the dojo is spiritual ground.  Into this sacred space I carry my hopes, my dreams and I work hard to bring them breath and life.  I strive to become a better, stronger person.  In my dojo I learn to live by the code of the warrior, to be all that I can be for myself and for others, physically, mentally and spiritually.  It is here, in this sacred space, that I have met my indomitable spirit, that fighting spirit that never dies. 

I am blessed to not only have a beautiful dojo to train in at Victory Martial Arts Academy, I also have the most wonderful Sensei in Phil Penticost.  I am thankful for my dojo and I am grateful for my Sensei and I am blessed by all of the lessons that he has taught me.  Oooooosssssaaaa! 





8 comments:

  1. Loved this sooooooo much, Renee! Awesome post!! =)

    ReplyDelete
  2. That's awesome that you view your dojo as not only physically and mentally sacred, but spiritually as well. I'd write more but it's 6 AM. Time for this bear to hibernate for a few hours. lol

    ReplyDelete
  3. So true!! Spirituality can be found in many places. You have found yours!

    ReplyDelete
  4. This is exactly the kind of perspective I hoped my children will get from martial arts. Excited to think the 4 year old might be starting this summer.

    ReplyDelete