March 24th 2013

From Sensei Neff, Yon-Dan

Ueshiro Midtown Karate Dojo P.S. 748 Ueshiro Karate Club

The Ebb & Flow of Life

Onegai shimasu Hanshi, Kyoshi, Sensei and fellow Deshi,

Sensei Lyle's TFTW recently encouraged us to read to pages 13-14 in Building Warrior Spirit (the green book) for specifics on entering a meditative state as a prologue to visualizing perfect kata. As so often happens when I pick up a Ueshiro Shorin-Ryu book, I could not put it down after those two pages. As I continued to read I was reminded about the ebb and flow of life. Hanshi reminds us on page 16 that life itself is constantly in flux. These up's and down's in life are sometimes referred to as Yin-Yang life forces. Hanshi reminds us that, "Life at its best is a struggle. Just do it." If life is going extremely well for you don't worry: a struggle of some sort will come your way soon and your karate practice will help you get through it. If life has been difficult lately it will get better and karate will be there for you to embrace the joys in life as well. As always, karate keeps us moving forward through whatever is put in our path.

Domo arigato gozaimasu-

Sensei Neff, Yon-Dan

Ueshiro Midtown Karate Dojo

P.S. 748 Ueshiro Karate Club