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Thursday, 31st January 2008
CONTENTS:
1. Reminder - Asocial Violence Seminar - This Saturday 2nd Feb
2. New Club Library Additions
1. Reminder - Asocial Violence Seminar - This Saturday 2nd Feb
Just a reminder about guest Sensei - Mike Allen this Saturday covering Asocial Violence, realities and tools for extreme situations:
Saturday 2nd February,
10:30-12pm
12:15-2pm
Nathan dojo
Full casual fees apply for visitors to the dojo.
2. New Club Library Additions
Mastery by George Leonard
"In this book George Leonard describes the concept of "mastery" and explains how to achieve it. Mastery is defined not as a goal to be achieved but as an acceptance, and even enjoyment, of the process of learning and growing in a skill. The journey is much more important than the destination.
The first part of the book defines this concept of mastery in much more detail. Leonard explains three character types that often defeat mastery: the Dabbler, the Obsessive, and the Hacker.
- The Dabbler is one who starts many new things and makes good progress initially. However, once the Dabbler hits the first plateau he gets bored and moves onto the next greatest thing.
- The Obsessive lives for the growth spurt in a skill. If he's not constantly and actively growing he presses himself harder and faster. Eventually the Obsessive burns out and moves on to something else.
- Once the Hacker has passed over the first major growth spurt and is on the first plateau he just stays there. He doesn't actively spend time trying to learn and grow. He just tinkers with the bit of skill he's developed and remains satisfied at that level.
The second part of the book explains the main keys to mastery.
- The first key is instruction. Leonard recommends that to be on the road to mastery the pupil needs an instructor. -
- The second key is practice. Any music student has heard this time and time again. Without practice the instruction is wasted.
- The third key is surrender. The concept of surrender refers to being willing to fail at attempts to become better. The fourth key is intentionality. This is "keeping your mind in the game" or "your eye on the prize". The idea here is to maintain a clear vision of where you are trying to go (even if you never get there).
- The final key to mastery is the "edge" or the constant urge to challenge and press the limits. This is what keeps the student from complacency and keeps the student moving forward on the path."
By Mike Noel, http://www.vnoel.com/content/view/137/54/
The author George Leonard sensei describes the process of mastery of aikido (and beyond). As individuals in our club and within ourselves we have many Obsessive, Dabblers, Hackers and Masters. I found many parts of this resonated with aspects of my own practice of Aikido, both as encouragement as well as identifying my individual struggles. Danny
Hagakure: The Book of the Samurai by Yamamoto Tsunetomo and William Scott Wilson
Hagakure -- which can be translated as either "hidden leaves" or "hidden by leaves" -- was published on September 10, 1716. It is a compilation of the philosophies of Yamamoto Tsunetomo, a close retainer of Nabeshima Mitsushige, the third ruler of what is now
The book can be very dry, especially if a person is not especially interested in Japanese history or Samurai thought. But if one does enjoy those subjects, Hagakure is interesting not so much for all of its philosophies, which run from the profound to the mundane to the absurd, but rather for the historical context in which it was written. By the time Mitsushige passed away in May 1700,
Shirin Mohebbi
Email: shirin(AT)internode.on.net
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