Dear Students, Teachers and Parents,

Just a quick reminder that we will be closed from December 22nd
through the 30th. I hope everyone has a great Christmas break.

We will also be having a weapons seminar on next Saturday the 15th on
the Bo form Sushi No Kun. If you are interested in training, please
talk to your Sensei.

Message of the Week
The Hawk and the Art of Scanning

The early Chinese martial artists tried to understand the world
around them through a process called Shamanism. They watched nature
and used what they saw as a base for creating concepts of the world
as it really is. In Kojosho, we have 18 postures that are used to
help create an understanding as to the ways of the world and the
martial arts. These 18 postures are made up of 9 animals and 9
elements, each with their own specific virtues and key principles.
Each modern Kojosho student concentrates on these concepts and uses
them to help understand the key principles of success – in combat and
life in general.
This week we will talk about some of the attributes of the Hawk. The
hawk defends by staying outside of her opponents range, circling,
probing for weaknesses. When she attacks, she darts in like a
thunderbolt. She is vicious, ripping and tearing with her talon and
beak, and then quickly retreats before her enemy can retaliate. These
physical attributes are easy to see, but what about the hidden
success qualities the hawk possess.
One of the key principles is that the hawk is a master at scanning as
a method of awareness. By moving her attention smoothly and
continuously, she builds a comprehensive image of the current
situation as it develops. There are two major errors in the scanning
process that the hawk has learned to overcome – fixation and
omission.
Fixation and omission are universal errors in human attention.
Fixation is deadly in combat. It is imperative that the mind be alert
in combat in the now, not detained or focused elsewhere. When we
become fixated on a given situation, we are open to other attacks
which could be equally or more dangerous. The hawk sees everything,
as it truly is, not giving it more importance than is necessary to
handle the situation.
Omission is equally dangerous, because if you deny the existence of a
threat, then you may miss the danger and get hurt. Each detail is
paid attention to with an understanding of how that detail is linked
to our own specific needs and goals. The hawk knows that she does not
have the ability to go toe-to-toe with the larger or stronger
opponent, so she has become a master of seeing what cannot be seen.
Only by seeing everything, can a true warrior make the right decision
in the moment of choice. This is the way of the hawk.

Till Next Week,
Terry Bryan, Kyoshi