ARE YOU READY?

From one of my favorite tales (See Endnote # 1), a poem for your contemplation.

When Heaven is about to confer
A great office upon a man,
It first exercises his mind with suffering,
And his sinew and bones with toil;
It exposes him to poverty
And confounds his undertakings.
Then it is seen if he is ready.

Respectfully submitted,

Sensei John Szmitkowski

When Life decides to verify that I am “ready” for what lays ahead, I find that the Shobu variation of Sanchin Kata prepares me for Life’s tests. To view an EXCITING & UNIQUE short video filmed amongst a few Arizona vultures, please click this convenient link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lf8dlXsBnoI

ENDNOTES:

1. The poem is attributed to “Moshi” and is from the preface to: Jennings, William Dale, The Ronin ( Charles E. Tuttle Co, Tokyo, Japan, 1968)

Tags: Academy of Goshin-Do Karate, Adversity, Goshin-Do Karate, Kata in nature, Sanchin Kata, Sensei John, The Ronin, Tonto Nation Forest, William Dale Jennings