THE DICHOTOMY OF AMATAI-NO-SHUGO-RYU

The Dichotomy of Amatai-no-Shugo-ry

In training and practicing Amatai-no-Shugo-ryū, the thinking man cannot help but waver between Wa-Dō, the Way of Peace and Harmony, and its martial relevance; that is between peace and its martial applications, the Way of War. in due course, the wise man trains against realistic, honest intentions to do harm: intense intentions that seem to pervade the society we live in. One has but to watch the nightly news or read the morning newspaper in order to become acutely aware of the intentions and actions that fill our society. One learns to apply the techniques of Amato-no-Shugo-ryū with equal intent and intensity, as demonstrated and expressed in the techniques which are both powerful and effective; while at the same time, maintaining a sense of inner peace and benevolence, particularly focused at the community we live in and the people around us.

The honesty of intent and intensity are important in training on both a martial, aesthetic and spiritual level. In order for one to progress on their Way, one must be honest and genuine with themselves, particularly in matters of discipline and training. Any desire to train and progress must come from deep inside; it must be something that one is willing to make an honest commitment to and to keep that commitment with honor. One also needs to be honest, both with themselves and with their sensei as to the reason(s) why one is traning. Is it discipline and training? If so then there must be a indisputable commitment of intent to the training and discipline required by Amatai-no-shugo-ryū.

Intent is of the spirit and mind; intensity is of the body. When both share equally in an honest commitment toward the dame goal, this harmony can provide the basis and potential for a personal and spiritual awakening and enlightenment.

Yet, how can one be devoted to martial arts and at the same time to the Way of Peace? Wa-Dō only comes through strength: mental, moral, emotional, spiritual, and physical strength. Peace through weakness is acceptance of defeat and acquiescence. Strength, be it mental strength, moral strength, emotional, spiritual and/or physical allows peace to be a choice. Amatai-no-Shugo-ryū allows one to develop and train themselves for that choice. Amatai-no-Shugo-ryū makes a conscious choice of peace through strength. It is not the embodiment of war but rather the spirit of caring protection and peace: for the individual, community, and society. History has demonstrated time and again that hose who challenge peace and harmony do not have an appreciation, or a respect, or the ability to respond to a passive, compliant approach to peace. Those who want control and power, be it on a personal, community, or even national level, often take this passive, accommodating, yielding position of peace as permission to follow their own agenda. While fighting to end wars has brought only a temporary pace, it has proven to be the only means to stop tyranny, whether on a personal or social level. It therefore becomes incumbent on a martial art or collection of arts as in Amatai-no-Shugo-ryū to develop within a philosophical framework in which peace, harmony, and responsiveness to threat are themselves harmonious and thus do not add to the aggression around us. Rather than responding with passivity or fear, Amatai-no-Shugo-ryū stands ready to confront conflict, to redirect aggressive energy and direct it back against itself, without adding more aggression, until the aggression is subdued and a threat no longer viably exists. One who studies Amatai-no-Shugo-ryū thus stands ready to respond directly to aggression, whether it is directed at them personally, at friends or family, or at their community, with honesty and strength of character, using only the aggressive energy directed at him without adding to it.