I say opposition because the word "Enemy" brings to mind the need to defeat! While if I contemplate the word "opposition" I really just see an object, force, or subject that can be overcome.



If I begin with the pretense that I have an enemy, then I must live with the thought of always looking over my shoulder. That would be a very sad way to spend ones' life... always in fear of what might happen! These days, I find it far better to accept life on its own terms instead of trying to impose my beliefs into the grand scheme of things.



Learning to become aware is the beginning of acceptance in the Martial Arts, that is, the recognition and embracing of a goal or an obstacle that needs to be reached or gone through.

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Richard Bach once said that, "There is no such thing as a problem without a gift for you in its hands... You seek problems because you need their gifts".



Opposition, problems, obstacles, or whatever we might want to call them, all offer us an opportunity to grow. That growth is a gift! Once gone through, we will never have to enter into that same situation again. Therefore the gift to us will be one less issue to overcome... our life's burdens become lighter.



For many years I looked at the dark side of life, "the Enemy"! I prepared myself, I worked hard to defeat, to win, to beat down any adversary that might be foolish enough to challenge my abilities. I spent many, many years in preparation for this time, and this is what I found:



I lived in the future, not the present.
I lived in anticipation, but was never ready.
I lived in apprehension, not tranquility.
I lived in fear, not confidence.



MOST OF ALL...



I found the only enemy I had, was the enemy within!



I am in no way saying that I have found Nirvana, but there are periods when I teach, that (just for a moment) I find myself in the center of perception and can act and react without thought or need.



As I have grown older in age and in this wonderful art of Shizen-Ryu, these periods of time also grow. Hopefully, someday, they will be with me always... but if all I do is dwell upon it... it will never come! So I will take it when it appears, and work for it when it is distant, and I will always know that…If I should ever need it, it will be there, as long as I continue to work for it!



The Martial Arts are a way of harmony, a way in which any opposition can be overcome (but make no mistake…  to do this, we must first defeat the enemy within) then whatever uneasiness we may have, will not need to be conquered, only gone through.



There is no secret, no short cut, and no easy path. If you want to learn, please by all means come join us. We are slow... we are repetitious; we are traditional, and honest in our approach. Most of all, if you are honest in your desire to learn, We welcome you.