A Spirit-Led Life

. . . When our mind and body are unified and calm, our Reiseishin manifests itself completely. Once this happens all suffering and wicked desires fall away. And the Universal Mind of love and protection for all things appears in us. Let us strive to realize Reiseishin.

                                                                                    ~Ki Saying #17 – Koichi Tohei

 

. . .  If you open your Heart and Mind, if you don’t let the fear of the unknown limit you, the world expands. Love your neighbor and God will love you.

~Author Unknown.

 

. . . The fruit of the spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Long Suffering, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-Control. Against such there is no law.  If we live in the spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Then we won’t need to look for honors and popularity, provoking one another, envying one another, which leads to hard feelings.

~Gal. 5:22, 23, 25, 26

 

 

Many, many, many years ago I was going through some tribulations and trials overwhelmed by but enduring what seemed to be life-changing crises immobilized in a place of darkness. Everything seemed to be falling apart. Spiritually, mentally, and emotionally I was devastated.  I was a black belt, a star (some people say, A Big Star), and I was despondent. Night after night I performed with my fellow cohorts, and heard the applause of thousands of people a year. I appeared enthralling and captivating, yet that sense of emptiness kept gnawing at my insides.

Then I decided to have a talk with one of my mentors. There’s a clue. Many times we think we can work out our dark moments by ourselves. I thought that, too. This is what I found out—I need a mentor. I’ve had five mentors through the years, three of them are still living. I encourage you to find a mentor. So, I met with my mentor. After revealing and exposing the absolute truth of my story she compassionately with assertiveness, shared a simple, yet powerful, life-changing message that has stayed with me through the years and continues to and add value to my life.

She said, Clay, get out of you head. It’s full of stuff! Fear! Go to where it’s empty of fear. Go to your “Na’au”—the core of your being—where Aloha resides.

Let go of your fear.
It will destroy you.
Nurture your seed of Aloha.
It will restore you.

Auntie Alice passed on over 25 years ago, and her message lives on. So, from Auntie Alice, through me, to you. She says, “Eh, you! Get out of your head. It’s full of you know what—fear! Go to where there is no fear. Go to your Na’au—to the core of your being—where Aloha resides.

 

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About The Author

For over fifty years now I have been a student of Master Koichi Tohei. A founding member of Lokahi Ki Society, I now serve as Senior Advisor and currently hold the rank of 6th Dan Black Belt in Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido. For over five decades, throughout the USA, I have dedicated myself to creating programs for people to experience the spiritual power they naturally have through the unification of Mind and Body. I hope to support you in putting the power you naturally possess into action so you may experience an expansion of harmony, joy, and Love in your daily life, to give you an opportunity to create a better world and contribute to the lives of others.

 

Leadership 101

The Leadership of Possibility

“….If we unify our mind and body, become one with the universe, and practice its principles, others will follow us gladly….”
~Koichi Tohei, Ki saying #10

“But we will not boast of authority we do not have. Our goal is to measure up to God’s plan for us, and this plan includes our working there with you.”
~2 Corinthians 10:13

“Leadership has less to do with position than it does with disposition.”
~author unknown

 

There are two common threads intertwined as one that weaves through and connects the above quotations (“others will follow us gladly…..this plan includes our working with you….leadership has less to do with position than it does with disposition.”) The two intertwined threads are “relationship” and “disposition”. One cannot exist without the other. They are joined at the hip. A happy disposition, a happy relationship = a leader of possibilities. A selfish disposition, an unhappy relationship = a leadership that’s doomed to crash.

Leadership is a possibility to grow and live into. It all begins with gratitude which expands to being humble versus being boastful. Humility expands to being compassionate which in turn expands to being understanding, which expands to being respectful, which expands to being willing to get off of one’s position and stand in another’s place and perform with confidence. This is leadership at its highest level.

Earlier I alluded to the disposition of being boastful—a disposition driven by a need to hold on to one’s position to survive. The need to look good or not to look bad is a need driven by fear. Fear will destroy all possibilities. Fear will destroy a leader. The need to survive adds to the momentum of a downward spiral of one’s leadership.

Love is the driving force that propels a leader from the grips of survival to upward mobility to the realm of possibilities. Love restores! A restored leader realizes out of his own evaluated experience that fear and scarcity promotes dissention between people. A restored leader calls upon people’s passions rather their fears. A restored leader empowers people to step out of their confining jackets of survival and grow into an expanding jacket of what’s possible: a life of security, success, and significance.
~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.”
~Albert Einstein

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About The Author

For over fifty years now I have been a student of Master Koichi Tohei. A founding member of Lokahi Ki Society, I now serve as Senior Advisor and currently hold the rank of 6th Dan Black Belt in Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido. For over five decades, throughout the USA, I have dedicated myself to creating programs for people to experience the spiritual power they naturally have through the unification of Mind and Body. I hope to support you in putting the power you naturally possess into action so you may experience an expansion of harmony, joy, and Love in your daily life, to give you an opportunity to create a better world and contribute to the lives of others.

Run to Win

 The Value of Our Existence

 

“Our lives are born of the Ki of the universe. Let us give thanks for being born not as plants and animals, but as human beings blessed with a universal mind.  Let us pledge to fulfill our missions by helping to guide the development and creation of the universe.”
~Koichi Tohei, Ki saying #2

 

“In a race everyone runs but only one person gets first prize.  So run your race to win.  To win the contest you must deny yourself many things that would keep you from doing your best.  An athlete goes through all the struggle just to win a blue ribbon or a silver cup.  But we do it for a heavenly reward that never disappears.  So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step.  I fight to win.  I’m not just shadow-boxing or playing around.  Like an athlete I punish my body, treating it roughly, training it to do what it should, not what it wants to.  Otherwise, I fear that after enlisting others for the race, I myself might be declared unfit and ordered to step aside.”
~1 Corinthians 9:24-27

 

“Personal development is the belief that you are worth the effort, time, and energy needed to develop yourself.”
~Denis Waitley

 

 

One word came to mind as I read the above quotes.  The word?  Self-discipline.

 

Life is a race.  Life began in a race.  A race where no self-discipline was needed.  A race where our animal instincts ruled.  A race to survive.  Think of it!  We were one of millions of minute spermatozoon frantically swimming upstream as if our lives depended on it.  Imagine what the race to survive looked like.  Millions of little sperms swimming madly; pushing, shoving, kicking each other in order to survive long enough to fertilize one egg.  There could only be one winner and you won!  I won!  We won!  And we brought with us a strong instinct to survive.  Our protective mechanism in a form of a permanent habit will show up unconsciously when needed whether our experience of fear is real or not.  It is alive and well.

 

Now that we won and are sitting at survival, the lowest level on the totem pole, it’s time to rise up, nurture our self-discipline, take responsibility for our own personal growth and run the race to win over our fears, doubts, and unbelief.  Our faith will be tested.  Our courage will be challenged.  There will be hurdles to clear, barriers to overcome, raging rivers to forge, and mountains to conquer.  We may feel the need to push, shove, kick, even scream in anguish as we fall.  The urge to quit may thunder in our mind. When this happens, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and press forward.

 

Then comes the time when we discover that the whole process (yes, all of it) was necessary for our own personal growth.  We discover that the result of extreme irritation is a pearl.  The result of extreme pressure is a diamond.  At that point of discovery, we make a shift from fear, doubt, and unbelief to a spirit of gratitude, joy, love, harmony, peace and prosperity.  Together we learn and grow and blossom into something magnificent—living a blessed life. A life full of possibilities!

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About The Author

For over fifty years now I have been a student of Master Koichi Tohei. A founding member of Lokahi Ki Society, I now serve as Senior Advisor and currently hold the rank of 6th Dan Black Belt in Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido. For over five decades, throughout the USA, I have dedicated myself to creating programs for people to experience the spiritual power they naturally have through the unification of Mind and Body. I hope to support you in putting the power you naturally possess into action so you may experience an expansion of harmony, joy, and Love in your daily life, to give you an opportunity to create a better world and contribute to the lives of others.

Ki Principles In Athletics

Dear Clayton & Gloria,

I am writing to thank you both for the fascinating demonstration of Ki in increasing muscular resistance through focusing one’s mind on the task. More than that I enjoyed simply meeting, splitting a sandwich, and talking with Clayton before Gloria’s planned “demonstration” of whatever I had no inkling. I am positive that if I lived in Hawaii I would value Clayton’s friendship and learning Aikido with him.

As I told Clayton, in my youth I was National Prep School Wrestling Champion in my weight class three years running and later earned a wrestling scholarship at Syracuse University where I continued wrestling. Lately I have organized a group of  former, still interested wrestling students to get exercise and refresh them on wrestling techniques I taught them 30 or so years ago when they competed.

Ever since meeting you, Clayton, and briefly experiencing the mysterious power of Ki at your demonstration, I have been wondering how in the fast moving and un-smooth, combat sport of amateur wrestling Ki could be applied. I’d be interested on your comments here.

In closing, I hope we meet again, Clayton, and that we will be able to maintain a long distance friendship and continuing conversation.

With Warmest Regards,

Sincerely,
R Chappell

 

 

Hello R,

So nice to hear from you. I, too, had a great time interacting with you before, during, and after the Ki demonstration!

Being a champion wrestler and having spent time with you, it sounds like you were and still are already practicing some of the Ki principles. As you know, and being an athlete myself, calmness is crucial. This is something I learned from my Dad.

I played football, basketball and tennis and because of the state of calmness I was in while performing at a high level I could see things clearly and had a sense of what was about to happen before it happened. Some people call it “court sense” or peripheral vision. So I was able to respond more often than react. As you know, when one “reacts” it’s often too late. I’m not talking about anticipating. I’m
talking about responding as the situation or circumstance arises.

I believe you were a champion in wrestling and now in life because you respond calmly when necessary. So this may give you an idea of how Ki principles can be applied in wrestling because “living calmness” is a Ki principle.

Aloha,
Clay

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About The Author

For over fifty years now I have been a student of Master Koichi Tohei. A founding member of Lokahi Ki Society, I now serve as Senior Advisor and currently hold the rank of 6th Dan Black Belt in Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido. For over five decades, throughout the USA, I have dedicated myself to creating programs for people to experience the spiritual power they naturally have through the unification of Mind and Body. On a personal note, I am married, and I’ve been blessed with 5 children, 14 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren. I’ve also been blessed with a successful business career. For 23 of those years I sang and entertained with the famous musical group, “The Surfers.” I hope to support you in putting the power you naturally possess into action so you may experience an expansion of harmony, joy, and Love in your daily life, to give you an opportunity to create a better world and contribute to the lives of others.

Art Of Living Calmness

The Art Of Living Calmness

 

Like the eye of a typhoon

which is always peaceful

Inner calm results in great strength of action.

Ki Saying by Koichi Tohei

Founder of Ki Society H.Q.

They say, calmness is power.

We, who have experienced it say,

“Living Calmness” is Power! Dynamic! Life changing!

 

Living calmness is available to everyone.

It is our original and natural state.  We are endowed with the gift of living calmness.

It is a state of being filled with hope, passion and infinite possibilities.

With that gift comes responsibility to learn it……

to nurture it…….

to live it………

to share it.

 

I would be remiss and irresponsible

if I didn’t address the other side of the coin – Dead Calmness.

Dead calmness is powerless, lifeless, immobile.

It’s like a ship that sits dead in the water.

Ship, crew and passengers are at the mercy of the elements. the wind …..the rain ….. the seas.

Their fate is controlled by situations and circumstances outside of themselves.

 

Dead calmness is driven by fear….  Fear that is learned and nurtured.

Dead calmness leads to a life of “quiet desperation”.

 

Living calmness and dead calmness are both possible. It is all a matter of choice.

Here are a few real life practical examples of the choices we sometimes make and

the differences between dead calmness and living calmness.

Dead calmness                                                    Living calmness

I’ll do it tomorrow                                               I’ll do it now

Blames others                                                      Takes responsibility

Gives up often                                                     Perseveres

Talks the talk                                                        Walks the talk

Plays it safe                                                           Takes risks

Stops learning                                                      Growth is paramount

 

Eleanor Roosevelt said, “One’s philosophy is not best expressed in words; it is expressed in the choices one makes.  In the long run, we shape our life and we shape ourselves.  The process never ends until we die.  And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility.”

 

It is my hope that you choose living calmness.  It is only a decision away.

 

To learn more and to explore and experience the power of living calmness, please join us to try out one of our classes or call us at 808- 372-7724

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About The Author

For over fifty years now I have been a student of Master Koichi Tohei. A founding member of Lokahi Ki Society, I now serve as Senior Advisor and currently hold the rank of 6th Dan Black Belt in Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido. For over five decades, throughout the USA, I have dedicated myself to creating programs for people to experience the spiritual power they naturally have through the unification of Mind and Body. On a personal note, I am married, and I’ve been blessed with 5 children, 14 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren. I’ve also been blessed with a successful business career. For 23 of those years I sang and entertained with the famous musical group, “The Surfers.” I hope to support you in putting the power you naturally possess into action so you may experience an expansion of harmony, joy, and Love in your daily life, to give you an opportunity to create a better world and contribute to the lives of others.

My Aikido Journey

My Aikido Journey

 

21, Summer break, friends – “Hey, let’s try Aikido!”.  A lot of rolling, getting thrown, kind of fun, scary.

41, married, baby twin daughters, I gotta protect them, don’t want a gun, I join my friend at Aikido.

5 years, A glimpse of the power of Ki.

Is there more?

I call Sensei Naluai, he invites me to Wednesday class, I meet Eric Sensei.

There is more.

“Aikido is love, mind and body unification, stay calm under pressure.  Why? To have a meaningful life.  Set your goal, speak it into existence, practice, expect and persevere through problems, partner-up, get a good mentor, reap your destiny!”

When? Now!

Character is revealed and developed through test and all of life is a test.

5 years. Sensei Boyer says: “I want you to test.  “Yes, Sensei”.  You have to learn 20 arts. “Yes, Sensei”.  5 with a knife. “Yes, Sensei”. Ken and Jo.  “Yes, Sensei”.  And 4 people will attack you…at once.  “Yes, Sensei”.

“What is the knife called?”

PUT POSITIVE THOUGHTS INTO YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS

SET THE GOAL

FOCUS

PRACTICE with who, when.  Figure it out.

I’m tired…PRACTICE.

PERSEVERANCE

Sensei Boyer asks:  “who is your Uke?” “I don’t know”.  Ask someone.

“Fenix, would you be my Uke?” “Yes.” Thank you.  All of Lokahi supports me.

GRATITUDE

Sensei Naluai says: “you know, Native Americans walk on their toes with their feet facing forward.”

ATTITUDE

Seminar Weekend.  Wow, this came fast.

Curtis Sensei’s theme: Be open to the unknown and connect, especially when you don’t want to.  And, he promises to help me by changing my understanding of the Arts…and he fulfills his promise.

OMG, fear, doubt, I’m not ready, I can’t, If I leave now I can save myself.

I am ready, I can, I’m staying – never give up.

OK, I’ll stay, but I’ve got to keep to myself, stay away.

Connect.  Serve.  Otomo.  Get out of yourself.  PRACTICE.

It’s Time.  Heart pounding.  Supportive Uke, Ki Society, friends, and family all here for support LOVE.  Hey, this feels good.  You mean it’s over?

Reflection – what did I learn:

FOCUS, CONNECTION, PERSEVERANCE, PRACTICE, ATTITUDE, GRATITUDE, SPIRIT, LOVE

Looking forward – I anticipate my journey – open to the unknown.  

I’m Listening.

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About The Author

My aikido training began in 2002… in 2007 I joined Lokahi Ki Society where I earned the rank of Shodan. Ki-Aikido training with its emphasis on Mind/Body Unification has enhanced both my personal and professional life for the better in so many ways. I love being a family man, my wife and I are the proud parents of twin girls. In my professional life I practice law, a sole practitioner concentrating in the areas of estate planning, wills, trusts, supplemental needs planning for families who have children with disabilities, charitable tax planning, estate and gift tax planning and estate administration.

Risk You Must…

The Power Of Choice…

 

On the road to success, the road less travelled, there are potholes, small ones — big ones — humongous ones!  You have no control over the potholes being there. You did not put them there, and, you can count on them being there. So, chances are that you will hit one of them.  That’s the risk — and risk you must.  Why? cause there’s a purpose to potholes. . . to refine you — not to ruin you.  To test your faith, your courage, your integrity.  So risk you must.  That’s the choice you must make.  Otherwise those potholes will ruin you.

 

Not “stupid” risks — calculated risks.  For example:  you’re on the top floor of a 30 story high-rise and need to get to the ground floor.  You have three choices: elevator, stairs, or jump.  Two are calculated risks.  One is the “stupid” risk.  And to get where you want to go — risk you must.

 

So it is with life and self mastery.  Every time you risk, fall, and chose to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, learn from your failures and move forward, you will discover that you are more than you thought you were, that you can do more than you thought you could do, and you can have more of what life has to offer than you ever thought possible.  So Risk You Must!

 

“The Hardest Victory Is Over Self”  ~  Aristotle

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About The Author

For over fifty years now I have been a student of Master Koichi Tohei. A founding member of Lokahi Ki Society, I now serve as Senior Advisor and currently hold the rank of 6th Dan Black Belt in Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido. For over five decades, throughout the USA, I have dedicated myself to creating programs for people to experience the spiritual power they naturally have through the unification of Mind and Body. On a personal note, I am married, and I’ve been blessed with 5 children, 14 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren. I’ve also been blessed with a successful business career. For 23 of those years I sang and entertained with the famous musical group, “The Surfers.” I hope to support you in putting the power you naturally possess into action so you may experience an expansion of harmony, joy, and Love in your daily life, to give you an opportunity to create a better world and contribute to the lives of others.