About 18 years ago, I first heared the phrase “Bushin wa o motte totoshi tonasu” and thought “Huh! What did he just say?” But instead of interrupting the flow of conversation, I made a mental note of the phrase and later, butchering it, asked one of the Japanese shihan its meaning.
I think that he noticed my sincerity and was kind enough to explain it was an old phrase in our training. He explained it referred to the concept that a warrior heart holds harmony as sacred. So, when I was in Japan and Hatsumi-soke mentioned it one night it reminded me of this journey we are on – this life long quest, not to learn to be King of the Hill, but to refine ourselves. To become better martial artists, better teachers, better students, better friends, husbands and fathers… Better human beings