"The two most powerful warriors are patience and time." — Leo Tolstoy
The best Aikidoists defeat others with patience. Someone once said, “The heart of a samurai should be in patience and waiting.” One way to say “patience” in Japanese is konki (根氣). Kon means “root” and ki means “energy.” Thinking about the translation of the Japanese characters, one could theorize that patience is the root of our power.
Oftentimes, having patience feels like boredom and looks like laziness. However, to an Aikidoist patience is not passive at all. To be bored is “to feel weary because one is unoccupied or lacks interest in one's current activity.” In this sense, the malaise of boredom is passive. Patience is defined as, “the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.” The key phrase is “without getting angry or upset.” In a martial arts context, patience is active because we have to mindfully maintain our composure when we are confronted by failure, difficulties or discomfort. Thus, patience is a superpower.
In Aikido training we learn the value of being patient. In class, one thing that we are trying to learn is how to read the rhythm or timing of our partner’s attack. If we can read their rhythm, then we can see the suki (隙) or “opening” within their movements and exploit it. One way to look at it is that the body is a system of levers. When levers are opening, other levers must be closing. As something is closing (contracting) or opening (extending), a momentary weak point appears that we can attack and use to gain the victory. To train oneself to see an opening requires patience because only time and experience can teach us this skill. Patience is also required so that we can exploit the opening at just the right moment for success.
Aikido training teaches how to use patience as a weapon. “To defeat someone with patience or persistence” is referred to as konmake (根負け). Training is supposed to be a gaman taikai (我慢大会) or “a test of one’s perseverance.” Gaman (我慢) means “to persevere” and taikai means “tournament.” When people hear this, they immediately think of pain but it is really more of a test of wills. The gaman taikai answers the inner question of “How much can I take?” We defeat people because we can outlast them but the real opponent we are defeating is ourselves. We must have patience when things become difficult or uncomfortable, and we must have the perseverance to see things through to the end.
Leo Tolstoy said, “Patience is waiting. Not passively waiting. That is laziness. But to keep going when the going is hard and slow - that is patience.” Both Aikido and life are filled with ups and downs, victories, and defeats. The hardest part is to have patience and continue on when things aren’t seemingly going our way. In Japanese, they say that success is unkondon (運根鈍) or a function of “luck, patience, and steadfastness.” No one gives it to us, we must work hard and defeat our adversities with patience.
Today’s goal: Be patient, your day will come - defeat them with patience.
Watch this video to better understand patience.