Ⅱ“awareness most important and remarkable result attained...

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Ⅱ“AwarenessMost important and remarkable result attained through BUJUTSU training What „Awareness” means ? You can often watch such scene in SAMURAI movies or TV drams that a hero can detect attacker’s presence in his behind and does counter attack right before he is attacked. It might be so hard to understand this concept for Western people that a well established SAMURAI could detect the presence of attacker who hides behind him even he does not see nor hear the attacker at all. It is too hard to realize that one could detect the other’s mind which is still not realized as an act. Westerners simply believe that it should be a fairy tale and could happen only in stories. For Japanese, we take it as normal. For highly skilled SAMURAI, they can detect attacker’s mind quite naturally, so most or even all of Japanese simply believe it is real. How it happens ? Do all Japanese know it from own experience ? Or is it a nation wide illusion which has been build up for hundreds years ? I would like to mention one Japanese BUDO master, named Akira HINO, a Japanese BUJUTSU-ka whose name is well known not only in Japan but world wide. Once I saw a video where he shows a performance to avoid rifle’s bullet by quickly waving/turning him aside before the trigger is on. Of course the real bullet was not loaded in that rifle, but by observing Mr. HINO’s movement and the timing of triggering sound, we could judge if he could have escaped or not. It was really amazing that every time Mr. HINO could move his body fully aside from the bullet path at the moment trigger was made. Of course the speed of a finger which makes trigger is much quicker than Mr. HINO’s body movement. Mr. HINO surely should have detected or felt the attacker’s triggering intention. This is only one logical explanation how and why it was possible. Mr. HINO should have mastered this Awareness through his long and deep BUJUTSU training. He must be able to detect the attacker’s intention by gazing attacker’s eyes, or delicate change which appears all through attacker’s entire body. Even for Western people, this performance might be understood somehow, although it is still very much mysterious. But they surely still can not accept the concept that well established SAMURAI could detect an attacker’s intention who hides behind and not visible from that SAMURAI at all. This could be possible if the SAMURAI can pay a sharp attention not only forwards but all around him like a sonar of submarine. And this is nothing else but one of Awareness in BUJUTSU.

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Ⅱ“Awareness”

Most important and remarkable result attained through BUJUTSU

training

What „Awareness” means ?

You can often watch such scene in SAMURAI movies or TV drams that a hero can

detect attacker’s presence in his behind and does counter attack right before he is

attacked. It might be so hard to understand this concept for Western people that a

well established SAMURAI could detect the presence of attacker who hides behind him

even he does not see nor hear the attacker at all.

It is too hard to realize that one could detect the other ’s mind which is still not realized

as an act. Westerners simply believe that it should be a fairy tale and could happen

only in stories.

For Japanese, we take it as normal. For highly skilled SAMURAI, they can detect

attacker’s mind quite naturally, so most or even all of Japanese simply believe it is real.

How it happens ? Do all Japanese know it from own experience ? Or is it a nation

wide illusion which has been build up for hundreds years ?

I would like to mention one Japanese BUDO master, named Akira HINO, a Japanese

BUJUTSU-ka whose name is well known not only in Japan but world wide. Once I

saw a video where he shows a performance to avoid rifle’s bullet by quickly

waving/turning him aside before the trigger is on. Of course the real bullet was not

loaded in that rifle, but by observing Mr. HINO’s movement and the timing of

triggering sound, we could judge if he could have escaped or not.

It was really amazing that every time Mr. HINO could move his body fully aside from

the bullet path at the moment trigger was made.

Of course the speed of a finger which makes trigger is much quicker than Mr. HINO’s

body movement. Mr. HINO surely should have detected or felt the attacker ’s triggering

intention. This is only one logical explanation how and why it was possible. Mr.

HINO should have mastered this Awareness through his long and deep BUJUTSU

training. He must be able to detect the attacker ’s intention by gazing attacker ’s eyes,

or delicate change which appears all through attacker ’s entire body.

Even for Western people, this performance might be understood somehow, although

it is still very much mysterious. But they surely still can not accept the concept that

well established SAMURAI could detect an attacker ’s intention who hides behind and

not visible from that SAMURAI at all.

This could be possible if the SAMURAI can pay a sharp attention not only forwards

but all around him like a sonar of submarine. And this is nothing else but one of

Awareness in BUJUTSU.

The other Awareness is „noticing” It means a well established SAMURAI could notice a

serious matter from a tiny evidence on which people could normally never pay

attention. The target of this Awareness does not be restricted to the other ’s attacking

intention but every important intentions or happenings.

Well, let’s explain those two Awareness by referring to examples described in popular

SAMURAI stories.

Awareness described in famous SAMURAI story „MIYAMOTO Musashi”

If I could point out the best story described SAMURAI’s way of living, it should be

“MIYAMOTO Musashi” written by the most famous history story writer, Mr. Eiji

YOSHIKAWA.

This story has been read and loved by a lot of Japanese for over half century. A hero of

this book, a SAMURAI named MIYAMOTO Musashi, really existed during 16-17th

centuries, when Japan was divided into many small countries which continued wars

against each other till beginning of TOKUGAWA SHOGUN époque when Japan was

united by the final winner of the wars, i.e. TOKUGWA Ieyasu. Thanks to this book,

name of MIYAMOTO Musashi has become so popular that it is well known all over

Japan now.

Like Mr. OYAMA Masutatsu, founder of KYOKUSHIN Karate school, thousands of

Japanese had kept the way of Musashi’s life with full of challenging spirits through

battle field and death matches as their spiritual support during their own hard time.

If any Western people intend to know and understand the SAMURAI spirits, it is

strongly recommended to read this book as the first thing to do.

It is not my purpose to explain how interesting this book is, but to explain Awareness

itself by quoting several episodes from this book as good examples. These episode can

exactly tell what Awareness is.

Musashi MIYAMOTO in his old days drawn by Musashi. He left several famous pictures and carvings

also his work

(all three from Wikipedia)

1) At Yagyu village

Musashi, in his younger days, has just started his long path to establish his

KENJUTSU style and tried to meet famous established SAMURAI to receive any

hints/suggestion to improve his skills. One day he visited Yagyu village in Nara

prefecture, where a well known KENJUTSU master YAGYU Sekishusai lived.

Musashi intended to meet that old Sekishusai and receive a hint from him.

With staying at a small inn in the village, Musashi thought over how he could meet

that well known KENJUTSU master, YAGYU Sekishusai. Because this already

retired old SAMURAI did not want to be disturbed his quiet time by meeting hundreds

of visitors from all over Japan. At the same time, there are another visitors from

Kyoto. They are the party from YOSHIOKA school in Kyoto, which was established by

an famous Kenjyutsu master named YOSHIOKA Kenpo. Since this founder, the

name of YOSHIOKA family has become well know all over Japan. And one of the

family member, YOSHIOKA Denhichiro stayed in the village together with his

students . He was waiting for a reply from Sekishusai for the meeting. Denhichiro

was so confident that he could even defeat that Sekishusai and wrote him an impolite

letter that he wants to make a match as a same skilled SAMURAI. Denhichiro was so

sure that Sekishusai should meet him because such famous YOSHIOKA family

member came to meet him from Kyoto.

A reply from Sekishusai was delivered to Denhichiro. It was just a twig of bloom and

nothing more.

So, Denhichiro convinced that Sekishusai avoided to meet him because he might worry

to loose the match. Denhichiro declared his thought with full conviction and he and his

followers left the village to go back to Kyoto.

After they had left the inn, Musashi entered into their room so that he could watch the

twig. He believed that the twig should carry certain message from Sekishusai. He

gazed that twig and frightened when he found its small cut area. It was so sharp and

should be cut by highest skilled person. Immediately he realized the astonishing high

skill of Sekishusai.

Then he tried to cut twigs by himself if he could make such sharp cut area, either. He

tried a hundred times but not once came out successfully. Then again he realized that

he could be never compared with Sekishusai at that moment and could find his

excellent future target. At least Musashi has become quite happy to get it.

2) At HOZOIN Yari DOJO in Nara

After defeating YOSHIOKA family completely in Kyoto through over three times fights,

Musashi has become somehow famous in KENJUTSU. He was strolling around Japan

to seek for a new strong opponent and has arrived HOZOIN YARI(spear) DOJO in

Nara.

When he was walking through a narrow path in a huge territory of the HOZOIN

temple to the DOJO which was located in the backyard of the temple, he saw an old

monk plowing ground by a hoe in his way forward. At the moment he reached close to

the monk Musashi felt strong attacking intention from the monk and immediately

jumped away from him to avoid his potential attack.

But nothing had happened. The monk just continued plowing the ground. Musashi

walked on with strange feeling and tried to calm down his turbulent mind

At the DOJO, HOIN Kakushun, a head of the DOJO was absent and accordingly one of

his superior student Agon was providing matches to the visitors. There are 10-15

visitors who wanted to make match but after seeing several visitors had become

invalid or even killed by Agon’s strong and brutal spear attack, they all hesitated to

make match and just kept sitting with faces down to avoid Agon’s eye. Then Musashi

raised his hand to receive Agon’s proposal to fight with. At that time, through a small

window of the DOJO, that monk was watching inside, and whispered

“ Agon’s has no chance with that young SAMURAI.”

The match ended very shortly. Musashi’s avoided Agon’s speedy stroke and the same

moment his BO-KKEN (wooden Katana for training) hit Agon’s head and killed him in

once.

After this match Musashi was invited to a visitor ’s room of the temple by that monk.

His name was Nikkan, a head of the neighbor temple of HOZOIN. Musashi talked

what he experienced at the path with Nikkan.

Nikkan told Musashi that he. as an amateur of BUJUTSU, can never radiate attacking

intention and that it should have been a reflection of Musashi’s attacking intention if

Musashi felt it.

By hearing Nikkan’s explanation, Musashi has got confused and tried to realized what

he meant by his words.

This episode suggests several important points as followings.

a. Musashi had been paying sharp attention around him all the time even he was just

walking.

b. Nikkan noticed or detected sharp intention radiated from Musashi and reflected it

back against Musashi

c. Musashi was frightened by strong attacking intention, which, he though, was

radiated by Nikkan

d. Both Musashi and Nikkan had keen awareness which indicates Awareness could be

attained not only by BUJUTSU training but also by the other training like

Buddhism.

Why Awareness is so important in BUJUTSU

After reading this article till here, most of the readers might basically understand

what Awareness is. Then I would like to explain why it is regarded so important to

attain Awareness in BUJUTSU training.

It is most important in BUJUTSU to win every match because one loss shall result in

death most of the cases. Only few could reach the top who continued winning all the

matches. It may sound same as today’s professional boxing. But the difference is the

fact that just one loss results in death and there is no more return match in BUJUTSU.

That is why in BUJUTSU one must win every time with full of attention and care.

They must concentrate and utilize every possible means to win, i.e. to survive their

lives. And Awareness should be an ultimate effort to survive.

We could say that the strength of Awareness shall decide win or loss, i.e. life or death.

Now, let’s pick up interesting episodes from the SAMURAI books written by Mr,

SHIBA Ryotaro, who is regarded as a top ranked historical story writer same as Mr.

YOSHIKAWA Eiji.

1) YAGYU Munenori’s foul attack

In the époque of 3rd TOKUGAWA family’s SHOGUN Iemitsu, middle of 17th century,

when YAGYU family has established its stable position as SHOGUN’s KENJUTSU

teacher, a well known high skilled SAMURAI wanted to make match with YAGYU

Munenori, a head of the family. Normally nobody can make a match with such top

ranked Krnjutsu-ka as Munenori, but the SHOGUN Iemitsu himself wanted to see

which could win, so he ordered Munenori to fight.

After receiving SHOGUN’s order Munenori studied very carefully about his opponent

and found that the opponent was so skilled that even he might loose. Then Munenori

specially requested SHOGUN Iemitsu if they could fight with real swards

(SHIN-KEN) instead of BO-KKEN and the opponent accepted his offer. As a matter

of fact physically the difference between SHIN-KEN and BO-KKEN was not such big.

Even by BO-KKEN fight, most of the case BO-KKEN hits so hardly that almost all the

cases looser becomes invalid or dead.

On the day when the fight was taken place, both competitors walked into the fighting

ground from left and right sides to the front of SHOGUN Iemitsu. They stopped at the

2.5 meters distance from each others and turn to SHOGUN to bow. At the moment both

bowed and turn up their back, Munenori so suddenly assaulted the opponent unawares

by cutting his body from up right to down left. The opponent has died in once.

Normally match should start after they bow to SHOGUN and face to each other then

hear the start shout by a selected attendance. So, the opponent did not expect this

sudden attack by Munenori. When he was attacked he was not yet ready to start

fighting.

SHOGUN Iemitsu was so shocked to see Munenori’s act and strongly blamed him why

he behaved so unfairly. The SHOGUN even thought that he should punish Munenori

by ordering HARA-KIRI (die by cutting own abdomen).

Munenori answered to SHOGUN’s blaming as followings.

“The fight should have started since we both agreed to fight with SHIN-KEN.

Because I am KENJUTSU teacher of SHOGUN, which means I should be superior to

all other KENJUTSU-ka in Japan, I should not and could not loose. That is my strict

duty so I tried all the possible means to win. It was quite natural behavior to be

blamed as BUJUTSU-ka. The opponent was to be blamed his unawareness not to be

ready against my sudden attack. His mind was too dull as a SAMURAI. He lost the

match because of his lack of Awareness.”

SHOGUN Iemitsu had to accept Munenori’s explanation because it was a logic,

although he did not feel very happy with own retainer, Munenori’s win. But at least he

did not make any punishment against Munenori.

In BUJUTSU, Munenori’s behavior should not be blamed as an unfair act. As he

explained, the serious fight had already started since both agreed to use SHIN-KEN. It

meant a death fight, so they should and could utilize every possible means and

materials to win. Not realizing such serious important fact, the opponent was so easy

and though he could start fighting after hearing start shout.

Such being the case, although SHOGUN Iemitsu felt unpleasant with Munenori’s

behavior, he did not punish Munenori by ordering HARA-KIRI.

Now most of the reader surely got an doubt that Munenori’s behavior should violate

fundamental BUDO spirits as REISEST(politeness) and fairness. How and why it

could be tolerated even it was a matter of Awareness.

It is quite natural that such doubt arises. Before TOKUGAWA SHOGUN époque had

started, war and fights were taken place everywhere in all over Japan. Samurai

trained BUJUTSU so hard to defeat the enemy and to survive. They could and should

take every means to win. There were no RESETSU nor fairness in their discipline. It

was only one purpose to win. In KENJUTSU it actually happened a lot that a student

with strong ambition attacked his teacher to take over the teacher ’s famous name by

defeating him.

When TOKUGAWA SHOGUN period had started, all the Samurai had to work as

administrative officers with carrying their KATANA which has become no practical

usage at all. They had to keep wearing KATANA as a symbol of Samurai, otherwise

they will loose status as Samurai and accordingly loose their job. So far as they keep

wearing Katana, they had to train it. Or because of the pride as being Samurai, they

kept training of KENJUTSU.

We as a human beings need purpose when we had to do something, especially it take a

lot of time and effort. We can never put our big energy for nothing. So Samurai tried

to find a good reason/purpose to train BUJUTSU and they had found that it is to

cultivate their mind to become a respectable person, just like as religion training. In

this way BUJUTSU, as fighting system, has become BUDO.

In the beginning of TOKUGAWA SHOGUN period, this change was not yet completely

done. Both Bujutus and BUDO existed together. So, SHOGUN Iemitsu already had a

mind of BUDO, but he had to accept Munenori’s BUJUTSU concept.

2) One night training given by CHIBA Shusaku to a messenger boy

It was middle of 19th century when the long lasted Japanese feudal époque was coming

to the end. One of the most genius KENJUTSU-ka in the history had appeared in EDO

(Tokyo). He had changed the way of KENJUTSU training completely from old

mysterious and accordingly not logical system to a modern logical way by using soft

wooden stick called SHINAI. Finally he had got more than 3,000 students in his DOJO

which became the biggest KENJUTSU school in the history.

When his name has become well known all over Japan. he received a sudden visitor in

one late evening. The visitor was a man, not SAMURAI, who worked at EDO castle

as a messenger boy. He started to tell his sudden visiting purpose with pale face.

„ This evening I was coming back home from my work. When I was walking along a

dark path with no passenger at all, a SAMURAI suddenly appeared from the side

darkness and stood in front of me. He draw KATANA (sward) and tried to cut me. He

was a murderer by fun. I got so scared and was about to fell down on the ground but

scarcely kept standing and asked him to wait. I explained him that I had such

important thing to do as my duty in the next morning accordingly could not die that

time. I asked him to wait just one day.

Then he told me that he might wait one day if I could promise to come back the same

time same place alone. So, I promised him to keep my words. Then he released me.”

After hearing his story, Shusaku told that messenger boy as,

“ So, you ask me to help you by sending a skillful my student to killing that

murderer ?”

A messenger boy ignored it immediately.

“ No, sir. It is not what I want from you. I do intend to keep my promise for my pride.

But I do not want just to be killed so easily by that murderer. I am fully resigned to

die, but I want to attack back against him to give him even a small damage, if it is

possible. I never want to die as a poor miserable powerless victim”

His answer impressed Shusaku a lot, so he decided to teach him one technique which

might realize his wish.

Next evening that messenger boy came to the place where the murderer was waiting

for his return. The murderer draw his KATANA by saying “ What a bravery man to

come back here alone. It is pity to kill such a courageous person, but I have to do it.”

Then the man also draw KATANA which was rent by Shusaku, and put it high up then

he closed his both eyes. He just kept the positioning without moving.

The murderer came closer to cut the man. When the distance became close enough for

his Katana to cut the man, he so suddenly felt strong attacking intention radiated by

the man. He felt the man’s upped Katana is about to cut him down at that moment.

The murderer stepped back quickly to avoid the man’s counter attack. He was so

scared this counter attack that he could not step forward to the man at all. After half

an hour has passed when several murderer ’s attempt to attack the man failed, he put

his KATANA back to its case and left the place by whispering “ You have won, brave

man.”

When the man convinced that the murderer had left enough far away and could not

feel his existence around him any more, he lost his tension and fall down on the ground

with a feeling he could survive.

On that night Shusaku taught the messenger boy as

1) Be fully resigned to die, never have a hope to survive

2) When fight started, put a Katana up and keep, then close both eyes to avoid any

turbulences arisen in your mind

3) Make full use of your sensitivity so that you can feel the exact moment when the

murderer attacks you.

4) At that very moment quickly and sharply pull down your upped Katana.

5) By this act, you could make a counter attack against him even the damage he gets

might be a small one.

And they trained this simple technique all through that night till dawn.

On that night when the messenger boy told the story, Shusaku noticed that the

murderer should have a certain high skill from the fact he granted to wait one day. And

he though he could utilize that point. If so, he should carry some level of Awareness

which detects attacking intention radiated by the messenger boy if he could do it.

Otherwise there is no possibility at all if a messenger boy should simply fight against

the murderer by Katana. There will be no match at all between them. No help no

hope.

He let the boy resign to die and to concentrate to make a counter attack so that he

could radiate an attacking intention. To make this attacking intention’s radiation

sure, he also let the boy close his both eyes, because blind situation can avoid the boy to

see the murderer’s movement which surely cause him a strong fear and accordingly he

can not make concentration. With that situation the messenger boy finally succeeded

starting to radiate attacking intention which might frighten the murderer strong

enough.

In this case, Awareness is found first by Shusaku when he noticed the murderer ’s level

according to the fact he granted to wait one day, then by the murderer, who detected

attacking intention radiated from the messenger boy exactly as Shusaku expected.

Awareness, utilized as a tool of tactics/strategy

Awareness, which can be attained thorough BUJUTSU training, could also be diverted

to a tool of tactics and strategy. It is quite natural if we think over what Awareness is.

A few numbers of best established KENJUTSU-ka like Munenori and Musashi who

attained the highest level of Awareness, they finally recognized themselves that they

are not only skilled SAMURAI warriors but tactics or strategist who can teach those

principles even to kings or SHOGUN. This is because they noticed the essence of

Awareness.

For KENJUTSU-ka, Awareness can be used as a tool to win the match/fight. In the

same way it can be used as a tool to make tactics and strategy for a country. That is

Awareness.

When TOKUGAWA family had made final victory in the long lasted war period and has

united Japan by name of SHOGUN, there was no more possibility of war in all over

Japan. As a result, all SAMURAIs had started work just same as public servant in

western world. They had lost their original duty to fight and kept working as a clerk or

civil officer who wear KATANA as a symbol of SAMURAI. In such circumstance there

could be only a small numbers of SAMURAI who were superior in BUJUTSU. Almost

of all upper classed SAMURAIs were not good at BUJUTSU at all, they could not

understand Awareness at all. Accordingly those upper classed SAMURAIs, i.e. upper

classed officials regarded well skilled SAMURAI who deeply mastered Awareness like

Munenori and Musashi, just as well skilled soldiers but not more.

When they hear that Munenori or Musashi talking about state matters from point of

strategy, they all thought “ how this soldier could talk such difficult matter as

strategy ” and showed their unpleasant behavior against Munenori and Musashi.

Especially for Musashi who did not carry any title at all, their behavior which arised

from their lack of understanding of Awareness, should be unbearable at all. He should

have spent a lot of his energy in his later life to struggle with such unreasonable

treatment given to him.

In 2004, time passed 3-4 hundreds years after Musashi and Munenori’s epoque, Japan

faced to the severest crisis that it had to fight against Russia, one of the biggest and

strongest country in the world, for the sake of its future. At that time it had passed

only 35 years since Japan stopped feudalism and started as a modern country.

Nobody believed that Japan could win the fight against Russia. It looked like a fight

between small kid and big wrestler. The governor who ruled Japan at that time were

all survivors from MUJI revolution civil war and accordingly they all equipped

excellent awareness with which they noticed well enough the extreme difficulty to

carry out that war. So, they tried almost everything so that Japan could survive.

They convinced that Japan could never ever win but they wished not loose in any mean

which was the only chance Japan could survive.

It was a miracle that Japan could win both in sea and field with a tremendous one side

victory, but they knew Japan would surely be defeated id they continued the war. So

they accepted peace conference without a certain compensation paid by Russia which

was normal to receive for the war winner. The all the Japanese newspapers claimed

their cowardice and even criticised them as traitors. But they did not change their

tact because they believed it was the only way to let their motherland survive for the

future, and it was right.

Again 35 years passed since the miracle victory against Russia, Japan had started war

against China and later U.S.A. U.K. etc. At that time Japanese military which were

controlled by a group of arrogate stupid high ranked officers governed entire country.

They had repeated stupid thoughtless plan without strategy and drove Japan to the

death end. There was nobody among them who had Awareness. They caused Japan

and neighbor countries disaster and killed ten millions people in Asia.

In last year one Japanese BUDO delegation visited Nederland. A head of the

delegation made a speech at the beginning of demonstration.

He told as

“In the past a lot of young men learned BUDO to become a good person who can work

for own country and family. BUDO was the important subject to be mastered which

raise respectable soldiers and officers in Japanese military.”

This person’s intention might be to mention just general military and not for the

military which started 2nd world war. But the audience, mostly Dutch people, had

become negative immediately after hearing his applause to BUDO and Japanese

military. For all the Dutch people it was a nightmare to be invaded by Japanese army

in their former colony Indonesia and suffered from its brutal acts against them. Even

now after 65 years past from end of that war, Dutch people never forget Japanese

military’s brutal and arrogate behavior. It was quite natural they showed immediate

refusal.

Unfortunately not noticing the audience atmosphere, this person repeated his talk on

this same point as 3 times. But the translator who has lived in Nederland quite long

took correct reaction. She did not translate his 2nd and 3rd meaningless refrain. If she

repeated her translation, that person might received a strong booing from all the room

and the following demonstration could not be performed.

This happening shows the important fact that

Any messaging should be transmitted with a deep consideration how it could be taken

by the receiver ’s side. If not, the receiver might take the contents completely wrong

way in spite of the good will of the speaker.

Also we notice that even in a highly positioned person like this man sometimes lacks

awareness which should be basic as BUDO-KA. Recently like the head of Japanese

JUDO-Association, he has no responsible mind at all and are showing only self

benefitting attitude during the JUDO scandal. He had to resign as the head but he still

keeps his position as the head of KODOKAN. What a shame of him.

How to attain this Awareness, after all

Although Awareness could be attained not only through BUJUTSU training but other

training like religion and art, as mentioned before, BUJUTSU training is the best and

shortest way to get it. It is because in BUJUTSU one can loose life when he looses

match and accordingly he must do every possible effort to win, i.e. to survive. And it is

one of the most important key factors to win whether one has sharp Awareness or not.

So, to attain sharp Awareness was definitely necessary for BUJUTSU trainees.

One who keeps the strong and serious will to win could only attain Awareness. On

the contrary one who keeps such strong confidence that he shall always win could

never attain Awareness. It is a good example that the former mentioned arrogant war

leaders of Japanese military in 20th century.

Then many readers might get a doubt as

“ Could we attain Awareness by training such modern BUDO with which we never

fight for life ? “

This is quite important point and my answer is clear as “No”.

One can never attain Awareness through the training of modern BUDO which has

become competitive sports.

If one really intend to attain Awareness, one should train BUDO so seriously that he

put his life on it. It is easy to say but quite hard to carry out this.

When somebody asks me if I have Awareness, I just have to say “No unfortunately”.

7 years ago when I was traveling in south France with my family, I was stolen my

purse in my pocket by Romany kids. My wife and daughter criticized me so hard with

saying “ How it is possible that a BUDO-ka like you got your purse stolen by kids ?”

I also admitted their blame was reasonable because I myself thought I was blamed to

be unconscious at that moment and was ashamed of it. If I had paid some attention

around me I surely could notice it and could avoid that situation.

Then after 3 years have past sine that affair happened, when I was sitting in a coffee

shop in Warsaw with my wife, I suddenly felt strange mood on the man sit behind me.

Soon I noticed his right hand was approaching to my left side pocket of my jacket.

Immediately I stood and turned him with choking his neck by my left hand. It

happened without thinking but my body just moved automatically. And thanks to

this happening, although my level of Awareness was such low, I could recover my honor

among my family.

Coming back to the theme, nowadays there must exist not many BUJUTSU-ka in

Japan who really mastered and attained high level of Awareness. And the number is

surely deceasing every year. After a half century Japanese will not believe Awareness

anymore because they can not see such person who can show Awareness any longer/

And they will take same response as Westerners when they watch SAMURAI movies

where the skilled SAMURAI noticed the attacking intention behind him and make

counter attack before he is attacked. They all might take it as not real and just a play

in movies.

I regret it a lot.

Awareness(察知能力)、武術で習得すべき最も重要なこと

A. Awareness とは何か

時代劇小説や映画などでは、主人公が刺客の殺気を感じて、襲われる寸前で身をかわし

て攻撃をよける場面がしばしば登場します。「敵の殺気を感じ取る」この事自体は欧米の人

たちにはなかなか理解できないコンセプトだと思います。そもそもまだ動き出していない

相手の気持ち感じ取って、相手の執る次の行動を読み取るなどということは絶対に不可能

だと、一般の欧米人は受け止めるからです。

日本人の場合は誰でもごく普通に、達人の領域に達した武芸者ならば殺気を感じ取るく

らい至極当たり前のことと考えます。欧米人には絶対に無理と受け止められることが、日

本人にはどうして当たり前と受留められるのでしょう。日本人は体験上それが可能である

ことを知っているのでしょうか。それとも全国民的にそうした幻想を抱いているのでしょ

うか。

武道ファンなら誰もが知っている日野晃さんと言う武道の達人がいますが、彼が小銃を

構えた相手の前に立ち、思い通りのタイミングで引き金を引かせて、それを避ける様子を

ビデオで見たことがあります。勿論弾は込められていないので実弾は発射されませんが、

引き金を引いたときの音とそのときの日野師範の動き(位置)で、本当だったら弾が当っ

ているか、完全に避けきれたかが判定できるというものでした。驚くべきことに日野師範

は毎回確実に弾を避け切っているのです。日野師範が体を移動させるより、攻撃者がトリ

ガーを引く人差し指の動きのほうが遥かに早いはずなので、日野師範は攻撃者の意図を、

引き金を引くという動作が起こる前に察して動いているはずなのです。そうでなければ引

き金が引かれるより早くに、体を弾が当らない位置へ移動させることなど絶対に不可能で

す。日野師範は武術修練の結果、相手の目は勿論、体全体に微妙に顕われる変化を察して

相手の心の動きを読み取れるまでになったに違いありません。これは正しく武術修練で身

につけた Awarenessに他なりません。 此処まででしたら欧米の人たちも何とか理解でき

るかもしれません。しかし、見えない背後からの襲撃者の気配まで察するとなると、理解

するのは困難でしょう。背後から聞こえてくる音、周囲からのざわめきの微妙ではあるが

突然の変化など、目に見える範囲だけでなく、背後までも含む自身の周囲に生じる僅かの

変化を察することが出来るように常に気を配っていればこそ出来る業なのです。つまり潜

水艦に装備されたソナーのごとく周囲に気配を張り巡らし続ける能力、それが武術におけ

る Awareness の一つです。

もう一つの Awareness は文字通り“気付く“事です。つまり普通の人ならば察すること

が出来ないようなことから、何か重要なことに気付く能力を言います。この場合気付く対

象は殺気に限らず色々な事象を指します。

ではこの 2 つの Awareness を小説に描かれた例で説明しましょう。

B. 宮本武蔵に見る Awareness

武士の生き様を描いた数ある歴史小説の中でベストを挙げるとすれば、誰もが文豪吉川

英二が描いた「宮本武蔵」を真っ先に思い浮かべることでしょう。それほどにこの作品は

日本中で時代を超えて愛読されています。戦国時代から徳川初期に掛けて実存したこの武

芸者は、この作品によって日本中に人にその名前を知られるようになりました。また極真

空手を起こした大山倍達先生のように、この本に描かれた宮元武蔵の行き方を人生での苦

難を乗り越える心の支えとした人も数え切れない位いるはずです。武術を通して武士の生

き様を知ろうとしたら、まず読むべき本の筆頭に挙げられる作品であると信じます。

この本の面白さを語るのはこのエッセイの目的ではなく、此処では小説「宮本武蔵」で

描かれる Awareness について説明します。それらのエピソードはまさに Awareness を理

解する上で最適の教材となるからです。

宮本武蔵像 島田美術館蔵 熊本県指定重要文化財 枯木鳴鵙図 (宮本武蔵画)

その1.柳生の里にて

修行中の武蔵は、今の奈良県に在る柳生の里に住む高名な武術・兵法家である柳生石舟

斎に一手教えを請おうとして、柳生一族の領地「柳生の里」を訪れます。その地の旅館に

逗留して、武蔵はどうやったら石舟斎に会ってもらえるか策を練ります。当時柳生石舟斎

は既に隠居をしていて、全国から彼を訪ねてくる武芸者たちからの面会希望を、石舟斎は

隠居を理由に断り続けていたからです。武蔵が逗留した旅館には、京で将軍家剣術指南役

としてその名を日本中にとどろかせた吉岡憲法が起こした吉岡道場一門の吉岡伝七郎が弟

子たちとともに宿泊していました。彼の目的も、隠居したとはいえ未だに不世出の剣術家

として高名な柳生石舟斎に会ってその腕を確かめたいということでした。彼は自分の腕に

自惚れて、決して柳生石舟斎のほうが自分よりも遥かに優れているなどとは夢にも思って

いませんでした。「京の吉岡道場と名乗れば必ず会う」と信じて手紙を出したところ、花を

つけた小枝一つがその返事として吉岡伝七郎へ送り届けられてきました。彼はその枝を見

て「年寄り、俺と立ち会うのを臆したか」と言って門人たちを一緒に石舟斎の臆病さを笑

い、柳生の里を後にして京へと戻ります。その様子を奥で耳を澄まして聞いていた武蔵は、

彼らが去った後で彼らの部屋へ入ります。武蔵は部屋の片隅に残された枝を手に取り、石

舟斎が返事として遣したその枝に“記された”メッセージを読み取ろうとしました。

枝の切り口をみた武蔵は、そのあまりにも見事に切られた断面に驚きます。よほどの名

人でもなければそのように見事に断ち切れるわけがないのです。それを切り下ろした石舟

斎の素晴らしいレベルが分かり、武蔵は感動に震えます。直ちに旅館の番頭に言いつけて

沢山の枝を用意させた武蔵は、自分で枝を次々と切りますが、どれも石舟斎の切り落とし

た断面には到底及びません。自分の未熟さを武蔵は痛切に感じるのでした。

その2.奈良、宝蔵院流槍術道場にて

その後京都で 3 度に亘る決闘で前述の吉岡一門を完膚なきまでに打ち破った武蔵は、更

なる強敵との出会いを目指して奈良にある槍術で有名な宝蔵院を訪れます。

宝蔵院にある道場へ行くために寺の中の敷地を歩いていた武蔵は、道の行く先に小さな

畑を一人の寺僧が鍬で土を耕しているのを見つけます。武蔵が何気なく近づいていき、丁

度その脇を通り過ぎようとした時、その僧から発せられる強烈な殺気感じた武蔵は、飛び

上がって鍬が届く距離から逃れました。僧は何もなかったかのように鍬を下ろしてもくも

くと畑を耕し続けていましたが、武蔵はそこを通り過ぎた後も冷や汗が止まらず、心がな

かなか静まりませんでした。

道場では宝蔵院主の覚禅坊法印 胤舜が不在で、武蔵はその高弟である阿巌と試合をし

ますが、道場の窓から中の様子をのぞいていたその僧は、試合が始まる前から阿巌が武蔵

には到底及ばないことを察します。試合は僧が予測したとおり武蔵の勝ちで、阿巌は武蔵

の木剣で叩かれて絶命してしまいました。僧は宝蔵院の隣にある寺、奥蔵院の住職、日観

和尚で、試合の後で武蔵はこの日観に呼ばれて奥蔵院で話をします。武蔵が先ほど日観か

ら凄まじいばかりの殺気を感じ、思わず飛び上って離れたことを述べると、日観は

「何一つ武術の心得など無い自分がそのような殺気など発せられるわけが無い。それは

お手前が自分で発した殺気に自分で気がついて飛び上がったのだ」

と答え、それを聞いた武蔵はじっと考え込んでしまうのでした。

これは幾つもの興味深いことを示唆します。

1)武蔵は油断することなく周囲に気配を配っていた。

2)武蔵から発せられる気配(殺気とは異なります)に日観は気がつき、自身を鏡のよう

にして、それを武蔵に返した。

3)武蔵は日観から返された自分の気配を、日観から発せられた凄まじいばかりの殺気と

感じて、飛びのいた。

4)つまり両人共に鋭い Awareness の持ち主であったわけで、Awareness は武術修行だ

けから得られる訳ではないことがこれで分かります。

C. 何故武術で Awareness が重要となるのか

これまで述べてきたことを読んでいただければ Awareness がどういうものなのか漠然

と理解していただけたことと思います。この章ではその Awarenessがなぜ武術を修行する

上で重要となるのかをお話いたします。

武術で一番大切なことは生死を掛けた勝負で勝って生き残り、勝つたびに自分の技量を

高めてついには日本一まで上り詰めることです。つまりボクシングで世界チャンピオンを

目指すのと同じです。唯異なっているのは、武術では一回でも負けたらそれは殆どの場合

死もしくは不具になることを意味し、そのあとが無いことです。ですから武術では一回た

りとも負ける事は出来ず、毎回確実に勝ち残れる様にありとあらゆる努力をし尽くすこと

が必須となります。その窮境の努力が Awareness を働かせることに他なりません。武術の

試合は Awareness の有無、更には強弱で勝負が決まるといっても過言ではありません。

ではそうした例を、文豪吉川英二と並んで歴史小説の第一人者と知られる司馬良太郎の

作品の中から選んでこの事を説明していきましょう。

その1 柳生宗徳の騙まし討ち

柳生家の徳川将軍家指南役としての地位が固まった三代家光の時代に、世間で高名を得

た武芸者が柳生宗徳との試合を希望しました。普通でしたら将軍指南役ともなった柳生宗

徳は他流試合などしませんが、この場合は将軍自らが果たしてどちらが強いかを確かめた

かったこともあって、特別に御前試合が設けられることになりました。

試合の前に十分な調査を行った宗徳は、相手が尋常なレベルでないことを知りました。

良くて引き分け、下手をすると負けてしまうかもしれません。宗徳は特に将軍家に請うて

木剣ではなく真剣での試合を所望し、相手もそれに同意して試合は真剣で行われることに

なりました。当時の試合ではたとえ木剣といえども、見事に一本取られれば場所が頭なら

即死、胴体でも骨がばらばらとなって一生不具者となるしかありませんでしたから、木剣

が真剣となってもその危険はさほどの違いは無かったと言えます。

当日の試合場、左右から分かれて将軍の前に現れた二人はまず将軍家に向かって深々と

礼をしました。二人が頭を上げるかあげないかの瞬間、宗徳は刀をすばやく抜き払って隣

に立っていた試合相手を袈裟懸けに深々と切り下げて一刀の元に切り殺しました。

この宗徳の突然の諸行に驚いた将軍家は言葉鋭く宗徳を詰問します。理由次第では卑劣

な行いを咎めて切腹を申し付けるつもりでした。

それに対して宗徳はこう答えました。

「真剣での試合をすると決めた以上、その時から勝負は始まっております。私は将軍家

剣術指南役という職席上、いかなる相手にも不覚を取ることは許されません。私が負けれ

ば、将軍家は最上の指南役を持っていなかったことを天下に公表し、面目を失うことにな

るからです。従って、私は絶対に負けないように努めたのです。試合場に出てもなお、油

断して私の不意打ちに切られるようでは、武士としての覚悟不足として責められるべきで

す。今回の勝負は当然の帰結です。」

この答えを聞いて、納得は出来ず不愉快な思いは消えなかったものの、家光は宗徳の処

分だけは思いとどまりました。

宗徳が試合を木剣から真剣に替えたいと申し入れてきて、それを承諾した際に相手は事

の重大さに気がつくべきでした。 その時から既に生死を掛けた勝負は始まっていたので

す。不意打ちも含めてあらゆる仕掛けが起こりうるというヒントを宗徳はそれで相手に与

えていました。ですからそれに気がつかず、試合は試合場で向き合って始めの号令が掛か

ってから始まるものとノホホンと構えていた相手に重大な落ち度があったのです。将軍は

宗徳の釈明を聞いてそれが理解できたから、不愉快な気持ちは残ったものの宗徳の不意打

ちをそれ以上咎め立てしなかったのです。

此処で読者の皆さんは大きな疑問を抱くはずです。武道は礼節と公正を目指すものであ

るはずなのに、何ゆえ宗徳の卑怯なだまし討ちが許されるのかと、彼の態度は武道精神に

反するのではと。

その疑問は尤もです。徳川将軍時代が始まるまでの日本は戦争に明け暮れ、武士は相手

を倒して勝ち残るために必死で技を鍛錬していました。そこには礼節も公正も無く、目的

は唯一つ、いかなる手段を弄しても相手に勝って生き残ることでした。剣の世界でも弟子

が名前を売り出すためにその師匠を不意打ちで襲って撃ち殺す事さえあったのです。

徳川将軍時代となって戦争が無くなり刀をさした公務員として勤め始めた武士たちは、

刀は不要と言って捨てれば武士を辞めることになり、それは公務員である職を失うことに

なるので使わない刀でもさし続けていました。そしてそれを使う技を鍛錬し続けなければ

なりませんでした。あるいはたとえ使わなくとも武士であることの誇りから、剣術を鍛錬

しました。人間は無意味なことをやり続けることは出来ません。何かを真剣にし続けるに

は自身を納得させるだけの意味が必要です。 そうして武士たちは、決して使われること

の無い武術を鍛錬し続ける意義を、単に相手を倒すためではなく自身の人間としての修養

の道として見出したのでした。人間としての修養の道である以上、礼節や公正を重んじ、

生きる美学を追い求めるようになりました。その段階で武術は武道に昇華したのです。宗

徳が生きた徳川将軍時代の初めは丁度その過渡期で、どんな手段を使っても相手に勝つた

めの武術と礼節を重んじる武道が並列で存在していたのです。

その2 千葉周作が茶坊主に教えた必死の一手

封建時代も終わりに近づいた江戸時代末期に、千葉周作という剣客が出現して竹刀で打

ち合う北辰一刀流を起こして日本の剣術を大きく転換し、江戸(当時の東京)で 3千人も

の弟子を抱える大道場を構えるまでになりました。その高名が日本中に轟く様になったあ

る日のこと、お城勤めの茶坊主が真っ青に顔を青ざめて相談に訪れました。

その茶坊主が語るには、

「夜も暮れて一人で城下がりをして帰宅途中に、人通りも無く真っ暗な川縁の通りで辻

切りに襲われました。その際は上役から命じられた大切な用事を抱えていたので、せめて

その用件だけでも済ませたい思い、切られるのを一日だけ待ってもらうようその辻切りに

訳を話して頼んだのです。そうするとその辻切りは「人として約束を守るなら一日待って

やる」と言って、その場は危害を加えず逃してくれました。」

それを聞いて千葉周作は茶坊主に言いました。

「すると相談の件というのは、助けが欲しいわけですかな」

茶坊主は頭を振りながら答えました。

「滅相もありません。私は約束を守って今晩同じ場所へ一人で戻るつもりです。唯おめ

おめと切られるわけにも行かないので、今江戸でご評判の高い千葉先生に一手ご指南いた

だきたくまかり越しました。少なくとも見苦しくないように、たとえ一手でも相手に切り

返せれば本望です。」

茶坊主の覚悟の程に気持ちを動かされた千葉周作は、彼に一晩掛けて希望を叶える一手

を教えました。

千葉周作に教授を受けた茶坊主は、辻切りが待つ通りへとやってきました。茶坊主が来

るのを見て、辻切りは「坊主よく約束を守ったな、殊勝なり」といいながら刀をスルリと

抜きました。

それを見た茶坊主は千葉周作から貸してもらった一振りの刀を鞘から抜き、辻切りに向

かって上段に構えると、静かに目をつぶりました。

辻切りは茶坊主に近づいて一刀の元に切り殺そうとしますが、その瞬間に上段に構えた

茶坊主の刀が鋭く振り下ろされて自分が切られてしまう気配を濃厚に感じ、どうしても足

が前に出せません。そのまま半時ほど経ち精神的に疲れた辻切りは「坊主、俺の負けだ。

この勝負は終わりだ。」と捨て台詞を吐くと刀を鞘に納めて去っていきました。足音が十分

に遠ざかったのを確かめてから茶坊主はゆっくりと目を開き、刀を上段に構えたままでそ

のまま腰を抜かすようにへなへなと地面に崩れ落ちたのです。

あの日千葉周作が茶坊主に教えた一手とは、

1)命は助からないものと覚悟しろ

2)相手に向かって上段に構え、雑念を払うために両目を閉じろ

3)感性を働かせて、相手が自分に近づいてきて正に刀を振ろうとする瞬間を感じろ

4)その刹那、迷わず上段に振りかざした刀をまっすぐ下へ振り下ろせ

5)これで助からないにせよ、相手にも相当の手傷を負わせることが出来るだろう

ということでした。

つまり千葉周作は、相手の辻切りが茶坊主の希望を叶えて一日の猶予を与えたことから、

技量の低くない剣客であると想定しました。それならば相応の Awareness を備えているは

ずだから、それを利用しようと考えたのです。そうでなければ侍と茶坊主では単に剣を握

っての戦いとなれば大人と子供ほどの差があって全く勝負になりません。手の施しようが

無いのです。

茶坊主に辻切りが感知するほどの十分な殺気を発せられるようにするため、まず生き延

びることを諦めさせ、死を覚悟で相手にも傷を負わせることに集中させました。雑念を払

って殺気を強めるために両目を閉ざさせました。目を開いていれば相手の動きや迫ってく

る剣先が目に入り、恐怖で気持ちが乱されてしまうからです。

この状態で、茶坊主は十分に鋭い殺気を発せられるようになりました。それは辻切りに

接近を躊躇わせるのに十分なものでした。

この場合の Awareness は、最初に辻切りのレベルに気がついた千葉周作の“気付き”、

次に茶坊主の発する殺気に気がついた辻切りの“気付き”の 2 つです。

D. 兵法へと通じる Awareness

武芸を鍛錬して得られる Awareness ですが、これは単に武器を扱う武術に留まらず、戦

術を考える兵法へと発展しました。Awareness というものを考えれば、それは至極当然の

ことでしょう。 武術を極めた、つまり最高レベルの Awarenessを習得した柳生宗徳や宮

本武蔵が、自分たちは剣を持って戦う唯の剣客ではなく戦術更には戦略を練り人に教えら

れる兵法家であることを後に自認するようになりますが、これは彼らが Awareness の本質

に気がついたからに他なりません。剣客ならば自分を中心に Awareness を働かせますが、

自分ではなくそれを組織、国家に置き換えれば、正に戦略、戦術への発展するのが

Awareness なのです。

日本中で戦争が頻発していた戦国時代が終わり、徳川将軍の世になって戦争の無い平和

な時代となった江戸時代では、武士というのは西洋で言えば政府や地方組織の官僚に他な

りませんでしたから、武術に秀でていたのは本の一握りに過ぎません。上級官僚ともいえ

る上位の武士たちは、従って Awarenessの観念に乏しく、柳生宗徳や宮本武蔵をせいぜい

腕の立つ剣客程度にしか看做していませんから、彼らが国家としての在り方を兵法の観点

から論じ始めると、皆一応に「この剣客風情が生意気な口を利く」と言って露骨に不愉快

な態度を示したものでした。 特に一介の浪人に過ぎなかった宮本武蔵にとって、そうし

た自分の兵法への世間の無理解には耐え難いものを感じていたに違い有りません。宮本武

蔵の後半の人生は、そうした強い自負とそれを認めようとしない世間との葛藤の日々であ

ったことでしょう。

時代は下りますが、近代化を果たしたばかりの日本が国の存亡をかけて世界でも抜きん

出た軍事大国のロシアと闘わざるを得ない局面に陥りました。当時の日本を指導していた

人たちは明治維新の動乱を生き残った勤皇の志士達で、彼らは白刃の飛び交うさなかを切

り抜けて生き延びた人たちですから当然ながら格段に発達した awareness を持ち、どう転

んでも日本はロシアに勝てないことが分かっていました。しかし其の勝てない戦争をしな

ければ日本の将来は無いことも重々分かっていたので、知恵を絞りぬいて何とか負けない

ように戦をすることを考えたのです。 そしてそのためにありとあらゆる知恵と努力を重

ねました。その結果歴史に残る圧倒的な大勝利を得ました。しかしそれ以上続ければ確実

に負けることが分かっていたので、そうした背景が分からない不明な新聞や世論の徹底的

に叩かれながらも、賠償金が取れないロシアとの講和を急いだのでした。

この偉大な指導者達とは全く反対だったのが、其の後の支那事変、太平洋戦争と無茶な

戦争を始め、尊大さと傲慢さから発した無策を数限りなく重ね、三百万人以上の国民を犬

死させた嘗ての大日本陸海軍上層部の軍人たちでした。 彼らには、この Awareness が見

事なくらいに欠如していました。この様な人たちが日本をそして周囲の国々をめちゃくち

ゃにして多くの人たちの命を奪ったのです。

昨年、ある武道団体の偉い人がオランダでの武道演舞会に先立つ挨拶で、「嘗て日本では

祖国と同胞を守る立派な人間を育てるために武道を奨励し、多くの若者が武道を習った。

人間として恥じない行いをする軍人を育てるのに日本の軍隊では武道の修練は必須科目だ

った」と話されました。この方は特にいつの時代の軍人と特定したつもりは無く、あくま

でも一般的な軍人というつもりで話をされたのでしょうが、話した場所が問題でした。オ

ランダでは第二次世界大戦で、自国の植民地としていたインドネシアに進駐してきた日本

陸軍に酷い目に合わされ、残虐非道で傲慢な日本軍人というイメージが染み付いて消えな

い国ですから、そこで「武道と軍人礼賛」の話をすれば強い反発を受けるのは必須です。

案の定、英語で通訳された内容を聞いたオランダ人たちの反応は途端にしらけました。

悪いことにこの方は聴衆の反応に気がつくことなく同じ内容を 3 回も繰り返しましたが、

オランダ在住暦の長い通訳をしていた女性は 2回目から通訳するのを自分の判断で止めて

事なきを得ました。あのまま通訳を続ければ間違いなく会場でブーイングが起こり、折角

の公演そして後に続く演舞が台無しになるところでした。

この事は文化であれ情報であれ、発信ということはそれを受ける受信側のことも十分に

配慮して行わないと、真意が通じないだけでなく誤って悪意に取られて取り返しの無い結

果となってしまうこともあると云う大切な教訓となりました。

E. Awareness の習得方法

先にも述べましたが、Awareness は武術以外の修行でも身に着けることは勿論出来ます。

但し武術修行が一番 Awareness を習得しやすいということはできます。それは武術では

命を掛けて勝負を行って負けたら命がなくなりますから、それこそ一戦ごとに必死で取り

組まなければなりません。 従って勝って生き残るためには Awareness を鋭く磨くことが

必要不可欠であったためです。 武術における Awareness は「負けたくない、負けられな

い」という命を懸けた痛切な思いがあってこそ磨けるものです。自分の技量は最高と自惚

れて負ける恐怖感を抱かない者には決して身に付きません。前に述べた戦争を指導した大

日本帝国の軍人たちがその良い例です。

此処まで書くと、当然次の疑問が生じます。

「それでは生死を掛けた勝負を行わない現代の武道で果たして Awareness は習得できる

のであろうか」

これは非常に大切なポイントです。結論をはっきり申してしまえば

“スポーツ化した現代の武道では、いくら一生懸命やっても無理”と断言します。

Awarenessを習得したいのであれば、武道をスポーツではなく、勝負の一つ一つに命を

掛ける真剣な心がけで望むしかありません。口で言うのは簡単ですが、実行するのは至難

の業です。私自身も Awareness を会得しているかと尋ねられれば、正直に“出来ていませ

ん”と答えるしかありません。

7 年ほど前にフランスのアビニヨンを観光中、ジプシーの幼い子供たちにズボンのポケ

ットに入れた財布を掏り取られてしまったことがありました。このときは一緒に旅行して

いた家内と長女から、「武道家の癖に何たる失態」と非常にきつい非難を浴びました。確か

に非難されるのも尤もで、もう少し気配りがあれば掏られた際に気が付けたケースだと自

分でも思います。このことがあってから自分でも意識的に気をつけるようになり、その3

年後にワルシャワの喫茶店で後ろに座った男の様子がおかしいことに気がついた私は、男

の手が私の背広のポケットに伸びてくるのを直ぐに察知して、無意識のうちに体が動いて

男の首筋を片手で締め上げていました。これで家族に対してめでたく名誉挽回ができまし

た。

話を戻しますが、現代では Awareness を会得した武道家は日本でもそう多くは居られな

いでしょう。せいぜい数えるくらいだと思います。そしてその数は減る一方でしょう。こ

のまま続けば、いつしか日本でも欧米と同じように、時代劇で背後に殺気を感じた剣豪が

攻撃される前に振り返って相手を切るようなシーンで、聴衆がわざとらしさにしらけてし

まうようになるのは目に見えています。

残念です。