Myths, Metaphors and Aikitaiji
I was watching Joseph Cambell's "The Message of the Myth," and it raised some interesting points regarding Aikitaiji martial art training.
Many of us have found that the religions, moral codes, and life philosphies that were handed down to us don't seem to fit life as we experience it today. The religious stories don't speak to our inner core. They no longer resonate with our souls.
Modern life changes so rapidly and has become so diverse that our culture hasn't had time to evolve collective myths that give shape and meaning to our current ordinary experience.
We come to Aikitaiji martial art training looking to fill that void.
Aikitaiji students have come to an art deeply grounded in ancient martial metaphors to find an experience of here and now. How does Aikitaiji training give these old martial metaphors new life in the context of our modern day existence?
Aikitaiji offers more than a physical discipline. It takes us farther into the "inner reaches" of our selves. In our internal training, we're looking for a way to experience the world that will open to us the transcendent, that will put us in accord with the mystery of existence. We're not looking for the meaning of life but for the experience of the immiment transcendent in the environment and spirit.
The answer becomes that we find our own--our own metaphors, myths, and poetry. A deeper experience of life.
Comments
I was with the most disciplined Martial Arts school in Africa for four years and I mastered the Art of Self Defence and Self Control. So Aikitaiji will naturally and philosophically appeal to me. Moreover Aikitaiji rhymes with my Igbo name "Osinachi" meaning from my Chi(God).
God bless.
Posted by: Orikinla Osinachi | January 13, 2006 01:18 PM