The
Iaido Journal May 2008
Purpose
copyright © 2008 Keith Simpson, all
rights reserved
Three years ago, I found myself in a
large room. The space was warehouse like; cold and drafty. At first
glance, it was not the most inviting place, yet I could not tear
myself away. My cousin, who had been attending Iaido classes at the
club for about 6 months, introduced me to Chris sensei, and I felt
immediately welcomed. As a fifteen year old grade 9 student, I was
completely in awe at the sight of people swinging swords. I was a
little scared by the “Swoosh” made by each swing; which is now so
familiar to me. As I stepped into this room I found myself facing a
journey.
At first, I had no idea how important
this club would become. When I was in elementary school I had tried
martial arts before but I eventually lost interest. I was unsure as
to whether or not I was mature enough to stick to an activity for
more than a few months. I figured that Iaido would be like so many
other activities I had tried my hand at in the past. After a few
months however; I found myself compelled to stay. Sensei has often
told me about how Iaido is about removing the bad until only the good
remains, achieving perfection, and then improving on it. Due to the
fact that one can never achieve perfection, one can never finish
training in Iaido. Something about the idea of a never-ending
adventure captivated my imagination.
I now think I understand what is so
attractive about working towards an unachievable goal. People strive
for a purpose in life. People have worked into their 80’s,
completely healthy, until they are forced to retire. Lovers sometimes
die within weeks of one another; because once one of them is gone the
other feels lost. No entity can exist without a purpose. Many of
society’s problems can be linked back to a lack of purpose. Drug
and alcohol abuse are brought about when people feel lost or
undirected. In many ways, it would be much easier to live in the time
of the samurai. People needed to labor day and night just to survive.
In the past, the path to follow in life was obvious. When people have
no path to follow they will destroy themselves.
A year and a half after first stepping
into the dojo, I had found my first job, in order to be able to buy
myself an iaito. I had been hired as a courtesy clerk at Calgary
Co-Op. It was a terrible job. For 6 months I worked 8 hours a day on
both Saturday and Sunday, and always the 7:30 AM shift on Saturday so
I could be off in time to get to Iaido. I had a goal, and even though
it required lots of hard work, the feeling of accomplishment I got
from my training was well worth it.
Through Iaido, I am able to find
meaning. I am capable of focusing myself on achieving a goal. It
gives me something to work on every hour of every day. It provides me
with a sense of accomplishment every time sensei compliments my
technique; and something to look forward to every time I am given
something to fix. It is a place where I am guaranteed to find friends
and family. Iaido is my purpose as much as it is a part of who I am.
Iaido Mountains
Brilliantly, mountains rise to the blue, sentinels of weather,
bastions of uniqueness, challenging life to adapt under their shadows.
The older ones sometimes smooth out into gentle rolling hills
of green, richly hued, radiant in the Fall of their long lived
lives. Others are cragged and sharp, built from tougher times
and different materials. These defiant peaks resist. Time
persists on them and in their own rugged lines strength
continues to rise within and despite their
crumbling rocks. Easily, we know sensei like these older types of
mountains. Smooth or sharp, they thrive in the twilight
of being in ways differently than the young.
The young, ah the young. Rising to great heights with such speed
and force, passion and single minded determination. Mirrored as
greatness in the face of their own potency they have so much to learn,
and learn they do by adapting, changing, growing. Some such mountains
are black from the fiery red glow of their suddenness.
They defy water, air, and night. Life grows within and
on them. Newness is stark to the observer. Sudden growth a
delightful surprise. There are those of us in Iai who have observed
others grow in such ways. Keith Simpson is one such youthful
mountain.
Keith has thrust himself strongly toward the clear blue sky of
iaido technique. He continues to rise internally through his humility
and perseverence. This mountain could tower over many if the
clarity of his mind-set stays true. Keith will rise to great
heights in life.
You might not see this in him at first though. He is tall and only
now beginning to find comfort in his new adolescent growth. He
becomes a young man before our eyes. Naturally, his iai has become a
young mountain too, staying in stride with the great passion and
opportunity youth brings. Keith represents the potential of learning
youth possesses. From his early, awkward days in the club to this
young force -- Keith is on the right path and he grows because of it.
One only needs to read his writing for the Haruna Bursary to
clearly understand this. Haruna sensei was a junior high school
teacher. He would know Keith. He would see and understand his
potential, as he saw and understood the potential of so many he taught
and observed. Keith is a new mountain to the world, reaching high and
deep. Awed, I can only guide him and
watch with excitement as he continues to commit himself to
his personal growth, especially in the Way of Iai. He is more than
deserving support for this effort.
As a student he will benefit from the bursary. His early and
long days working weekends is testament to his desire to continue
Iaido. I hope we can help him. On behalf of the Calgary Iaido Club
and Keith Simpson, we support Keith in his application for the Haruna
Bursary. - Chris Gilham