Dual Approach to a Common Value

To-Shin Do was developed with two purposes in mind.

First, it is a modern adaptation of ancient ninja combat art philosophies. The techniques have been matched to the most common pressing threats of the 21st Century. For that reason, many are not the same as those methods for battling aggressors in 15th Century Japan. We are constantly revisiting contemporary violence to keep To-Shin Do up-to-date and relevant.

Second, it is a straightforward approach to personal development. This is how to become the best and most fulfilled person you can be. Most bluntly put, we attain full authenticity by cutting out and leaving behind things that do not support our advancement. Old beliefs, old habits, old points of view that clutter up our life are discovered and let go of.

The same de-cluttering approach can be said of our taijutsu. Our martial art reflects our stance on personal development. We let go of complicated methodologies and replace them with simple actions. Back straight, knees bent, hands up and out, and a loud voice replaces movie-inspired hunching, jerking, and lurching. Elegance in motion.

To me, living well means balancing 4 areas of endeavor:

1. Authenticity — The joy of pursuing my passions, which leads to constant self development, self improvement, self awareness, and self actualization
2. Connection — The warmth of enjoying friends, family, mentors, all people who mean something to me and who allow me to bring out my best
3. Wealth — The comfort of having enough money to do the things I want to do, in the ways I want to do them, with the people I want to do them with
4. Service — The excitement of aiding others to meet their highest potentials so all can contribute to a happier, saner, and more beautiful world
5. Meaning — The soul-stirring reassurance of living an ideal, finding the spark of purpose that allows me to wake up excited every day

What’s your idea of living well? Is it about the straight-forward simple manifestation of direct experience, or the complicated made-up stuff that you have added on? I think you – like me – will choose the authentic experience.