04 Aikido Yuishinkai Motto and Doka

All Aikido Yuishinkai dojo follow Maruyama Sensei's motto, developed from the temple saying that he was in for more than 10 year. All aikido yuishinkai dojo use the 'Shin' calligraphy brushed by Maruyama Sensei as a reminder of this. Shin, or Kokoro means 'mind' something fundamental to the art. Her are some Doka from Sensei as well

Motto

I am mind itself.

If I hold positive thoughts in my mind, good things are likely to happen.

Holding negative thoughts in my mind works against my best interests.

Therefore, even if my body suffers physically, my mind remains optimistic.

Even if I encounter obstacles, my mind is never defeated.

Daily I fill my heart with thoughts of joy, gratitude and hope.

I face each new day with a bright and optimistic spirit, which I express in word and deed.

I have faith in life, and life responds in kind.

Philosophy

Maruyama Sensei undertook intensive Zen training in the philosophy and practice that 'You are fundamentally Mind' for a period of 10 years in a temple in Saitama Prefecture, receiving permission from the temple Abbott to establish Aikido Yuishinkai on May 9, 1996.

He left the temple on October 9, 2001 and continues to develop Aikido Yuishinkai until the present day. As a result of this 10-year period of training, he developed the Motto for Members of Aikido Yuishinkai, something that is read aloud by members on awakening, after training, and before going to sleep.

"Words have a power of their own. The power of the spoken word was recognised in ancient Japan as ‘kotodama’, or word spirit. To speak a word is to encourage it to come true. Your life energy responds to sounds and thoughts, as expressed in the spoken word. When you fill your daily life with positive words and thoughts, your life is filled with the power of Ki.

In this way you can keep mentally and physically healthy, and have a positive influence on others as well. Words have real power, and can produce practical results in your life. I have written the following membership motto for members of Aikido Yuishinkai. I encourage you to read them aloud each morning and night to keep your subconscious in a positive state of mind."

Doka

‘Every river has a name. However, these names disappear when they flow into the great ocean. Aikido has many styles, many names, but Aikido is Aikido. It is my vision and hope that, like the rivers, they flow together and unite as one.’ – Koretoshi Maruyama

"Don’t fight. Use ki. 

Don’t resist. Take ukemi", 

Koretoshi Maruyama,