Copyright 2024

The Dojo Blog is a place of mental reflection for students, teachers, watchers and warrior seekers of the Martial Arts.

Students and Teachers:  Want to contribute and write an article for The Dojo's blog?  

Please see Sensei Norcross to inquire and submit articles to benefit students and readers.

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What is Nagare and why is it so important in the martial arts?

Flowing, Finding and Feeling

Nagare 流れ means “Stream” “Washing away” or “gracefully flowing”. You will often hear me yelling this out in class: “Have more Nagare.” I can instantly assess who is moving skillfully in the way they are maintaining their Nagare; even when obstacles or the uke’s resistance occurs.

Taking out your pauses during Taijutsu training - while maintaining slow control - is the highest form of martial movement.

If you are always categorizing techniques, yelling out the proper Japanese names of them or mentally thinking in your “word brain”, you are not really present. You will lose in a fight. You are just collecting katas but not finding the feeling.

Wash away thought and just allow your body to solve the issue. When overwhelmed, let go and enter into the power of emptiness (Ku空). It will serve you well.

The key is to feel. Stay in constant Nagare.

If we use the analogy of liquid, water flows into the shape of the vessel that it is within. Water does not think, it just flows. When practicing a technique, slow down and breathe. Strictly learn the form, do not deviate yet. Over hundreds of repetitions, find and feel for the secrets in it.

Flow seamlessly from one kamae to the next, fill and create spaces in which he falls.

Graciously take the errors that the uke has given you. This is Nagare.

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Dojo Courtesy, Professionalism and General Training Etiquette

Just like college tuition:

If you are going on a vacation or are out for an extended period of time due to injury, please do the common courtesy of calling (513) 770-0834 or emailing thedojocincinnati@gmail.com to let the dojo know when you will be gone.

As the school has a family atmosphere, you are looked for and missed by everyone when you are not present.

Please do not 'disappear like a ninja' with no communication for weeks at a time.

That is bad etiquette.

Respectfully check in with your Sensei and dojo, periodically.

If you miss your classes, please make them up when you get back. There are several classes per week to choose from that will work with everyone's schedule.

Just like any other service industry, students will continue to be billed each month for tuition notwithstanding personal vacations, illness, injury, etc.

Unlike other dojos, the school does not have signed long-term contracts. 

However, training is a commitment and should be taken seriously.

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Five things to help you in life

1. Search yourself to find and get really good at something that you love.

2. Know that the world owes you nothing. Believe that you have the same opportunities as everybody else or you will blind yourself to opportunities.

3. Don’t let others take away your talents. You often become just like those that you choose to surround yourself with.

4. If you want to feel like you are living a full life, run toward your responsibilities - not away from them.

5. Learn to manage time better than you manage excuses.

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Good article for parents:

Mindful Tips to Use When Kids Don’t Want to Attend Class

Kids are not naturally self-motivated. When your child’s mindset is not in the right place, even the most fun activities can be a struggle to get to. With that said, here are some strategies to help you work around lack of motivation when trying to get your child to class. 

1. Be attentive to what your child is doing in the moment he/she is supposed to get ready for class. If he/ she is playing or having fun with a friend, then be ready for a battle. With that said, have your child participate in a chore or task that’s not as much fun around 10 to 15-minutes prior to getting ready for class. 

2. Be attentive to your own projection of emotions as you get your child ready for class. If you are stressed, rushed, or aggravated in any way, this will project the same emotions on your child. With that said, be sure to project positive and upbeat energy as you are getting your child ready for class. 

3. Be attentive to how you respond to your child’s overall performance after class. If you are expressing too much emphasis on what he/ she did wrong versus right, then those negative feelings will carry over. With that said, be sure to limit criticism and focus more on productive conversations after class.  

4. Prompt motivation by rewarding your child. Remember that children’s brains are still growing, and most of their development comes from positive stimulation and experiences. With that said, pre-frame the proper behavior that you would like to see when going to class, and then set an attainable number of classes he/ she must attend with this behavior, along with a reward for doing so. For example: attend the next 3 classes with the proper behavior and we will grab ice cream on the way home.  

These tips are not rocket science, but are often overlooked. As parents, we get caught-up in the daily grind, so we sometimes forget that situations like this require attentive and intentional parenting. 

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Bullying .  What can we do to help?

Have you ever been bullied? Are you being bullied right now at school, home or work? Chances are, most of us reading this have been bullied at one point in our lives. Sadly, bullying has always been around. It still is. And we can instantly recall the fear and pain it gave us as children. We never forget it. It can be a shadow for decades on our self-perception. Today, bullying is still active. It is seen more and more because technology is capturing and then broadcasting it. So, what can we do?

 

As a teacher of Martial Arts, I too was bullied as a child for a short time – until I chose to take action and stop it by fighting back. That was not my first choice. It was my last resort. I know now that fighting is a low form of self-defense. Yes, it can work, but fighting can have terrible and long-term negative consequences. It may even make the bullying worse? There are some better and higher levels of self-defense that we can use to stop a bully. 

When I was a kid, I was always quiet, except when I was with my close friends. A bigger kid used to pick on me with his words. They were painful to me. It never got to the point of physical violence, because I was also a big kid. I did used to try and avoid him, but that never really worked. I spoke up to him, but that also didn’t seem to last long. This guy wouldn’t stop. The school was also informed but nothing was done in those days except giving the bully detention time after school. I then decided to learn martial arts. So, I signed up at a dojo and after a few months of training my confidence and technique built up and the bully never bothered me again. The actual power that I needed to stand up for myself was in me all along, I just didn’t believe in myself enough to unleash it. Martial Arts changed all of that. That was now more than 35 years ago - and I am still doing martial arts nearly every day.

Bullies do not want to fight; they want to hold power over you. Often, they are wracked with internal pain of some sort and feel compelled to lash out at others to gain control over their lives. They hold in a lot of anger. Bullies often repeat the pattern if they are also being bullied at home. But analyzing the causes of bullying does the victim no good. Bullying is real. It is real for both youth and adults. Bullying must not be tolerated in any form, whether it be physical, mental or in cyber-form. Nowadays, those who are bullied often will not tell their parents or friends. They hide it and stew in it. They begin to actually believe what the bullies are saying. Their self-esteem goes way down, and in some extreme cases they feel valueless and even do not wish to go on with life.

There is much we can do.

Our jobs as parents and guardians is to guard our kids; and then help them become successful adults. But none of us can be there 24/7. Therefore, communication is essential to the health of our children. How can we help if we avoid the uncomfortable talks about bullying? Most parents avoid talks because it makes them feel better. They do not want to seem overbearing to their child, so they ignore the signs. My opinion is, if we only treat our children as ‘friends’, we are not really parenting. Communicating with or kids is one the best ways to safeguard them. If our child is being bullied, we need to respond and take action.

Parents, school staff, and the entire community can help children prevent bullying by addressing it. One can then begin to build a safe school environment, and get both teachers and parents on the same team. 

Things a parent can do:

1. Talk to your kids - a lot. Ask them questions. Get involved. Go out to eat and just talk. Often in the house, kids are at their most defensive and most quiet attitudes. The right environment can bring down their walls.

 

2. Monitor their social media for suspicious activity, or get rid of it altogether whenever possible. Are we parenting, or is the cell phone or computer doing our job for us?

 

3. If your child is being bullied, contact the school immediately and have the school officials contact the parents on both sides. Sweeping it under the rug will not solve any issue – it just prolongs the suffering and empowers the bully (and his parents) even more.

4. If the school does not get involved, get the law to work with you. State and local lawmakers have taken action to prevent bullying and protect children. There is lots of professional help available in your area.

5. Sign the kids up for self-defense classes. Why? Because bullies tend to attack those who they think are weaker. Self-Defense classes are proven to build strength and confidence in both children and adults. Through training, the meek kitten will slowly become the lion. And, if all other higher avenues fail, the Martial Art practitioner can definitely handle and stop any bully – both mentally and physically.

If you are being bullied?

1. Talk to people and get advice. Do not hold your fears and concerns in. Communication is the first step to freedom from bullying. Thousands of us have been bullied. You are definitely not alone.

2. If you cannot avoid the bully or walk away, use your voice to tell the bully to “stop it”. I have known stories where humor has actually turned bullies into lifelong friends.

 

3. Find an adult to stop the bullying on the spot. Speak up and be heard!

4. Stay near adults and other kids. Most bullying happens when adults aren’t around.

5. Speak up if your friends are being bullied. There is tremendous power in sticking together. If you watch and do nothing, you are part of the issue. Become a friend to someone who is being bullied, so that they know they are not alone in this.

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 Online Bullying is real. What can I do?

1. First of all, know that you do not need to be online to feel like you belong to a group. Ironically, the more connected we are, the lonelier we actually feel. The best things in life are in the real world. Try logging off and spend some quality face to face time with family and friends. Happiness will not last long with you from viewing a screen.

2. Always think about what you post. You never know what someone will forward. Being kind to others online will help to keep you safe. Do not share anything that could hurt or embarrass anyone. Would you show this post to your Grandma?

 

3. Keep your password a secret from your friends, but let your parents have your passwords. They bought the phone for you as a privilege. They own the phone. They have every right to use it or take it away.

4. If people are saying cruel things about you, speak up and tell your parents. Capture the screen for evidence and present it to those who can help you. You are never a snitch for coming forward. You are doing what is right. You are protecting your peace of mind and stopping the mean people from winning. Be the victor, not the victim.

5. Think about who sees what you post online. Complete strangers? Friends? Friends of friends? Privacy settings let you control who sees what. Use your computer’s software as your shield/ally.

6. Talk to an adult you trust about any messages you get or things you see online that make you sad or scared. If it is cyberbullying, report it. Keep your parents in the loop. Let them friend or follow you. Remember, your parents were once kids too – and they probably have also been through very tough times, just like you.

 

7. Know that what they are saying is not true. You are worthy of happiness. You are loved by so many. You will get through this. And you will need help, so talk to us and let us help you.

 - Sensei Todd Ryotoshi Norcross 

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Change the way you think and assume about the learning process of Budo.

Student:  I have seen that technique before.

Sensei:  Not today, you haven't.
 

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Finding Dō  'The Way', Together

After a long and tiring day, the easy thing to do is to go home and crash on the couch.  The couch is safe and soft.  It is easy to stay indoors in comfort, and no one would really care if we didn't show up for class tonight, right?  

Wrong.  

Of course we notice when you are not here.  And yes, you are indeed missed.  We notice when you are absent, because we care about you.  You are part of our dojo family.  Your presence in class and excitement when you are training also benefits our needs; so that we can all stay positive in this hectic world.

We are a team, you and me.  Together, we can both succeed.  Remain alone and we will never grow and learn how to get better.  We only have so much time...

We need you here to add your positive energy to the classes.  We need your life's wisdom, your day's experience and your strength.  You matter in all that we do.

Regardless of how many decades of experience we may have under our belt, I do not believe that any of us are completely immune to negative thoughts and 'bad days'.

But I train for the answers and to be better than I was before.  That was why you started too.  You see, you and I are symbiotically learning how to win at life. We are both learning "the way".  

The way is open to all.  The way cares not of age, race or religion.  It just is.  It is just there-whether we choose to extract its secrets or not?

Going to class shows us both the way.  Lying home on the couch will not.

After classes and much movement with our friends and fellow practitioners, we are all re-charged - able to go home and better manage the stress, anger and sadness. And in many cases, the stress can be fully dispelled altogether.  We all go home and we sleep far better after a class or two at the dojo.  Hey, it turned out to be a really good day, afterall. We both experienced a glimpse of "Dō ".

So, yes.  We all do get excited to see you drive up to the dojo. We can see how you came in somewhat stressed-out, but left pumped up and confident.  We did too.  By training, we are helping each other master these same human emotions.   So get your butt in here so we can mutually assist eachother on how to win and succeed at life.

Onegaishimasu!

 - Sensei Todd Ryotoshi Norcross (Spring, 2019)

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Low Hanging Fruit Goals

If you set your goal too short, you will never last very long in the Martial Arts.

Do not just set your goal at 1st Degree Black Belt.  That is not very hard to achieve.
That is like saving up for years for your dream car and then once you finally buy it,
you never even take it out of the garage for a spin.

Set your goals higher and go for a 5th degree, or even an 8th degree!   Then, when you earn your first degree, you won't stop.  You will instead just see that particular belt as another small goal on the way to the bigger one.

There are no shortcuts to become an expert.  It takes thousands of hours of training in the dojo to learn everything.  

To stand out and shine, one must forge himself/herself in the fires of time with the hammer of endurance.  

We only live short life.

Why not reach way higher and work to be different from everybody else?

Avoid the going after the low hanging fruit of the masses.  It is much sweeter near the top.

 - T.N. January, 2019

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Obstacles or the Path?

There is such a huge difference in atittude (and outcome) when one says "I am going to keep doing this." VS the phrase " I cannot do this."

The former guarantees long-term success and deep meaning.  The latter guarantees failure and emptiness.

Converting the negative into the affirmative is the way to trick your brain into believing in you.

It is one of the most powerful mental strategies that exists.  And it gets you to your original goal.

If you are a skier, and you do not want to hit the trees, then do not focus on the trees.
If you just focus on the obstacles, you will surely hit them.  If you want to not hit the trees, focus only on the path around them and you will be safe.

Your career in martial arts, and in relationships, and at work are all literally determined by your perspective.  They are dictated on your perception of your path.  You either get taken out by the obtacles or you don't.

Try it.

Mr. N.


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The Joy of Laughter

Laughter and Resilience

When teaching at the dojo, the sound that I often cherish is not the kiai power shouts of hard-working practitioners. It is not the warm beating rhythms of the background Taiko drum music from the speakers on the wall. The most joyful sound that I experience is the bright laughter from everyone who is training and succeeding. From both children and adults alike, the joy emanates from us all as we all explore and discover the powerful life-lessons in the deep study of the Martial Arts.

I am somewhat wary of a dojo where there is never any smiling. Ironically, they may not be 'serious' enough if they are not expressing fun and joy while training.

Many of us travel to our dojo from far away to be under this one roof. We have a common and worth-while purpose. We try our best to leave the dojo a bit stronger than when we arrived. We are all trying to locate and master resilience. We train to recover.

I often notice when I hear laughter in class, as people’s social walls come down. I listen and smile as I hear the giddiness from older practitioners, who find new martial secrets and feel rejuvenated once again. They are always open-minded and excited to learn something new in every class - which is the fastest way towards enlightenment.

We are all brightly present while training. We feel alive. And we are all truly enjoying our chosen lives - moving ever upward between each and every challenging moment. This is what this magical sanctuary called a 'dojo' is all about.

I find that laughter is the universal solvent that breaks down any anger, sadness or frustration that life will try and pile upon us. It is this natural laughter that gives me occasional pause to stop and feel so thankful for our humble dojo. We all lend our collective energy to keeping it positive and very strong.

Resilience, once again, is the goal. 忍

In my own experience, laughter is perhaps the greatest of all weapons against sorrow.

- Todd Ryotoshi Norcross

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Why do youth students need to write essays on the Mindful Actions in order to complete the application process for their new belt rank?

The Mindful Actions are one of the many things that separates us from other martial arts schools.  The Mindful Actions are tenets to make sure that the student of Martial Arts is balanced, both mentally and physically.

The Mindful Actions are ethical tenets that teach practitioners that their thoughts, words and actions all have either positive or negative consequences.  Life is literally shaped by what we do and say.  Therefore, the earlier that a person learns these moral principles, he or she will grow up to both strong and compassionate.  He or she will become a protector of all that is light and good in humanity.

If the students just read the Mindful Action tenets, they will not internalize them very well.

 Many people learn information in different ways.  Some learn by hearing, some by seeing and some by writing.  

The youth practitoners at our dojo are required to write essays on each of the Mindful Actions as they achieve new rank.  By writing, they memorize and then put into action these fantastic lessons.  Each student must write a minimum of fifty words on what the Mindful Action means to them and how they can use it in their life to become a better person.

Can you imagine a dojo where there is only 100% physical technique and no discussions and lessons on cause and effect, legalities and morality?

Again, very few schools adequately balance the mental aspects of Martial Arts.  Without mental training, schools become too competitive, highly arrogant, frighteningly aggressive towards others to achieve goals and status and just overall better bullies.

 Our dojo teaches the opposite, just as the ancient samurai and ninja would have wanted.  Get what you want in life by being a powerful role-model, a strong and focused warrior and a compassionate healer when the need arises.

These are the true ways of the Samurai.

- Todd Ryotoshi Norcross

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Beginner's inner dialogue of self-doubt:

"I want to train. But I am worried that I won't last long. I tend to be lazy and leave things that challenge me. I like the comfort zone that I have created. I am not used to such a long-term commitment. And I am afraid that I will fail myself and my family."

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Response from Sensei Norcross:

I thought all of those feelings as well. Thank goodness I didn't give much attention to that younger, doubtful voice.

I think that "being afraid" is our conscience manifesting itself as the 'inner child' in all of us. We are afraid to disappoint those who we love.  When we start and then quit something (or even someone), we can sometimes hide our failure from family and friends.  But we cannot lie to ourselves. We know when we fail the person in the mirror.  Remember, our "self" will always be the most difficult opponent that we will ever face.

When we begin any new endeavor such as martial arts, - and our friends and family become aware of it - we of course want them to support us. We hope that everybody will acknowledge and bless our journey. The little kid in us still wants to be seen and accepted. This is normal human behavior. We have evolved to want to be a productive part of the greater group.  If we are contributing to society and accomplishing our goals, we are socially embraced as an important member of the clan. Conversly, if we consistently lie, fail and quit everything that we start, we are eventually ostracized by family and friends  - and secretly viewed as either unreliable or even worse, untrustworthy.  

Respect among family and peers is not quickly earned.

In joining the Martial Arts, a common goal of each new practitioner is to seek out (and train to become) the hero/heroine that he/she always longed to be.  We unconsciously wish to mimic the omniscient, omnipotent archetype who inspired us all when we were young. Most of these archetypes first caught our attention through literature, art or mythology. Training in the martial arts allows us to engage our inner warrior and unleash our own potential to serve others.  It is a noble and in my opinion necessary motive in this hectic world. 

If we are being honest, we are engaging in fantasy fighting just long enough to actually punch free and become that warrior. We want to be confident enough in who we are so that we can take care of others. We want strive to be a better person; in order to let go of that shy kid from our childhood who just wants to curl up and quit.
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To those who wish to seriously begin the never-ending journey towards self-mastery.

First of all, there is no such thing as mastery. A 'master' is just a fool with delusions of grandeur. When you assume you have mastered something, you no longer are open to learning.  Mastery will never be attained. It will always be just out of reach.

Know that up front - but please continue to chase it, forever.

I began my journey in Martial Arts when I was eight years old.  That was forty years ago.
So much has changed, but my study and passion to get good at the Martial Arts has never abated. I have never been a master, although many now call me by that misnomer.

Much of the success in my journey had to do with the support I had from my family and friends.  Yes, I was scared and afraid to move a thousand miles away from my home on the east coast to train with my teachers, but I was determined to find those who could help me discover the hero that I always wanted to become.  I still have not found my full "inner hero", but I have seen his face show up in times of crisis over the years - once or twice.

The Martial Arts have never failed me. They have never left me down or lonely. They have protected me and my family for decades.  They were always the mountain on which I stood. To this peaceful and life-balancing path, I owe everything.

In the foreseeable future, I will teach whoever desires to learn.  And I will probably make many mistakes as a teacher.  Perhaps we can both keep learning together? 

If you want this training badly enough, nothing and no one will ever stop you from finding that train that takes you to the dojo. Others will either get on board with your dedication, or drift away towards their own personal truth. Each person must follow her own path.

If you show the people around you that you are serious about your training, some naysayers will still doubt you - and watch watch to see if you will quit? However, with enough time, if you stick with the training long-enough so that it becomes not what you do, but who you are, you may reap all of the rewards that Budo has to offer.  And maybe then, your family and friends will be the loudest ones to cheer for you as you finally earn your Black Belt. 

 - Todd Ryotoshi Norcross