The 7 virtues of the Samurai in the Children's Class

By Samuel Santiago Ramirez, Aikido Chiheisen, Puerto Rico
samueru@gmail.com

Every Aikido teacher that has taught aikido to children may say and confirm that each parent has their own agenda when they bring their children to the dojo. Some parents want to make their children heroes through the martial arts. Others want their children to learn discipline. Even others hope that the aikido class may be a treatment to any behavioral disorder their children may have. But I have to say that we, the aikido teachers, have our own agenda too. As I have spoken with aikido teachers in my country and other countries as well, I have seen that mostly we just want to spread Aikido to future generations. We love this martial art and just want to see more people enjoy and learn it as we do.

In all the years that I have taught aikido to children, I've noticed something very interesting. I have seen that every kid that comes to my class sees in me a hero. And this not only happens in my class, it happens in all the dojos I have visited as well. Every child sees in his or her sensei a hero. For every kid there is no stronger or more powerful aikidoka than their own teacher. Their teacher is someone they may look upon and they feel that their teacher never fails. Even some of them think that their teacher is stronger and more powerful than their own parents.

When I noticed that in my students, I began to feel a great burden on my shoulders. These children are observing everything we do and every word we say with wonder. And this makes me feel responsible for the development of these children. They are learning from everything we do, and not only the technique that we teach to them.

I remember, once a few years ago, I was shopping with my wife and I felt that someone was staring at us. When I looked back, one of my students, an eight year old boy, was hiding behind his mom looking at me and all of my movements. I began to tremble. He was looking at me in awe. I walked to him to greet him and his parents. At that very moment, he began to tell everyone that I was his Aikido teacher. I felt in his words such admiration that I can't explain to you with words what it felt like. Then I realized that he was observing me not because I was his teacher, but because he wanted to see how I conduct myself outside the dojo's walls.

After that, I began to ponder: what are we really teaching the kids in class? In my reflection, an idea came to my mind. Morihei Ueshiba, O Sensei, not only taught aikido techniques to his students, but a way of life. Aikido is not just how to harmonize with an attack, it's how to harmonize with the whole world and life. In my very own opinion, O Sensei taught all his students how to be people of peace in a world where struggle and confrontation is our daily bread.

Albert Bandura, a renowned psychologist, developed a theory a few years ago that says that children learn through modeling. Children look at their models around them and learn from them just by mere observation. This theory also says that everything they learn from their models will influence how they behave in the present and the future. We, the aikido teachers or senseis, are their heroes and a model for them too. Knowing that, I came up with this idea: IÕll teach them the 7 virtues of the samurai that are:

1. Gi - Rectitude

2. Yu - Courage

3. Jin - Benevolence

4. Rei - Respect

5. Shin - Honesty/Trust

6. Meiyo - Honor

7. Chugi - Loyalty

I try not to only teach them aikido techniques but to teach them this virtues or values through daily practice. In order to teach these values, a personal compromise with those children and their development is required. That's why I work very hard to improve myself not only as an aikidoka but as a human being too. I'm very aware that everything I do in class has to demonstrate in practice and in words these seven values. The way I treat them and how I treat every person that comes to the dojo has to show them these values in action, even in my daily life outside the dojo.

I told them that a good aikidoka or martial artist does not only have a powerful technique but also the right attitude with life and with their practice partners. I try to teach them to be fair in everything they do. They have to demonstrate courage in every technique and even in school with their studies. I show them to respect every one, especially their parents. And I ask every parent to show respect to their children in everything they do and how they treat them. (At least, they do that in front of me.) I teach them to recognize their mistakes and accept responsibility for their actions and to speak only truth. Also to be considerate and to treat others the way they want to be treated. And to be loyal they have to be true to themselves and with others.

For me Aikido is so much more than wonderful techniques and practicing in a dojo. Aikido is the way of life of peace and self discipline. Those values represent a way of life that has to be taught to the children as well. I think that my best contribution to the lives of these children is not only to teach them a good and powerful technique but to show them the very principles and values of Aikido to their daily lives. I hope that when these children grow up and have their own children they at least still practice the values they've learned in my class.

About the author:

Samuel Santiago Ram’rez is a 2nd Dan black belt and has been teaching aikido to children for the last 8 years in Aikido Chiheisen Dojo in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico.

Bibliography

Hyams, Joe. Zen in the Martial Arts. Bantam Books, New York, 1982.

DiCaprio N. S. Personality theories: A guide to human nature. Holt, Rinehart & Wilson, New York, USA, 1983.