Shihan Dan Ordoins at KMD 2011 – Part 1
June 15th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
On the weekend of May 21, 2011, Kage Musha Dojo had the pleasure of training with a true Budoka, 15th Dan in Bujinkan, Shihan Dan Ordoins. Meeting people like Dan Ordoins reminds me of the most important, yet sometimes invisible factors that we require in our training. How can the path of a martial artist allow one to grow past the boundaries of life we commonly confine ourselves to? I find it very interesting how the more dangerous a human being is, the more humility they seem to possess. Regardless of the magnitude of martial prowess that Shihan Dan possesses, he does not allow you to feel a sense of inferiority. You feel as if you are in the presence of an old friend from the moment of introduction. Even though he is a 15th Dan, his aura of humility is ever present. Shihan references Hatsumi Soke when sharing any knowledge he has. I have observed that sometimes individuals attain a certain rank, they begin to pass on knowledge as if attained on their own but Shihan referenced Soke so much that it felt more like we were all training amongst one another and not solely under him. You can truly see that Shihan does not present himself as a Grandmaster of the art but a medium to Hatsumi Soke. The purpose of this piece is not to flatter but to understand the spirit Budo. If you cannot “make your warrior’s walk, your every day walk”, the road to mastering martial arts and your own life will prove difficult. What is the purpose of training in martial arts if it will not benefit you in every aspect of your life? To understand this notion, one must examine the conduct of individuals such as Shihan Dan Ordoins. As I have learned from Hoshindo, our waza is not where the importance of the art lies, but in the principle the waza is trying to teach us. These principles transcend combat and if you allow them to, teach us about ourselves, our relationships and how to ultimately achieve mastery of our lives. This is the first of eight instalments and each will focus on a specific principle Shihan Ordoins shared with us. I am truly honoured to have been given the opportunity to write about this seminar and share our experiences with you over the next couple of days.
Life in every breath – Rupinder Singh Randhawa
