Budo Quotes

“The warrior learns of the spiritual realm by dwelling on the cutting edge of the sword, standing at the edge of the fire pit, venturing right up to the edge of starvation if necessary. Vibrant and intense living is the warrior's form of worship.”
― Stephen K. Hayes

“In Japan, a number of time-honored everyday activities (such as making tea, arranging flowers, and writing) have traditionally been deeply examined by their proponents. Students study how to make tea, perform martial arts, or write with a brush in the most skillful way possible to express themselves with maximum efficiency and minimum strain. Through this efficient, adroit, and creative performance, they arrive at art. But if they continue to delve even more deeply into their art, they discover principles that are truly universal, principles relating to life itself. Then, the art of brush writing becomes shodo—the “Way of the brush”—while the art of arranging flowers is elevated to the status of kado—the “Way of flowers.” Through these Ways or Do forms, the Japanese have sought to realize the Way of living itself. They have approached the universal through the particular.”
― H.E. Davey, Japanese Yoga: The Way of Dynamic Meditation

“Unfortunately, religion often works to shrink and tame the very wild and mysterious forces that first drew our wonder. In the process of making the inexplicable safe for the masses, the possibilities for real illusion-piercing insight becomes reduced. One might say that they are only available to those who dare to ride the breaking crest of direct life-altering experience.”
― Stephen K. Hayes

“A threat should never be spoken, your enemy should not be told of your intentions. Either take decisive action or refrain from it, but never threaten”
― Soke behzad Ahmadi

“The essence of warrior traits are demonstrated by : integrity with self, and honesty with others”
― Soke behzad Ahmadi

“The sword has to be more than a simple weapon; it has to be an answer to life's questions.”
― Miyamoto Musashi, A Book of Five Rings: The Classic Guide to Strategy

“A Martial Artist may become A professional fighter but not every Fighter is capable of becoming A martial artist. Martial Arts are about restoration of physical and spiritual balance and fluidity; they are about observing restraints and 'setting example'. Every practice session is A reminder of the play of opposites (yin and yang), . . . .”
― Soke Behzad Ahmadi & Denise Itchikawa, Dirty Fighting : Lethal Okinawan Karate

“. . . the sole aim of Okinawa Karate is to teach A person to handle violence and violent individuals; whether it is tactile, mental or spiritual”
― Soke Behzad Ahmadi, KARATE POWER Lethal power of Fajin

“The Hand (Kara-Te) is the cutting edge of the Mind”
― Soke behzad Ahmadi, Shorinjiryu Ryujin Kenpo

“. . . most martial artists want to know how A technique is done, A seasoned Sensei will demonstrate why”
― Soke Behzad Ahmadi, Dirty Fighting : Lethal Okinawan Karate

“Karate training will make you strong and confident, but restraint will make you respected”
― Soke behzad Ahmadi

“Better than money and fame, teaching martial arts to your children; giving them your time and confidence, is the best inheritance”
― Soke behzad Ahmadi

“A true martial artist welcomes change; He is A catalyst, A cause, A force of nature”
― Soke behzad Ahmadi

“The purpose of Karate is to guide you out of trouble by any means necessary, both in actual combat and in life”
― Soke behzad Ahmadi

“Real Martial Arts is Mathematics, Physics, Poetry; Meditation in Action”
― Soke Behzad Ahmadi

“Train to be able to defend yourself against any attack, and at the same time, retain your good heart towards other people. Don't allow bad people to turn your heart hard, but always be ready to defend yourself should you have to.”
― Bohdi Sanders, BUSHIDO: The Way of the Warrior

“A karate practitioner should possess two things : wicked hands, and Buddha's heart”
― Soke behzad Ahmadi

“Karate is five percent sweat; the rest is all commitment”
― Soke behzad Ahmadi

“Karate is action, survival, living; hesitation is paralysis, reaction, mortality”
― Soke behzad Ahmadi, Shorinjiryu Ryujin Kenpo

“Karate is not A religion, cult or dogma. It is incumbent on every generation of martial artists, to find the weaknesses of the previous generations, not to revere it . . .”
― Soke Behzad Ahmadi, Shorinjiryu Ryujin Kenpo

“. . to be exceptional in martial arts, you must possess the "4 C's" : Consistency, Commitment, Creativity and Competence”
― Soke Behzad Ahmadi, Shorinjiryu Ryujin Kenpo

“. . and so it is that A Sensei may impart his knowledge of the martial Way and nurture your fighting abilities, but you must learn the wisdom of finding other ways than martial skills to solve your problems”
― Soke Behzad Ahmadi, Sensei in Solitary

“When it comes your time to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with the fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your death song and die like a hero going home.”
― Tecumseh

“Karate without heart is just A corpse”
― Soke behzad Ahmadi

“. . as A martial arts teacher, we should never forget the first time we stepped onto the Dojo ground, remembering this, we will be better equipped to teach the next generation of Karate practitioners”
― Soke Behzad Ahmadi, Shorinjiryu Ryujin Kenpo

“When do they turn the streetlights on?
Does each streetlight have a separate switch?
Where did all the choo-choo trains go?
Why don't people just draw their own money?
Who decided that red means stop and green means go?
Is there only one moon?
Are all car honks the same?
How do the police stop trees from growing in the middle of the street?
Do people paint their own cars?
What is a fire hydrant?
Why don't people whistle when they walk?
Where do airplanes live when they are not flying?”
― Matthew Dicks, Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend

“Piled up high,
the snowman (just like everyone else)
after a few days
goes somewhere
without a trace.”
― John Stevens, The Sword of No-Sword: Life of the Master Warrior Tesshu

“Where swords meet
throw off illusion;
abandon yourself
and you will tread
on the living path.”
― John Stevens, The Sword of No-Sword: Life of the Master Warrior Tesshu