#participant

Nazareno, a penitent participant in the Semana Santa processions in Seville, Spain

Stillwater (2021)

Directed by Tom McCarthy

Last week I had a life event occur. One that threw my mental status for a loop. 

All parents will understand and relate to this Kendo lesson story.

Last Sunday I had to call the police. 

Not something I take lightly in this world. My daughter was skateboarding in the street, and as I approached her diagonal through my garden. I heard dogs barking. My dog, by my side perked up, the sprinted immediately toward my daughter. 

I look up an see a 65lb Pitbull, ears flat, tail raised, squat low sprint. Full attack mode. 

I reacted, but it was my young 9month old, fearless dog, that ran interception and got infront my daughter, and lunged at the pitbull with a great Taiatari chest hit. Then I was within distance. 

Situation of very tense, and my mind had shifted.

Lizard Brain level 1000.

Primal protective DadMode engaged.

Lethal license activated.

I was getting ready to hand fight a 65lb pitbull. It was a "to the death" mindset. Nothing was going to stop me from protecting my daughter...

My Kiai kicked in. The fact Im a very big guy and so...so loud the dog backed up a few steps. 

The owner came up and barely controlled their dog back home, still unleashed....

Thankfully no injuries. 

But Lizard-brain endorphins raged through my system for the next day.

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I think Kendo is a mental stress training. You can fight an opponent, but really you fight yourself and control of your emotions. You train your mind to assess and target and activate. 

You refine thought to its bare minimum in order to absorb the moment and have a awareness of the environment, you widen your perception.

This widened awareness allows 8th Dan to find kensen-wide targets and accurately place the Ippon. That is the greatest mental chess game.