No Easy Day

Hey Ninjutsu fans, it has been quite a while since I have written a post here. I am not dead and if you are following the Facebook page you would know that I am posting there at least once a week (Motivation Monday’s) but anyway no excuses, I am back to posting so let’s jump in!

Every day we have a choice to wake up and start the day with a bang or hit that snooze button and go back to sleep. Well, if you are like me you get up and start the ninja grind, pushing yourself to be better, learn more and be a better martial artist. There is no easy day, no day off if you want to achieve and improve. Yeah, that is the hard truth, No Easy Day!

This morning I woke up early (shit it is even Sunday) sore and stiff from class the day before, grabbed some coffee, and started self-massage, stretching, and mobility drills. Then suited up for a 6.6 mile run on the rural roads around my home, had breakfast (yogurt, nuts and fruit), finished this post, cut and split firewood, got in some no spin short blade throwing, time on the range, developed plans for the week, class notes posted etc..etc..etc

What did you do?

My days are far from easy, I push myself hard, when I need rest, I rest but then I hit the learning aspect to keep me sharp, my mind and yours needs training just like any other muscle. Now, this isn’t supposed to be some motivational, Pollyanna post to say, now you can do it to, this is a post about what I do and think that Ninjutsu practitioners, hell good martial artists should be doing every day. Whether or not you decide to read this and get inspired or not is up to you. I am just throwing it out to get you thinking like a ninja…No Easy Day, yes the SEAL’s use this saying as well as elite athletes around the globe, and I am here to tell you it is true, your days should not be comfortable, or easy as it does not prepare you for life.

I am a big fan of the stoic philosopher Seneca and I read this short piece at least once or twice a week:

“Set aside now and then a number of days during which you will be content with the plainest of food, and very little of it, and with rough, coarse clothing, and you will ask yourself: ‘Is this what one used to dread?’”

It reminds me that what I think, dread and fear is far from the truth, and that by training hard and pushing myself each day, I can overcome obstacles that I didn’t think I could. My philosophy of “No Easy Day” isn’t unique, it isn’t for everyone and most people who start down this path will drop it after a few days, but a true ninja warrior will read this embrace it and put it into practice in their lives and training.

Now, what are you going to do after reading this, just asking…

Bufu Ikkan

Airyu –“Living the Ninja Lifestyle!”

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