Rune sensei Patrick is a highly respected and knowledgeable teacher of the Japanese martial art of Aikido. He has dedicated his life to the practice and study of Aikido and has gained a profound understanding of its principles and techniques. Patrick was introduced to Aikido at a young age and immediately fell in love with the art. He began his training under the guidance of the renowned Aikido master, Sensei Morihiro Saito, and quickly developed a deep respect for the discipline and philosophy of Aikido. Over the years, Patrick has dedicated countless hours to his training, honing his skills and deepening his understanding of Aikido. He has traveled to Japan numerous times to train with some of the world's most skilled Aikido practitioners and has become fluent in the Japanese language to fully immerse himself in the culture and teachings of Aikido.
I find these kinds of prayers/litanies/poems inspiring as a writer. They add enormously to the sense of depth in a world, and they can become important plot points: witness the magical powers Patrick’s Rune has in A Swiftly Tilting Planet, or the wizards’ frequent struggles with how to interpret the Oath and act ethically. And they can, on occasion, add to my life, as touchstones that can provide comfort or courage
In the 1960 s and 1970 s right into the mid-1980 s karate tournaments were very popular and since at that time there were no kick-boxing or mixed martial arts contests karate and judo tournaments were the only venue for most of the young Martial Artists from white to black belt. Without going into extensive detail I quickly discovered that Sifu Lee , in spite of his young age, being a year older than myself and is a very able bodied and accomplished Martial Artist.
He has traveled to Japan numerous times to train with some of the world's most skilled Aikido practitioners and has become fluent in the Japanese language to fully immerse himself in the culture and teachings of Aikido. Patrick is known for his exceptional teaching abilities and his ability to connect with his students on a personal level. He has a unique way of explaining complex concepts in a simple and relatable manner, making Aikido accessible to students of all levels of experience.
The Geek’s Prayer: Spirituality, comfort, and conviction in SF lit
“A Swiftly Tilting Planet.” Novel by Madeleine L’Engle; painting by Rowena Morrill.
… That’s a very long title for a post that probably won’t live up to it.
I’ve been rereading a bunch of books lately, including some of Diane Duane‘s Young Wizards series. (I just bought her revised and updated versions of the first seven books for my Kindle; she has a sale that I think ends today that you should totally go take advantage of.) A couple nights ago a friend got me thinking about the intersection of Shakespeare and the Young Wizards universe, and I ended up rereading the Wizard’s Oath in order to translate it into iambic pentameter, as one does:
In Life’s name, and for Life’s sake, I say that I will use the Art for nothing but the service of that Life. I will guard growth and ease pain. I will fight to preserve what grows and lives well in its own way; and I will change no object or creature unless its growth and life, or that of the system of which it is part, are threatened. To these ends, in the practice of my Art, I will put aside fear for courage, and death for life, when it is right to do so–till Universe’s end.
That’s the version from So You Want to Be a Wizard, the first book in the series; slightly different permutations appear in other books. I’ve heard from multiple people that they figured, when they first read the books, that the Oath was slightly different in each book for safety’s sake — so that none of the non-wizardly kids reading would recite the actual, accurate Oath and accidentally find themselves pledged to a lifetime of fighting entropy etc etc.
What struck me, while I was rereading the Oath and trying to work it into a rhyming, metered scheme, was how much it reminded me of the Prayer of St. Francis, which has always been one of my favorite Catholic prayers:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
I couldn’t tell you which came first for me, the Oath or St. Francis; honestly, I probably became cognizant of them at about the same time, age 10 or so, so maybe it’s no wonder that they each remind me so much of the other.
Of course, if I’m going to talk about prayers and YA sci-fi, I can’t not talk about Patrick’s Rune, introduced to me by Madeleine L’Engle in A Swiftly Tilting Planet:
At Tara today in this fateful hour
I place all Heaven with its power,
And the sun with its brightness,
And the snow with its whiteness,
And fire with all the strength it hath,
And lightning with its rapid wrath,
And the winds with their swiftness along their path,
And the sea with its deepness,
And the rocks with their steepness,
And the earth with its starkness
All these I place,
By God’s almighty help and grace,
Between myself and the powers of darkness.
Wikipedia tells me that this is based on the Lorica of St. Patrick, and that the term lorica — a prayer for protection — comes from the Latin for “armor.” This might explain why I always find myself thinking of this poem when I’m on planes.
A third prayer/incantation that was part of my childhood did not come from the source you think it did:
I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.
That’s the litany against fear from Frank Herbert’s Dune, which I have neither read nor seen. No, instead, I got this from the Earthworm Jim cartoon, wherein Jim’s sidekick Peter Puppy would frantically chant the first three lines in stressful situations. Maybe not as dignified a context as Herbert originally intended — but still effective, since it sank into my little geeky brain at a formative age.
My last one, from Spider Robinson’s Callahan’s Crosstime Saloon series, is the law of conservation of pain:
Shared pain is lessened; shared joy, increased. Thus do we refute entropy.
I find these kinds of prayers/litanies/poems inspiring as a writer. They add enormously to the sense of depth in a world, and they can become important plot points: witness the magical powers Patrick’s Rune has in A Swiftly Tilting Planet, or the wizards’ frequent struggles with how to interpret the Oath and act ethically. And they can, on occasion, add to my life, as touchstones that can provide comfort or courage
Are there similar things in books you’ve read that you’ve particularly liked? I thought about including the Gunslinger’s Creed from Stephen King’s Dark Tower series, but it hasn’t had such an influence on my day-to-day life. (Although back when I was doing karate on a regular basis with my very intense sensei looking on and telling me things like “Don’t think about doing it, just do it!” I would occasionally sulkily think I do not aim with my eye, I aim with my hand in an attempt to motivate myself.)
Edit: I was reminded of this, as an appropriate wrap-up.
This is something I don’t take nonchalantly for according to Chinese custom it is an honor to be acknowledged in this manner and I view it as such. Without going into extensive detail I quickly discovered that Sifu Lee , in spite of his young age, being a year older than myself and is a very able bodied and accomplished Martial Artist. His system Yu Jau Dai Yune Do, The Way of Universal Totality , is an internal art derived from elements and principles of Tai Chi Chaun Pa-kua and Hsing I. In 1976 he began training me in his method and while I was a black belt I started at the bottom to learn the rudiments of this particular method based on sound principles. Like in the karate and Ju-jutsu I was learning his method was heavy-laden with realism at its core and we were using boxing gloves and special equipment to train our techniques which back in the 1960’s and 1970’s were not quite in the mainstream vogue yet. Suffice it to say that under Mr.Lee’s tutelage my ability was improved something by the way that was acknowledged by Grandmaster Siringano Sr to Sifu Lee privately in the late 80’s at his annual karate tournament. I was then competing and placed in. This was a true statement and both of us considered it a great honor to be acknowledged by as. Master Siringano was a man of few compliments so if he gave you one you cherished it.
One of Patrick's most notable qualities is his unwavering commitment to his students' growth and development. He is always willing to go above and beyond to help his students overcome their obstacles and reach their goals. His passion for teaching is evident in the way he tirelessly instructs and supports each and every one of his students. In addition to his teaching duties, Patrick is actively involved in the Aikido community. He regularly hosts seminars and workshops to share his knowledge and experiences with others. He is also a respected author, having written several books on Aikido and its philosophy. Overall, Rune sensei Patrick is an exceptional Aikido teacher who has dedicated his life to the practice and promotion of the art. His wisdom, skill, and passion have made him a beloved figure in the Aikido community, and his teachings continue to inspire and empower students around the world..
Reviews for "The Evolution of Martial Arts: Rune Sensei Patrick's Modern Approach"
1. John - 1 star - I was thoroughly disappointed with "Rune Sensei Patrick". Despite the positive reviews, I found the plot to be predictable and lacking originality. The characters were one-dimensional, and I couldn't connect with any of them. The pacing was slow, and I found myself bored throughout most of the book. Overall, I regret spending my time reading this novel.
2. Sarah - 2 stars - "Rune Sensei Patrick" had the potential to be a great story, but it fell short in execution. The writing felt amateurish, with awkward dialogue and inconsistent descriptions. The world-building was weak, with little explanation of the magical elements that were introduced. I also found the romance subplot to be forced and unconvincing. While the idea behind the book was intriguing, the final product left me disappointed.
3. Mark - 2 stars - I had high expectations for "Rune Sensei Patrick", given the promising premise. Unfortunately, the book failed to live up to my hopes. The writing style was confusing and lacked coherence, making it difficult to follow the storyline. The characters were underdeveloped, and their actions often felt inconsistent and illogical. Additionally, the pacing was off, with long stretches of unnecessary details followed by rushed climactic scenes. Overall, I found "Rune Sensei Patrick" to be a frustrating and unsatisfying read.
4. Emily - 1 star - I cannot understand the positive reviews for "Rune Sensei Patrick". The book was filled with clichés and stereotypes, particularly in its portrayal of the main characters. The dialogue was stilted and unrealistic, and the plot was predictable from start to finish. The pacing was also off, with repetitive and unnecessary scenes that dragged down the overall story. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a fresh and captivating read.