A Japanese proverb says:
元気 配り 笑顔 配り – genki kubari, egao kubari.
Distribute energy, distribute smiles.
The average practitioner of a martial discipline holds a very high opinion of the practice itself. The world of Martial Arts is often regarded as something elevated and noble -a place where one can learn to embody the values of loyalty, integrity, perseverance, compassion, sincerity, and many others.
Quite often, the average practitioner also holds a very high opinion of themselves. A healthy level of self-esteem is indeed essential for a balanced life.
However, it often happens that a codified tool -traditional martial disciplines, originally meant to reduce an egocentric outlook -becomes one of the main fuels that feed the ego. As time passes, we become “too good”, “too high-ranking”, too much of everything to truly see ourselves and those around us.
“Be generous with health. Be generous with smiles!” – that’s the most common translation of the proverb.
The Dojo is, in fact, a privileged environment to learn how to embody this principle. Well-taught exercises and consistent practice show the individual how to use their body functionally. They provide a way to listen to oneself and to others -and to recognize when to stop or when to continue.
It’s a place where one can -and should- lay down the social masks we all wear and rediscover simple, authentic relationships. Joy, in its truest sense -the state of being constantly engaged in constructive activity- ultimately springs from this.
All too often, however, we see the opposite direction: practice carried on despite one’s feelings or sensations, leading to inevitable martial binges. The consequences? Chronic tension—both physical and relational- and, slowly, a path toward disaffection.
Living in balance between recognizing one’s limits, integrating them, and using them as a resource for growth -rather than being trapped by them- is not easy. Yet it’s the essence of the invitation to be generous with one’s own health and that of others.
To constantly fill what we do with meaning -physically and personally- is therefore the foundation for a heart capable of kubari, of spreading, because it has first learned to receive.
Humility and greatness, openness and determination, softness and solidity -the true ingredients of a martial path are measured by that same generosity that brings a smile to our face and to those we meet along the way.
Disclaimer: picture by Pixabay