"Strong-Willed Teacher Imparts Courage "

By Brian Wilkes

"Tsuyoi Kokoro Shihan Yuki o Torimasu" is a complex expression heard in traditional arts, including martial arts. The strong heart/spirit/character will seize on the teacher's courage, and make it his or her own. The character "kokoro", third down on the left column, is actually a diagram of the four-chambered human heart, signifying the unity of the aspects we call heart, spirit, mind, determination, and emotion. On another levels, it means that enduring what appears to be your teacher's sadism actually a way to build your courage - take grateful advantage! Better to learn hard lessons in the dojo than on the battlefield.