THE ART OF REI-SPECT

Greetings O Ye Fans of Soul Music. Here's a question for ya. What does Otis Redding...Aretha Franklin...Ray Charles and Grand Master Hironori Otsuka have in common? That's right...three African American singers of soul and a skinny Oriental man. Well...the answer is RESPECT.

1. Otis Redding: In 1965 he wrote and recorded the song Respect.

2. Aretha Franklin: In 1967 she recorded Otis Redding's song Respect...and made it her own signature song.

3. Ray Charles: I don't know if he ever recorded the song Respect...but he should have if he didn't. Actually I just needed someone with the name Ray...to fit in with what I wanted to write.

4. Grand Master Hironori Ostsuka: Developed a style of karate in 1934 called Wado Ryu. Wado Ryu means the study of the Way of Peace and Harmony. This style is a mixture of karate and ju-jitsu. While peace and harmony may seem contrary to karate...they have more in common than you would think.

Way back in 1972...when I was 21 years old...I was attacked on the side of the road... by an angry man. As he was swinging away with his clenched fists...and I was blocking away as best as I could...I got in a lucky punch and he fell like Goliath did when David slung his stone. I turned around...and his friend threw up his hands and said that he was not going to bother me. There was NO peace and harmony in my life on that day. Later on in that year...I ran across a small ad in the Daily News Journal announcing a karate class starting and the cost was $15.00 a month. It was taught by someone I knew named Newton Harris...the school was Bushido School of Karate. The style of karate was Wado Ryu. We met in Cricholow School basement...and later on Vine Street in Murfreesboro. I took for a couple of years and then because of various reasons...dropped out. Later on...many years later...in 2001....when I turned 50 years old...I started karate again (see previous Ramblings for full details of this event).

I told my son (Phillip)...and my wife (Brenda)...that when I turned 50 I would start taking karate again. This was when I was in my 40's. Brenda and I stopped at Quizno's for lunch...and ran into Mr. Bill Taylor...who now owned Bushido School of Karate. I met Mr. Taylor back in 1973 at the Vine Street School...and sparred with him...back in the day of NO sparring equipment. I still have vivid memories of blocking one of Mr. Taylor's kicks...and the pain shooting up my arm. I told Mr. Taylor that I was thinking of returning to the school...but I thought I was a little old to start up again. He told me of a 76 year old woman who had her black belt...and then asked me..."What's your excuse?" I had none. Oh...by the way...that lady...Mrs. Coleman...is still kicking...and every once in a while...she is kicking at me....what an honor.

You may be asking your self..."Self...what does this have to do with Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles and Hironori Otsuka?" I'm glad you asked. REI-SPECT. Rei is pronounced RAY (thus the inclusion of Ray Charles).

When I started back...I received my Student Guide for Bill Taylor's Bushido School of Karate. It outlines the program...gives the rules of the school, policies and procedures...and various bits of information about how to attain your black belt. Part of the book was BELT CURRICULUM. It outlined the various techniques that you would learn on your journey from White Belt to Black Belt.

The WHITE BELT CURRICULUM had five things that we would learn including how to do a front punch from a horse stance, how to do a front kick, and how to do a high block...BUT...the very first two things we learned were...(1) How to BOW (rei) (2) Why do we BOW (rei).

In the second collage you will see a pyramid shape with three words...that outlines...the proper way to approach what we learn...with the bottom being the foundation...before you get to the top. They are:
(1) Stances (2) Posture (3) Technique. Before you get to the fancy kicks...ya gotta get the basic stances... and in between that...ya gotta know how to hold your body upright, head up, eyes on the target, etc. There is one move...that needs to be the CORNERSTONE of the karate experience...and dare I say... our LIFE experience. That would be REI-SPECT.

We were taught the MECHANICS of the bow which included: (1) feet together at the heels with toes pointing to right and left at 45 degree angle (2) Arms/hands relaxed pointing down with hands open... not in fist (3) looking forward (4) At the command...REI...we bow (5) Slight bow at the waist (6) head and eyes up focusing on what's ahead. (7) return back to the upright, attention stance.

It does not take long to master the mechanics of the bow. The next step in the White Belt Curriculum is WHY do we BOW? In an age where RESPECT is a lost art...it is sometimes a process for us to truly understand why we bow/rei. I coined the term REI-SPECT because it speaks to me of the WHY we rei.

At our school..."karate begins and ends with respect." This is especially good for the young ones who are developing their life...and for us older ones...who may have become jaded and hardened by life.

We learn to respect from the moment we enter the dojo (karate building)...in the dojo dressing rooms... on the dojo floor. We bow when we enter the dojo floor...we bow to start out class with a series of three bows....to the front (Shomeni Rei) to respect our country, the country our style originated from, and the originator of our style of karate. We then bow to our instructor in gratitude for teaching us (Sensi/Senpai Rei) and then we bow to each other (Otagani Rei) as we begin to work with each other to learn...not defeat each other. We then bow prior to starting techniques...bow when we end techniques...and bow when we spar/fight (kumite') as we practice the techniques that we have learned. We then end class by repeating the three bows we did at the first of class....and then bow in succession to the ranks of belts as they leave the floor...turning and bowing again as we leave the dojo floor...and it is all about REI-SPECT.

To me...the REI...having REI-SPECT...is the most important karate move that I have ever learned... and am still learning everyday...on and off of the dojo floor.

NOTE: This is not some religious ritual...but basic life skills.

In my Christian walk...I relate the REI-SPECT...to GRACE. The word grace is from the Greek word Charis (Ca-reece)...which means favor, gift, free gift, unmerited favor. The best definition is found in Strong's Concordance...meaning...the divine influence in the heart...manifested in the life of the believer.

It is an inside out job...and not something that we can get our little hands on to manipulate. It is a God thang...that starts on the inside as I yield my life to Him...and what He does to me on the inside...will be manifested on the outside. With bowing/rei...we can learn all of the mechanics of rei....but that will not change what is on the inside. Over the years at karate...I am learning more and more what it means to RESPECT those that I come into contact with...by practice and repetition. Jesus said, "You shall LOVE the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength...and you shall love your neighbor as yourself." Before you manifest His love with your strength...it is an inside out job in your heart, soul, and mind... and then it will be effective to your neighbor...but it starts with you...loving Him so you can love yourself. Then you can effectively love your neighbor.

Final thoughts...finally.

I love Wado Ryu...the way of harmony and peace...but the only way to true harmony with my God...and true peace (rest, wholeness) is through the cross of Jesus. Because of His Death (in my place as a substitution and propititation [satisfaction)for my sins), His Burial (representing the finality the work), and His Resurrection (raised from the dead)...D.B.R...NOTHING MORE...NOTHING LESS. "He saved us...not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness...but according to His mercy...by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit." (Titus 3:5)

"Therefore (since Jesus humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death on the cross) also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name (Jesus) that at the name of Jesus every kneee should REI, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth and that every tongue confess that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, to the glory of God, the Father." (Philippians 2:8-10)

Love and Very Rei-spectful Kisses
Rodney "Peace and Harmony" Boyd

DREAMS AND VISIONS: The Journey

Hello fellow visionaries and dreamers...had any fulfillment's lately? Sometimes our dreams and visions tend to dissipate into the daylight when we wake up and we rub them out of our eyes like the crust in the corner of our optical orifices.

"For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day (9:00 in the morning)..but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel: And it shall be in the last days, God says, that I will pour forth MY SPIRIT upon ALL MANKIND (not just "Christians or Jews"....and your young men shall see VISIONS...and your old men shall dream dreams....even upon My bond slaves...BOTH MEN AND WOMEN...I will in those days pour forth of my Spirit...." (Acts 2:15-18)

VISION: The act of gazing, an inspired appearance, sight

DREAM: Seen in sleep, vision in a dream

Of course the above passage is Peter's explanation of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on a room full of men and women (around 120) in the Upper Room. He is quoting from the Old Testament Passage found in Joel 2:28-32. Today the great debate is...does God still speak and move in visions and dreams or have these thing passed away along with the last apostle or the official canonization of the Bible. Well...I am not going to be speaking about that during this Rambling...but am going to be talking about our everyday...human...visions and dreams. I feel the same principles that applies to the spiritual aspects of our lives (and yes...I believe those things are still active today including, miracles, healing, spiritual gifts, etc).

In a world of CAN'T DO...I believe that we CAN DO...especially when your CAN'T DO's are filtered through the yoke destroying, burden lifting, oppression removing, healing power of the ANOINTED ONE and His Holy Spirit ANOINTING...CHRIST.

"I have strength for ALL THINGS in Christ Who empowers me--I am ready for ANYTHING and EQUAL TO ANYTHING...THROUGH HIM who INFUSES INNER STRENGTH into me, [that is...I am self-sufficient IN CHRIST'S SUFFICIENCY]. (Philippians 4:13


Back in the mid-60's I had the seed of a dream planted in me...by watching a movie starring Peter Lorre. The movie was part of series from the 40's called MR. MOTO. He was an unassuming character who solved mysteries and used ju jitsu...to fight his opponents. That sparked something in me that was fanned over the years...and burst into flames in 1973. I to was unassuming...a skinny kid who was a little...well...a lot geeky...may I dare say...strange. I can remember on day at Mitchell Neilson school when I was in the 6th grade...as we were standing in a hall way waiting to go to gym...that a friend was clowning around and picking on me. He was tall...hovering over me...and before I knew it...I had grabbed his arm...and did a hip throw that I had seen in a Mr. Moto movie. The people around me were shocked...my friend was shocked...and most of all I was shocked. Remember...I had no martial arts training...just a skinny kid with a dream. I would watch those movies...see Elvis karate chopping in his movies...and reading various books...all the while never having an outlet or a place to go to practice these things...except in the backyard.

Fast forward to 1972. I got saved, been away to a Bible School, dropped out of that Bible School, came home to Murfreesboro, got married, got a job in a factory, fell away from the Lord...and ended up in front of the factory I worked at getting attacked by a tall, redneck (the bad kind) because of my stupidity. I got out of the car and tried to reason with him...but he could not be reasoned with...go figure. I was block punches...the best I could...and got my little finger dislocated (oh if I had only kept my fist closed)...and countered with a punch that knocked him down. His friend who was standing behind me backed up and through up his hands and said, "I'm not going to fool with you." Little did he know...it was a lucky punch. There were cheers from my co-workers as my Goliath went down. SHOCK!!! He got up...went to his car...and his girlfriend yelled, "Get out of here...he's coming for a gun." I hopped in my little green Vega...stalled it out a couple of times (like Marty McFly in Back To The Future)...and then it started. Looking in the rear view mirror I saw this guy chasing my car with a tire iron in his hand.

Fast forward to 1973...I saw an advertisement for a karate class held at Crichlow school basement...for $15.00 a month...no contract. What caught my eyes was a familiar name...NEWTON HARRIS. I knew him through some older childhood acquaintances. I joined up with a couple of friends...and began to fulfill me dreams from childhood. Over a period of time...married life, school, finances...took over and I ended up dropping out. NOTE: It was during this time that I met a kid in class by the name of BILL TAYLOR. I remember sparring with Him...and blocking one of his kicks...and an electrical shot of pain went up my arm. Little did I know that our paths would intersect later in life....MUCH LATER.

Fast forward to when I turned 48 years old. Periodically I would tell my wife...that one day I would start back again in karate...and specifically Wado Ryu Karate. I would run my First Basic Kata sporadically over the years...just to make sure I remembered it...and I did.
I had a DREAM...a VISION of a DESIRE planted in childhood, watered in adulthood...BUT seemed to have stalled and died...EXCEPT...I kept the dream alive by watching karate movies, thinking about it...and SPEAKING IT. One day...I took my young son Phillip to a Wado Ryu tournament in Columbia. It was intoxicating watching up from the bleachers....seeing the uniforms, the katas, the sparring, etc. I remember vividly turning to my son...and telling him..."One day I will be down there son." He agreed with me (where two are agreed).
I went home and told my wife that when I TURNED 50 YEARS OLD I WAS GOING TO START BACK TAKING KARATE. She smiled and agreed...did not through water on my dream.

Fast forward two years later...we stopped at Quizno's on Broad Street to get some lunch...and ran into Mr. Bill Taylor...now the owner of Bushido School of Karate. I talked to him about my visions and dreams...and then I said...."I feel that I am to old to start taking karate again...I am now 50 years old." Maybe I thought he would agree with me and give me an excuse for not fulfilling my dream...BUT...he did not. He said that there was a woman at the school who was..I believe he said 75...who just got her Black Belt. Then he laid the ball in my court..."What's your excuse?" I went down to the school and signed up...an older, overweight, out of shape, karate wannabe.

I started in 2001...and you would think the rest is history. No...the journey just began. For the next 6 years...I experienced the joy of dreams and visions revitalized...and the pain of the process. Over those years...I watched younger students...more flexible...faster...kicking higher....etc...start the same time as me and bypass me. But with the help of my instructors...a grit and determination... lots of prayer...I moved forward one belt at a time. The goal never was the yellow, orange, blue, purple, green, brown belts...it was always...the Black Belt.
Over and over again I was told that the only way that I would not get a Black Belt was IF I DID NOT COME TO CLASS.

Through out the journey...many times...I wanted to quit. I would come to class sometimes...just going through the motions. One hallmark day was when I was called into the office...and received a classic Mr. Bill Taylor "butt chewing". He did not mince words about my commitment to the goal. It was at that point that I took it up notch...started attending even more classes...and pushed through. The results were...I took the endurance exam...came out the other side worn out...but survived...and then took the Federation exam.

Even at this point there were obstacles. NOTE: In our spiritual journey...the same things happen to us...to keep us from our destiny..but we must PERSEVERE WITH THE CAN DO ATTITUDE. A couple of weeks before the exam...I was kicked in my knee in class (It was already hurting)...and during a kata (Pinan NiDan)...I ripped my right rotator cuff to where I could not lift up my right arm past belt level). Lots of i anti-inflammatory drugs, heat and ice....and rest were the order.

Prior to the exam...I was limping around...and I told Mr. Taylor. His words of advice..."Don't let them see you limp in there." Also prior to the exam...I saw a familiar face...Mr. Newton Harris...my original instructor...who heard I was testing and wanted to be there. I was coming full circle with my vision and dream.

Well...I gave it all...passed the exam...received the belt...and NOW was ready to BEGIN TO LEARN. My only problem...I had a torn ACL, torn meniscus...crud in the knee...and arthritis in the knee. That put a crimp in my continuation. Compound that by a fall down some stairs at one of my patent's house with damage to both of the rotator cuffs...and another roadblock. WHAT DO I DO NOW?

Perseverance...I will not give up. I still have a dream...and I HAVE STRENGTH FOR ALL THINGS IN CHRIST WHO EMPOWERS ME-- I AM READY FOR ANYTHING AND EQUAL TO ANYTHING THROUGH HIM WHO INFUSES INNER STRENGTH INTO ME...[THAT IS I AM SUFFICIENT IN CHRIST'S SUFFICIENCY]. (Philippians 4:13)

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY

During the journey...I have had many people as sources of encouragement. The same is true for my spiritual journey. You got to have others on this journey with you.

Number one encourager is Brenda...my wife...and then my son Phillip. I draw on them constantly. At the school...Mr. Bill Taylor who gave me no room for excuses to fail...only reasons for success. Mr. Mike Wilson...who is responsible for drawing me back from the edge of quitting and convinced me many times that I can do it. Mr. Lane Womack...who pushed me to my known limits and help me to go beyond them. Mrs. Betty Coleman...the lady who age has no hold on her. Mr. Ned Coleman...who infused in me the spirit of Wado...and constantly went over and over and over a Black Belt exam. By the time I got to the exam...I had been through it so many times there were no surprises. Ms Karen Wilson...a lady of perseverance and passion who always had a kind word. To Joe Maxwell who took me through those early belts and gave me a great foundation. To Steve Holt who gave me a passion for kata. Mr. Bill Herzer who bought the school from Newton Harris...and always, always encourages me to RELAX. To Newton Harris...who was at the beginning of the journey...thanks for being there. To all of my fellow karatekas....who were and still are on the journey...and last but not least...my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ...who allowed me to fulfill dreams and vision...and learn lessons in karate that apply to my spiritual walk.

Love and Mr. Moto Kisses
Rodney "Now I'm Ready To Learn" Boyd