Bushido Code-The Warrior's Way of Life

“In olden times, they say, warriors of all ranks considered archery and horsemanship the highest martial arts.”¹

In early civilization, horses became a technological resource for people to get from one place to another faster than on foot. Horses carried much more than a man could carry on his back and a warrior on a well-trained horse had a strong advantage in battle over adversaries fighting from the ground. A skilled swordsman could strike downward in both directions when fighting attackers from below and an archer had the advantage of moving swiftly on horseback while shooting from a distance. Native American’s selected a War Pony based on their speed, agility, sure-footedness, endurance and dependability. “Native riders realized that their success and their survival depended on the relationship they built with their horses.”² The presence of a rider atop a fast powerfully built horse was an intimidating force; adding to the confusion and ciaos on a battlefield.

This level of skill could not be acquired without first understanding that the horse and rider must become one—just as the Yin and Yang Chinese symbol represents opposites forces interconnected and in balance.

“A warrior’s ability to communicate with his horse is one of the most valuable skills he could develop.”³ As heard animals, a horse needs a leader. The rider must establish this hierarchical relationship by learning to master the equines body language and subtle cues required for it to develop trust as a follower. “Although body language is the primary means for equine communication, horses also use a range of sounds to talk to each other. The most prominent among these are the neigh, nicker, snort, and squeal.”⁴ Our historical relationship with the horse was a vehicle for riders to master a skill, improve communication and improve other types of conduct becoming of a warrior.

The Horsemanship Code in Today’s Society

The well-known fighting systems of the martial arts like Karate, Tae Kwon Do and Aikido have transformed from a military necessity to an art form with “new purposes: physical fitness, spiritual composure, character development, and sport.” http://yalepress.yale.edu/yupbooks/book.asp?isbn=9780300116748

A warrior interested in living the code of the traditional Samurai should also view Horsemanship as a martial art to be mastered. Just as a student of the fighting arts is encouraged to spar against different types of opponents in a self-defense class, a warrior must learn to ride horses of a different size, speed, agility and temperament. “You should have the look of being able to move with that horse in perfect balance with him; you should flow with his movements, and not resist him.”⁵ This level of horsemanship takes courage, discipline and years of practice.

All Warriors are Livelong Students

Everything eventually comes full circle in our lives especially our need to fulfill the passions and dreams we held in our youth. It was intriguing for me to learn that horsemanship was one of the warrior codes for Samurai.  I have always had a lifelong passion for horses. One of my personal goals this past year was to start learning more about Horsemanship.

My grandfather first introduced me to horses when I was a young child and I always admired his connection with these mysterious animals. Though I was around horses most of my life, I never took a formal lesson. Just last year, I had a vivid dream that my grandfather, who died several years back, was sitting at the kitchen table in my childhood home. In this dream, I was an adult. He looked younger than when he died–vibrant and strong. From my heart, I thanked him for introducing me to horses and explained that I have always had a passion to ride. He looked at me lovingly but with seriousness in his tone and said, “Just ride!”

I took the leap this past fall and did what my grandfather in my dream suggested. I contacted a horse farm in Raleigh that offered Western style riding instruction–my personal preference. As I reflect on my first few lessons, I realize that my instructor started with the basics while introducing me to three different horses during each lesson—each one a different size, speed, agility and with a different temperament. He was reinforcing the code. He also wanted me to remember that horses are horses and are therefore unpredictable, so effective communication is essential in becoming a skilled rider.

Historically a true warrior did not use horses for monetary gain but rather as an aid to survival. They were trading and breed in colonial times and the population of different breeds grew in the Americas based on demand; however, the true warrior’s interest in the horse was “in their necessity for maneuvering while heavily armed. For them, horses were substitutes for their own two feet.”⁶

There are certain rules and expectations found in the warrior code that became a consistent part of Samaria practice and teachings. The lessons found in the Code have been passed down five-hundred years, and are consistent with the teachings found in many modern day martial art forms. The handbook “was composed to provide practical and modern instruction for warriors, correcting way-ward tendencies and outlining the personal, social, and professional standards of conduct characteristics of Bushido, or the Way of the Warrior.”⁷ By understanding Horsemanship we can learn to appreciate and incorporate this conduct in different aspects of our daily life.

• The code of horsemanship reinforces “emptying ones cup” in order to learn and master a skill
• Understanding relationships and the importance of communication are critical including non-verbal cues and a heightened awareness
• Seeing the horse as an extension of ourselves and our universe rather than using the horse for monetary gain—it’s not fair to breed and sell a horse without paying close attention to overpopulation and mistreatment
• Understanding our relationship with animals and the natural world around us—many people shelter themselves from the outdoors and fear animal behavior
• Not being afraid to develop a new skill, try new things and explore uncharted territory—at any age or time in your life

1. Cleary, Thomas. Code of the Samurai. Boston, MA: Tuttle Publishing, 1999. Print.
2. Pony Boy, Gawani. Horse, Follow Closely. Laguna Hills, CA: Bow Tie Press, 1998. Print.
3. Ibid
4. Audrey Pavia and Janice Posnikoff, DVM, Horses for Dummies, 2^nd ed. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Publishing Co. 2005
5. Richard Shrake, Western Horsemanship. Colorado Springs, CO: Western Horseman Inc., 1987. Print
6. Cleary, Thomas. Code of the Samurai. Boston, MA: Tuttle Publishing, 1999. Print.
7. Ibid

Bibliography

Cleary, Thomas. Code of the Samurai. Boston, MA: Tuttle Publishing, 1999. Print.

Pony Boy, Gawani. Horse, Follow Closely. Laguna Hills, CA: Bow Tie Press, 1998. Print.

Pavia, Audrey, and Janice Posnikoff, DVM. Horses for Dummies. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Publishing Inc., 2005. Print.

Richard Shrake, Western Horsemanship. Colorado Springs, CO: Western Horseman Inc., 1987. Print

 Identifying with the Hero

Imagine yourself sitting in front of a big screen TV with surround sound booming on a couch so comfortable that it feels as if your body is sinking into a cloud. Buttered popcorn coats your fingertips with each swallow, and you grab another handful from the big bowl while absorbed in the action of your favorite movie. Who is your favorite character and what personality traits do you admire the most? If everything is harmonious with this character, can you relate? 

Have you watched the movie The Last Samurai? Tom Cruise plays the character Captain Nathan Algren. This character was someone that I could relate to because he was not perfect but his soul held the code of the warrior. I felt his pain while watching this heroic army captain face his inner fears and overcome alcoholism to find his true warrior spirit among the Samurai of Japan. He never gave up, never caved-in.

For most people their favorite character has a strong and weak side to their personality-they are human! We discover that this character accepts his weakness and faces challenge with the highest level of courage. We relate to his inner turmoil and feel his pain. From the comfort and security of your home, you see he is not perfect-his face covered with dirt and blood, he has torn clothes, and he looks deep inside himself to find the courage and faith to persevere.

There are technological advancements today that challenge us to increase the speed of communication and getting a job done. We have become so dependent on technology that we demand results and have a reduced tolerance for slow people. Our daily lives are filled with stimulation and we seek fulfillment from computers, cell phones, and video games and spend less time reading books. Children are becoming lazy and impatient and lack respect for adults. We watch the successes of other professional athletes and performers rather than focus on achieving our own success. It seems safer to stay behind the four walls of our living room where there are no real threats. It seems safer to watch our heros rather than become a hero. Commercials bombard our minds with daily messages that show images of cool cars and exotic vacations. We hear and see repeatedly that we need to buy new things constantly in order to be fulfilled--the latest and greatest technology. Our employers expect so much of our time that we are confused about who we really are and what we represent. Our ethics are being challenged because we feel the pressure to compete against people rather than work toward camaraderie-a true brotherhood. 

The movie you were watching on your high defenition TV is now over and the credits scroll down the screen. You look at the bottom of the bowl that sits on your lap to see a few lone kernels stuck in a layer of hardened butter. You are full and your butt hurts from having spent so much time in front of the television. You feel empowered to fight the world but are not sure how or why. Why are you so draw to this character and not the person who snaps his fingers and everything falls into place?

Look deep inside yourself because you want to be this character. I desire to be this character. Instinctively we know we are this character. This character represents the Warrior and his way of life.

We can all be this character if we understand his passion and his path-the Warrior’s Way of Life. The samurai were true warriors and followed the Bushido Code. We desire to offer this blog to those who want to achieve goodwill and integrity and learn to live by the code. People who want to live a more ethical and fulfilling life. Life is a journey that will test our courage and perseverance. By developing compassion and a desire to do what is right--we can all enjoy the journey together.