The Way of the Warrior

Bushido was a Japanese code about the "Way of the Warrior."  

“Anyone can enter the toughest battle and die. This is easy for a common thug, but for a samurai true determination is in impartiality, and true virtue is knowing to live when you must live, and to die when you must die. ”

-Prince Tokugawa Yoshinobu-

Bushido informed seven elements or virtues in the Way. 

• Courage
• Respect
• Compassion
• Justice
• Loyalty
• Honesty
• Honor

Bushido reminds me of Don Miguel Ruiz's, "The Four Agreements."

 

Courage. Bring your best self to each match. Courage means facing your opponent's best with your best. Melrose has won numerous matches when others presumed they were outgunned. Perhaps the first was in the D2 North title match in 2003. Melrose faced Arlington Catholic which came in 22-0 without having lost a set. Melrose sent them home stunned by a 3-0 defeat.

Respect. Respect the game, teammates, opponents, coaches. Respect means treating everyone well. Melrose has won the MIAA Sportsmanship award in the past.

 

Compassion. Have compassion for each other. When I coached basketball, I worked to remember, "how does it feel to be coached by me?" The twelfth player on the club has equal value as a person to the star player.

 

Justice. "Do the right thing." Social media has great potential for benefit and harm. "Be demanding without being demeaning." 

Loyalty. Make it about the team and about yourself. Be consistent. When success comes, act graciously and credit teammates and coaches.

 

Honesty. As in "The Four Agreements," be impeccable with your word. Also reminiscent of what Kevin Eastman preaches, "be able to live the truth, tell the truth, and take the truth." Coaches say, "don't cheat the drill," meaning to give every repetition your best, whether in a scrimmage, lifting weights, doing jump training, or playing in a sectional championship games.  

Honor. Honor reflects how we do everything, how we carry ourselves, how we treat others, how we take care of business. Honor is doing our best, maintaining dignity in victory and in defeat. Honor shapes our character and ethos. 

When someone describes a player as a "warrior," they give her tribute for dignity, respect, and integrity. From The Last Samurai, "From the moment they wake, they devote themselves to excellence in whatever they pursue." 

Lagniappe. Passing drills without a net...