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I’ve heard some say, “I’m just keeping it real.” WTF does that suppose to mean? Really? From a universal perspective, ‘real’ is absolutely local, if not entirely relative. What’s ‘real’ for some, might not be real for others. Just saying.
Perhaps, the more useful paradigm: Keeping it relevant. No, relevance doesn’t reflect stasis. For something or someone to be relevant, they must constantly evolve, continually provide value and art for generations that follow. Really, I hope to create my Art for the next generations to discern, and create from what they find useful or not. At least I want to express my Art out there.
We all perceive art on a personal level. We assign Art value or relevance given our own experience, given the life lived. Art only takes upon relevance, when we discard what doesn’t work for us, and tailor what has worked. Art is relevant when we make Art, our Art.
Sensei Dan always said, “You don’t have to do it [technique] like I do. Make it work for you.” He wanted me to create my own Aikido. That honors O-Sensei’s intentions, as well as Sensei’s higher purpose. Create your own Art on the Mastery Path. That occurs in other pursuits, as well.
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Over the last 15 years, Lebron James revolutionized the game of basketball in the NBA. Lebron is the Basketball Savant, who came into the league at age 17. As the physical phenom at 6’ 9”, 255 pounds, no one could jump higher, take it to the rim stronger, or block a shot against the backboard like Lebron.
He has the mind for the Game, virtually inventing the “point forward” position. Lebron won 3 Championships and played in 8 NBA Finals. Lebron may be the Greatest Basketball Player of his generation. Arguably, Michael Jordan is still the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time).
Yet, time passes and the game constantly evolves. No longer are Championships won by scoring “in the paint” – near the basketball rim. The Game has transformed into sinking 3-point shots from the perimeter.
No team does that better than the Golden State Warriors. No player shoots 3’s greater than point guard Steph Curry. At 6’ 3” Steph isn’t the imposing physical presence of Lebron. That’s just not Steph’s game: Quick, smart, and the Master of the 3 point shot.
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith calls Steph the “Baby-face Assassin”. Steph dismantles teams from the 3 point arc. Steph, like Lebron, is a good man off the court: The dedicated family man, and one who gives back to his community. Under Steph and Coach Steve Kerr’s leadership, the Warriors have won 3 of the last 4 NBA Championships. They invent the new age NBA dynasty. The Warriors are creating their Art, anew.
Steph and the Warriors create relevancy. Even Lebron, the consummate Student of Mastery, has worked improving his 3 point shot. Will that be enough, along with the rest of his game to catch Steph? Perhaps. Lebron gets Steph’s Art. Maybe, Lebron reinvents Steph’s Art as his own. Only time shall reveal.
For years kids wanted to dunk the basketball like MJ, Kobe or Lebron. Nowadays, kids want to shoot 3’s like Steph. His Art has altered a generation’s relevance in creating their own Art.
In our years together, Sensei often reminded me that had Aikido Founder O-Sensei been alive today, his Aikido would have been different. His Aikido would have evolved. He like Sensei trained to make it work: Keeping it relevant.
While training with Sensei, he chose to refine the reduced subset of techniques. I believe he was also influenced by the relevance of mixed martial arts in culture. Sensei sought to evolve Aikido techniques that concentrated on attacks from punches and grabs. He discarded the techniques that just didn’t apply.
I got from Sensei that we must constantly reinvent Aikido’s relevance. Taking that a step further: We must reinvent our Art as relevant. We must reinvent ourselves as relevant. That’s even more daunting.
So forget about “Keeping it real.” For one thing, I have no idea what that is. Instead: Keep it relevant. As I give up what doesn’t work and invent what does, then just maybe my Art becomes relevant. My hope is that so will I. Just maybe.
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This post was previously published on www.facebook.com and is republished here with permission from the author.
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Photo credit: Shutterstock
Lisa – Awesome picture. Love it!