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In Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals Golden State gets the loose ball and drives the lane for a basket with less than a minute remaining to win their second straight NBA Championship. Lebron James scans the unfolding fastbreak. Sprinting from half-court he skies above the rim blocking the layup against the backboard with one hand. The Cavaliers go on to win the NBA Championship.
In Super Bowl 2017 Tom Brady throws 3 touchdown passes as he leads the Patriots over the Falcons, coming back from 22 points down at halftime. Then in Super Bowl 2018 Tom competes for his unprecedented sixth Super Bowl title. He throws for 505 yards, 3 touchdowns and no interceptions against the Eagles. With 3 seconds remaining in regulation and down 8 points, Tom throws the 50-yard pass into the end zone for Rob Gronkowski leaping in the air for the catch. However, it was not to be. The Eagles win their first Super Bowl.
In her final run in the 2018 Winter Olympics Half-pipe, 17-year-old snowboarder Chloe Kim nails 2 consecutive 1080’s (3 continuous 360-degree spins). She wins the Gold Medal. Turns out she didn’t even have to board for Gold. She had already won the Gold after her first 2 runs. In an interview, Chloe said, “I wanted to give it my best.”
At the Long Beach Karate Tournament in the late 60’s, Bruce Lee delivers his “one-inch punch” sending the bigger man flying backward into a chair.
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The wonder of mastery occurs throughout life. For me, mastery is the surrender to that pursuit that gives purpose, that gives life. The paradox arises as disciplined focus and sheer will expands in the greater view of the world, and of life. For Lebron, that’s his love of basketball. For Tom, that’s his first love, football. For Chloe that’s snowboarding for Gold, not eating all of her breakfast egg sandwich. For me that’s Aikido.
I’m no master. I’ll never be one. That was never my purpose. Yet, I’m dedicated to mastery. I embarked on my journey of mastery with Sensei Dan back in 1991. Yeah, that’s a long time together.
Refining and making Aikido techniques work with Sensei one-on-one was perhaps my greatest joy. Not in a measured calculation. Not in figuring it out. We worked on the feel of the Art. Sensei said to make it work “one time”. “No sparring.” We created art. I created Aikido as my own. That’s the inherent wonder of mastery. Creation.
So why mastery? The bigger question: Why not? Mastery surrenders to what you love. I truly have no interest in snowboarding. Yet, watching Chloe making her final snowboard run takes my breath away. That’s mastery. She is a wonder to behold.
Mastery endures the intense training beyond belief over many years. Ironically, mastery is really about the joy, the love. It becomes the love of your life. That’s what it was for Sensei. That’s what it is for me.
Sensei Dan dedicated his life to Aikido. He taught me that mastery looks from all different angles and perspectives, as new, as invented. He constantly reminded that you stay with Aikido or any martial art, because of the joy. Wonder expresses that mastery joy.
I discover the mastery joy in experiencing other disciplines, too. I have wonder watching ikebana, Japanese flower arrangement. I recall that awe of participating in the traditional Japanese tea ceremony. I love watching world-class ballet. I’m no dancer. And I have no desire to become one.
On the surface, mastery occurs effortlessly free obscuring the genuine consequence in the endurance of aching bodies and tireless dedication over rigorous years of training. We pursue mastery because of what it gives back. No endgame. Sensei constantly said, “Just train.” So I do.
I experience mastery in the aches and pains of my older body. So was it all worth it? Absolutely. With Sensei, mastery was about becoming greater than I knew me to be. I dared for greater than, because of Sensei. He always walked beside me. In a way, he still does long after he passed away.
In mastery, one discovers humility and that renewed sense of wonder. Peace. There’s still so much to discover. There’s still so much more training to do. There’s still so much to give away to others. The journey continues. In my heart, Sensei still walks beside me on this journey.
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Photo credit: Pixabay
