Best Supporting Actor Academy Award Winner Robert Downey Jr. spoke with host Joe Rogan on his Podcast The Joe Rogan Experience about his acting career, his martial arts training, and his life. Robert Downey Jr. was black belt in Wing Chun kung fu. He used his Wing Chun training to rehabilitate and heal from his drug and substance addictions. Robert acknowledged that about half the things he accomplished as an Actor came from the foundations that his Sifu taught him.
At the time of the interview, Robert had trained in Wing Chun intensely for 15 years. He just made black belt which was a significant accomplishment. He was working on other certificates, i.e. weapons. Robert’s Wing Chun training coincided with his recovery from his various addictions.
Joe and Robert talked about the value and importance of “Getting out of your own way.” Robert said, “Isn’t it about 70% of it.” He said the other 30% is “the Big I don’t know”. Joe said that when you find it, “There’s an inner smile.” Amen.
What Joe and Robert talked about landed profoundly with me. I got it. I got them. I learned to get out of my own way training in Aikido with the late Mizukami Sensei and Ishibashi Sensei over the years. Aikido is the great love of my life. I’m never more alive or more self-expressed than when I’m training or teaching Aikido. I’m Godan (5th degree black belt), because of Mizukami Sensei and Ishibashi Sensei. They gave me the space to succeed, fail, and grow from both. In many ways, they gave me life.
Joe said, “You still have to show up and do the work.” That’s the other 30%.
When I was a little boy, Dad completely scared the hell out me. I was scared to my soul. I could do no right for Dad. Whatever I did or didn’t do only made him so angry at me. I was Dad’s greatest disappointment in life. I was not good enough for Dad. I was not good enough for anyone, especially me.
When I started training in Aikido with Mizukami Sensei, I had to prove that I was good enough. Sensei got that. He got me. Sensei said, “Just train.” It wasn’t like I have to get somewhere or be someone else. For the first time in my life, I was safe being me. That was freedom.
When I started getting out of my own way, instead of listening to the voice in head that I’m not good enough, I listened to Sensei. I followed his instructions as best as I could. I said, “Hai” even when I didn’t know what he was doing exactly. I knew that he would make me work, then correct me.
Sensei became a father to me and taught me to be a good man, be of service, and make a difference for others. Sensei said, “Make it work.” I made Aikido work for me. I made myself work, too.
I got out of my own way, by learning to get out of my head, and be present. In Japanese mushin means no mind or empty mind. Sensei taught me the koan: Mushin. Mushin. That means: If you think about having an empty mind, you don’t have an empty mind. I can only create from nothing. I can only create myself from nothing, too.
In Aikido, Mizukami Sensei said, “Wait it out. Enter the attack. Take a glancing blow if you have to. You’re always going to get away scot-free. It’s one time.” I get out of my own way. I take a glancing blow, take a hit for what’s meaningful to me.
In Aikido, Ishibashi Sensei said, “Apply the (Aikido) technique to yourself, not to the attacker.” O-Sensei Morihei Ueshiba said, “True victory is victory over oneself.” I invite the attack. If I defend, I can be defeated. There is no fight. It’s only me against me.
Therein lies the 30%, I show up and do the work. I work on myself, not on others. In over 35 years, I practiced Aikido technique over, and over, and over again. Practice makes the unnatural natural. In martial arts, in Aikido, I get out of my own way, empty my mind, and be present. I show up and do the work. I do the same outside the Dojo, in life.
I have nothing to do with what goes on inside someone else. I have a say in what goes on inside me. I get out of my own way. I show up and do the work. I work on myself, not on others. That’s all I can do.
I have the life I love, have a meaningful life in that 30%. There’s a big inner smile inside me.
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Photo by Clark Tibbs on Unsplash
