The Two Edged Sword

As some pointed out in response to my previous post, it is sad that Hanshi Hagaonna chose to deny himself this simple pleasure because of someone who was not just a jerk but a stupid jerk. The guy probably never knew how close he came to the beating of his life.

Hanshi Higaonna with Tsuruoka Sensei. Two great men and martial artists.

But what do you think is the likely probability that this was the first time the driver had done this? Generally only successful behavior is repeated. So it was likely not his first such incident. How many people had this guy injured in the past? And how many did he possibly hurt afterwards?

Others would likely have chosen another of the many ways of dealing with situations such as this. One option might have been by welding what the Japanese call The Two Edged Sword – the sword that takes life, also gives life. If someone had killed Adolf Hitler early in his rise to power, millions of innocent people would not have lost their lives. So, the gun that killed this one man would have saved the lives of many, many others. It would have taken a life but, by doing so, given life to others. In the situation with the taxi driver, one way of looking at it would be that Hanshi Hagaonna might have done society a favor by applying what Soke Kubota used to call “an attitude adjustment”, and prevented this same guy from beating up others who were likely less able to defend themselves.

We must all decide the path we will follow relative to our beliefs. Hanshi Higaonna chose to follow one that was probably far more difficult and lofty than most of us would have followed. But, as Sensei Massie and others pointed out, it is very sad.

I consider myself very fortunate to have been allowed to spend a fair amount of time with or around Hanshi Higaonna when he lived here. He is a very kind, gentle, and humble man and great, great martial artist. As I said in one of my previous comments, I’ve known many (if not most) of those considered the greatest martial artists of our time. Some of them have been great martial artists but not so good as human beings – and especially after several water glasses of sake. Some I’ve met were truly great human beings but not so good as martial artists. But Hanshi Higaonna is one of a small handful who were truly great human beings and great martial artists.

What are your thoughts? Would applying The Two Edged Sword have been a better option? (This is not to in any way deprecate what he did. I certainly don’t know what is best, and most certainly not what would have been best for a far better man than I. I’m just playing Devil’s Advocate.)