Karate-do highlights

Si vis pacem para bellum - If you want peace, prepare for war. A phrase that embodied the livelihood of the samurai warrior. While many elements of their life were surrounded by serenity, conflict was always knocking at their door.

In times of war, Injury or death was common. It was imperative that the samurai enlisted the help of a doctor. But not just any doctor, they had to be skilled in combat, they had to also be a samurai. The enemy would be reluctant to allow a healer on the field to help balance the scales of combat, so it was possible the doctor may be attacked and needed to know how to defend themselves.

Hira was a skilled doctor who found himself enlisted in an important battle between two samurai clans. His objective was simple, keep the samurai from his clan healthy and as able to fight as possible. Hira felt an immense amount of pressure as he could be the deciding factor in this battle.

Arrows rained through the sky and the clash of steel, bone and flesh echoed through the field as he made his way to tend to each of the fallen and injured samurai. He quickly had to determine if an injured samurai could be healed and resume fighting or if they needed to be carted off the field for further medical assistance. All while dodging arrows and blades around him!

As Hira went from warrior to warrior, he was stilled by a a cry for "help!". He could immediately tell that this warrior had been gravely wounded by the tone of his voice. He hurried towards the warrior to discovery his wound could be fatal. Time was of the essence and in short supply. He wished he had more hands to be able to save this warriors life but knew he had no time to think or panic and had to act now. As he was tending to the warrior, he heard another cry out, but this was a warrior cry! An enemy samurai was getting the best of one from Hira's own clan. He now found himself between a rock and a hard place. Save the life of a fallen samurai in need of care or assist a fellow samurai who was nearing defeat.

Hira jumped to his feet without hesitation, and for the first time in this battle, unsheathed his samurai sword to assist the samurai warrior who was in grave danger. He quickly defeated the unsuspecting enemy samurai and helped his fellow comrade regain his senses. The warrior knew he owed his life to Hira. As Hira now went to tend to the fallen samurai, he was accompanied by the one he just saved. Because of Hira's quick action, he now had another set of hands to help assist with the care of the fallen warrior who was still clinging to life. The fallen warrior lived to fight another day.

In that moment when Hira grabbed his sword and released it from its scabbard, he knew if he wanted peace, he had to prepare for war.

The Samurai doctor's responsibilities were significant. He had no time for panic or worry and had to maintain a consistent mindset. Which of the four mindset's would you say he embodied?

Sensei