The first essential step to a spiritual life is character. One may deceive one’s friends, relatives and even oneself, but the Power within is not deceived.

For he who is honest is noble, whatever his fortunes or birth.

Try not to become a man of success but rather to become a man of value.

The gem cannot be polished without friction.

Only a man’s character is the real criterion of worth. Do what you feel in your heart to be right - for you’ll be criticized anyway. You’ll be damned if you do, and damned if you don’t.

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.

Without recognizing the ordinances of Heaven, it is impossible to be a superior man.

Another way of expressing the phrase, To become everything you must first become nothing, is this corroborating maxim, You Must Win the Cross. The symbol of the cross is ancient, far antedating its use by Christianity. It also has application to martial arts.

How fun is this? Cute kid. Remember when Aidan was just beginning his martial arts journey?

Well, he’s all grown up at age 17 and is a force to deal with. No kidding. Aidan is now a Freshman in college.

A happy warrior? Or one to be feared? Who, in their right mind, would want to be flat on their back looking up at this dangerous dude? Answer: only an idiot. Smasher keeps climbing up the Kiado-Ryu ladder…with serious intent. He could easily become the 66ᵗʰ Black Belt of the Karate Institute of America.

This is a strange statement, isn’t it: To become everything we must first become nothing? Yet, it is true and possesses great mystic meaning. If martial arts teaches anything substantive, it is to integrate the body, mind and spirit. Nothing will help us with the integrative process more than surrendering our egos to the Great Power that exists, the Power which created and sustains us; which gives us life.