“When we are securely rooted in personal intimacy with the source of life, it will be possible to remain flexible without being relativistic, convinced without being rigid, willing to confront without being offensive, gentle and forgiving without being soft, and true witnesses without being manipulative.”
~Henri Nouwen
Reflection:
The Japanese word jujutsu (柔術)* is one of several words** used to describe close-quarters grappling techniques. Classically, it was a subset of a larger system that included weapons and striking. In more modern times, it stands as a system of empty-handed techniques for dealing with armed or unarmed opponents. These techniques are used to control, subdue, and break or strangle an opponent. The word is often mistranslated as “the gentle art.” A more accurate translation is “the supple art” or “the yielding art.” However, this only tells part of the story. The words gentle, supple, or yielding can be misunderstood as weak, submissive, or passively accommodating—qualities contrary to the essence of jujutsu.
As my friend Ellis Amdur once explained***, the supple and yielding nature of jujutsu can be understood by imagining two trees. Picture a pine tree and a willow tree in a snowstorm. Snow piles up on each tree’s branches. The pine tree’s branches rigidly hold the weight, resisting with all their might until one snaps and falls to the ground. The willow tree does not resist. Its branches yield, bending and absorbing the force. When a branch reaches its limit, it sheds the snow, which crashes to the ground. The branch then snaps back into place with power and elegance, as if never bothered by the weight it once bore.
In the above quote, Dutch Catholic priest Henri Nouwen beautifully describes the spiritual equivalent of the willow’s strength. Through deep intimacy with the divine source of creation, we develop a sort of spiritual jujutsu. We grow strong without being rigid, meek without being submissive, loving without being passive, and forgiving without being perpetual victims. With and through Christ, we learn to be self-giving, self-emptying, and self-sacrificing, while also maintaining our spiritual integrity, inherent dignity, and divine nature as beloved children of God.
~Robert Van Valkenburgh
*Transliterated as jiu-jitsu when referring to the Brazilian offshoot, commonly known as BJJ, of which I am a student, practitioner, and instructor
**Other words used to describe the same or similar techniques are yawara (柔), taijutsu (体術), torite (捕手), et al.
***See Amdur’s books Hidden in Plain Sight and Old School for more on this subject as it relates to hidden power in Japanese martial arts and classical Japanese martial traditions, respectively
Question for Reflection:
In what areas of my life am I holding on rigidly, and how might yielding more deeply to Christ’s love make me stronger, more compassionate, and more resilient?
Related Bible Verse:
“But he gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” — Isaiah 40:29 (NIV)
For Further Reading:
For a reflection on how the strength we receive from God calls us outward to serve others, read Lectio: Grace To Serve Others
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