Willem de Thouars is a perfect example of living Budo. He is one of the greatest practitioners of Kuntao the world has given us. Willem uses the word “Struggle” in class, he will demonstrate a concept then say “struggle with it”. This is a reminder that all things are not handed on a silver platter, you must fight (or in this case struggle) to achieve victory, whether it’s mental or physical. Words to live by very much like Hatsumi Sensei’s yelling of “Play” after his sharing of a concept.

At the Budo Tenchi Dojo, the most common phrase you will hear throughout class is “struggle with it” from Henry, our instructor. He believes so much in these words that he has made it a way of life and training for students.