A Kendo Story

by Jonathan Deutsch

A professional cockfighting trainer, Ki Seishi, was told to train a chicken by the King. After 10 days, the King asked: “Is he ready to fight yet?” Ki Seishi answered: “No not yet. He becomes blindly ferocious, and eagerly looks for an opponent.” Another 10 days passed and the King asked again. Ki Seishi answered: “No, not yet. When he hears another chicken crow, or when he senses another chicken’s presence, he will radiate his fighting spirit.” After another 10 days, the King asked again. Ki Seishi answered: “No, not yet. When he sees another chicken, he will glare fiercely and loses his temper.” When the King asked again after another 10 days, this time Ki Seishi said: “I believe he is ready now. Even if another chicken crows and challenges him, he will remain unperturbed, just like a wooden figure. This proves that he is full of virtue. He has got it now. No chicken is a match for him. Every chicken will run away when they see him.”