At the end of June I am back in Dorset, in the pretty village of Corfe Castle, at the foot of the imposing fortress built in the 11th century by William the Conqueror on a chalk hill, and which today overlooks the century-old cottages on the main street.
Vauban, who was an expert in besieging techniques, wrote that there is no such thing as an impregnable fortress, there are only poorly conducted attacks.
As Aikido teaches that any attack is ill-advised that turns an opponent into an enemy, far be it from me to think of taking a fortress; but rather to open my heart and share what it may hold, without worry or holding back.
O Sensei Morihei Ueshiba wrote in his book Budō, : ‘The true master of the sword is he who wears a smile’.
Philippe Voarino
