Masakatusu Agatsu: True Victory is Victory over oneself.

Like so many practices, Aikido contains many levels of understanding. Let us take the phrase Masakatsu Agatsu — “true victory is victory over oneself” and examine it on three different levels.

A basic level of understanding

When we first encounter the phrase “true victory is victory over oneself”, it is often understood in a very practical way. We may interpret it as learning to regulate our thoughts and desires, letting go of bad habits and cultivating healthier ones. It can also point to becoming more mindful of the words we speak, our impact on others, and the quality of our relationships.

From this perspective, Aikido fits neatly into everyday self-improvement. It becomes a form of physical exercise, a way of learning a new skill, and an opportunity to be part of a community of friends who share a common practice.

A slightly deeper level of understanding

Looking with greater depth, Masakatsu Agatsu begins to reveal itself as a true commitment to practice. The dojo is no longer just a place to train the body, but a place to polish the spirit. Victory over oneself comes to mean staying dedicated even when training becomes difficult, repetitive, or frustrating. No matter what obstacles life throws up, you continue to turn up and train.

I’ve noticed how many people stop coming when life gets tough—whether through work pressures or family problems. I believe that the consistency of turning up, especially when life feels difficult, is what supports us in the long run.

This level of understanding is also a perfectly adequate one, and has real merit. Simply continuing to show up, week after week, is no small achievement. Most people give up once the initial enthusiasm fades or progress appears to slow, and very few truly go the distance. The hope is that the perseverance we cultivate in the dojo begins to ripple out into our daily lives, making us more resilient, grounded, and able to meet life with the same steady commitment.

The deepest level of understanding

At the most profound level, true victory is not victory over the self. Instead, Aikido becomes a means of recognising that there is no separate self to overcome. From this perspective, it might be more accurate to say “true victory is the recognition of no self"

Language, of course, is a poor tool for expressing this level of understanding. Words inevitably fall short of describing the essence of who we are. The most accurate understanding would be to remain silent and simply abide in presence.

Shedding the sense of “I” is the ultimate aim of Aikido. Here we find the Art of Aikido now embodies the Art of Peace — what a Buddhist might call the end of suffering, or what a Christian might call God. In truth, all genuine arts and spiritual paths lead to the same point of non duality, each expressing the same thing in their own way.

Now our practice truly begins.