Navigating the chaos…

The first 24 hours (1/12 – 1/13) went mostly as planned. My training begins on Wednesday (1/15), so my plan going into this trip was to have two days to get acclimated to the area. I wanted to get the feel of the ground, get climatized, brush up on my language, settle into my tiny room, and check out routes.

Having traveled around Japan many times, I knew the transportation system could be intimidating. While I did some map study, there is always something about getting the “real-time” feel of an area- the nuances, people patterns, necessary sites (cafes, grocery stores, etc.) and movement times between locations. Take a look at the subway map posted above. Each color identifies a separate subway line. In addition to the subways, there is a similar web of routes for the numerous train lines (not pictured).

Day one found me logging in over 24,000 steps. The red star on the upper portion of the map is the general location of the Air BnB I will be at for six weeks. When I say Air BnB, think of it more along the lines of a large utility closet with a bed. The triangles on the map represent the various Dojo’s and equipment shops I will be visiting. I spent the first day checking out the best routes (quickest, least transfers) from the multiple points.

To get from Point ‘A’ to Point ‘B,’ you can expect to make various stops to transfer to another line. I used a combination of modern-day technology (Apps, portable MiFi) along with old-school techniques (pen/paper, reference points, and backstops) to navigate the web of chaos, also known as Tokyo. While it appears complex, it is rather fun and manageable. I think it comes down to attitude, more on that later.

Some of the legs were short, while others were anywhere from 20 to 45 minutes. It was during that time, I thought about navigating the chaos. Why do a reconnaissance before training? The simple answer is to get my timings and routes down to minimize the chaos that could occur later. I personally hate to be late. Yeah, maybe my military experience influences that some, but I believe it is more than that. As I step into the Dojo on Wednesday, I feel I am representing many things to a group of folks who know nothing about me. As I will be assessing them, I fully expect and welcome them to do the same. I will be representing America, the academic institution, and my family, among other things.

I have often reminded myself and the Soldiers I have led to consider the importance of reputation. So, being on time, ready to train, and a proper attitude are elements of the reputation I want to forge with the folks I will be interacting with at the Dojo. So yeah, attitude is everything with me.

Some that know me will say that I am hard-headed or maybe have a high standard when it comes to the issue of attitude. For much of my life, I was amid folks ready to react to life and death issues. How we trained mattered whether it involved mission success, survivability, or operational capabilities. Attitude played an important role. Attitude affects what you put in and take away from training. I believe that is the case with life itself.

So, in my quiet time, navigating the chaos of Tokyo, I reflected on attitude.
While the complexity of the railway system offers a picture of chaos, the truth of the matter is that chaos can be present internally and externally. In the realm of the internal chaos, it could manifest as being amped up, fear, anxiety, lack of confidence, or other means. So, another reason to establish a baseline up front for me is to help gain some familiarity. Later, when Murphy shows up, there will likely be less chaos or crisis needing my attention. A clearer mind lends to a better focus on the task at hand. I believe that and want to go into the Dojo with that mindset.

Osu!

Pat