"No," the swordmaster said.

"One does not refuse the king," the herald said.

"I do. I will not train his soldiers or officers, I will not tell my students to join his army, I will not support his unjust war."

"You will regret this!"

"No," the swordmaster said.

#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

@MicroSFF He didn't use swords. In the end he didn't even use his fists, but he said basically this to Imperial Japan.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morihei_Ueshiba

Morihei Ueshiba - Wikipedia

@obscurestar @MicroSFF I am confused. According to the wiki page he did provide training for the imperial army, serving as a martial arts instructor for both Imperial Japanese Naval Academy and the Imperial Japanese Army Academy, at different periods. I don't see any reference about his refusal.

@jacksparrow @MicroSFF
Interesting. The wiki page used to contain that. He was disillusioned with the war, spoke against it, quit training for the military and dedicated the rest of his life to the promotion of non-violence and loving kindness.

I wish I'd known of him as a child. I would have benefited greatly from aikido, but all the martial arts I knew of were geared towards violence and attracted unpleasant people. Everyone I've met through aikido has been very kind.