Controlled mind key to success

By Lee Cataluna
Advertiser Staff Writer

Tsuneo Obayashi is one of those people who makes you stop and think about your life. He brings up all sorts of hard questions, not by asking, but by his example. He makes you feel like you ought to be doing better.

For one, he's in great shape. He swims five times a week, teaches exercise class three times a week, and eats more vegetables than meat.

And he's cool. He dresses slick, talks softly about philosophy, has a ready smile and a peaceful look in his eyes.

He even has a motto (how many people have their own mottos?): "You learn by doing and then you learn more by helping others to learn."

And he plans to live to be 100. (He's 90 now, so the plan is right on track.)

For the past 12 years, the retired engineer from Ka'u has taken the city bus to Ho'opono to teach "Ki" classes. He's never late and he never cancels class, even if only one student shows up.

He arrives wearing smart khaki pants, a floppy beach hat and carrying a trendy backpack. He's very hip, very Gap, even with a cane in one hand.

After earning a black belt in aikido, he studied Ki from a master from Japan who visited Hawai'i in 1976. He explains that the foundation of Ki is using exercise and breathing to be one with the universal power, to make use of the living force that surrounds us.

Heavy concepts, but fairly simple exercise moves. The Ki class also involves guided meditation, so both the body and mind get a workout.

"Meditation helps because you practice how to control your mind," he says. "Nobody can make you angry. If you don't like what somebody is saying, you don't listen to it."

He chuckles at this, and you get the sense he's learned to let a lot of things slide.

Obayashi teaches Ki to senior citizens three times a week, and then to Ho'opono clients on Fridays. He volunteers his time and has won awards for his service.

Though he has coached many sports through the years, from swimming to basketball, tennis and baseball, teaching blind students presented new challenges.

"You can't just tell blind people to move their hands like this. You have to take their hands and show them how."

He uses this example to illustrate his motto. He gained a better understanding of Ki by teaching it to students who couldn't see what he was doing.

Weekday mornings, he heads to Waikiki beach for a swim. He waits until the lifeguards are on duty, wary of what he calls his "weak heart."

"Someday they gonna find me dead at the beach, but that's a good place to die, yeah?"

He laughs at this, too, like he's got it all planned out, but figuring he still has 10 years to go. At least.

Lee Cataluna's e-mail address is lcataluna@honoluluadvertiser.com.