I said yes right away.
My university roommate emailed me to see if I wanted a ticket to the Canada versus New Zealand rugby game in Toronto. We haven’t been in touch very much over the years but he knew I would be interested.
I was as much interested to see the Haka live as the game itself.
Watch this video:
The Haka is simple in message: unity in pursuit of peace. Since it is originally a Maori Dance of War, that pursuit included the possibility of death which tells me they are serious about their rugby.
The Haka is the full-on song and dance the national rugby team of New Zealand performs before every match. And is it effective in capturing their opponent’s attention? Well the All Blacks, as the team is called, from a 2 island nation of just 3 million people, dominate international rugby. I just checked the rankings and the Kiwis are #1 in the world as of September 30,2019. Awesome!
When another national rugby team plays against Australia or the Springboks of South Africa or Wales or France or Fiji – they are playing against a national team. But when you play the All Blacks you are facing a tribe. A tribe, as the song illustrates, who seem to unblinkingly accept the battle that may result in death.
Singing the song at midfield they are living their culture in a way that they feed it and it feeds them. The Haka is an assertion of belief in their people, the validity of their past and its vitality in the now.
What’s your Haka?
What’s your song and dance to highlight your past and align your now? How do harmonize the support of your team towards a higher goal? Your team is your: body, blood and brains, mind and soul in conjunction with the intense emotion for satisfaction and purpose. This team in harmony with your DNA can provide a strong foundation for you to sing your song and dance your steps.
It is definitely a struggle to be at the vanguard of your own growth and development. That struggle can be rewarding or debilitating. It can be a confusion due to a lack of self love/understanding, disease, lack of guidance.
So give your song and dance some direction in both your daily and soul lives. Admire your tribe of physical mechanisms and spiritual workings. Reflect on the amazing human faculties and your finesse with them. Know that you are the chief of that tribe.
Your daily Haka is the song and dance of your refinement of today’s man.
The Wild Coach 