How Zazen Relates to Karate-do Training
Basic Techniques & Karate-Do
Imagine this: Your Sensei has just encouraged you to register for your first tournament competition. You prepare for months, only to arrive at the event and be told that your division has 30 contestants.
Or this: With Kancho’s upcoming visit, your stress level has just increased exponentially because your Sensei has recommended that you attend Dan grading.
What do these two scenarios have to do with zazen? Is it really factual that the practice of zazen can greatly reduce levels of anxiety?
You are probably aware that years of research shows substantial proof that meditation can lower your heart rate and blood pressure, calm stress disorders, and greatly enhance emotional health and wellness. But do you know how to involve zazen with Karate-do?
In its simplest form zazen (seated meditation) is a recuperative and peace-of-mind posture assumed before and after martial arts training. Zazen can be performed in crossing legs (kekkafuza) posture or in a sitting (seiza) position while maintaining a thought-free mind, yet totally aware of external influences. The level of your awareness (kakusoku) is to awaken from distraction and dullness, not concentrating on any particular object or trying to control your thoughts.
Zazen is viewed as thought without thought, thinking without thinking (hishiryo satori), a division or higher level of thought without thinking, which modern psychologists refer to as consciousness. Zazen is not a form of meditation or mental exercise. Rather, it is the return to what is regarded as the “normal human condition???; a state of mind which is free from the pressures and demands of daily life, and from any goals or desire for gain. The wish to reach any goal by performing zazen will prevent you from achieving it.
In the peace-of-mind posture, you exhale completely and take a breath (kanki-issoku). You relax by breathing calmly while attempting to maintain an empty (thought free) mind. The three components of zazen (posture, breathing, and mental attitude) should be peaceful, stable, and natural. The posture and breathing are easier to learn, and their physical benefits can be immediately felt. However, the proper mental attitude, which is of primary importance, is difficult to comprehend and attain. The pure state of zazen is freedom of mind or peace-of-mind.
In Japan, seated zazen is traditionally performed on a mat called a zabuton, while sitting on a cushion called a zafu. The common positions used to sit on the zafu are: kekkafuza (full-lotus), hankafuza (half-lotus), Burmese (a cross-legged posture in which the ankles are placed together in front of the sitter), and seiza (a kneeling posture using a bench or zafu).
It is through the practice of zazen that the Samurai arrived at the perfection of their art. This is why zazen is known as the “religion of the Samurai???.
Concepts for your review:
- Meditate: to consider, in deep thought
- Thought: the act of thinking
- Think: to consider, to reason, to surmise
Mind levels during karate movements (from highest to lowest):
Kata:
- 3rd Level: Mushin, not thinking, body moves fast and naturally
- 2nd Level: Thinking sometimes, body still awkward, rhythm and timing are off
- 1st Level: Thinking too much, confused, off balance, uncoordinated
Kumite:
- 3rd Level: Mushin, detached thinking, no thought, body reacts instinctively
- 2nd Level: Thinking produces the four mental blocks; body movement is slow
- 1st Level: Don’t know what to do or what to think; the mind freezes
Different Mind Levels:
3rd Level:
- Zazen: Thought-free, yet aware of external influences
- Consciousness: Mentally aware of one’s surroundings
2nd Level:
- Meditation: Deep thinking, focused and concentrating
- Conscious: Awake, having all faculties and senses
1st Level:
- Daydreaming: Mind is awake but is wandering elsewhere
- Daydreaming & Driving: Awake but not using senses
- Drunk: Half awake, impaired senses
- Sleep (dreaming): Mind active, body sleeping
- Sleep (deep): Mind and body is inactive
Below 1st Level:
- Unconscious: Out cold, no faculties
- Coma: No brain waves, mind is dead but heart is still beating
- Death: No mind or no body activity of any kind
Gan Totsu Stepping Out onto the Battlefield
Gan Totsu Stepping Out onto the Battlefield
“When crossing marshes, your only concern should be to get over them quickly without delay.??? -Sonshi (Sun Tzu)
Samurai tactics never vary. They are always gan-totsu, “close and strike???. During kumite, for example, take the frontal kamae, be aware of who or what your opponent is, then go in gan-totsu. Don’t bother regretting that there is an opponent in front of you; instead, find a certain pleasure and attack head-on without hesitation, but with confidence and spirit.
The samurai chose never to wear heavy, defensive armor. He wore only light, flexible mat bamboo and hide woven together. Wearing only light protection matched the gan-totsu spirit of always carrying the attack to the enemy.
ficult to move in. Offensive armor affords you little protection, but gives you the advantage of speed and maneuverability. Samurai, like all martial artists, were always able to attack with speed.
t may be, your are not there to turn away or have any doubts about yourself. Most people who get what they want in life are more offensive-minded than defensive-minded. This is true of competitors who always win. Like the samurai, when they test their armor, they test only the front portion with the frontal kamae. They make certain that they have protection, but literally don’t try to cover their butts.
ol of an attitude towards your lifetime battles or karate matches. If you go into action wearing defensive armor your mind is on protecting yourself from injury; you are concerned mainly with escaping safely. However, when you wear offensive armor, your mind is on gan-totsu, moving in and striking quickly. You are fighting to win, not to avoid defeat.
n life. It means to always engage in life, not withdraw from it. Although you may be afraid or have been hurt, failed before, shy, tired, angry, etc., never back away from or avoid problems for any reason. When you practice gan-totsu, you let nothing stand between yourself and where you want to go. With kamae you always go forward, bravely, joyfully, and without hesitation
Kancho Interview – Thoughts from Kancho
Kancho Interview – Thoughts from Kancho
Sydney Smith wrote, “Great men hallow a whole people, and lift up all who live in their time.??? This quote certainly applies to Kanazawa Hirokazu Kancho, whose greatness surpasses many of the martial arts masters of today. For 49 years he has devoted his life to teaching karate-do in over 100 countries, an accomplishment that staggers the imagination. Now in his twilight years as he approaches the age of 80, he has chosen his son, Nobuaki, to share his arduous travel schedule and pursue his passion to teach the art a little closer to home.
I am honored again to have been granted the opportunity for a personal interview with this great man – one who has affected my life in so many ways – whose tireless efforts’ to become the salt of the Earth for the sake of karate’ has left a lasting impression on the minds of karateka around the globe.
We talked for awhile about his vision for the SKIF organization in terms of world-wide influence. His comments caused me to reflect back to the time when Master Gichin Funakoshi chose his best students to venture out to any continent that expressed an interest in learning the art of Shotokan.
“SKIF is an international family, and I refer you to a verse I remember while I was attending Takudai [Takushoku University] which says, ‘For all the colors, regions, and boundaries of humanity, let there be no discrimination.’ My aspiration in teaching overseas has been to foster courtesy, respect, and an appreciation for one another. I have tried to improve relations among people by showing them the budo of karate. And it is encouraging to see results – teaching the karate-do can strengthen friendships and open up new channels of communication. Each time we host a world championship tournament the goal is always the same: Seek peace and goodwill to all who cross your path and you will have followed my example.???
This was no easy task, I thought to myself, as cultural differences have incited some he met to challenge him to fight. Still, for a man to have traveled the world as many times as Kancho, I find his life philosophy to be refreshing and remarkable.
I then asked him to explain what he would do if someone were to approach in a hostile or threatening manner. What kind of response would change their behavior? He took a slow, deep breath, and answered by saying we should always respect our opponent, even if their intent is for selfish reasons or to do us harm. He went on to say:
“In life, nothing can be gained from being angry. Anger will lead to defeat. This negative emotion is stored in the body and will impact your health. The example I can give you is this: If you practice hara (tanden) breathing regularly, you will be able to withstand their negative energy by taking it in the gut. Since this is the power center of the body, the gut can take it. If your hara is conditioned properly, you can convert this negative energy into love energy and send it back from the heart. This has a way of stopping them in their tracks. Try this the next time you find yourself in an argument with someone and watch their reaction. I assure you this is not easy to do, but with regular practice you can transform anger and hate into love energy.???
He credits the novelist C.W. Nicol for teaching him this bit of advice: “The stronger one becomes, the kinder one becomes.??? Kindness, bravery, and strength are the three sides of a triangle. Softness (gentleness), dignity (courtesy, grace) and wisdom form another triangle which is overlapped to form a 6-pointed star representing the human ideal. Your ki (energy) should be both gentle and strong.
I was curious to know, with his demanding travel schedule, how he always manages to look so strong. He replied with a smile:
“There are three types of strength: Suji-ryoku (muscular), naizo-ryoku (internal organ), and ki-ryoku (spiritual vigor). Each of these can compensate for the other when one is declining, or they can enhance the others, making you stronger overall.???
“When I was in my 20’s, muscular strength was the main driving force, with internal organ strength and spiritual vigor playing a supporting role. When I reached my 30’s, internal strength and spiritual vigor became dominant. When I transitioned from my 40’s to my 50’s, internal strength was first, supported by vigorous ki and muscular strength. Entering my 60’s, internal organ strength was surpassed by vigorous ki, and the other two took the supporting part.???
“This strength transition has enabled me to use my body to its fullest potential. Most people use only a small percentage of the body’s capability. Learning to combine all three strengths, we can break new barriers of ability regardless of our age. It wasn’t until my 50’s that I attained my ideal body composition.???
With this in mind I prodded him to share his secrets of how we can best maintain suppleness and flexibility as we age. This is what he had to share:
“Keeping the body supple requires a holistic approach to health. I have used image training with great success. This is a type of self-hypnosis which involves concentrating on a particular organ or body part and visualizing it growing stronger, or not hurting, or healing with total recovery. In some ways you can relate image training to zazen. For example, during the inhale phase you imagine golden particles (energy, health, healing) entering the body through the tanden, and when you exhale, picture black (disease, pain, illness) leaving the body from the mouth.???
“I use the term holistic to include other ways of healthy living: proper diet and exercise, stretching, hara breathing, keeping hydrated with pure water, and eliminating bad habits like smoking. All of these positive factors – together with image training – can enhance your well-being and lead you on a path to longevity. Our bodies are made to last 120 years if we care for them the way we should, so stop thinking that at 75 you are headed downhill. Why limit yourself this way when you can embrace life and contribute your skills, talents, and knowledge to better humanity????
I mentioned that SKIF seems to be unique for its openness to other styles of martial arts and for incorporating non-Shotokan kata and kobudo into the curriculum. He agreed, and pointed out that Master Gichin Funakoshi emphasized there are no styles in karate.
“We must respect and learn from all martial arts in order to see our own shortcomings, strengths, and weaknesses. We must be open to learning new things and use zentaishi (look at the whole picture) in our thinking.???
As Kancho is always generous with his time, I found myself amazed with his ability to impart so much wisdom on any topic. An hour had passed, but I wanted to stay with him; being in his company kept me relaxed and eager to learn more. It was appropriate that my final question relate to the next generation of karateka and what he wants to be remembered by. He sat back in his chair, folded his hands together and said:
“In my dealings with many leaders and those with positions of authority, I want to stress the importance of conflict resolution and teaching with the spirit of humility. I would like humankind to think of me as someone who’s life has followed the five maxims of the Dojo Kun, which are: Seek perfection of character, be faithful, endeavor, respect others, and refrain from violent behavior. I am a gentle man who practices karate-do. I enjoy giving back to others – more than what they would expect; being a mentor and offering support to those less fortunate; respecting nature and the gifts that our planet has to offer; and taking the time to listen – really listen – to what someone has to say. These, I feel, are qualities that are appreciated as we age. I hope the fruits of my labor can be made known to those who are in their youth, and that they may strive to make a difference.???
Kancho and his devotion to the art bring to mind the words of Friedrich Nietzshe: “It is not the strength, but the duration, of great sentiments that makes great men.??? His legacy will extend well beyond his lifetime.
The author wishes to thank Nobuaki Sensei for his assistance in translating parts of this interview. Without his help this interview would not have been possible.
Basic Techniques & Karate-Do
Basic Techniques & Karate-Do
Karate-Do is the art of self-defense, an exercise, and a sport. However, the most important aspect in the development of perfecting one’s character is through the perfection of techniques. Blocks, punches and kicks are the basic Karate techniques learned as a beginner. Students can be easily introduced to these few basic movements in a short time. It is interesting to note that the difficulties in the development of character lie in the patience and repetition it takes to master these techniques correctly. The impatient student that pursues Karate-Do training is the type that will quit training prematurely. Impatient people want instant results and look for an easy way out; they lack what it takes to endure the test of time.
The essence of Karate techniques is kime which begins with a correct technique, and ends with maximum power in the shortest time possible. Therefore, the student must practice regularly and patiently, applying intense concentration and effort in the performance of each technique. However, regular practice alone will not achieve this objective unless the training is done correctly. Students must learn the correct techniques under a qualified Sensei and on a scientific level, not just a physical one. Karate training is considered scientific only when it is properly scheduled and systematically incorporates correct physical and physiological principles. Surprisingly, a comparison of Karate techniques created and refined by our old masters in the past are consistent with modern scientific principles of today. Further refinement is possible, so we must continually analyze our techniques in order to improve. However, we must be careful not to change our techniques prematurely to suit our needs according to exhibitions and tournament rules. Allowances can be made for physical differences in individuals. There will always be attempts or claims to increase speed and power, but there is little or no reason to modify our basic Shotokan techniques which are proven to work efficiently for their intended purpose.
No matter how long you have been practicing Karate, there will always be a time and a place to go back to the basics. Every Karate dojo must have a philosophy. Living our Dojo Kun emphasizes the true meaning of sportsmanship in and outside the dojo. We each pledge a fundamental oath to become a better person. As Gichin Funakoshi so wisely states: “The ultimate aim of Karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of of character of its participants.???