Not Yet Nirvana

Seishin , the second mental attitude refers to transferring energy or our focus into the technique to make it more effective.  The word Seishin , I am told, can have several meanings. It can mean “ honesty ” as in giving a task an honest effort, the proverbial “ old college try .” Another interpretation of the word can mean “ heart ” and/or “ mind ” referring to applying oneself to a task with passion, putting your “ all ” into it.  Non-martial artists can think of Seishin as directing their mental focus. For example, you have a huge presentation to prepare and present to important clients. You need to focus and calm your mind in order to prepare for the work that lies ahead.  Seishin would be the marshalling of that focus and bringing it to bear on a specific item in your presentation. It is the directing of the intense focus you have already invoked.  This is Seishin as applied to a non-martial situation, the essence of directing your concentrat...

The Five Principles of Seishindo deal with the physical techniques of sex protection. I thought the Five Concepts, strategies that are used in all martial arts, and clearly defined in Seishindo, could also be applied in a non-martial sense and thereby be helpful in everyday, non-martial circumstances. These next five posts are based on the Five Mental Attitudes, also employed in martial arts and defined in Seishindo. I think these "mental attitudes" can also be helpful in non-martial circumstances during everyday life. The first is KIME. Kime , the first mental attitude is the focusing of your energy into the thing, the action, the specific technique being employed. ( Nothing esoteric here just simple mental and physical acuity increased by training and consciously brought to bear on the activity at hand. ) This concept of focus and concentration is antithetical to the multi-tasking, plugged-in, fragmented, sensory bombarded and frenetic paced lifestyles to which most ...

Mr. Thomas Makiyama of Keijutsukai Aikido has a particular interpretation of the concept of Kokyu-ho as: “ the way of compatibility .” This is an explanation that resonates with me.  During my Hakkoryu Jujutsu training the same concept was referred to as “ yielding ,"  the avoidance of pitting force against force.  “ Surrender to win ” is a phrase used in recovery programs to define a strategy of surrendering to a Higher Power rather than futilely banging one’s head on the wall of addiction. (I am stretching to the point of breaking in order to make a point, but I like the phrase).  I am not suggesting a religious meaning or implying anything outside of the human purview, but I think the phrase applies well to the concept of kokyu-ho.  Life presents many tough challenges. Despite our fervent wishes and hopes we can never “force” something to happen in life.  Acceptance, the ability to see reality as being accurate and real, is a sound strategy....

From a martial perspective, movement, tai sabaki , is crucial. As a boxer, you cannot simply be a good puncher and stand in the middle of the ring waiting your turn to throw a mean left hook. There is footwork to consider, yours and your opponents. The same can be said of every martial art, wrestling, karate, judo, aikido and so on.  Movement is life. Life all too often throws challenges and obstacles our way. Many of us have experienced, unemployment, divorce, injuries, financial problems, even the loss of loved ones, maybe even the destruction of our homes and the lives we once knew.  I am equally confident many of us have experienced joy.  It could be meeting the love of our life, the birth of a child, accomplishing something we had worked so hard for, an unexpected windfall of money, a promotion, accolades from our peers, or simply the mindset necessary to enjoy a magnificent rainbow, a sunset or sunrise, or a funny joke with a cherished friend.  L...