To intensify your life energy, it is necessary to practice waza repeatedly. When you drive yourself to the edge of death physically and mentally, your sensitivity will be sharpened and your life energy will be intensified.
By intensifying your life energy, you will be close to the state of emptiness. Once you reach the state of emptiness, you can manage your waza without consciously trying. The first-class unbeatable arts will then be completed.
All the training is done to achieve the movements of unconsciousness. Training is meant to forget training after repetitions. If you are conscious of your waza, it is not real yet.
THE STATE OF FUDO AND FUDO-SHIN
Fudo – Stable, nonmovable.
Fudo-shin – Stable mind
Some of the most important things in fighting are the state of fudo and fudo-shin.
The state of fudo
The state of fudo is a condition that cannot be moved or changed by anything.
Techniques, sensitivity, experiences, and many other factors count to be a skilled athlete.
When you confront someone with abilities, you cannot set off your waza as you wish. Those strong ones can read what you will do next.
The non-beatable fudo state can be attained by training fudo-shin.
Fudo-shin
Mind and body are deeply connected to each other with full concentration.
Fudo-shin means that you let go of clinging and firmly believe that you won’t be beaten by anything.
THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND WHILE FIGHTING
Eye levels and eye light (ganko)
Eyes are an important factor for pre-fighting. Eye level and eye lights will be the greatest factor to determine the outcome.
If you look with a light in your eyes, your mind could be out of focus and affect your movement.
If you look with power in your eyes, your mental power lowers as well; you can get caught off guard.
Eyes are the energy resources of your body, mind and waza. It is ideal that your eyes hold power, lights, freshness, and liveliness.
Posture
When you round your back, energy will become trapped inside your body and become negative energy. When you straighten your back, energy will flow more smoothly. Energy will start to go out and become positive.
Straightening your posture makes your breathing smooth.
Opening up your chest and straightening your body will open up your heart.
Opening up your heart and breathing into your core will eliminate your stress.
An assertive posture can be attained by learning how to manage your body.
Kiai—snarling, releasing inner energy out loud
Kiai is a shouting out of words within you and expressing your feelings.
When you kiai, you should lean forward mentally and physically.
Kiai should be short and sharp so it penetrates the other’s heart.
The sound also works as lowering the blood pressure of the person who listens to it and it can partially deaden the other’s senses. Good kiai can blow out your thoughts and doubts. It can beat up your opponent with willpower. The low frequency of sound—3.5 cycles per second—can also kill a person.
Before you kiai, you should capture the opponent’s figure, like a lion aiming its prey, and be prepared to take everything from him.
It is best if a kiai can take out the opponent’s energy with your opponent. Kiai can work like hypnotism.
Kiai has a magical power to diminish and purify the bad ghosts. You should learn how to pull this power out of your body.
Footwork
Use footwork to disrupt your opponent’s timing and focus. Footwork consists of offense and defense. It is necessary to gain momentum by movement.
If you wish to wait for the chance to counter attack against an opponent who is stronger than you, you should keep moving around the opponent until you confuse him.
Start attacking once you see a change. As soon as your first attack, take back where you can’t be reached. Your footwork should be continuous and fast.
If you want to wait for the other to attack you, take rhythms with your footwork and try to counter. Concentrate.
Favorite Technique
Everyone has his favorite way of attack; one who likes to trick, one who attacks first, one who waits for the turn, one who likes to jump, one who likes to throw, one who likes to let go. People all have favorite ways of attacking.
Sense the other’s favorite. Let him attack in the way he likes. If you know his favorite, you can counter him.
The Way to See How Skillful Your Opponent is
Anyone who deals with waza needs to be bold. Once you get the opportunity, pat your opponent’s arms or legs. If she/he can softly ward you off, you can assume she/he could be a good competitor.
Small Waza, Big Waza
When you deal with waza, you should straighten your back, elbows and knees.
One who has a small body tends to rely on small waza, and one who has a big body tends to rely on big waza. Therefore, one who has a small body should try to develop big waza; one who has a big body should try to develop small waza. Keep a good balance of your waza.
THE BASIC KNOWLEDGE OF ARMS
Mental Practice
There are two kinds of practice—physical practice and mental practice. During practice, if your arms tighten up, your waza will be small. If your back gets round, your arms tighten up.
If you can keep a straight posture, your arms can be relaxed and free. Your arms can be straight and your waza can travel fast. Waza can be more alive by straightening your posture.
Footwork
Taking too big a step or too small a step, you can be easily knocked down by sweeping.
Choose footwork that can go well with your waza. Your footwork should be stable so your weight stays down. Your powerhouse interacts well with good footwork.
Three Basics about waza
There are three ways to set off your waza.
1. Kuzushi (Breaking Down)—Break down the opponent’s posture and make room for your attack.
2. Tsukuri (Building Up)—Plunge your opponent further into an unstable situation.
3. Kake (Setting)—set your waza to your opponent.
Take your opponent off guard by breaking him down. Take the lead in the fight. Finally, set your waza and beat him.
When you set waza use your willpower and momentum while you stay relaxed mentally. Try the opposite of what the opponent thinks. Always aim opposite. By taking the lead, you can force the opponent to your pace. Beginners, take the first turn and attack positively.
The Basics of Heart and Mental Power
1. Kokoro (heart)—From the quiet moment, aim the opponent off guard. Concentrate and do not miss unguarded moments.
2. Ki (Inner Energy)—The momentum of inner energy.
3. Chikara (Power)—Power and the strength of your waza.
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