At the office, a student must deal with many different demands on her time.
Work is finished, it’s time to train.
A true karate-ka takes the physical skills, discipline and power of concentration developed at the dojo and applies them to work, family and social life. In this way, karate is integrated into the fabric of our lives; it is not something separate. The way of karate is the way of everyday life.
An executive can still be a student, practicing weapons and basic kicks.
A Floor broker on the stock exchange, subject to lots of pressure and stress.
B Time to forget work, and train.
C Concentrate on only one thing.
A An advanced student practices weapons with intense concentration.
B Bow when you come to train.
C Junior students watch and learn from seniors.
D, E The same concentration practiced at the dojo is brought to the job.
A, C Students training in class.
B Time to kiai!
All students in a karate dojo, whatever their rank, are governed by the same rules of courtesy and respect. If you respect yourself, for example, you always want to practice in a clean dojo. You show your respect for others by undertaking to clean the dojo floor with a damp rag after class. Since we are all united by the same values in Seido karate, we all clean the floor together. Symbolically, this practice, which comes from Zen, represents the wiping away of delusion from our minds.
Application to Modern Living
This book is about a traditional way of karate and it is hoped that the reader will be able to understand, to some extent, the real foundations of this martial art. However, it is logical to ask, “What tangible benefits does karate Zen have for twentieth century life?”
First, karate is an extremely efficient form of physical conditioning, that can be practiced by women, children and men of all ages and abilities. It develops aerobic fitness by raising the heart rate into the training zone and keeping it there for significant intervals. Strength is developed progressively through exercises using the body’s own weight. Emphasis is also placed on developing and maintaining flexibility through progressive stretching of major muscle groups. In the Seido system, every student is asked to constantly give 100% in his/her training, recognizing the individual’s own capacities and limitations. Training is done only under the supervision of certified black belt instructors.
Secondly, karate is the most efficient form of self-defense, which is very important in today’s urban society. Students learn basic kicks, punches and blocks that develop self-confidence. Beyond that, they learn specific combinations of techniques that are applied in specific situations. Seido students are also taught to develop an inner awareness for avoiding potentially threatening situations.
Finally, the study of karate develops discipline and concentration, skills that are useful for children, students, artists and men and women in all walks of life. Students usually notice subtle changes in the way they do their work or in the way they study. If one practices sincerely, in time, these benefits flow almost automatically, without conscious effort.
These are the direct, tangible benefits of studying karate, and they are all highly relevant to the needs of people today. Don’t study karate to achieve these benefits, though. If you practice in a sincere manner, these things will come along the way. They can each or together be reasons for beginning, but if they become the reason for practicing, our practice will become stale after some time.
“Now if a bird or a fish tries to reach the limit of its elements before moving in it, the bird or this fish will not find its way or its place.” Genjokoan
The main thing is to begin; once a student has begun the study of karate, the only thing is to practice, to continue. The rest will become apparent to you, and to you alone.
In the tea ceremony (Sado), the guest takes time to appreciate and enjoy a cup of green tea. In life, too, we have to take time.
Breathing Methods
Master Nakamura Practicing the Martial Art of Iai
The student of the martial arts can enhance concentration and develop a sense of peace and tranquility through the disciplined practice of the one-pointed technique.
Life is breath. Breath is life. When someone is dead, we say, “He has stopped breathing.” Breathing is a natural function. No one teaches a baby how to breathe, yet a baby breathes easily and fully, its belly rising and falling in easy rhythms. The central role of the breath is strange and mystical to the twentieth century Western mind. Indian yogis believe that we partake of the energy, or essence, of life (prana) through breathing; in fact, they feel that our lives are measured by a certain number of breaths, each one taken bringing us closer to the end of our bodily function. In the Old Testament of the Bible, when God created the earth, he “breathed” upon the waters. In the everyday world, Japanese business schools teach their students, when involved in complicated or contentious negotiations, to control their breathing and to understand the pattern of the person on the opposite side of the table.
In Zen, posture is the key. If the posture is good, then the breathing will follow. We shall begin to experience once again what we knew as babies. However, it is useful to talk about certain breathing methods, techniques and mechanics of breathing. Physicians, and sports trainers in recent times, have studied and described the physiology and mechanics of breathing.
Basically, most of us breathe too often, and the breath is too shallow. Hence, the foul air in the lower part of our lungs is never fully expelled. Conversely, on the intake cycle, our lungs are never filled up much beyond a third of their actual volume. A doctor would say that we are not using more than a fraction of our “vital capacity.” Hence, the whole process of oxygen exchange in our bloodstream is inefficient. The blood is improperly cleansed of carbon dioxide, and our brains and nervous systems are