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December 21, 2007 by Editor
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The following article has been used with the kind permission of the Shudokan Marti Martial al Arts Association: [After reviewing reviewing an article I had previously written written (“What Does a Black Belt Belt Mean?”), one o f my seniors in the
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SMAA that I highly respect posed several very thought provoking qu estions. The following articl article e is my attempt attempt to
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address these questions, and po ssibly provide some measure of insight to to others.]
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Will simply simply training the body through repetit repetitive ive throws and pins also train the mind to be imm immovable ovable under pressure? Will simply simply engaging in h ard physical exercises develop ou r characters? What separates budo training for serious athletic training, training, and how d oes it differ from mere mere sport? On the surface these seem like very simply simply questions, but in fact they are not. The an swer to the first question is
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“Yes,” and “No.” Hard physical training is imperative imperative for the development of the proper ps ychological and spiritual mindset, BUT BUT this hard physical training requires that it be framed and en gaged in with the correct attitude, attitude, intensity,, and objectives for and by both tori (“the person performing a technique”) and uke (“the person intensity receiving receivi ng the technique”). The attitude and intensity needs to contain “co mbat integrity,” integrity,” riai. riai. Attacks Attacks should sho uld be be strong strong and have a focused
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intent. If tori does not sufficiently evade an attack attack,, he or she sho uld feel the error by being struck. Uke should no t overly cooperate with tori (nor (nor sho uld uke overly resist … at least not in all situations). situations). Uke sho uld
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require tori to apply o r execute effective techniques, techniques, causing u ke to fall. Uke Uke shou ld not anticipate a technique and throw h imsel imself. f. (This can have a damaging damagi ng result if uke anticipates the wrong technique.) Some other methods
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of training the mind and developing co mbat integrity integrity are:—Grabs are:—Grabs and cho kes should be applied with pressure (within safe limits) limits) to invoke a realist realistic ic threat response.—Strikes response.—Strikes and kick kickss sho uld be executed with focus and intent, and are not pulled. The idea is that if you don’t move, you get hit. This has the fo llowing benefits: you learn what it feels like like to get hit, and if you get a blood y nose o r fat-lip, fat-lip, we take care of it and then p ractic ractice e some more. No one will stop his or her attack in the street if you get a fat-lip.—Instructors fat-lip.—Instructors should teach how to attac attack, k, and consider the way attack attackss are may be made in the street.—You street.—You can also shout wh ile attacking attacking to simulat simulate e the attacker attac ker hollering at you during the attack. If this then happens in the street, you won’t freeze up
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The presence o f combat integrity integrity develops fudos hin, or “immovable mind.” mind.” Fudoshin is one o f the major tenets of budo and refers to a state of mind that is impenetrable and immovable. In this case, immovable requires some explanation since it is being u sed in a Japanese philosophical con text and therefore has a more elevated meaning than we would no rmal rmally ly expect or associate in English. Fudoshin do es not indicate a state of mind that is inflexible, but rather, it points to a condition that is no t easily upset by internal though ts or ex ternal factors. “This mind that remains unruffled and calm is imperturbable, unattached and unfettered mind… It is the ultimate ultimate mind of mastery, achievable achievable only throug h rigorou s training, and equally rigorous so ul-searching and spirit forging (seishin tanren, in Japanese) through the confrontation and overcoming of our own fears and weaknesses” (Fabian). Fudoshin is directly related related to another Japanese concept known as zan shin, or “con tinuing mind.” mind.” Zanshin refers to a state of constant and continuous awareness or alertness. Zanshin applies to your awareness of the world around you. Yo u notice the people aroun d you ho w they stand, how they carry themselves, themselves, what is in their their eyes because you n eed to be prepared to interact with them. them. You are present in the moment. moment. Much of the reigi, or “methods of respect” in budo , particularly particularly bowing (standing and seated) and other forms of etiquette etiquette are design with zanshin in mind. In a mart martial ial context, immovable immovable and continuing refers to a state of mental readiness readiness where o ne’s mind is not affixed on any o ne thing. Since the mind is receptive and aware, yet not consciously fixated on any particular
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Fudoshin and Zanshin: Psycholog ical Elements of Budo
thing, there are no mental weak spots or suki (“gaps ”). Japanese spiritual concepts can be a bit mind bend ing and are usually connected and p art of many other concepts, so I will explain in more detail. If I have three objects in front of me and focus my attention on only one, my concentration has been diverted from the other two. And, therefore, as far as the other two objects are concerned, I have created a suki, or an absence of fo cus. If either of those two objects were attackers, I wo uld be left completely vulnerable. Now, if you were to say, okay all we have to do is focus o n all of them, you wou ld be partially correct. Yet, as with anything Japanese, it is never that cut and dried. The tricky part is that we must focus on all of them without focusing on any one o f them. This is sometimes termed mushin, or “no mind.” This concept, which is the un derpinning of fudoshin, is o ften difficult for Westerners to grasp. No mind refers to a focus that is more intuitive than conscious. That means that we are trusting our instincts rather than engaging in a co nscious thou ght process. Westerners might call it “being in the zo ne.” Japanese might call it being in the moment. In b udo, building this state of intuitive trust and inner maturity requires many years of practice (keiko), in s ome cases the practice of meditative breathing exercises (kokyu ho) and austere physical/spiritual discipline (shugyo). All of these elements, which are part of budo, s lowly turn the mind away from the nagging and internal mental dialogue (over analyzing and justification) and begin to allow the mind to trust its intuitive signals or higher self. In mushin, the mind is n ot easily perturbed or over reactive. It is fudo (“immovable”) and no suki (“gaps”) o r breaks in focus are created. This state is very evident when watching an exp erienced budoka perform kata. Although totally absorbed in the form, they are not operating from a conscious thought pro cess. The kata has been practiced thousands of times, and the practitioner has developed a natural trust in his or her ability. There is, in a sense, nothing to think about. Perhaps it’s a b it like the Nike slogan: “Just Do It.” In su mmary, the mind, no t being affixed to any o ne thing, is strong, attentive and receptive to all things. Fudoshin is certainly not solely reserved for the martial arts. On the contrary, this intuitive trust and calm can be used prior to and during an important meeting, interview, test, or any time a calm and heightened focus is required. With consistent and disciplined practice, fudoshin can b ecome a natural, comfortable, and prod uctive state of mind. References:Fabian, S., (2001). “Fudoshin and Its Continuing R elevance.” Furyu the Budo Journal, Issue n umber 9, Hawaii: Tengu Press. About the Author: Brett Denison Sensei is a sandan in the S MAA goshin-jutsu division, with a lon g-term interest in systems of Japanese jujutsu. His interests also include the study o f Japanese language and Japanese art. An avid student of shodo , or Japanese calligraphy, he is a member of the Kampo Ryu, a well-known sh odo school based in Japan. Denison Sensei himself is based in Colorado, and he’s a frequen t contributor to the SMAA Newsletter. No related posts. Filed U nder: Free
Tagge d With: article, Brett D enison, Fudoshin, zanshin
Comments Jo hn W. G. Ba nk s II I s a ys : April 23, 2013 a t 9:27 am
Thank You Aikido Journal Staff for providing yet another very relevant slice of Budo training to focus on! The depth & breadth o f this article was just what I needed to motivate me to con tinue on with my training with a renewed sense o f focus & p urpose. I always find something new & interesting on this site that inspires me to continue this jou rney into the science o f Martial Arts. Your noble efforts are greatly appreciated! Reply
Editor says: April 24, 2013 at 11:18 am
And your kind words are likewise appreciated, John! Reply
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