The Lessons of Karate and the Power of the Mind

When you think of cultures and continents that have great knowledge and experience of the working of the mind Asia probably comes pretty close to the top. The USA recently has uncovered some great findings especially with so many experiments within Universities. However, Asia has a history of experiences dating back 100s of years. It is part of daily life and often cleansing the mind is practiced early in the morning. Mushin is a Buddhist and martial arts word that translates in English to no-mind. It is a state that has no attachments or interruptions. It is free from fear, doubt or the emotions of anger and hatred. It allows total focus on the job in hand. It is often refereed to as a mind that is like water. In Freethemindtraining we visualise a clear glass that is half full of water. This is the perfect guided image sent to the subconscious to create the Mushin. In Karate there are 4 states of mind which are achieved through practice. Mushin is the second level and all four show a state of progression.

The aim of karate is to rid the mind of an ego and therefore find the perfect state of enlightenment. Shoshin means beginners mind in Japanese. It is based on having an open mind that is willing to learn. Young children are very effective learners because they do not have preconceived ideas. Through hard work and training one can learn and develop. However, it requires and open mind that can absorb the teaching. Zen teacher Shunyro Suzuki wrote about Soshin in his book Zen mind, beginner’s mind: “in the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, in the expert’s mind there are few.” The practitioner of Soshin will have better experiences, better relationships, less procrastination and a decrease in Anxiety.

"You should each individually

Clarify your own mind,

Getting to the root

Without pursuing the branches.

Just get to the root,

And the branches come of themselves.

If you want to get to the root,

Just get to know your mind.

This mind is basically the root

Of all mundane and supramundane

Phenomena; as long as the mind

Does not become obsessed with

Good and bad, you will realize that

All things are basically just so.”

(Ta-Mei Circa 805)

Mushin is the second stage and means no mind. It is the state one is in when fully focused on an activity. Nothing interrupts what you are doing. It is the sporting state often described as being in the zone. Warriors needed to be able to achieve the state of Mushin so that they had no fear of death when going out to battle. It is not that concentration has been lost, rather you are fully focused on the task in hand. It is seen as being in a flow state, a bit like clear water in a river. It has also been described as being like a lake with no ripples, totally calm. Takuan Soho (1573-1645) wrote a paragraph in his book The Unfettered Mind translated by William Scott Wilson in 1986 describing the connection between Zen Buddhism and Martial Arts. "When the swordsman stands against his opponent, he is not to think of the opponent, nor of himself, nor of his enemy`s sword movements. He just stands there with his sword which, forgetful of all technique, is ready only to follow the dictates of the subconscious. The man has effaced himself as the wielder of the sword. When he strikes, it is not the man but the sword in the hand of the man`s subconscious that strikes."

“Empty your mind, Be formless, shapeless, like water”

(Bruce Lee 1940-1973)

The third state is called Fudoshin. In Japanese it means immovable mind. It is a mind that is focused on getting the job done. It is not affected by any emotion such as fear, greed or anger. No matter what is thrown at this state of mind it is fixed on getting the job done and achieving a set goal.One thinks of a warrior in western culture as been full of hatred and anger. However, this is not the case for a Samurai warrior who has a calmness and peace of mind. They have overcome the 4 ’Shikai’ or sicknesses within the mind. Anger, doubt, fear and surprise do not penetrate the calm mind of the samurai warrior. There is a feeling of invincibility as the conscious is focused purely on getting he job done. Mental calmness rather than talent or skill is the aim of the experienced warrior.

“All mankind is divided into three groups:those who are immovable:those who are movable: and those who move”

(Benjamin Franklin 1706-1790)

Zanshin is the fourth state and means remaining mind in Japanese. No matter what interruptions or distractions the mind is focused on the goal in hand. One example could be when a tennis player has match point. Instead of the feeling of relief that a competition is almost over, the mind is not allowed to jump to the possibility of winning or events after the game. It remains fully focused, in the same state as it was in 10 points previously. In combat, the mind is focused until any threat has been dissipated. Eugen Herrigel wrote a book 'Zen in the art of archery.’ Where he describes his process of understanding Zanshin. He moved to Tokyo in the 1920s and wanted to learn about Japanese culture. He decided to take up Kyudo, Japanese Archery. For the first few years he simply leaned to shoot at a bail of hay 7 feet away.He became frustrated and asked to be able to shoot at targets further away. However, during his first session the arrows flew all over the place and he rarely hit the target. He thought his aim must have been for but his master replied that it is not about the aim, rather than how the task is approached that determine the outcome. Herrigel was even more frustrated at the response and said that his master, half jokingly must be able to hit the bullseye blindfolded. That evening, whilst is was dark, they both met at the courtyard. The master proceeded with exactly the same routine as in the daylight despite not being able to see the target. He took his stance and drew the bow and fired. It landed on something buy Herrigel knew not what. The master did exactly the same again and fired into the darkness. Herrigel turned on the light and to his dismay saw that the first arrow had hit the bullseye. The second had hit the first arrow embedding itself into the shaft.The focus of the body and mind in relation to the goal is the remaining mind,Zanshin.

“Katte Kabuto no o shimeyo” which translated means

“ Tighten the string of the Kabuto after winning the war”

Japanese Proverb.