Mind and Martial Arts

The Mind and Martial Arts 1985 We were training in a park in Boston and it was a cold winter day there was snow and ice on the ground. We started the randori (random movement within the context of the training) we were punching and low kicking grabbing, throwing. The ground was wet, icy and muddy. We were trying to move each other into a part of the ground where the footing was bad. We had to feel the ground with our feet and make adjustments on the fly all the while remembering the slippery spots. At the same time we needed to punch, counter attack and control our training partner.

The first phase of Mind training in martial arts is mindfulness: where are you now and what are you doing now and how is this affecting the world around you. I pushed my training partner into position on some ice and mud and then moved in for the take down as he slipped. I remember seeing him slipping and falling and then coming right back on his feet and rushing me with a grab and punch and grab. We stopped, and started laughing at how fast everything happened. The push slip, take down ukemi (ground hitting and recovery without getting hurt) and counter attack was so fast.

NOTE: You have to train to do this safely but being mindful and aware is very important in Ninpo Kihon Happo (The basic and advanced training. We finished our training with some Ninpo Meso (Mediation) and awareness drills that Mr. Hayes had given us to close the training.

"The present is our only opportunity for power."

Stephen K. Hayes (Wisdom from the Ninja Village of the Cold Moon)

Japanese Kenjutsu (Sword Arts of Japan)

My first experience with Japanese Kenjutsu was in 1975 at the ‘All East Coast Karate Championship’. It was one of the final demonstrations and listed as the high point of the tournament. The young Karate Master jumped out on the stage with a loud shout (kiai) and started to slash the sword in the air like he was cutting an imaginary opponent as he shouted. The demonstration lasted about 45 sec. and it was a blaze of steel and yelling. Then it suddenly stopped! The Springfield Civic center  was so quiet you could hear the popcorn crunching under our feet as we waited for the clapping, then there was a roar from the crowd and the Karate master received a standing ovation. I went home that night thinking about Japan and the Art of the sword.

I was only 17 at the time but it never left my mind. About 8 years later I was in Dayton, Ohio training with Grandmaster Dr. Hatsumi’s student Stephen K. Hayes. The class started with our bokken (wooden swords). I started to hold it like a baseball bat but Mr. Hayes soon showed us how to hold it correctly. Holding it like a baseball bat grip was very limiting and there was no flexibly to the movement. He started to lecture about the importance of getting a good feel of your basic taijutsu (Body Arts for Martial Arts) and then starting to move with the sword.

He had us try basic cutting in the air with our Ninpo Taijutsu, placing the sword in (kamae) positions that would be to our advantage when our physical and spiritual state was under stress from an attacker. This taught me a great deal about martial arts strategy. At the time the ‘Go Rin No Sho the Book of the Five Rings’ spoke about sword strategy and life. Mr. Hayes’ sword strategy which he learned from his teacher could be applied the same way to life but like all things in Martial Arts it had to be learned on the training floor with interaction with your training partner and a good teacher overseeing the process. In the old system of training in Japan things were understood via interaction and intuition. The deeper lessons and strategy were beyond words.

As a martial arts practitioner it is important to understand the history behind what you are studying, for example Kenjutsu. What does it mean to understand the sword and what it represents? If you consider the history of the blade it may mean the difference between life and death. Therefore the study of this particular art was never taken lightly. It was extremely serious. In today’s society we do not walk down the street with swords at our sides, however our mental discipline should be the same. The sword is not a glamorous toy to be slammed around in a dojo like what we see in the movies. The sword is a physical manifestation of the discipline of our thoughts. This is why the book Go Rin No Sho addressed the concept of strategy and life. In this way all of the learning that we acquire as students can be applied to all aspects of our life inside and outside of the dojo.