KaraTe Mindsets
Karate Mindsets and Mental Development
Karate Mindsets includes six levels of Karate Mindsets. These levels are rooted in the practice of Zazen. They serve as powerful methods for strengthening one’s mind. Below are brief descriptions and contexts relating to the practice of Karate.
Mushotoku
A state of mind where practitioners do not train to seek tangible or intangible rewards. People often engage in activities to gain something in return, such as taking a course to improve their skills, achieve a grade, or earn a certificate. In Mushotoku, a Karateka must train to disassociate from attachments and rewards. While the Karate belt system provides a solid framework for learning the syllabus, it can become the sole motivation for training. This Karate Mindset limits learning from the outset.
Mushotoku is a state of mind in which you act without seeking results and give without expecting anything in return. This attitude embodies the essence of the “way” of Karate Mindsets. Ultimately, it involves letting go of the inner self to discover something new within. This transformation can only occur through persistent and regular training.
Next time you put on your Gi, remind yourself that your goal is to understand yourself, rather than to seek any form of attainment.
Hishiryo
Consciousness and the state of mind during Karate training cannot be the same as it is in daily routine. Hishiryo is a state of mind that does not behave like the intellect. When we are training, thoughts, ideas and distractions come and go. We refer to this concept of allowing thoughts to flow freely without following them as Hishiryo consciousness. The idea of not thinking and having a peaceful intellect can seem strange of even contradictory. However, this state of mind is an absolute must for all Karateka.
The pursuit of constant thinking is not a normal or natural state of the mind. This is because the imagination and personal desires are constantly swaying the mind from simplicity and peace. The zen masters say that this peaceful state of mind is the original condition of the mind and that is what we must pursue in our training.
When we are training we tend to over think moves or drills. Subsequently, leading to a myriad of conflicts and battles within the mind, preventing us from finding the true essence of the movement. In Karate Mindsets, it is important to accept the movements for what they are and not everything requires deep thinking or explanation.
Zanshin
It means “remaining mind”.
The concept of Zanshin is prevalent in Martial Arts and the study of Zen. It is about achieving a state of mind where one has total awareness of surroundings and being fully vigilant of the here and now. Zanshin requires practitioners to maintain complete stillness of the mind, free from attachment to any preconceived or distracting thoughts. It requires one to submit themselves to the present moment unconditionally.
Zanshin demands full engagement with the activity and mindfulness of distractions. This mode of thinking immerses the individual in the task at hand, ensuring completion with focus and attention to detail.
The study of Zanshin and its context in the practice of Karate is fundamental part of the Karate Mindsets. This level of mind state helps the Karateka to develop their listening energy by practicing meditation and focal breathing. Through regular Kata, Kihon and Kumite practice one can develop a heightened sense of alertness and sensitivity. This helps the Karateka to react to fight-or-flight situations in a calmer way.
In time, this practice starts to influence daily routine such as going to school/work, having breakfast or preparing for a journey. Ultimately, the higher goal of Zanshin is to realise that every moment is a special moment and nothing is ordinary!
Fudoshin
It describes a state of equanimity—a psychological condition of stability and composure that remains undisturbed by events that evoke stressful emotions, pain, or any phenomena that might cause a loss of balance.
Fudōshin literally means “immovable mind”.This state often characterizes more experienced martial artists.. The Samurai valued Fudōshin so much that it became an essential mental dimension of their Martial Arts training. People often say that a mature samurai displays the qualities of Fudōshin.
Many of the advance Karate Mindsets have great emphasis on Fudōshin through the practice of stances and the names that the masters chose for their Katas. The stances and the names provide an insight into the feeling and emotion required to practice these Katas and Karate Mindsets. Below are some examples of advance Kata/Stances:
- Fudō-dachi (不動立, unshakable stance) also called Sōchin-dachi (壯鎭立) after kata Sōchin.
- Sanchin dachi (三戦立ち) “sanchin stance” named after GoJu Ryu Kata called Sanchin or Three Battles.
- Seienchin is another Goju Ryu Kata emphasising on pulling and remaining calm before a battle.
4.Practitioners recognize Hangetsu (半月), which means “Half Moon” in Japanese, as an advanced kata in Shotokan that shares similarities with Sanchin.
All of these kata and stances require practitioners to cultivate Fudōshin, which they can acquire only through daily practice and hard work.
Fudōshin represents a peaceful state of mind that remains totally determined and strong-willed. It is a level of attainment that confusion, hesitation, doubt, or fear cannot disturb. This concept can be life-changing and is essential in our modern age, where many examples of violence and lack of control exist.
Mushin
It means the “mind without mind”, or often referred to as “No-mind”.
Mushin is a state of mind where one remains free from fixation or occupation by any thought, distraction, or emotion. When individuals achieve this state, they can consider themselves in a state of Mushin, fully interconnected with the universe. In this state impulses and any impetuous reactions have no place. There can be no ego or intentions towards oneself. Mushin a pure state of mind where there is clarity of thought and presence of being.
A Mushin mind is not an empty like a cup, however, it is fully present and aware. Mushin is like the still muddy water that has settled after the heavy rain.This water appears clear because the mud has settled, allowing reflections to emerge as the sun shines across the surface.
Mushin in Karate can take years to develop and often many Karateka do not practice long enough to experience this state of mind. You can safely conduct a simple self-check of Mushin within your Dojo. Ask your fellow Karateka to attack you randomly and get them to observe your reactions…
This state of mind MUST be FREE from any emotions that resembles anger, fear, judgment or the ego during training.
Satori
Satori is the awakened mind or the state of enlightenment. You can describe it as a sudden flash of insight into consciousness or a complete understanding of something. People cannot understand Satori; they can only experience it.
People often mistake this state of mind as something special or the ultimate goal of a particular training practice. However, on the contrary, Satori is simply about returning the mind to its original state, bringing it back to the point of inception. A good example of Satori is found in animals, which are sentient beings fully immersed in their surroundings and experience the present moment without complexity or distracting thoughts.. They always live within their original state.
Experiencing Satori has become rare because one cannot attain it without investing effort and enduring challenges in training. Moreover, Satori will only occur when you train with proper postures and fully surrender to the present moment. In addition, it is my belief that we sometimes experience Satori, yet we are often not aware of it since our lives have become too complicated.
In Karate, when students begin their journey, they are white belts, which implies that they have no knowledge of the art. However, maintaining a simple and empty mind becomes increasingly challenging for all Yudansha as time passes and they learn many Kata and drills. Moreover, the idea of Satori serves as a reminder to all Karateka that there was once an original state of being before they achieved a mature status. In fact, this reflection can encourage practitioners to reconnect with their fundamental experiences and embrace the simplicity of their training journey and Karate Mindsets.
To experience true Satori one must practice standing in stillness without no fear or emotion on a regular basis.