Concepts Part 1
1. 平常心 (Heijo Shin) – Calm Mind
Maintaining a calm mind when facing challenges without becoming agitated is a difficult task. Jukendo and Tankendo are interpersonal activities, meaning one cannot engage in a match solely based on one’s movements. Often, one must decide their movements in response to the opponent’s actions, making it an extremely complex competition both psychologically and technically.
Therefore, in Jukendo and Tankendo, if one can maintain a psychological state that is no different from their usual mindset, they can compete in the most stable state, free from excessive exertion or tension. A calm mind refers to the everyday state of mind, the natural state of a person’s mind, and is the mental discipline suited to practice “Budo”. The inability to fully demonstrate one’s abilities in matches is often due to losing this calm mind, leading to excessive tension, the so-called “stage fright,” or excitement.
Maintaining a calm mind cannot be achieved by merely changing one’s lifestyle just before a match. Consistent effort and practice are essential.
For Jukendo, in the secret teachings of the Hōzōin-ryū spear art, it is stated, “The art of war begins with making one’s own fence, and only then should one seek to overcome others”. Here, ‘one’s own fence’ refers to the one’s ‘mind’ which means ‘fundamentals’.
For Jukendo, there is a saying;
- “Practice with the intention of having no sword, and reflect on the mindset of the short sword.”
2. 武道の四戒 (Budo no Shikai) – The Four Admonitions of Budo
There are various factors that can damage the innate state of a calm mind. These are disturbances of the mind known as “surprise,” “fear,” “doubt,” and “confusion,” which constitute the four admonitions in Budo. If even one of these arises in the mind, one’s own mind becomes disturbed, making it impossible to recognize the opponent’s openings, let alone achieve victory. This disturbance also creates openings in oneself, giving the opponent opportunities to exploit.
“Surprise” refers to a sudden, unforeseen event that disrupts the mind and body temporarily, preventing one from making normal judgments or taking appropriate actions. In extreme cases, it can lead to a state of being dazed and bewildered, unable to respond effectively.
“Fear” refers to a state of terror. When fear becomes intense, mental activities slow down, and one’s limbs may tremble, losing their ability to move properly. This can occur when one is intimidated by the opponent’s physical presence or loud voice, or when one mistakenly believes they cannot match the opponent’s bravado, leading to a psychological state of defeat and fear in any situation of advance or retreat. This fear results in self-defeat.
“Doubt” refers to a lack of clear discernment about the opponent and an indecisiveness within one’s own mind, leading to hesitation and delay. When one is doubtful, their attention becomes stagnant.
“Confusion” refers to a state where the mind is bewildered. When the mind is confused, it becomes difficult to make swift judgments and perform nimble movements.
Since these four admonitions are products of one’s own mind, it is necessary to strive for mental discipline in everyday life, in all activities, whether standing, sitting, or lying down. Modern mental training ultimately aims to strengthen the mind.
3. 間合 (Maai) – Combative Distance
Jukendo and Tankendo are martial arts that involves interpersonal competitive sports, involving the use of wooden bayonet, bamboo swords or similar implements, the sense of distance from the opponent is crucial. This sense of distance is called “maai.” Maai is not about matching the distance between oneself and the opponent, but rather about positioning oneself where both can thrust or strike. Thus, maai does not have a fixed distance; it varies for each individual. Each person has their own maai, and the opponent has theirs, determined by their physique, skills, and the length of their tools.
To control maai, one needs to create a spatial, physical, temporal, and psychological distance that makes it easy to dominate the opponent while making it difficult for the opponent to capture them. In Tankendo, since it involves thrusting (“tsuki”) and striking (“uchi”) techniques, scoring is determined by “points” for thrusts and by “lines” for strikes that is similar to Kendo, there is a slight margin because of the length of “Monouchi”. Therefore, the concept of maai is particularly crucial.
For jukendo, there is a key;
- “Even if a spear has the power to pierce a mountain, if it lacks the proper distance, it will always be ineffective.”
For Tankendo, there are two key sayings,
- “Understand that the large can defeat the small, and the small can defeat the large; move swiftly to gain victory against an active sword.”
- “To win by extending five inches in a single step, let the opponent enter your maai.”
4. 残心 (Zanshin) – Remaining Mind
In Jukendo and Tankendo, “zanshin” refers to maintaining a state of awareness even after a thrust or strike. According to the teachings of Itto-ryu, “Zanshin means leaving the mind behind, and it teaches not to let your guard down even when you seem to have won completely. Even if you strike or cut with a tangible response, it is difficult to measure what kind of preparedness the enemy might have. There are often unforeseen occurrences that can arise in an instant. The term Zanshin comes from always being cautious even after knocking down the opponent and taking their head.”
Zanshin, therefore, means not letting your guard down after a thrust or strike. While this is the common understanding, it also refers to delivering techniques with full concentration and without holding anything back. At first glance, the teachings of leaving the mind behind and striking without leaving any part of the mind might seem contradictory. However, the psychological state where, after giving your all to a technique, the mind remains focused is deeply meaningful.
It’s important not to confuse zanshin with merely stepping back after a technique. Zanshin is the continuation of the match, whereas stepping back is an escape from it, representing a fundamental difference.
There are three aspects to zanshin:
– No hesitation when thrusting or striking.
– Maintaining awareness after a thrust or strike.
– Retaining focus even when a thrust or strike goes wrong.
5. 放心 (Hoshin) – Releasing the Mind
In Budo, “Hoshin” means releasing the mind to encompass everything. This involves ensuring that the mind is not caught up in any one thing. When the mind is free and unbound, it can be attentive in all directions and respond to any situation.
The term “Hoshin” is often misunderstood as representing carelessness, a loss of conscience, or a negligent attitude, which are considered negative states of mind for a person. However, in Budo, Hoshin refers to the optimal psychological state where the mind is completely liberated.
In the book of “Mencius,” the term Hoshin is used to express the best possible state of mind.
For jukendo, in the secret manual of the Hōzōin-ryū spear art, it is stated: ‘In regards to observing the enemy, first discern the distance and timing, and when the enemy approaches, observe their path.’”
6. 止心 (Shishin) – Stopping Mind
In Budo, “Shishin” refers to the state of mind where one fixates on only a part of the opponent rather than seeing the whole. If you concentrate on just one aspect, such as thinking about how to block, evade, or suppress an opponent’s thrust or strike, your mind becomes trapped in that single thought, causing your movements to become sluggish and often leading to mistakes.
For instance, if you are fixated on striking the opponent’s Do, your mind stops there, creating an opening in your own defenses.
In Jukendo and Tankendo, since the goal is to exploit even the smallest gap to thrust or strike, it is essential to maintain a mindset that sees everything from the opponent’s head to their feet at a glance. If you have Shishin, you are likely to be deceived by the opponent’s cunning moves.
7. 機会 Kikai (Opportunity)
In Jukendo and Tankendo, both you and your opponent are constantly moving, creating numerous opportunities to thrust or strike amid the innumerable changes. However, these opportunities are fleeting and pass by in an instant. When you identify an opportunity during a match, you must seize it immediately, executing a bold and swift technique without hesitation.
With continuous practice, you will develop the ability to sense these opportunities through intuition before they manifest as visible forms. This enables you to thrust or strike instinctively, without conscious thought. Modern sports refer to this as the automation of actions. The ability to use techniques unconsciously is the essence of Budo. In a match, identifying where the winning opportunity lies is crucial, and victory is achieved by focusing your efforts when you recognize this opportunity.
To describe the situations where opportunities for thrusting or striking lie, they are:
(1) Initiating Attack (Degashira)
When the opponent begins the movement to strike or thrust, a moment of vulnerability known as “起こりOkori” occurs. By responding to this initial sign or the very beginning of the movement, you can strike or thrust without facing resistance.
(2) When the Opponent Retreats (Hiku Tokoro)
When the opponent is under pressure and unable to launch an attack, or when they are forced to retreat, they will be focused on regaining their stance. This is the perfect moment to strike or thrust, as their efforts are concentrated on stabilizing themselves.
(3) When the Opponent’s Techniques are Exhausted (Waza no Tsukita Tokoro)
If you maintain your distance and posture, and cut through the opponent continuously attacks, there will come a time when their endurance is depleted, and they will need to pause to regain their posture and breath. This break is the ideal moment to seize the advantage and launch a counterattack to win.
(4) When the Opponent is Staying Static (Itsuita Tokoro)
If the mind and body are well-prepared and spirit is fulfilled, there should be no moment of staying static. However, if mental tension slackens or concentration wavers, the opponent’s physical and mental activities slowdown and there may be moments when techniques come to a halt. This is the perfect opportunity to attack at such moments.
The “Book of Five Rings” refers to this as the “foot that stops when stepping,” indicating that a stationary foot is a vulnerable target.
(5) When the Opponent is Blocking (Uketometa Tokoro)
When you block the opponent’s thrust or strike, you avoid being hit but also unable to launch your own attack simultaneously. If your technique is blocked, continue to attack, ensuring they cannot turn their technique into an offense. Humans tend to respond to an attack from the front with a subsequent response from behind, so a series of unexpected continuous attacks is necessary.
(6) When the Opponent is Affected by the Four Mental States (Shikai ga Aru Toki)
If the opponent experiences one of the four disruptive mental states—surprise, fear, doubt, or confusion—their techniques will falter. These moments of mental disruption are prime opportunities to launch an attack.
(7) Other Situations
When your opponent’s breathing becomes irregular or when they take a deep breath, they are unable to execute techniques or exert force during inhalation.
8. 三つの先 (Mittsu no Sen)- Three Types of Initiatives
In Jukendo and Tankendo, the decisive factor in victory or defeat often hinges on whether one can seize the initiative. It is crucial to take the lead, as emphasized by the saying “If you move first, you control others; if you are late, others control you”. The concept of “sen” can be categorized into three types: “Sen-sen no sen” (initiative before the initial action), “Sen” (initiative), and “Go no sen” (initiative after the initial action):
(1) Sensen no Sen (preemptive initiative): This is taking the initiative before your opponent. When you face your opponent with your weapon (Mukuju/Shinai), both of you intend to thrust or hit. By anticipating your opponent’s intention to attack and disrupting their mind with steady and fluid movements, you can break their focus.
(2) Sen /Tai no Sen: When your opponent makes a move towards you, remain calm. As they approach, disrupt their initial momentum, causing them to falter, and then take the initiative to secure victory.
(3) Go no Sen: When your opponent initiates a thrust to hit faster than you, remain calm and focused. By strongly engaging with their attack, you can withstand their momentum, and during this exchange, seize the opportunity to win.
*Sen-Ji-Go” means, in Kodachi, taking action first, taking action simultaneously, or taking action later.