What is budo and why I should practice...

A senior adult student asked me a question about practising koryu budo 古流 武道 (old marital way)techniques...

I would like to elaborate here...

The techniques in budo seem weird and impractical for the beginners. And sometimes question arises, whether it's gonna work on the streets?


I said "Yes"...

But we practise budo not only in the perspective of self-defense. There are many other reasons too...
It's more than that...😊

And I see budo as a large spectrum....

As a Fitness training to maintain health...
As a Self defense training for self protection...
As a Spiritual path for the wellness...
And for some as a Profession...
Etcetera....

It's a way of life. That's why it is called as BUDO .
Bu means "martial" and Do means "way".

Fight against an opponent is sport and fight against oneself is budo.
I mean, fight the EGO.

Competition vs competence

So what is the ultimate goal of budo?
The goal of budo is "one should always try to become a perfect human being".

Have you noticed?
 "Try" to become a....

Yes...We strive to become a better human and try as much as possible to avoid making mistakes. Suppose we make, then do not let it happen again.

And this the beauty of budo.

So how one should practice budo?

Let me explain...

In the ancient period, people in Japan believed that the one who practise martial arts will become a perfect human being.
It was just a concept for many centuries...

Just a concept!!!

Later, when westerners started practising the Japanese martial arts, they put this concept into research. As always, before they get into something, they need a scientific result for whatever they want to follow.

So finally they got the same result.

When one practises a martial art sincerely and with a proper dedication, that makes a person perfect.

Like, if you train the same technique again and again, that improves your will power.

For an example, if a teacher teaches new techniques every day, he keeps giving you as much as you demand and if you're interested and if you're keep expecting them, then it takes you to the state of euphoria. With a bug-eyed, you will hit the dojo with a lot of expectations and desires. For a change, if he asks you to practice the same old technique again and again for two hours, then after a slight sneer, you will go to practice with a doleful and a downcast face. 

If I teach you a new technique every day, that grows your expectations and it feeds your ego.

If it is the other way around, then that kills your expectations. And you will be bored too.
Then that expectation leads to disappointment and that disappointment leads to frustration and that leads to anger....

If you don't expect and if you focus on the training, that improves one quality, which is called "acceptance".

That acceptance leads to obedience (you will do whatever your sensei says) and that obedience makes you disciplined and that discipline makes the man perfect.😊


Peace and harmony,
Sensei Maharaj

Shin 心 - Mind Gi 技 - Technique Tai 体 - Body

SHIN GI TAI

 

Shin 心 - Mind

Gi 技 - Technique

Tai 体 - Body

 

The Mind, technique, and body are the trinity of the martial way. Every budo ka must focus on this Shin Gi Tai principle to grow further in (budo 武道) the martial way or path.

 

Normally, practitioners focus on one thing to set off the rest.

 

Shin 心 - Mind 

This type of practitioner only reads and talks a lot about martial arts, but they don't practice.

 

Gi 技 - Technique

The second type focuses only on technique, but they omit doing exercises, and they never read anything related to budo.

 

Tai 体 - Body

The third type, only focuses on exercises and relies on brutal strength, so their focus lacks on the technical part as well as the spiritual part of the martial way.

 

Shin Gi Tai principle is like an equilateral triangle: analyze where you are and understand the real purpose of budo so that we can grow equally.

Inter connection:

These principles are interconnected. The one who practices a technique invariably trains his own mind and body. 

As you reach a boring point when you practice a technique, push your mental leverage a bit more to reach a certain point to achieve the goal. As you do this, your willpower and many other things related to Shin (Mind) are getting trained.

DOSE:

As you practice more zen, you are creating mental strength and flexibility to train hard and smart. Which helps you practice a technique.

As you exercise, your strength, endurance, and flexibility levels are paying off in your technique practice as well as in zen.

If we don't neglect any of the above elements, you'll find crucial evidence of how the mind, body, and technique support and help each other to grow as a complete martial artist.

So in short, if you get bored, you are getting stronger mentally. If you like training, it helps you get a good dose.

Here, what I mean by D.O.S.E. is,

A happy training session creates good hormones like dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins.

So Zen, exercises, techniques, boredom, happiness, and blah, blah, blah...

All for good when it comes to dojo training.

 

Peace and harmony,

Sensei Maharaj😊