A historical Perspective During the Reign of

---ZANSHIN---

Truth from within or mind stopping
My father’s ideas of Shin and Zan are threefold and fivefold respectively. Now of course to start out on the right path is paramount. The impression I get from these two paths Shin a Zan are what few people really understand. In these ideas there is neglect as far as proper understanding is concerned. That is why my late father’s number one goal was in the proper understanding of these difficult concepts.
Again in the idea of Zanshin Shiji, to hurry to learn these ideas is not desired. It would be self-defeating.
From the Kodansha Budo Hokan

and from the Kabushiki Kaisha

---ZANSHIN---
When you use Zanshin for example, when thrusting at an opponent you should loosen the mind and be one with your opponent. The conduct you exhibit towards an opponent in practice or in a combat situation should be responded to immediately. Under these conditions your spiritual and mental faculties should react automatically. Leave behind thought and act accordingly. But again to think is to be left behind. To halt an attack or to attack by thinking is self-defeating. By spotting this lapse in an opponent is to spot a weakness and the advantage should be taken by turning the opponents power around and use it against him. This is true Zanshin. Again don't stop once a thrust is initiated.
Shin (Truth). Zanshin (Knowing the truth), Shin (The mind), these are of the one. To include these three ideas while in practice or combat is to utilize the body’s energy to the fullest. It is of special import and is not stressed enough that in a Dojo type atmosphere sometimes is impractical. But during actual training for combat to utilize Zanshin is to show action without thought. Let truth guide you.

From a compilation from the Ryusei

Shinkage Ryu's Sensei Kinmura Kayu

who is Japans #1 Sensei

---SHISHIN or TOSHIN---

(Mind Stopping)
The idea or concept of Shishin or Toshin is one of import to grasp. One must pay careful attention studying this path. In ancient times because of the way of life it was a very useful tool to the Bushi. It was a path that could not be taken by force but it must be learned willingly.
For example when fighting in either combat or practice Shishin or Toshin can be used against an opponent especially when you are attacking you should never employ this technique. What you should do is to detect this flaw in your opponent. There will be a time when your attackers mind stops and it will show up in attitude and his facial countenance.
This is a potential area to capitalize on ' and seize your opponent. You can call it a lapse in his attack or chink in his amour as it were. You as the defender should indulge in Mushin. This idea applies to Kendo but should not be limited to this art. Extend it to other arts as well in theory and practice as well.
Again, back to Shishin this idea shouldn’t apply when fighting or practicing with one or with ten opponents. To become one with the sword your mind will pick up on this idea of Shishin as a defensive as well as an offensive tool. So few people now days know how to wield this concept to their advantage.
One must pay special attention to the developing of the proper spirit or frame of mind. One should clear away all the clutter they have in their mind during practice or during combat situations. To do this one will develop a better well-rounded attitude. When you are up against innumerable odds is when this concept comes into play. To emulate positive attitudes and with Shishin/Mushin concepts you can take each battle on one plane or many battles on different planes.
One who is one within himself will be one with all and should be remaindered when in combat or practice never show or portray this idea of Shishin. In all the pages that remain in this book this idea will be expounded on in further detail.
The one reason I put so much emphasis on this idea of Shishin is that if you let it appear when in battle or practice it’s like a trickle which then turns into a torrent. These ideas again are important in Kendo but apply to other arts as well.
The above excerpts are from a book on Kenjutsu called Nihon Budo Renshu.

---A Study of Sanchin---
Seiri Kaibugaku Teki na Kosatsu

(The object of this study is on Physiology and Anatomy)
By Choden Shuko
Sanchin no Igi

The Significance of Sanchin
Upon entering a Uechi Ryu Dojo the first thing learned are Jumbi Undo (Preliminary Exercises), Hojo Undo (Technique Exercise) and the Sanchin Kata, and while your commuting back and forth to the Dojo you should practice Sanchin at least three times per day on your own.
Upon seeing Sanchin for the first time it looks relatively simple. The movements have not changed much since ancient times. One should be able to go through the movements and memorize them with relative ease. But even though the Kata appears simple one must to a degree put a lot of effort into learning the basic movements.
If not later on bad habits may occur. The simple movements are the kihon or foundation for the rest of the Uechi Ryu Kata. So to teach a person the kata from a Sensei who demonstrates flawless technique, one must emulate this Sensei and learn from him to master this seemingly simple kata.
To begin with the fundamental posture when beginning Sanchin and to include the opening movements are very important to learn. One must gradually experiment and investigate each movement and try to apply it flawlessly. This takes many years of practice. When performing this kata for the first time the movements should be light and easy.

This way you learn the movements of the kata better and at the same time you are beginning to forge or develop your body posture wise and physical wise. As you begin slowly you will gradually build up muscle and sinew into an integrated whole.

With this in mind now we add Kokyu Ho (Uechi Ryu Breathing Method) and within limits you start to build a better body. A good understanding of these principles at first will seem strange, but as time goes on and as a person develops, the benefits will be clear. After a while the body for example the muscles/sinew and skin will strengthen and harden and eventually a person will be able to withstand the impact of most blows to the body without none if any internal damage.
It takes about 6 months to a year to learn the Sanchin Kata the basics, and the breathing method. Then you should be developed enough then after the specified amount of time above to take on other areas 'if this style. The five to ten years later you should have forged very strong body physically/mentally/spirituality. The idea is to become a body of one from these teachings. As the year’s progress and you continue to practice and learn your forging yourself to be able to withstand most any type of reasonable impact for example a punch or a kick to most parts of the body. On occasion these types of defense will come in handy.
As the impact comes the muscles and sinew will absorb the impact lessening internal body damage. The understanding of Kokyu Ho of the Uechi Ryu Style is also good for the developing of a good offense/defense it was that way also in ancient times. During any action one must take care not to overexert the muscles. Also to mention that during Jiyu Kumite this tension you have developed will develop further and the body will change physically. A sturdy body during any type of action is desired.
The possibilities of a good defense while utilizing this tension are limitless. The founder of Uechi Ryu Karate Do Katas to a degree wants the meanings of these kata to be clear. From the basics you can build a firm foundation. This is what the founder I believe is trying to get across. This will then lead when the basics are mastered you are ready for more advanced techniques and kata.
Some guidelines to follow:
1.) You must establish a firm understanding of the Kata Basics.
2.) You are from this kata training the body to withstand impact of

single or a variety of blows, and this type of training helps you handle the stress involved in difficult situations. It also teaches you to be strong and forge the power of resistance.

3.) Through a thorough understanding of the basics you can gauge or estimate the physical strength you are cultivating.
4.) Also, through the use of Kokyu Ho you can gauge your progress in forging a good healthy body. Your physiology and anatomy will also change accordingly with this kata and the preliminary and technique exercises that you practice.
---Aspect of Posture---
First off let’s look at the aspect of posture and the

flaws in the Martial Arts and in Sports applications of which I think that the basics are not being paid much attention to.

In that each exercise a reasonable amount of naturalness and scientific reasoning must be utilized this takes months and years to get these basics down. The unity of the two must be regarded as of prime importance. The aspect of posture in a system like Karate is that the unity of the posture is sometimes not there. But in Kata the idea of posture must be investigated in the beginning.
In the opening of the Uechi Ryu Kata Sanchin this posture is the cornerstone of all the other Kata and of the style itself. So from this it takes about 10 hard years of practice and study to perfect this posture and through many repetitions of this posture comes perfection.
Now as to the proper positioning of the feet the posture of the feet in the Sanchin kata is very important. The width of the feet should match the width of the shoulders. Also to ensure proper posture the stepping techniques must be duplicated the same every time. Your posture should appear to be wide or open. If the posture is correct the tip of your thumb should line up with the lead foot. This is used as a check only.

Also, when stepping in this posture ensures that you are not stepping to wide and that the front foot is in line with the back foot. In this posture the lead foot slides forward and one also should avoid the raising of the feet or body in this type of stepping movement. This is that one tends to use the up or up and down movements as a balancing recheck. On occasion there may be a need to vary the spacing for stepping posture. One must be careful when taking when taking blows when in this improper posture. There is a likelihood of being off balance or unstable so one should always strive for a perfect Posture to ensure proper stability.

On occasion when you are executing the foot- pivot movement the whole body must turn as one. One should not try to make these movements to big because then again instability occurs and during any type of action this would be detrimental to the defender so the strength that one will gain, in the lower extremities through this posture by bending the knees slightly to relieve the little stress that the bode may distribute may help for balance. While one is standing in this posture you will also develop the back, pelvic, abdominal, thigh and calf muscles. You should though avoid too much stress on the muscles. At the same time the buttocks now come into play, the same tensing and tightening will help develop these muscles also.

First off let’s look at the aspect of posture and in the flaws of the Martial Arts and in Sports. I think that the basics are not being paid much attention to.

In that each exercise a reasonable amount of naturalness and scientific reasoning must be utilized this takes months and years to get these basics down. The unity of the two must be regarded as of prime importance. The aspect of posture in a system like Karate is that the unity of the posture is sometimes not there. But In kata the idea of posture must be investigated in the beginning. In the opening of the Uechi Ryu Kata Sanchin this posture is the cornerstone of all the other Kata and of the style itself. So from this it takes about 10 hard years of practice and study to perfect this posture and through many repetitions of this posture comes perfection.

Now as to the proper positioning of the feet the posture of the feet in the Sanchin Kata is very important. The width of the feet should match the width of the shoulders. Also to ensure proper posture the stepping techniques must be duplicated the same every time. Your posture should appear to be wide or open. If the posture is correct the tip of your thumb should line up with the lead foot. This is used as a check only. Also when stepping in this posture ensures that you are not stepping to wide and that the front foot should be in line with the back foot. In this posture the lead foot slides forward and one also should avoid the raising of the feet or body in this type of stepping movement. This is that one tends to use the up or up and down movements as a balancing recheck. On occasion there may be a need to vary the spacing for stepping posture. One must be careful when taking when taking blows when in this improper posture. There is a likelihood of being off balance or unstable so one should always strive for a perfect Posture to ensure proper stability.

On occasion when you are executing the foot- pivot movement the whole body must turn as one. One should not try to make these movements to big because then again instability occurs and during any type of action this would be detrimental to the defender and the strength that one will gain in the lower extremities through this posture by bending the knees slightly to relieve the little stress that the bode may distribute may help for balance. While one is standing in this posture you will also develop the back, pelvic, abdominal, thigh and calf muscles. You should though avoid too much stress on the muscles. At the same time the buttocks now come into play, the same tensing and tightening will help develop these muscles also.
When one is in this posture for any length of time your body may start to quiver, which is natural. It comes from the tension your body creates during the holding of this posture for any length of time. Gradually you will get use to it. For example when a top is spinning endlessly around a particular circumference, I think the pivot point is important. In this posture we do the same movement. If the center of our pivot point stays firm and unmoving then what should enter this sphere will be pushed away.

That is why to be oblique in your movements is not good. When you tremble or get excited you upset your balance physically and physiologically. This must be avoided at all costs.

Back for a moment to the strengthening of the chest and Lack muscles through the use of the Sanchin posture. As I said before you stretch and lengthen these muscles every time you practice. It is important that all areas of the body either in play or work that the body acts as a wh6le. To have a pole like look is desirable. As long as your able to move with fluidity.

Next we will focus on the upper arms and the shoulders. It is important to keep the shoulders down and not to raise them when stepping a moving or thrusting. As both arms are drawn back the shoulders should not rise up, but pull down and back. This practice when thrusting will build up the arms and the shoulders. Covered next is the location of the elbow. It should not be too wide and not flare out but hug the body for protection of the rib cage. It is almost like pushing down toward the groin. The position of the arms when in any posture should be even. You should not lean to one side or the other, and or lean to far forward or backward. The elbows should be pulled in toward the inner body and the arms at 45-degree angles for proper Sanchin arm position. By having the elbows close you keep the rib cage closed for protection. By opening or flaring the elbows and arms you open the rib cage making easier or an attacker to get in a good blow.
Now to the forearm and the fingertips this is where the strength should be focused. Almost ail of the power comes from the shoulders through the arms and to the fingertips. It’s important to keep the elbows straight. There should be no bend or curve. The palm of the hand should always be turned up unless you are thrusting. The position and control of the arm to the fingertips is critical. There also must be no separation visible between the fingertips. There should be just a little slant in the Sanchin arm position from the tip of the elbow to the tips of the fingers then a straight line to the shoulders. It should resemble a 45 degree triangle.

When you are in the round-shouldered posture you must pay attention to the fingertips. To make sure the tips of the fingers should just under shoulder width apart. Then the fingers if a straight line were drawn from the fingertips to the shoulder the line should just touch the outside of each shoulder. This posture must not be discarded.

All parts the body should act together to maintain stability and harmony within the whole body. With this in mind you should not tremble when tensing. This v: an excellent partial arts exercise the Sanchin posture.
All the above-mentioned thoughts on this posture

should never be changed, but adhered to religiously. Special attention should be put on the strength one will attain through this posture. All the body parts will after a while double in strength. Since the hands and the feet play a crucial role all you actions should remain crisp and sharp. Through the Kata further development will occur as you progress. One Must Watch the shoulder to 1.) Not raise them during striking, and 2) Don’t let your thrusting hand stray away from the body, 3.) The elbows should also not wander but be kept close to the body and 4.) The head should overly bend but he held straight, with the chin pointed down. The chin should be drawn in and not jutted outward.

When thrusting the elbows out should not flare outward but kept close to the body. Also when thrusting the arm should not be overly bent but thrust straight out for maximum power and thrust if not your power will be cut in half. This also leaves much out in the open. This will also detract from you getting to your target successfully. All the strength you develop will be through your arms and hands and also through the legs and feet. It is important to develop good habits. It's these simple rules if they are not followed the gradual break up of you posture will occur.
So from these ideas an proper thrusting, on occasion to conduct these exercises properly as stated with diligence and proper attitude the objectives you will achieve will surprise you. Another thought on this of the round shoulder-ness. The power will flow from your hara up to the shoulder and through the arms and hands. The kata Sanchin should be performed noiselessly.

To demonstrate strength in a kata one should just do it. The people doing so will more than likely exhibit strength unknowingly.

If he or she is one with themselves and the kata the idea of posture here will be one of exemplifying the beauty of the kata through action.

Therefore, an important position on strength is through the proper use of posture. This discourse on one hand must be not discontinued. It is important to distribute strength evenly through correct posture usage. One should pay careful attention to the movement of the knees they shouldn’t be crooked but bent to a degree just so the idea of being bow legged and in a semi-low crouching this posture is for protection of the body and groin area. The Sanchin kata is a very beautiful kata.

The direction now is to forge the body through Sanchin. Now this meaning of Sanchin is based on the basics of this posture. The establish­ment of good beginning basics is a must. The meaning will be more and more apparent as time goes on. To begin with merely to be able to touch upon this idea that strength comes from the proper learning from the Sanchin Kata. The idea of power also comes from forging a proper body through tension i.e., exercises from the Sanchin Kata.

The way to train with this ancient Kata Sanchin from Uechi-Ryu is that the resources you have can be developed more through Jiyu Kumite I think. This is a more reliable method for training and tempering of the basics through the use of the kata and through controlled sparring. You have more freedom as you develop Jiyu Kumite. The truth of Budo in Karate will be evident. There is room to change, and the way is hard work and study. In recent years Karate Do's path or base has emanated from Okinawa. The prosperity of course comes from Okinawa also. The information coming out of Okinawa on Karate has been increased greatly. This is all part of a change in the way information is disseminated. This form of popularization is increasing greatly.

Through contests and controlled sparring matches there have a multitude of information exchanges some still think this idea is dangerous. The only danger here is not talking to the public one on one. As popular as Karate is there is only one course to follow? Now back at to the subject at hand, to build a body to withstand blows, which comes the forging of the mind, body spirit is idea. This seems unfathomable by most. To be able to endure it is even more so. To be able to do it is considered outstanding. To a degree the public may understand, but on the whole they are not seeing the real truth. In that there is no profit.
But the other danger here is in the closing up of information sources one by one that are available. The inevitability of this art I think is that it will never do that. To spread out and disseminate this information on Karate is what we are striving for. The meaning we strive for in Karate is to be able to think for ourselves.
But other people stress speed in learning the martial arts I think this is not a good idea. Sanchin has to start slow and be tempered thoroughly. There are special attributes that a Bujin will learn while training that an ordinary person would not receive. You’re developing a person with very special qualities. You’re tempering a tough body and a flexible mind.
The speed in Karate will come as changes to the structure of this. In­dividual takes place. To be able to think that that you are forging or pretend to forge and not accomplish anything is ludicrous. Whoever shows strength and ambition in the world today be it a man or a woman they will be the one or ones who progress the fastest. The members of society either male or female have changed drastically. Those who desire to be strong either affected by culture or society as a whole will rise above

But to live happily and enjoy competition is the way to learn anything. It is reassuring to live and extract power from learning. It builds good character and confidence. From the meaning of the Study of Karate we sometimes feel half fulfilled. But in learning anything from Budo, the way will be a 1ong and path hard. Furthermore, the meaning of a class-oriented culture seems to play a big part in learning Karate.

On the idea of armed might and armed force: To exercise these rights in this era is not right. The trend of the times sometimes is to take advantage of different types of Budo for brutal means or ends. Therefore, let’s look at the freedom of the body vs. the freedom of strength. How can one not be able to defend this idea? The idea behind learning Karate in the old days was for a singular purpose of survival.
Now days both the idealogy of self defense and sports are being sought as outlets for stress and are being popularized back in olden times the freedom to defend yourself was paramount. Learning Karate back then one had to do it in secret. The freedom we have now was nothing like it was in the old days. Back then the adaptation to circumstances was to improve ones skills for survival. The Art of Jiyu Kumite was also used to enhance ones skills in secret also. The idea behind Jiyu Kumite during practice with an opponent was to exchange offensive/defensive techniques for the betterment of the individual. You had to be careful also because some of the blows properly executed and not checked at the last minute could prove injurious or fatal to your opponent. But as conditioning is continued a blow once in a while can be taken with minimal injury. That is why it is important to temper the body correctly.
The physical strength you gain in Uechi Ryu should make you proud of yourself. Now from anatomy point of view of the body we will see many things, which will be important to us. The item of importance is to start out with would be the development of the spirit then the skin covering and its elasticity. The firmness of the bone structures the nervous system, and the internal organs. We will deal with the methods toughening some of these areas or developing them for protection. We will deal with the damage that can be done to the bones, and other sensitive areas, and eternal organs. In the nervous system we will talk about the memory system and the nerve cells and the paths they take through the spinal column to the bones.
The important part to start with would be the point under the breastbone, and all other areas including the rib cage, which goes around back toward the spinal column, and what these areas protect. The whole area is surrounded by subcutaneous tissue fat and muscle.
By the strengthening of this tissue and turning fat into muscle we will develop a more hardened body so as to enable us to be able to take a blow to the body with minimal damage. The tissue or skin when property exercised and conditioned will protect the inner organs.
The subject of this next section is on the digestive system that is located in the lower body or the lumen, which surrounds the intestines, stomach, and urinary bladder, lungs, kidneys, spleen and the pancreas, must be understood very carefully. The qualities of the tissues that surround these organs are sufficient to keep them intact away from harm. So as we develop the inner layers of fat into muscles and develop the outer layer or epidermis into a strong pliable outer covering we protect ourselves from most types of blows. But if pressure is brought to bear on an area during a time of inattention or weakness a rupture could occur and certain internal organs could be damaged. For example if hemorrhaging occurs which could be caused by any type of blow for example a bruise is actually a hemorrhage if gone untreated it could form into a blood clot and travel to the heart or other areas and could cause death over a period of time depending on how severe the blow was and the severity of the hemorrhaging.
On occasion when damage is done may require a surgical technique to restore your body back to normal. If the wound is an open fissure or cut apply direct pressure to get the bleeding stopped. But again in the case of hemorrhaging immediate hospitalization should be sought to find out the extent of the damages.
For example if you spleen ruptures parts or pieces can be taken out and the rest of the spleen can function properly. Or if a kidney is they can try to repair the damage or remove the part that is damaged. However the liver and pancreas are a different story. Only portions can be removed and still function properly. Complete removal cannot be done. Now portions of the intestines can be repaired or sections that are ruptured or diseased can be removed and the individual can still function properly. The lumen that separates the stomach from the intestine and urinary bladder and the womb in the case of a woman can rupture or her herniation can be repaired quite easily.

Care must be taken in that on a full stomach or a full urinary bladder, or in a woman’s case a womb with a baby in it can rupture quite easily. So physical action should not be done in the first two only after your food has settled or has been digested, and or the urinary bladder has been emptied. In the case of the pregnant woman no physical activity should be done, as it would harm the newborn.

I wouldn’t take much of a blow either from the hand or foot to rupture one of these delicate organs. Now as to the deep portion around the spine the aorta and superior vena cava travel these can be ruptured and serious damage can occur if Dot treated promptly.

In the muscles in the abdomen if a person is on a normal state of relaxation must be guarded carefully. If you are in this state and where to take a blow in this area damage could occur to the abdominal wall. Also in the wall lining of the abdomen blood vessels could be burst from an unchecked blow or an unprotected defense, which could cause serious if not fatal injury. Also, if serious damage were done, temporary clotting or cramping could occur which could cause an obstruction in the blood vessel system. Of course if blood vessels were to burst sometimes instant death depending on the state of things which were occurring in the body at that time. It is always risky not to seek medical attention for any kind of injury. Most important is in the Hara where the intestines are located; there is a risk of herniation or blockage which could cause serious to minor damage to the body and its functions. It is always best to protect the body from having these types of injuries occur. Now on occasion when the stress level is high the physical properties of the body become unbalanced. This action can become remedied by meditation. Sanchin teaches a moving type of meditation. Or in the relaxed kneeling position Zazen.
Your chief aim is to protect the body inside and out. Therefore it is paramount to increase your strength and endurance through training. As you do this you build up your body’s defense works, which is not impossible to do. One must be emphatic in enduring this type of training or study.

This hardening process will develop you into a strong individual. Therefore, the forging of the chest, abdomen limbs to be able to take the impact of a blow with minimal damage. As your strength increases so does your endurance.

One must at the first sense of pain be aware of the locality and severity of the pain or if it is just muscular pain or strain. So one has to gage the training regime, to slow down or speed up accordingly to pain tolerance and durability.
One must practice or work with the different muscle groups in the head, neck, chest, abdomen, and the limbs as to their limits. Once an established regime has been incorporated you should progress slowly. It is hard to define strength when blows differ. But as a person tenses the teacher cap tell what areas are developed enough to take a test blow for tension checking. One the same lines the harder the impact the harder the body should be. But of course there are definite limits as to what the body can or cannot take. So the teacher or partner should vary the blows to different areas to keep an even keel on the training. The physical properties of the body in regards to musculature and relaxation should be looked into. One must always be on guard but not so as to be static in movement to robot like. That’s why almost always a blow is normally needed to test tension on a student. It can be done, by touching the areas involved to see if proper tension is being applied. Often times if one tensed properly but is in a wrong Frame of mind the blow could possibly be transmitted past the muscles and  into the internal organs. Of course this is a different subject area all together.
On occasion the surface of the skin may show damage for example swelling, bruising etc. This pain may hurt which could be the by-product of a blow that area or from blocking with the arms or legs. This is an occurrence that happens sometimes and is called a hematoma. They can just go away without any ill affects. For example if the blood clot disintegrates and disperses the only visible affects would be discoloration of the skin. The clots can travel to other areas and lodge themselves and cause damage i.e., and aneurysm. That’s why it is wise to seek immediate attention on any type of injury your unsure of. This is why the skin must be tempered slowly along with certain muscle groups to be able to take the strain of impact.

The skin can be damaged yes but if you alternate the areas of the blows during your training, damage can be at a minimum. But when in combat things are different. But as you can see from most bruises discoloration occurs and the bruise goes away eventually and the body heals. Also certain areas of the skin are weaker that the others, regardless of how much you train these areas. Please be careful.

There is a proper way to show ones strength without having to strain your muscles. You must forge your muscles carefully. To be able to forge your muscles properly and to achieve the correct results some basic common knowledge on the muscle system should looked into. One must at the histology of muscles. The characteristics that would be important to look at are the contractor/expander muscle groups. You should also know their limits. Also, look at the cell structure of each of the muscle fibers. This will enable you to better understand the contractor/expander principle. There are some muscles you can’t change so you must be careful. What your doing when you exercise is you taking your taking muscles not normally used and stretching them little by little to get the most out of stretching and flexibility. Once you develop these muscle groups you build these muscles up to a desired level. Then these muscle groups must be constantly worked to keep them in shape. To work these muscles you start out a little at a time. Each exercise you do is de­signed to develop certain muscle groups. If you cease exercising the muscles have a tendency to contract back to their original shape. The muscle groups must be trained daily and kept up. But once trained and exercising continues your muscle tone will stay firm.

For example when you exercise you are using muscles you may not even know about. So when you exercise you do it for proper health and general fitness, and growth. But there is a limit to exercising in that you eventually get to point of diminishing ends. All the exercise you do daily must start slow. Violent exercise to achieve results is detrimental to the body. You must be able to endure and continue the slow process that it takes to build up musculature. This way you ensure proper muscle growth.

The forging of muscle groups during the usage of the Sanchin Kata will forge a better individual. You then will maintain the proper tension and durability to be able to take a blow to take a blow to the body with minimal damage. Pain should be minimal if any, when properly tensed. The power you develop along with these exercises will help you with developing a more stable stance and will ensure you do riot get knocked down as easy.

When the body, is properly trained you should be able to take 1, 2, 3, blows to the body with minimal damage to the muscular areas developed, and then still be able to defend yourself from an opponent or opponents.
All the while in meditation should be done either with the Kata, or in Jiyu Kumite.

This type of meditation is a form of walking meditation. This meditation enables you to' merge the mind, body, Spirit together into one entity.

The Pain you will feel from exercising is normal until your muscles become properly trained. You must always continue to ensure free movement of all the muscle groups involved. These tough muscle groups you are building are again meant to protect you from most blows to the body. Blows directed at the shallow parts of the body are harder to protect muscle will and difficult to train. Some blows to certain parts of the body must be avoided. Some body parts prevent this when properly executed for example in the Sanchin Posture the bent knee position enables the defender to stop a kick to the groin. Also what this training is doing is helping I you diminish some of the energy in the blows by having the body absorb some of' the energy. There also must a certain amount of self confidence involved when training with the body blow experience.
The muscle groups forged that will help you when training with Sanchin are the abdominal muscles, the posterior or back muscles, the forearms and the lower extremity muscles groups. Some of the others also will be in the neck and shoulders. Areas of muscles that are important are in the neck and shoulders. The other areas are on the sides of the chest cavity and the thigh muscles also. Don’t forget to forge the whole body. Think of flawlessness.
(Kokyu Ho no Tsuite)

Proper breathing in relation to the body

To learn another meaning of Sanchin you first must learn the proper way to breath. This particular breathing method is special for Sanchin.

After all breathing in from the nose rather than the mouth is much more desired. After awhile breathing in from your mouth you will be out of breath. The proper way to breathe is in through the nose then forces the air into the abdomen.
Moreover, once you start this type of breathing you should start with small breaths and increase as your stamina and Kata Progress you must not breath from the chest or from the shoulders as most people do but down into the abdomen. This is another way to develop your abdominal muscles.
You must also not strain too much you might damage something. This is a very particular breathing method. The meaning of this type of breathing must be thought about at great length, this breathing method is designed to develop the soft part just below the sternum. This method by contracting and expanding helps develops many other muscle groups also. This exercise is from the old way taught in ancient times.
The rib cage is a series of bones connected to the sternum and goes around both sides of the chest to protect the internal organs. The ribs a: set at oblique angles to each other. So as you breathe or as you arms go up the rib cage expands and opens up slightly. The idea here is 1.) Develop the muscles in this area and to keep the arms in a good Kamae or (Hand Position) and 2.) Keep the ribcage closed by keeping your elbows in and down to avoid letting the opponent get an opening on your body for a blow. So by proper breathing and proper body placement you become almost invulnerable. That is why proper breathing and proper development of the muscle groups is of such high importance.
Dai ni no Sho Kokyu Undo wa Fukushiki Kokyu de aru

Chapter II The Breathing Method vs Abdominal Breathing.
The area of the thorax which is surrounded by the peritoneal cavity has when one breaths has a tendency to open and close and spread out. This is done with proper exercise. All the membranes involved in and around the peritoneal cavity must be exercised properly. When the muscles in the abdominal wall are relaxed this is in a normal state everything is as it should be.

But when action is taken against a trained person these muscles tighten up to protect the inside as well as the outside This is done by expanding the muscles from the front to the back to form a sort of protective barrier.

This is one of the results of proper breathing in the abdominal area. For example the way a child breathes is the same way an adult should breath.
It seems that the proper way to breath is lost once a person reaches adulthood unless you are properly trained. The right idea behind this is the training and perfection of the abdominal muscles. Rigidity is not but flexibility is.
Muscle actions, which oppose other muscles actions are not, desired either. The following in this train of thought will lead too the rigidity of the muscle groups you are trying to change. This cannot be allowed. Muscles must be allowed to relax and contract naturally. To develop action naturally is the proper way to build up these muscle groups. The breathing exercise above is for the large muscle groups. The long and short muscle muscles groups that continue to expand and contract utilize the Uechi Ryu breathing method, which will help build a more sturdy physique. Therefore, to exhale and inhale in the same breath is desirable. Then when the pushing action or this breathing into the abdominal cavity is done it expands and contracts the muscle groups to form a muscular barrier for protection.

During this breathing exercise by taking large gulps of air or breathing heavily is not a desired action to pursue. The reason behind this is that it will inhibit your actions considerably. The above method of breathing should be done so as to affect all sides high and low of the different muscle groups. This way when you are in any kind of action requiring intense concentration breathing properly will be essential.

As the breath is drawn into the nose and then pushed down into the abdominal area this is a kind of strengthening exercise. It also helps to promote to the healthy Functions of the other internal organs. If it is done wrong the intense breathing could cause damage to one or more different internal organs.

The Breathing Method vs. the Abdominal Method

(Cont)
What are you exactly strengthening in the peritoneal cavity area? Actually you are not strengthening the peritoneal cavity but the muscular areas that surround then this area protects the internal organs from damage.
The rib cage and the musculature surrounding the rib cage help to protect the upper part of the body internal organs. These muscles are very important to develop.
Therefore when one is practicing the Kata there

Should be a minimum of shallowness in the abdominal area and should be and tensed properly. This area when properly tensed, during regular exercising will help to absorb the impact of most blows. And will also protect the internal organs. The frequentness of this breathing pattern as described and if all sides are exercised properly, there will be no undue stress or strain. The learning of this breathing method takes a long time to develop and establish. But, continuation is a must for the proper forging of a strong and healthy body. A need for forging a strong Sanchin is through the learning of the proper basics, and Kokyu Ho, which will lead to proper physical strengthening as well. Once you start you must finish. More than this is that in consideration to Sanchin, all areas of the body must be explored and developed for the individual's own sake. Think on these words.

This is from a reproduction from another printing. The author is a Doctor of Medicine and his notes are printed herein. The director of the Uechi Ryu Karate Do Kaicho as a Shodan certifies him.
Kata Ka? soretomo Gata Ka?

Is the direction of Kata more towards Model or Form?
In the world of the martial arts the Japanese word "Kata" is based on the principle of a non-binding nature. Meaning it has to be flexible and not rigid. This meaning must also be easily understood. It wouldn’t take a genius in the profession to see that rigidity is no good. To always perfect the basics of any Kata is to polish the soul.
The idea of the author here is that the key is in the original basics. In that there are various peculiarities and idiosyncrasies in each system but the basics are mainly the same. So to generalize in that all Kata are same is like saying all people look alike. The criterion here is that in this day and age everything has a certain way or natural law about now they evolve.
So in that term "Kata." which if we look at its elements and analyze them we will see all the different sides’ one in a practical sense, and the other in an esthetic sense. The standards for all the Kata when applying techniques to an opponent the basics must be adhered to in order for the system to work. From here we now have to see what comprises the definition of the two ideographs, for this we look to other literature.
We sometimes are ill prepared to define word Kata and what it applies to or stands for. In recent years Kata (Model or Form or Style different kanji character) or Kata (Pattern or Shape different kanji character), we have to ask ourselves which one applies? It may be remarkably obvious to some, to others... who knows. Here again

the use of either ideograph is neither right nor wrong. Let’s ask, what are the traditions? Perhaps these days we seek too much from the definition of the word Kata. Let’s look at a few facts. In this text word Kata is from the old literature where it was taken from, and the idea logically speaking, is based on a faith or belief that through "Kata" in the traditional sense is to achieve perfection in Kobushi-Ho or the Fistway.

Kata can also be an expression of an art form. Literature will tell us that either ideograph of the word "Kata" will work as a basic def­inition. From other material for example we see that Shorin Ryu Karate no Kaicho Nagamine Shoshin's article on the “Discussion of a Kata” and from the All Nihon Karate Do Remmei authority Otoku Hakuko Sensei’s discussion about Kata, these two individuals believe that the term Kata isn’t very well understood.

Before, as we were speaking of the two individuals who are Kata authorities the two ideographs for Kata are a matter of much discussion even in today’s times. They tried to develop a catchall character or ideograph for the word Kata. Much has been recorded up to this date.

On one side of Kata one has to look at what one is able to achieve in or through the arts and what truths one is able to take away from his own observations and or definitions. Therefore, to repeat what was stated, the truth is not in the belief of what Kata can or cannot do. It is what it can do. One would have to have actual practice in the art to even catch a glimmer of what the truth about Kata would be.
The learning requirements of the art and the truth about it are covered in the first chapter. But in that, this art is extremely esoteric it would be easy to misunderstand and interpret. You also have to ask yourself does it take a genius to formalize a definition of the word Kata.
The secrets in these writings about "Kata" were written down so as not to be lost. To benefit from this text some items of importance from the Shinkage Ryu Heiho, which were recorded a long time ago, are listed below. We are pleased to have these additions from the old manuscripts. These items should be of great importance. Also we have writings from Ineto Ichimu's treatise on the hidden secrets of Hojutsu Ryu or the use of firearms. This document also deals with the proper Kata or form for the aiming use, and shooting of ancient firearms.
And again even in fencing the hidden techniques are based on a Kata. This is very important to remember. The Kata are very crucial pieces of information. The narrators written comments on combat styles prove this. In some legends it has been shown where the Kata have been proven to develop great power. The person who perforated certain Kata over and over for long periods of time were said to have gained some soft of power.
The original idea of Kata In the author’s opinion was not derived from legend. There are many ways to perform a Kata and many occasions to do so. The more a person practices the better his art will become. To learn a Kata correctly the standard from should always be adhered to. The way you are taught should be followed religiously. By learning naturally and unhindered by restrictions and flow with the Kata you will 'learn faster and better. As an individual you also change by perfecting your form. The basics or foundation Kata must be learned thoroughly.
The mere perplexity of the term Kata is overwhelming in some cases. This is a difficult path for some to follow. The idea of Kata being a source of power is sometimes not very well understood.

Part II of the discussion on Kata

In as much as a small number of nobility between understanding literature or legend as far as Kata is concerned this is where people had problems separating fact from fiction. Which side do you take literature or legend? Therefore during the Edo period as each person passed a different stage or development in training in a certain art he descended on a 'Path' (DO The Way). As he practiced Kata the problem between the fact or fiction idea went aside as each person had a different set of circumstances surrounding his or her training.

The minority led more toward legend and the nobility leaned toward literature. So to what level then did a person rise to who diligently practiced Kata? During certain eras the standard was that one stuck to basics. Many individuals during the Edo period surpassed even themselves when Kata was practiced properly.

Some people who had developed Kata in private tended to be looked at as geniuses but sometimes through the learning or Kata in private had its downfalls. The person learned more what he wanted or developed a particular philosophy or way. What else can be said other than the natural standards were exchanged and there ideas became absolutes? In the arts the ones who excelled were promoted. Sasei Kiyasu had quoted the famous poet Basho on the above.

The Japanese race was divided during Edo period. Soome were against Buddhism and Shintoism. Some were for it. There were factions of Atheism and Polytheism. There were individuals who were well versed in all beliefs. Also there was more who had practiced the Christian Faith than there was practicing monotheism.
There those who taught the Christian Faith in that there was an absolute God for the whole group and there were those who practiced monotheism and each believed in what he wanted. But I think this is a mistake.

The Japanese race believes in the individual Kami, but was this practiced as a whole or done separately which is different from the Christian Faith. Basho the poet had said “to be absolute and firm was to develop a good body mind relationship”. This idea was a prototype for the Japanese people later for another religious concept.

The Kata then in any race was developed around for example the ideas of Faith/religion and was developed for the religion when then had enveloped all those who practiced Kata of the art in question. As long as there was religion a person could attain their maximum limit. The idea now of traditional legend or literature was symbolized in the heredity line of a house and mingled with a religious sect to become a very powerful force. Therefore during the ancient times, one authority strictly controlled the heredity line of an art. This then became a natural law to follow.
To think of then in ancient times of this type theory became quite the fashion of the times. This idea though was kept within the clan and kept secret. That is why the bloodline was pure in some respects. This then after a while became an accepted practice. During the Kansho period a champion wrestler Yoshiden Ofuku started to publish licenses for his wrestlers as certificates of proficiency. This idea was welcomed. In ancient times the verification of individual’s credentials was always a problem. For example the Chinese expressed certain awe in the Japanese people to place certain willingness to aesthetics, which comprise the idea behind recognizing people who excel in certain beliefs or arts. To be verified by a license was quite an accomplishment back in ancient times.
Therefore as rule once you attained a certain level you obtained a license this was pointing to or part of becoming something special.
Part III of the discussion of Kata

This article is entitled "Katachi no Kaishaku ni Tsui"

An explanation of Form or Shape
Budo in relation to sports is that all basic actions are the same. From the standpoint of a premise in that the basics are the same to some extent in that the application is different. Also the philosophy may differ slightly. The idea of the Ryorin or two wheels is that the body and spirit philosophy would be the same. Achieving oneness should be the ultimate goal. But there must be a strict adherence to the basics.
There again in Karate there are exceptions especially in the theory of the oneness, which is the object of the subject desired and the basis of this study. One idea surrounding Karate which is desirable is the dissemination and direction this art is headed, and to whom it is imparted to. The subject of Kata here we will try to be plain and simple. Some of the explanations may be difficult but as you follow along things will fall into place. From the amateur or beginners it will be difficult to put the ideas of Kata and the ideas of philosophy into perspective but as I had said before things will fall into place with constant practice. As long as the individual endures his or her training as was in ancient times he or she will adapt.
The one good thing is in Kumite. As applications, which are taken from the Kata are practiced the individual has a better perspective to follow. One reminder an individual should not be too anxious for quick results. Sometimes it is hard to explain Karate Do Kata. We will try to explain with a little history. In the year 1609 the Satsuma Clan ruled over the Ryukyu Islands.

In that year they had banned all weapons except for implements for farming. This ban included the wearing of any type of sword. Shusato Ojodai was one of the Satsuma Bugei who enforced this law.

So as not to loose this warrior spirit much the practice of Karate-Do went underground along with certain sects of Kobudo Ryu and these arts from that time forward where practiced in deep secret. In the dead of night the teacher in secret locations taught his pupils as life went on.


Part IV Continuation of the treatise on Shape or Form
The people who practiced secretly did so in the old cemeteries and vacant lots. There the instruction was given the area was associated with a quiet understanding which lent to the austere training these individuals underwent. People who did know about it didn’t bother these people whose gaze seemed dreadful to the owners of these vacant lots or properties. Even today the privacy in learning Karate in Okinawa is still there. Records and old literature show us this idea was to be kept alive at any cost. In times of distress this privacy led to smaller groups with more individualized training for example one on one.
To perfect the Kata the student had also to learn about the body, for example weak points, strong points. There was a need for students to perfect all aspects of this difficult art. Perfection couldn’t be explained it had to be learned. Again students sometimes needed to enquire outside the school to 'learn other facets of this art. This was done to perfect all aspects of skill and technique with the body.
In the middle of this long 300-year Satsuma oppression on the ban of all martial arts many speeches were given to the people to discontinue these studies. But by studying Karate Do they in a way oppressed the government.
History shows that the Satsuma Clan put great pressure upon the people. But it did not stop these groups who were intent  on learning this secret art.
When did Karate come out into the open and offered to the pubic? Karate's birthplace was on Okinawa. I believe that Karate was gradually filtered into the public eye when certain customs like dancing and music became popular. Investigation into the culture of literature shows that a gradual influx of Karate Do kept showing up in other forms of entertainment. But even then only superficial knowledge was given or shown. The main bulk was still kept secret by each family or group of individuals. This then lent to a more rigorous learning atmosphere.
In November of 1944 at the Ryukyu Daigaku or Ryukyu College Uchiyama Shoshige began teaching Karate as a part of the school curriculum.
The attempt made by this individuals made great strides. He was mentioned for his meritorious service in the Ryukyu Shi Jiten or Ryukyu History Dictionary. This article in the dictionary brought wide spread attention about the teaching of Karate in Public.
In December of 1944 teaching in schools of Karate Do was then brought to the attention of the news media for the first time. It seemed to start slow the popularity but it slowly built up after it caught on. With the study of Karate different individuals were given new insight to their lives, work, and family status. A new era was born in the privacy of the area where the clandestine teaching of Karate was taught and lot was written but nothing has ever been found at that time though a lot of explanation was not given. It was more of a do as I do situation. One than  then had to have a good grasp on what was being taught. One proceeded very slowly. One who didn’t pay attention or showed lack of ability was still worked with and afforded an opportunity to learn. But in today’s era it is not the same. From this I will probably receive criticism.
An explanation on Karate Do no Kata is one where there is no victory or defeat. It should be a give and take and learn relationship of learning from the offensive/defensive techniques taught. This is a gift rarely seen outside of Japan. It is from a viewpoint of politeness a thing of politeness to give and take or exchange information for learning purposes. For example in war times when military exercises are taking place then I think of victory or defeat.
This would be an instance where a martial warrior or martial artist met another he would lean forward to bow to greet another eyes meeting eyes. In actuality in modern day this is used as a gesture of politeness rather than mistrust of another’s intentions.
The way of Zanshin by in any form is a long hard path to follow. One has to leave defeat or victory behind and seek solace in perfecting his style. He must seek his own answers in the Kata.
Often pictures can help but a good teacher and perseverance will often accomplish this task. I personally believe this.

Karate no Kata does have a defensive side. It is designed to put down violent attacks, but again an attitude of the victory or defeat is self-defeating. It should not be connected to any offensive/defensive action. Once you Practice and complete a Kata you always want to move on to the next one. This is because I think there is something more to be learned. So why stop at just one? As each is different in turn so will the body be different as he practices completes and develops further. You should practice with a group and also practice separately. The main idea he though is to gain a peace of mind along with Zanshin by practicing you Kata.

Some Kata's are very long and complicated especially Kosho Kun's 4 steps Kata Chinto and Patsusai. In this series there are a variety of techniques between each of the two Kata and there appears to be action and non action, it would appear unreasonable in this series to not have a continuous flow from one movement to the other. To be able to explain each of the moves and relate to a technique is often very difficult. One should do on the whole to watch and do rather than to explain everything.
Why have such a variety of techniques when in action? This is obvious as the more techniques you have the better you may effectively counterattack and succeed. Originally the Kata were more designed to look unnatural in order to be able to step or get out of difficult situations. For example from the standpoint of the Shorin Ryu no Kata on occasions they appear very loose and unnatural, but the explanation is the same the Kata's were designed to be performed that way.
It is easier if you can break down in the Kata and use each technique in a defensive mode. This is done to see how each technique works, both individually and collectively in the Kata. I have to praise the predecessor’s original ideas on how the Kata should be dis­played. In the first chapter on posture and breathing these two may seem more understandable when put together as a whole.
During the long and complicated Kata's you have to pace yourself and watch your emotions so if you do not you will loose your concentration, which then leads to anger, loss of breath and eventually your downfall. Some of the elements of the Kata were possibly added for beauty sake. There should and artistic look at the beauty of the Kata.
Then in Chapter II they say the original idea if the Kata was for military purposes and that it is returning to that type of ideology, who knows...
Part V Continuation of the Treatise on Kata Shape or FORM
According to the Shurishi Hakushi Ryuha a Kata from beginning to end should appear to be strong and fluid. This is a most important point to remember. Visualization of an opponent will help develop the look of a strong Kata. This can be seen also if one is to look at a Ryukiyu Koten Ma(i) Odor(i) or an old classical Okinawan dance. The same strong look can be portrayed by Kosuhara Anshi, Koyowaga Ryoho, Kobiri Ansho, and congratulations to all of you who are still active dancers. One can still meet these skilled dancers and see the comparison of Kata versus Classical Dance. Back on ancient times up to the present the people involved and interested have kept the classical dance alive.
Even though Classical Dance & Karate are not the same they do share similar qualitative, i.e., gaze, hand and feet positions, and both portray something of beauty. To a point there is commonness but beyond that there is nothing. Let us take a look at a scientific theory from beginning to end, which will add substance as to the actual validity of Kata.
Let’s look at the Kata as a whole from beginning to end and concentrate on "Balance". Without a balance scheme of some sort nothing will work properly.
For example a good exercise for balance is from a standing position turn right 90 degrees take 3 steps, turn left 90 degrees take 3 steps, then pivot 180 degrees to the rear take 3 steps, then pivot 180 degrees to the front and take 3 more steps. After practicing this exercise you will see the practicality of it after awhile. Always practice right left front and back. This way you achieve a good balance factor.

In Budo there is an important need for the establishing of the proper basics, which will eventually lead to the build up of physical strength. Let us return a bit to the second chapter and look at some secondary results from learning good basics in Kata.

Through the Kata or a series of movements, which display offensive/defensive actions, there is a complex connection here between Bogyo (Defense) and Kogeki (Attacking). The connection between the two lies in Zanshin. Even when in a good Kamae there should be Zanshin. In attacking or defending there should be always Zanshin. One must be able to see clearly in order to understand Kata properly.
Some of the explanations of Kata are new but the way Kata is defined as a model this idea should already be understood. The basics have to stay the same. The traditions have to stay the same. If they were not they would not have never come this far and to study Kata leads to other areas i.e., self-confidence and personnel growth. In fact to think and practice the Kata as it was done in ancient times and supplement it with Jiyu-Kumite is very good. To condition this way also leads to building a stronger more defined character. By the studying Kata the old way you see your mistakes better and less explanation would be needed. Now the idea is to write down your mistakes and practice on your weak areas to develop your Kata to a higher level.

Below is a list of postures, which are of significant importance in leaning Kata.

1. Suiraken no Kamae (Itsu—Chiya Ichi Dei) Drunken Posture

Patsu Sai Golli yon Ho ni mirareru

2. Ryu no shita no Kamae (Ruichi nutsu Taichi)

Dragon Tongue Posture

Kosho-Kun ni mirareru
3. Sagarl no Kamae Sagui Dei

Low posture

Patsu sai ni mirareru
4. Buddha Gamae Fuiuki ga meichi)

Buddha posture

Patsu sai Heian Go Dan ni mirareru
5. Tenshin no Kamae (Doukinaya Ichi)

Changing posture

9  

Hiean Go Dan ni mirareru.

6. Uchi Gamae (Urasa meichi)

Jusatsu-Fu ni mirareru

The last item one should address is in the proper breathing pat terns in the Kata. We do this through Kokyu Ho. When defending oneself one should be emitting the breath from the "Hara" or Seika Tanden. You should breathe in through the nose and pushing down to the Hara. This is the proper way to breath. Even when you are not in combat we should practice a form of Kokyu Ho, even when you are just walking  around. To have practiced this breathing method is one of the mainstays of this style to enables one to defend oneself without getting winded or tired. So you must thoroughly understand the breathing formula and its basics in order to make this system work.
Again, to continue with the defense from the Kata aspect, if a continuation of an attack is inevitable or unavoidable you should regulate you’re breathing patterns accordingly. Often times during an attack or in a combat situation one may for get to breathe properly. This causes loss of breath and or breathlessness.
That is why it is stressed that one should practice breathing all the time especially during exercise workouts, Kata practice, and or during sparring drills. Eventually you build up your stamina for more possible long engagements and are able to survive.
To relate to the above the explanation of Enbu no Kyokyu-Ho military exercise breathing patterns. These are the ones employed by the Shorin Ryu Karate Do system.
I believe that there is a new meaning to the word Kata through proper implementation of a correct breathing system.
So now that an individual has gone this far he is ready top meet an opponent for training purposes because he has the advantage of a proper attitude. This is a very useful tool. This is something that must be in order before an individual can develop further. Through the basic techniques you will be able to be independent in any action you take. Of course a person’s degree of skill depends on his understanding and ability to apply the basics.
The change when put to the limits of ones ability and the way a person handles himself would be important especially in combat as this is also very important to remember. Again one would have to look at the different backgrounds of an individual to know if' he will succeed or not. To do the Kata correctly all one has to do is have the desire to learn. In the future the Kata will become an intangible cultural asset. IT' all is left behind all there will 'be is a. Cultural barrier. The desire to learn this precious knowledge can be done anywhere.

In this text the material that was taken from the ancient books are invaluable assets like the term Kata and Katachi. I myself would like to state that is the interest of learning. In the words Kata and form there comes a sense of security. In this we see a trans­formation in the individual who understands and demonstrates the two terms. One finds stability in Kata. In Budo there is pride. Something to be proud of is have had instruction in Karate knowing that when one is attacked an auto­ reflex action takes over. The image one emulates is seen here through Katachi.

This is a state or to look at carefully. Two other terms to look at would be Tehon or (model) or Mohan (Imitation of a model). From this one has to look at the substance or the truth, or be able to separate fact from fiction. That is why it is important that teachers guide you and point out your idiosyncrasies and to tell a student if he is modeling or imitating a model. Use Kata as a guide. In short the correct course one takes from Karate Do no Kata should actually be a transformation from Katachi to Kata. To expand out of Katachi and into form or Kata is okay and I believe the correct way to develop. This then paves the way for the correct way to learn Kata. This then will be models for your next art should you choose so. One must evolve this way or your path toward peace and harmony will be for naught. Again in present times the transformation into Kata is actual proof one has discovered the way to the truth.
Tamae Hakurocho

Sente no Karate Do

Kigen Shinto yori
Narai o Hanarete Narai taga wazu

The Problems with Customs and Habits

As we practice the Martial Arts we seem to have developed certain habits either good or bad. But when we practice in another society it would be hoped that this person would adopt habits Favorable to the customs of that particular area. Sometimes we say we are doing something

of habit, but in our mind something seems to have been for­ good out gotten and we revert to our old ways. This could be very detrimental to the individual. As one practices the Martial Arts it shows that good habits are formed. This way is still used and results in the freedom of technique usage.

Often in our mind we have spirits, which want to develop bad habits. But as we grow and develop the good habits these tend to override the bad ones. We often desire things, which are out of our grasp. Again when we seek to not want the desire goes away. Often times we become lost but through practice we eventually find our way pack or, the right path.

These arts lie are Studying will lead to higher levels of advancements. But the mind must be made to work in conjunction with the body and the spirit. This is the path we seek to follow. As we arrive at the rank of Shodan in any art we are entering into an era of learning again. This then leads to the development of more refined habits.

Ryusei Shinkage Ryu

Ryusei Tanba Shuso Kutsu

Heiho Kaden