"Understanding Karate"

Mental Aspects

YAGYU TAJIMANOKAMI MUNEMORI, the hand-picked sword (ken) instructor for Shogun Tokunaga once said, "You are said to have mastered the art when your technique works through your body and limbs as if independent of your conscious mind" (from the Treatise on Swordmanship).

In order to become a master of martial arts, mere technical knowledge is insufficient. One must seek deeply into one's inner spirit and attain the state of mind known as "MUSHIN," (which literally is defined as no-mind, but does not mean absent-minded). Training in any of the martial arts can be successful when the person has absorbed the techniques to the point where it is so much a part of him or her that using the techniques is purely intuitive: alert, but relaxed and fearless, with no preconceived thought of the outcome.

This does not mean just to be without thought, feeling, and ideas when you face an opponent. It means letting your natural abilities set in a conscienceness free from thoughts, reflections, or possible affections of any kind. This state of mind is known as a state of egoless mentality (MUGA NO SHINKYO or non-atman) in which you are empty of egotistic thoughts and unconscious of your own attainments. The reflection of the moon on the water is symbolic of this state. Neither the moon nor the water has any preconceived idea of creating an incident, designated by us as: "the moon in the water" (or MIZU NO KOKORO or "mind of water"). The water reflects accurately within its range, just as an undisturbed mind can apprehend all of an opponent's physical and psychological movements and respond accordingly.

Training in technical exercise and understanding of martial arts' principles follow parallel lines when complete understanding cannot be transmitted externally, but must respond from within. Historically, it is said that the chief exponents of swordsmanship desired to utilize the training of their art as a means to develop their spiritual attainment and character. These same goals are also the ultimate goals of KARATE-DO.