Kendo Thoughts & Insight

In practicing keiko with a superior opponent, one that defeats you every single time, it is useful to allow your opponent to strike for a short time in the match. We are programed to press an attack without thinking against all comers, this does not allow any room for observing (first hand) the opponents natural preferences for attacking.  Without being obvious or him noticing, allow your opponent to strike you while you attack in your normal way. Carefully watch, observe your opponents distance, timing and movements, as well as your own, keeping track of possible openings. Chances are he will attack you in the same way every time. Make a careful mental note of when and how you are defeated. After the match, and after practice assess your observations of your opponent, changing your strategy and attacking methods for that opponent. It may take sometime to discover how to defeat the superior opponent but you will win on another day.

I have often been puzzled by the seemingly contradiction of trying to rid oneself of the desire to win in order to obtain mushin, and how do you win without the intense desire to win? Mushin and Fudoshin are both a Buddhist, Zen tradition. The most famous zen master was the priest Takuan Soho, notable for his great wisdom and his famous followers. Takuan states in his writings that “without desire, nothing can be achieved” and “If you act on the basis of the unwavering right-mind, the energy of desire is transformed into the right energy. It is no longer called desire, it is named gi. GI is virtue.” gi means duty. Takuan goes on to say “If you shun desire and become like a rock or a piece of wood you can do nothing. With the help of the energy of desire one can transform desire (yoku) into no desire (mu-yoku). This is the true way.” Takuan’s words explain the samurai notion of the desire to win based on gi and not on greed or selfishness (material riches, or fame).