Welcome to the Budo Business Blog. I have created this blog in an effort to write about the concepts of Japanese Swordsmanship and how they relate to our daily lives. I will also be adding articles about individual aspects of Kendo and Iaido. Your comments and feedback are always welcome. I hope that you stay tuned to my blog and enjoy the entries. Thank you, Frank Nieves
Fear, doubt, surprise, and confusion are concepts considered by the great masters of Budo to be the four sicknesses of the killing arts developed by the beginners and intermediate level practitioners of the art, and at times amongst those of the highest ranks. Once one starts to understand the basic concepts of the Budo arts these sicknesses begin to manifest themselves by means of fear in applying these proven Budo concepts in daily life afraid of their true functionality, doubt in oneself and their abilities to apply these concepts of Budo, surprise of the capabilities of these teachings, and confusion caused by the outcome the teachings. When made in reference to the art of Japanese swordsmanship these four sicknesses have the ability of hindering a swordsman’s capability of achieving victory over an opponent in a definitive manner. Upon further analysis we will discover how each one of these sicknesses will disable one’s ability to succeed and how these sicknesses run hand in hand.
Fear
Fear is perhaps the most common of the four sicknesses. Fear of an opponent or of the capabilities one possesses to confront a life situation demonstrates lack of preparation and/ or confidence in ones abilities, ultimately leading to defeat of one’s own mind and body. To overcome this fear one must sacrifice them self in training and preparation in order to develop a strong state of mind and body in turn allowing them the confidence to overcome this fear and conquer their goal.
Doubt
Where fear may act in times leading to the conflict, doubt lingers in the mind at the moment of conflict. Doubt in life, just as in swordsmanship, can have the potential of making one falter in times of attempting or finalizing the finishing blow, resulting in catastrophic results. Doubt, just like fear can be brought upon oneself through the lack of preparation and the inexperience of practical application. If the principles of Budo are closely adhered to, one will start to discover that these concepts are truly effective and must, at times, place trust in the hands of its philosophies in order to become successful. One must always remember that the teachings of Budo have existed for hundreds of years and proven time and time again. It is for this reason that it is still in practice today in modern day life by many, each time providing a successful way of life to its practitioners.
Surprise
In swordsmanship, the sickness of surprise is that of not being fully focused and being caught off guard by the opponent. At times this element can lead to fear and doubt simply by venturing into the unknown and finding the unexpected. Through the teachings of Budo we can overcome this concept of surprise by adhering to the basics and not straying into what is unknown, but only into what is heavily researched and examined, where the outcome as well as its possibilities of becoming reality is known. By doing so, one can avoid this element of surprise in whole and only venture into what is known, in the long run proving beneficial to oneself in being victorious over one’s goal or opponent.
Confusion
Confusion is derived from the culmination of fear, doubt, and surprise. In Budo, when a state of confusion enters the mind and body, the outcome is guaranteed defeat of oneself. It is for this reason that the teachings of Budo demonstrates to its pupils the way of evading confusion by showing the proven basics of life. Starting with discipline, cleanliness, and unselfishness, then transcending into the more complex of philosophies as that of Sutemi and Enzan No Metsuke. Once concepts such as these are understood and well thought out, following a logical mindset, in their true meaning can one avoid such sicknesses as confusion.
As examined in the latter, the studies of Budo possess the power of teaching its practitioners the way of conquering its sicknesses of fear, doubt, surprise, and confusion, as well as showing them the way to a long and healthy mental state of mind through the teachings of what may appear to be common sense, but when further reviewed, much more challenging and complex to fore fill in physical daily life. It is through this constant struggle with oneself that one will be able to improve them self and in turn improve society around them.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
San Satsu no Ho
San Satsu no Ho (also referred to a San- Sappo) is composed of three vital components that compose an attack which can be utilized individually or as a whole. These three elements are as follows: Ki o korosu (Killing the spirit), Ken o korosu (Killing the sword), and Waza o korosu (Killing the technique). Each one consists of a unique characteristic that focuses on a particular aspect of the opponent, while with each phase placing the opponent gruelingly closer to defeat with each step they encounter. This procedure is the result of trial and error, tested with the lives of brave men over the centuries of Japan’s warring history.
Ki o korosu
Once one has come to the understanding of one’s own spirit, one can start the process of understanding that of the opponent’s and begin to engage in the process of what is called Ki o korosu, killing the spirit. Such is fact, not just in hand to hand combat, but in encounters throughout life as well. The concept of Ki o korosu teaches the daily practitioner of the Budo way of life that confronting your opponent’s spirit, while understanding it and decoding its true underlying feelings and messages, will allow the practitioner to crush that of his opponents with their own, leaving the enemy with one less line of vital defense, while aiding in the process of solidifying victory, if not already conquered, by that of the pupil’s spirit. Therefore, it is of the essence for one to develop their own mind and spirit through such concepts as sutemi, Ki Ken Tai Ichi, and those that encompass the basics, in order to master this skill and avoid it overwhelming oneself in life and combat.
Ken o korosu
Ken o korosu, killing the sword, is the next phase in disabling one’s opponent. The focus in this process is to control the opponent’s sword, or in the case of modern day life- the vehicle used to threaten one’s existence or ability, by using a series of blocks and parries to defeat the opponent’s blade. This tactic will result in the overwhelming of the opponent to the point that ne or she will no longer have the ability to return the sword to an on guard position before the definitive final blow is delivered by that of the efficient Budo practitioner’s. In order to achieve perfection in Ken o korosu one must strive for a clear understanding and manipulation of their own device before attempting to overcome those of their adversary’s, just as being knowledge of one’s own spirit in order to have the ability to defeat their opponent is paramount for success in attempting Ki o korosu.
Waza o korosu
The final element completing San Satsu no Ho is known as Waza o korosu, killing the technique. This element is considered by many to be the most challenging of the three elements that compose San Satsu no Ho, requiring that the practitioner predict or anticipate his or her opponent’s next step and intercept it, allowing the adversary no opportunity to attack. In order to follow through with this task, one must first posses self confidence, followed by a clear understanding of his or her weapon of choice, and finally must attain sufficient experience through vigorous training to accomplish the capability to interpret the most minute intricate details that compose the beginnings of his or her opponent’s attack in order to allow sufficient time to launch an efficient counterattack of one’s own. When Waza o korosu is applied to daily life, one must maintain a clear mind and posture for the purpose of being able to look beyond the present and dominate the ability to foresee what is to come, and be capable of preparing or counterattacking in a positive manner.
In conclusion, after venturing into greater detail of San Satsu no Ho, one can start to realize that one must undergo the complex training that teaches to develop one’s own spirit, sword, and technique, before one can begin to apply these effective elements of attack, in order to be able to avoid one’s own destruction through these same means used by the opponent. Although generally applied to swordsmanship, one can start to see how, if directed to life and it’s never ending threatening situations, one will find themselves in better standing and confidence with these proven teachings, versus the apprehensive feeling of one not comprehending where and how to begin or avoid a life altering confrontation.
Ki o korosu
Once one has come to the understanding of one’s own spirit, one can start the process of understanding that of the opponent’s and begin to engage in the process of what is called Ki o korosu, killing the spirit. Such is fact, not just in hand to hand combat, but in encounters throughout life as well. The concept of Ki o korosu teaches the daily practitioner of the Budo way of life that confronting your opponent’s spirit, while understanding it and decoding its true underlying feelings and messages, will allow the practitioner to crush that of his opponents with their own, leaving the enemy with one less line of vital defense, while aiding in the process of solidifying victory, if not already conquered, by that of the pupil’s spirit. Therefore, it is of the essence for one to develop their own mind and spirit through such concepts as sutemi, Ki Ken Tai Ichi, and those that encompass the basics, in order to master this skill and avoid it overwhelming oneself in life and combat.
Ken o korosu
Ken o korosu, killing the sword, is the next phase in disabling one’s opponent. The focus in this process is to control the opponent’s sword, or in the case of modern day life- the vehicle used to threaten one’s existence or ability, by using a series of blocks and parries to defeat the opponent’s blade. This tactic will result in the overwhelming of the opponent to the point that ne or she will no longer have the ability to return the sword to an on guard position before the definitive final blow is delivered by that of the efficient Budo practitioner’s. In order to achieve perfection in Ken o korosu one must strive for a clear understanding and manipulation of their own device before attempting to overcome those of their adversary’s, just as being knowledge of one’s own spirit in order to have the ability to defeat their opponent is paramount for success in attempting Ki o korosu.
Waza o korosu
The final element completing San Satsu no Ho is known as Waza o korosu, killing the technique. This element is considered by many to be the most challenging of the three elements that compose San Satsu no Ho, requiring that the practitioner predict or anticipate his or her opponent’s next step and intercept it, allowing the adversary no opportunity to attack. In order to follow through with this task, one must first posses self confidence, followed by a clear understanding of his or her weapon of choice, and finally must attain sufficient experience through vigorous training to accomplish the capability to interpret the most minute intricate details that compose the beginnings of his or her opponent’s attack in order to allow sufficient time to launch an efficient counterattack of one’s own. When Waza o korosu is applied to daily life, one must maintain a clear mind and posture for the purpose of being able to look beyond the present and dominate the ability to foresee what is to come, and be capable of preparing or counterattacking in a positive manner.
In conclusion, after venturing into greater detail of San Satsu no Ho, one can start to realize that one must undergo the complex training that teaches to develop one’s own spirit, sword, and technique, before one can begin to apply these effective elements of attack, in order to be able to avoid one’s own destruction through these same means used by the opponent. Although generally applied to swordsmanship, one can start to see how, if directed to life and it’s never ending threatening situations, one will find themselves in better standing and confidence with these proven teachings, versus the apprehensive feeling of one not comprehending where and how to begin or avoid a life altering confrontation.
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