Martial Arts – Ultimate Purpose

There are many motivations for people to engage in martial arts practice, including: sporting competition, self defense, physical conditioning, stress reduction, self discipline, confidence building and self esteem. These are all legitimate motivations. In one way or another dedicated martial practice can help to fulfill one or several of these worldly concerns.

As longer-term practitioners we believe that the ultimate purpose of the art is far beyond these conventional goals.  In Iaido, “iai” refers to drawing the sword and “do” means “way” – in the Buddhist or Taoist  sense of an internal path of action that leads to higher mental realization – in this case "the way of the sword". Similarly the term for training hall “Dojo” means “place of the way”.

In any martial art the ultimate purpose is to train the mind and to unlock the deeper capabilities and resources of the human character. The sword plays a critical role in this process – as such its importance is perhaps beyond mere written discussion.

We selected the name “Zanshin” because of the deep meaning that this simple term has taken on for us on over the years. Zanshin is simply translated as “abiding mind”. For the new student Zanshin represents a state of readiness and the difficult process of maintaining the mind on the practice. Zanshin is associated by some with the feeling of elation developed in relation to a series of well executed techniques.

The deeper meaning of Zanshin goes considerably beyond this. Zanshin is not a conventional state of mind that is merely alert to attack or proper technique.  Zanshin is a return to a fundamental state of mind that is unaffected by conceptual thought, and that is undistracted by external movement. It is a mind that is simply resting in its natural state of cognitive clarity and mere knowing - in this actual moment. – free from concern for the immediate future or anxiety about the past.

 The “abiding mind” is ready to effortlessly engage with its next object correctly without any form of anticipation, prejudgment or bias.  It is a mind that is indestructible because it cannot be deceived and cannot be distracted.  Emotions of fear, hatred or anger cannot arise.  It is mind that cannot lag behind because it does not “stop” - it cannot be conceptually arrested by any perception. Zanshin is the mind that merely cognizes and effortlessly reacts correctly while never losing its fluid awareness.  It is a mind that is undefeatable – because it is unaffected by the desire to of win or fear of loss. It is not mere elation because it is unemotional with regard to its own state of vibrant awareness and effortless readiness.

Zanshin is the mind that bridges the gap between the highly focused mind engaged with the conventional world and the deeper levels of mind that can only be accessed through seated meditative practice. The ability to generate this mind is of both conventional and ultimate importance.

In a completely related way, we have selected the vajra tsuba as the symbol of our company. Vajra means diamond or thunderbolt scepter and has deep meaning in the Esoteric and Zen forms of Buddhism. The clarity of a diamond is representative of the flawless clarity of mind unaffected by conceptual elaboration and delusion. As the hardest material substance the diamond represents the indestructibility of the mind in its primordial state. The thunderbolt represents the minds momentary, spontaneous nature and irresistible force.

According to Zen thought, the two paths that must be traversed to reach enlightenment are “wisdom” and “method”. The wisdom referred to here is the direct experience of the nature and functional basis of reality itself - its “means of abiding”. This knowledge acts as the explosive antidote to the ignorance that keeps beings trapped in cyclical existence. In this sense, Wisdom is that which must be penetrated.

The method path is composed of the processes and practices that must be employed in order to gain a direct experience of Wisdom. The vajra is the supreme symbol of the method path. Thus the vajra is often carved into the sword blade itself – representing the path of sword training, the “life giving sword” and the “sword that cuts through ignorance and delusion”. Method is that which penetrates – that which cuts through.

To make progress on either path requires extreme discipline and flawless mental focus. Whether or not you believe that enlightenment is possible and swordsmanship can play a role in that process, there is no question that martial practice sharpens the mind and can develop discipline, patience, perseverance and character. This in turn makes us better at what we do and how we engage with the world. Through Iaido we can develop more patience, more compassion and greater ability to be of benefit to others.

The sword is the principal tool of training – deeply linked with the mind of the practitioner. We are humbled and pleased to be associated with the making of such an object.

Dedication:
We dedicate this website and our efforts to all of our teachers both living and dead – may we live up to their efforts.

 ** The practice of Iaido is couched in far-eastern philosophical terms and it is not our intention to proselytize for a particular religion, faith or philosophical system or to exclude those who do not adhere to these systems and beliefs.  Similarly we are not seeking an opportunity to engage in debate with regard to these issues.  Finally, we do not claim to have personally attained the realizations under discussion  – we are just students.