Active Meditation, or "Centering": A Breakdown of Applied Zen in Combat

One of the greatest breakthroughs any martial artist will achieve happens when he/ she finally reaches a state of true Zen in the arts. Suddenly, as if someone threw a switch, forms are executed without any thought... Energy exchanges transferred during sparring flow like water, and you suddenly feel as if you have progressed exponentially, overnight. Without understanding where this is coming from, however, expect this revelation to be fleeting and intermittent; dependent primarily on your temporary state of mind or mood. Usually it is simply achieved by familiarity, conditioning, and repetition, repetition, repetition.

As a practitioner and student of the arts for over 35 years, I can tell you it is important enough to pay close attention to identifying it, and cultivating a strong, applied understanding of this pivotal state of mind, as it is the crux of all properly executed technique, as well as higher level understanding of the martial arts in general. In order to achieve this state, and start your journey down a long road of uninhibited technique, realized potential, and inner sanctum, it is first necessary to understand the true nature of Zen, and how it ties into everything else.

Active Meditation, or Centering:

During combat, or at rest, distracting waves of anxiety or other forms of mad mind racing can easily be eliminated by simply and consciously reducing all thought patterns to the "instinctive" level; fully aware, but void of intent, thereby eliminating consciousness of self, and with it any distracting tendencies towards over-analyzation one might possess, while heightening extra-sensory perception as well as overall awareness, thus lowering reaction time and creating an environment conducive to the exchange of energy. True focus also comes from this state; asserted , but not intended. If the act of focusing is reflected on by the mind conscious of self, this produces "concentration," which is not the same thing, and is, more often than not, counter-productive. This instinctive state is referred to by the Japanese as "Mushin No Shin," or, "Mind of No Mind."

It is essential to keep this center while moving, but without continued conscious practice, expect to have to "re-center" and "re-center" often as you become aware of old patterns of thought taking over. Eventually, even just being centered becomes instinctive. This is not absence of thought, but simply absence of consciousness of thought. (Thinking about thinking is a mental trap much like two mirrors facing each other...) FEEL. Identify and accept the flow of your opponent's energy, and engage it. Accept all surrounding energy and pull it to your center. The result will be that this center then becomes the center of your universe, quite literally. (This is possible because an infinite circle also has infinite centers...). This is the true balance; true calmness, even in the face of terrible adversity. It has nothing to do with courage, or showing no fear... even courage is an attachment. It is simply a matter of staying centered in the face of any opponent with absolutely no thought given to the possible outcome. This center, when rooted though the energy of the earth, manifests the immovable axis around which all hostility must travel.

©2010 Steven G. Curry, All Rights Reserved

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