Canadian Matsubayashi Ryu Karate Association

Preserving the Way
Exploring the history, philosophy, traditions, and people that continue to shape our karate.

Takuan Sōhō: The Mind That Doesn't Stay in One Place

One of the ideas that comes up again and again in Takuan Sōhō's writing is the importance of keeping the mind moving.
That might sound a little strange at first.

We usually think of concentration as the ability to focus on one thing and ignore everything else. And certainly, there's value in that. When we're practicing a kata, learning a new technique, or working with a partner, we need to be able to pay attention.
But Takuan was interested in what happens when concentration becomes fixation.

There's a difference between paying attention to something and becoming completely absorbed by it.

In The Unfettered Mind, Takuan describes a mind that moves freely. It doesn't settle permanently on the opponent's sword, or on a particular technique, or even on the thought of winning. It remains available to whatever happens next.

I think there's an interesting parallel in karate.
When we first learn a kata, we're often thinking about everything. Where are my feet? What comes next? Is my stance right? Did I turn far enough? Am I breathing?

Eventually, with enough practice, some of those things become automatic. We're no longer consciously thinking about every individual movement.

And that's when something interesting starts to happen.
We can begin to see the kata as a whole.

The same thing can happen in kumite. If we're completely locked onto one particular attack, we may not notice the opening that appears somewhere else. If we're too concerned about what our partner is supposed to do, we may miss what they're actually doing.

The challenge isn't to stop concentrating.
It's to learn how to concentrate without becoming trapped by whatever we're concentrating on.

I think that's one of the reasons I enjoy coming back to these old writings. The language and the examples may come from a completely different time, but the experience they're describing still feels surprisingly familiar.
About learning to concentrate without becoming trapped by whatever we're focusing on
We're still learning how to pay attention.
We're still learning how to let go.
And we're still learning how to respond to what's actually in front of us.

If you've enjoyed this week's Preserving the Way, please consider sharing it with someone who might enjoy exploring the ideas and people behind the martial arts.

Reflections from the Dojo – Learn to Listen

When we hear the word "listen," we usually think about using our ears.

In karate, we also learn to listen with our eyes, our hands, and our body.

Good partner training isn't just about performing techniques. It's about paying attention.

Can you feel when your partner is off balance? Can you recognize when they're unsure of a movement? Are you aware when you need to slow down so both of you can learn more effectively?

Some of the best lessons in karate aren't spoken at all. They come through movement, timing, and shared experience.

After many years of training, I still find that every training partner has something to teach me. Sometimes it's a technical detail I hadn't noticed. Sometimes it's simply a reminder to be patient or to approach a familiar technique with fresh eyes.

If we stay curious, every class becomes an opportunity to learn.
That's one of the things I love most about karate. No matter how long we train, there is always something new waiting to be discovered.

Share this with a fellow karateka. Learning together makes us stronger.

Preserving the Way
Exploring the history, philosophy, traditions, and people that continue to shape our karate.

One of the things I found most interesting while reading Takuan Sōhō's The Unfettered Mind is that he wasn't really talking about becoming some sort of superhuman martial artist. His concern was much more ordinary—and, in some ways, much more difficult.

He was interested in what happens to our minds when we become too attached to something.
Takuan wrote about this in the context of swordsmanship. A swordsman might become so focused on his opponent's sword that he stops seeing the opponent. Or he might become preoccupied with winning, with avoiding a particular mistake, or with trying to remember exactly what he has been taught.

The mind becomes "stuck."

I kept thinking about that idea while reading the book because I think most of us have experienced a version of it, even if we've never held a sword.
It happens in karate, too.

Sometimes we're so busy worrying about getting a technique right that we forget to actually feel what we're doing. Or we're thinking about the last mistake we made while our Sensei is already explaining the next one. In kumite, we can become so focused on one thing—perhaps a particular attack or an opponent's hands—that we miss something happening right in front of us.
Takuan's answer isn't to stop thinking. It's to stop clinging to one thought.

That distinction really stuck with me.
The more I read, the more I began to see why The Unfettered Mind has continued to interest martial artists for so many generations. It isn't really about becoming fearless or perfectly calm. It's about learning to keep your attention available—to notice what is happening and respond to it, rather than becoming trapped by what just happened a moment ago.
That's a pretty useful idea to take into the dojo.
And, honestly, probably into the rest of life as well.

If you've enjoyed this week's Preserving the Way, please consider sharing it with someone who might enjoy exploring the ideas and people behind the martial arts.

Reflections from the Dojo – Learn to Adapt

One of the great things about training with different partners is that no two people are exactly alike.

Some are taller. Some are quicker. Some have years of experience, while others are just beginning their journey.
That's one of the reasons partner training is so valuable. It teaches us to adapt.

If we expect every technique to work exactly the same way with every person, we'll quickly become frustrated. Instead, we learn to make small adjustments. We change our distance, our timing, or the amount of energy we use.

Those adjustments are not weaknesses. They are signs that we're paying attention.

The same idea applies outside the dojo. Life rarely unfolds exactly the way we expect. Being able to stay calm and adjust without becoming frustrated is a skill that serves us well wherever we are.

Karate teaches us to be steady, but not rigid. Strong, but not stubborn.

Like many lessons in karate, adaptability grows one class at a time.

Karate is not learned alone. Share this with others. Growth in understanding strengthens the entire dojo.

Preserving the Way
Exploring the history, philosophy, traditions, and people that continue to shape our karate.
— Takuan Sōhō: Training the Mind

When we think about the great figures who have influenced martial arts, names like Miyamoto Musashi or the masters of Okinawan karate often come to mind. But some of the most important ideas about martial arts came from people who were not martial artists themselves.

One of those people was Takuan Sōhō (1573–1645).
Takuan was a Japanese Rinzai Zen monk, but he was also a writer, calligrapher, poet, gardener, and influential thinker. He lived during a period of enormous change in Japan and became known for his connections with important figures of his time, including the swordsman Yagyū Munenori.

Takuan's writings on the mind and swordsmanship eventually became known to many readers through The Unfettered Mind, a collection of writings exploring how the mind can remain clear and responsive—even in moments of great pressure.

Although Takuan never taught karate, his ideas have found a natural home in martial arts discussions for generations.

And perhaps that's because the central question he explored is one every martial artist eventually encounters:
How do we keep the mind from getting in our own way?
In karate, we spend years learning how to move. We practice stances, strikes, blocks, and kata until our bodies become more capable and our movements more natural. But alongside physical training is another kind of practice—the training of attention, awareness, and composure.

That is where Takuan's ideas become interesting.
Over the next several weeks, we'll explore some of the ideas found in The Unfettered Mind and consider what they might teach us about karate—and about the way we approach challenges beyond the dojo.

Because ultimately, the martial arts have always been about more than learning how to fight.

They are also about learning how to think, respond, and live.

If you enjoy learning about the people and ideas that have shaped the martial arts, please consider sharing this post with someone who might enjoy exploring the Way with us.

Reflections from the Dojo – Don't Chase the Technique

Have you ever noticed that the harder you try to force a technique, the less natural it feels?

I still catch myself doing this from time to time. When something isn't working quite right, my first instinct is sometimes to try harder. More effort. More speed. More power.

More often than not, that's exactly the wrong answer.

Good karate usually isn't forced. It develops through good timing, good positioning, and relaxed movement. Sometimes the best adjustment isn't adding more effort. It's removing what doesn't need to be there.

The same is true in partner training. If you're constantly reaching for your partner or trying to make a technique happen, you're probably working harder than necessary.

Be patient. Let the movement develop. Trust your fundamentals.
Karate has a way of teaching us that timing often matters more than strength.

This week, instead of asking yourself, "How can I do more?" try asking, "How can I do this better?"

Sometimes less really is more.

Please consider sharing this with classmates or students. When we learn and reflect together, we all improve.

Carrying the Teachings Forward

Over the past several weeks, we have explored a handwritten note from Chotoku Omine Sensei and reflected on the lessons it contains: dedication, self-reflection, concentration, patience, and gratitude.

Individually, each teaching offers something valuable. Together, they provide a glimpse into the mindset that helped shape traditional Okinawan karate.

What makes these lessons particularly meaningful is that they were not simply ideas discussed in the Dojo. They were principles lived through daily practice. Omine Sensei devoted his life to preserving and sharing the teachings he received from Grandmaster Shoshin Nagamine. Through his efforts, Matsubayashi-ryu took root in North America and continues to influence students and instructors generations later.

The responsibility of preserving that tradition now belongs to all of us.

This does not mean copying the past exactly as it was. Rather, it means carrying forward the values that gave the art its strength: humility, respect, perseverance, sincerity, and a commitment to continuous learning.

Every time we step onto the dojo floor, we become part of that story.

The techniques we practice are important, but so too are the attitudes we bring with us. Over time, those attitudes shape our training, our character, and the example we set for others.
The teachings of Omine Sensei remind us that karate is not simply something we do. It is something we strive to live.

And perhaps that is the true meaning of preserving the Way.

If this historical note resonated with you, please consider sharing it with a fellow martial artist, student, or friend. Preserving these teachings begins by passing them on.

Reflections from the Dojo – Slow Down to See More

Sometimes the best thing you can do for your karate is slow down.

When we're learning a new technique, there's a natural tendency to speed things up. We want it to look smooth, powerful, and confident. But when we move too quickly, we often miss the very things we're trying to improve.

This week, try slowing your training down just a little. Not because slow is better, but because slow gives you the chance to notice things you might otherwise miss.

Can you feel your balance as you move? Is your posture staying strong? Are your shoulders relaxed? Are your hips leading the technique, or are your arms doing all the work?

Moving slowly gives your body time to learn.

One of the interesting things about karate is that slowing down often helps you become faster later. When your movement is efficient, speed develops naturally.

There is no prize for being the fastest person in the dojo while you're still learning. Take your time. Build good habits first, and speed will come.

Sometimes slowing down is the quickest way to improve.

If you found this helpful, please share it with a fellow student or training partner. Learning together helps all of us grow in karate dō.

Gratitude and No Complaints

In another section of his handwritten notes, Omine Sensei wrote about giving thanks throughout the day and avoiding complaints.
At first, this may seem like a simple lesson in manners. Yet it points toward something much deeper.

Gratitude changes how we see our circumstances. Instead of focusing on what is missing, we begin to recognize what is already present. The opportunity to train, the guidance of our instructors, the support of training partners, and even the challenges that help us improve all become things worthy of appreciation.

Complaints, on the other hand, tend to keep our attention fixed on obstacles. While difficulties are a natural part of life, dwelling on them rarely moves us forward.

Traditional Okinawan karate developed during times that were often far more difficult than our own. The teachers who carried these traditions forward learned to value perseverance, humility, and appreciation for the opportunities they were given.
Following Omine Sensei's passing in 1975, Susan Budge worked tirelessly to preserve the dojo and continue sharing the teachings he had dedicated his life to passing on. Her efforts remind us that gratitude is often expressed through action and commitment.
In training, gratitude can be as simple as arriving with a willingness to learn. It can be found in the relationships we build, the lessons we receive, and the chance to begin again at the next class.

A grateful mindset does not eliminate challenges, but it often changes how we meet them.

If this historical note resonated with you, please consider sharing it with a fellow martial artist, student, or friend. Preserving these teachings begins by passing them on.

Weekly Training Tip
Keep Your Mind Steady

As the summer progresses and training becomes more demanding, it is easy to focus only on the physical side of practice.

But karate has always been about more than physical ability.
A steady mind helps us stay patient when techniques aren't working. It helps us remain respectful when frustrations arise. It helps us continue training when progress feels slow.

This week, take a moment before class to settle your thoughts. Leave behind the distractions of the day and focus on the training in front of you.

During practice, notice how your mindset affects your movement. When the mind becomes rushed, the body often follows. When the mind is calm, techniques tend to become smoother and more deliberate.

One of the goals of traditional Okinawan karate is to develop composure not just in the dojo, but in everyday life.

Physical skill is important, but the ability to remain steady under pressure may be one of the most valuable lessons karate teaches us.

Train the body. Train the mind. Both deserve your attention.

Share this with a fellow karateka. Learning together makes us stronger.