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    • A Table of Contents (Map of All Articles)
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KendoNotes

To Help Develop the Mind and Body

Stories

Progressive Relaxation: “Mother Knows Best”

December 27, 2020January 10, 2021kiai3 Comments

This is a short story serving as an introduction to Progressive Relaxation (also referred to as Progressive Muscle Relaxation) and a reminder of the adage:  “Mother knows best.” 

Continue reading →

Mushin, Flow-State, Stories

Han Seok-Bong (韓石峯) – Tenacity, Practice and a Tiger Mom

November 27, 2020November 28, 2020kiaiLeave a comment

My father loves telling stories from folklore and real life. One is about a famous Korean calligrapher named Han Seok-Bong (한석봉 韓石峯 1543~1605). Continue reading →

Stories

Mushotoku (無所得), “The Cat’s Martial Arts Assembly” and Path to 10th Dan ;-)

August 2, 2020October 11, 2020kiaiLeave a comment

During a discussion on meditation today, a person mentioned the term  “Mushotoku” (無所得) which I had never heard of before.  It refers to a state of “not seeking anything” Continue reading →

Mushin, Flow-State, Stories

Beginning Nito-ryu Kendo – An Experience Report

February 16, 2020February 17, 2020Patrick SchultheisLeave a comment

This is a guest article by Patrick Schultheis with the San Diego Kendo Bu and UCSD Iaido Club.

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Stories

Yamaoka Tesshu – the Swordsman, Calligrapher and Zen Teacher

January 14, 2020September 6, 2020kiaiLeave a comment

Thanks to a fellow kendo dojo member, I recently started reading the life story of Yamaoka Tesshu (山岡 鉄舟, 1836-1888), a master swordsman, calligrapher and Zen Continue reading →

StoriesCulture, Inspiration, Story

A Furry Three-Legged Trooper Named Duke and Heijoushin (平常心)

July 8, 2019November 3, 2019kiaiLeave a comment

Duke_Standing
The cool “Duke”.

I met and walked a three-legged dog named Duke with a friend a few evenings ago.  He is a cool “dude.”  He had lost Continue reading →

StoriesHeijoushin, Inspiration, Story, Suffering

A Paper Napkin and Saving $50M – Deautomization and Getting Unstuck

April 17, 2019October 16, 2019kiaiLeave a comment

When aware, we are no longer robots. – Young, KendoNotes

Here’s two stories on the topic of deautomization* and getting unstuck from automated patterns of behaviors: one about a paper napkin and a second on saving 50 million Continue reading →

Managing Habits, StoriesConditioning, Getting Unstuck, Habits, Programming

Witnessing a Transformation in the Demeanor of a Child in Kendo

August 7, 2018July 7, 2019kiaiLeave a comment

The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled. – Plutarch

I recently witnessed something quite astonishing.  The demeanor of a young child, who had been learning kendo for at least several years, changed remarkably during a Continue reading →

For Beginners, For Kids, StoriesKids, Story, Transformation

Kiai, Presence and the Second Circle

April 19, 2018July 7, 2019kiaiLeave a comment

A few days ago, I witnessed a remarkable change in the kiai of a longtime fellow dojo member.  Until that day, for as many years as I can remember, her kiai had sounded Continue reading →

Mind Management, StoriesAwareness, Kiai, Mushin, Presence
Previous Articles

Categories

  • A Table of Contents (Map of All Articles) (1)
  • Body Maintenance & Development (9)
  • External Sites and Articles (5)
    • Translations by Imoto Sensei (1)
  • For Beginners, For Kids (8)
  • For Higher Levels (20)
    • How to Strike (a Hit or Ippon) (7)
    • Seme (13)
  • Mechanics (12)
    • Fumikomi (3)
    • Gripping the Shinai (7)
    • Techniques, Exercises (2)
  • Mind Management (43)
    • Managing Habits (8)
    • Meditation, Mindfulness (9)
    • Mushin, Flow-State (15)
    • Wisdom, Quotes (9)
  • Shinsa/Shiai (10)
  • Stories (12)

Recent Posts

  • The Experience of ‘No Thought’ – Progressive Relaxation and Edmund Jacobson
  • Progressive Relaxation: “Mother Knows Best”
  • Han Seok-Bong (韓石峯) – Tenacity, Practice and a Tiger Mom
  • Emotions as Gifts, Signals and “Action-Requiring Neurological Programs”
  • “…ing” and Non-Duality – Quotes
  • Mushotoku (無所得), “The Cat’s Martial Arts Assembly” and Path to 10th Dan ;-)
  • Kyo (虚) and Jitsu (実) in Seme – Quotes and Resources
  • “Nothing is resisted, nothing is sought. Everything is allowed to be as it is.” – Surrendering
  • Deep Belly Breathing and the Wim Hof Method

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