This article is on how to manage the the shinai tip (kensaki 剣先) when in chuudan kamae against another in chuudan kamae. It relates to how to “win” the center with the kensaki given that the kensaki of Continue reading
Attention
My Life in Two States and Some Ways to Return Home
I reflect on my experiences on the “way” (道) and summarize in this article: my life which seems to toggle between two (cognitive) states and some ways that I have found helpful in finding my way home back to the second state. Continue reading
Where is My Attention?

Life and the mind seems to be in one of two states. Being under water mostly for me and periodically coming up, out of the water, for air. Or being asleep mostly and waking-up Continue reading
Awareness and Who is this ‘I’? – Quotes and Resources
What you’re looking for is that which is looking. – St. Francis d’Assisi

Thanks to meditation and many teachers, this mind has come to a growing realization. That meditation, zazen and aspects such as peace (平常心, heijoushin), freedom from Continue reading
Really Seeing the Opponent and Opportunities to Strike – Part 1: “O” Sensei
A young Kyoshi 7 dan from Japan visited the dojo that I practice at this week. I’ll refer to him as “O” sensei as he preferred not having his name mentioned. He had once placed Continue reading
“Soft Eyes,” A Way of Seeing and Being – Quotes and Resources
I believe that “Soft Eyes” is an extremely important part of kendo and many areas of life. It is a natural, tension-free way of seeing and being – which goes by many other names: Whole or Effortless Seeing, Soft or Open Focus, Wide-Angled, Peripheral or Panoramic Vision and “Enzan no Metsuke (a distant mountain gaze).” Continue reading
Quotes on Mushin, Flow and Open-Focus – Part 1
Open-Focus, Mushin and Kendo

Several years ago, I came across an insightful book: The Open-Focus Brain by Dr. Les Fehmi and Jim Robbins [Fehmi]. The possibility that the “Open-Focus” state could Continue reading