Really Seeing the Opponent and the Opportunities to Strike – Part 2: Reflections

This is a follow-up of “Part 1: ‘O’ Sensei“.  Since writing that article, I have experimented with some of the tips spelled out in it and pen some reflections of the experience below.

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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

“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.”

Quotes on Mushin, Flow and Open-Focus – Part 1

Quotes on Mushin, Flow and Open-Focus – Overview

Here’s an overview of quotes on the related topics of Mushin-no-shin 無心の心 (Mind of No Mind), the flow-state and Open-Focus (and the related area of Open Monitoring Meditation).  This is a companion article to a compilation of “Resources on Mushin-no-shin (the Mind of No Mind)”.  The quotes are organized as follows: 

Ways to Calm the Mind and Body for Shinsa and Shiai (Part 1)

Many members of the dojo where I practice are preparing for shinsa.  A common challenge for them, myself and perhaps many on the day of a shinsa or shiai is the

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