“The imperturbable mind is the secret of warfare.” - Adachi Masahiro
A good martial artist rolls with the punches. In Japanese, utarezuyoi (打たれ強い) means “to be able to take a strong hit.” Being able to take a hit is a metaphor that is intended to mean “be resilient.” In a martial arts sense, resiliency should look like indifference. We should never show any reaction to any situation or opponent because how we react gives away our intention or level of ability which our opponents will use to defeat us. One way to say, “indifferent” in Japanese is kiganai (氣がない). Kiganai translates as “no energy” but from a martial arts standpoint it is supposed to mean that our energy is not easily moved or swayed. To be swayed is to mindlessly react. A good martial artist is not easily swayed and thus always acts mindfully and appropriately. Indifference is an attitude that demonstrates to those that would intend to harm us that we are ready and thus don’t care who they are, how big they are, what they do or what the circumstances are. In Japan during the Edo period (1603 - 1867), a popular martial artist’s pun was kamawanu (鎌輪ぬ) which meant “we don’t care.” One way this pun was often displayed on a sign was with a sickle (kama), a rice bowl or chawan (wa) and the hiragana character (nu). Kamawanu was a warning to the people who would enter the dojo that we don’t care and won’t hesitate to fight you so you should be on your best behavior. Training teaches us how to be indifferent to all opponents or circumstances. For instance, in class, when we first learn to roll, we are afraid to roll, and our rolls are kind of boxy. The more we practice, the more our rolls smooth out and the more indifferent we become to doing it. Later, the better we are at rolling, the harder our opponents can throw us and we barely even think about the whole act of rolling. The same thing happens when we encounter bigger or stronger opponents or when we face multiple opponents. Understanding this, the dojo becomes a microcosm of life. In life and in the martial arts, things are going to happen, and every foe or adversity will seem bigger than life but regardless, we still have to face that adversity. The martial arts teach us to be indifferent to adversity, but that doesn’t mean to be careless. It means that, as a martial artist, we don’t care who we face because we are going to stand up regardless and standing up to adversity just becomes another day on the job. Thus, no matter how hard we are hit or who hits us, we should never show that it affects us and that is why the best martial artists roll with the punches.
Today’s goal: Whatever BS comes your way today, be indifferent and take that punch.
Watch this video to better understand resiliency