Forms in Martial Arts

 Martial arts are a collection of postural forms designed to express physical energy in an intelligent way. 

Understanding how martial arts is a tool for your body will expand your comfort in expression.

The Forms in Martial Arts

The martial forms are shapes that can be regarded as tools. The ability to shape your body into the appropriate tool at the appropriate time is the physical objective of martial arts. In order to accomplish this, it is important to possess both a geometrical understanding of the body and a spatial understanding of the body's potential area. 

To learn about your personal form in martial arts, click here!  

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Art is an Extension of Self

 Do you feel like you’re connected to the art you create?

For successful performance in Japanese arts, the art demands a relationship of positive character traits.

Unity of Mind and Body are Essential in Your Art.

In Japanese swordsmanship, it’s customary to speak of a unity of mind, body, and sword. Mind and body coordination can be thought of as self-harmony. This integration is one of the mind and body in action, a central element for mastering any classical Japanese Way. Practicing one of the Ways can lead to an understanding of the art of living life itself. 

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Are You Connected to Your Body?

 Are you in control of your body?

Do you express yourself in art?

Japanese arts share certain aesthetics; they demand the acquisition of related positive character traits for their successful performance. Notice that many of the names for these arts end in the Japanese word Do. Do means “the Way,” and its use in these names indicates that activity has surpassed its utilitarian purpose and has been elevated to the level of art. 

Many artistic principles and mental states are universal to all Japanese Ways. One of the most meaningful and fundamental is the concept of mind and body coordination. Although few of us are required to use a calligraphy brush, Japanese sword, or tea ceremony utensils in daily life, learning how to use them skillfully can enhance our mental and physical health. The important relationship between the mind and body and how to achieve mind-body harmony is a principal theme of most traditional Japanese martial arts. 

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Optimism in Martial Arts

Do you want to strengthen your mind?

In the Japanese martial arts, the cultivation of wa, or “harmony,” is considered to be essential. Without this quality, a dojo (or even a nation) cannot function effectively, but it can, at least partially, be cultivated by developing the habit of using positive, encouraging words when addressing others. 

Koryu bujutsu, and to a lesser degree modern budo, are derived from the ancient traditions of the bushi, the classical warrior of feudal Japan. For a bushi—or samurai, as he could also be known—facing death was an everyday concern. In fact, the bushi's life was likened to the Japanese cherry blossom, which blooms only briefly, displays vibrant color and beauty, and is then scattered by the wind. 

For the bushi to maintain a positive attitude in the face of possible impending death, he had to learn not to worry about the past, or especially, the future. This point is also vital for the modern student of martial arts. Basically, if the mind stays in the present, it’s impossible to worry. Human beings worry about an event that might take place in the future. The present moment contains no time or space for worry. 

Learn more here!

 

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Keeping a Positive Attitude

Do you want to strengthen your mind?

In many ways, the positive and dynamic use of the mind is the most important point in learning budo, for without it, we rarely have the follow-through to effectively master any other aspects of training. Beginners should also consider as well the ways in which a negative attitude can affect them physically. And while all of this is important, the bottom-line is that the mind will withdraw from an activity it doesn’t “feel good about.” That includes learning a martial arts technique, and if we believe that we can’t do well at some aspect of budo, the mind often fails to fully focus on that action, creating a self- fulfilling prophecy of failure. 

 

An optimistic attitude is most easily arrived at through a deliberate and rational analysis of what’s required to manifest positive thought patterns. First, we must reflect on the present condition of our minds. In other words, is the mind positive or not? We’ve all met individuals that perceived themselves as being upbeat people, yet weren’t seen by others in that way. The mind, being invisible, is intangible. It’s therefore easier to see the characteristics of the mind through a person's words, deeds, and posture. 

Learn more here!

 

Looking for Karate Certificates? Join SMAA Today!

You may become a better student, teacher, and performer with support from the SMAA. You’ll gain insight from our prestigious members in multiple countries and can earn reputable certificates of rank. We can answer your questions with credible historic Japanese martial arts knowledge and experience.

Call us today at 734-720-0330 or contact us to learn about earning karate certificates. 

Balancing Stress and Relaxation

In order to balance stress and move with fluidity, here are a few tips to consider trying: 

Monitor Posture 

In a TED Talk, Amy Cuddy discusses how posture impacts the way the brain functions. Posture that is considered high-power increases certain hormones linked to feelings of power and higher risk taking. In a corollary study, researchers found that subjects who felt powerless had impaired executive functions. In other words, the people who lacked power were more likely to make mistakes and less able to plan. 

 

Some signs of tension during judo are raised shoulders and the "old man" back slump. Aside from the psychological impact, it's more difficult to breathe properly when the rib cage is constricted. 

 

Positive Thoughts 

A Yale study found that participants moved faster when they perceived an event as positive, rather than negative. Attitude influences behavior! 

 

Martial artists often focus on the profound connection between thought and action. Koichi Tohei said, "Be vigorous and full of energy, and make ceaseless efforts. This means that little things do not discourage you and that you approach all things boldly and with an attitude of determination." 

 

Follow the Rules 

According to the Social Self-Preservation Theory, when people believe that they will be negatively perceived, their cortisol levels increase and makes recovery more difficult. In one study, "Individuals who possess qualities that are valued by the group are positively regarded, respected, and esteemed by others and have high social standing. Conversely, those that lack these valued attributes or have undesired characteristics receive signals of rejection or disinterest from group members and are lower on the social hierarchy." One way of doing this quickly in martial arts is sticking with etiquette: it makes it safer for you and others! 

 

Pay Attention to Breathing 

In a study that examined people with anxiety and panic disorders, researchers found that shallow breathing made the subjects more anxious. However, simply paying attention to breathing immediately lowered the respiratory rate. This also lowered muscular tension in the body. 

 

During judo randori, novices hold their breath. Not only does this keep the body from providing oxygen to extremities, but it also sends a signal to the brain that something is wrong. People often experience panic and light-headedness when they forget to breathe. Exhale on the break fall. Tap out if someone puts a good chokehold on you. 

 

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Are you having trouble integrating your love for budo into your schedule? Join a community of international martial artists who feel the same as you. SMAA offers separate divisions for karate, aikido, judo, traditional jujutsu, and iaido. As an associate member, you’ll receive a quarterly journal full of martial arts news and articles that may satisfy your budo desires. Apply today! Call us at 734-720-0330 or contact us to learn more about our martial arts industry association today!

Handling Stress in Judo and Jujutsu

Do you find yourself panicking during falls, joint locks, choke holds, testing, or randori?

Is your movement so tense and rigid that it is difficult to execute techniques? 

 

Do you ever feel so stressed that your breathing gets shallow, your heart rate increases rapidly, and you get light-headed? 

 

The good news is that your body has developed useful mechanisms to keep you safe. However, the same fight-flight-freeze reactions that might have been beneficial thousands of years ago can be detrimental in modern society. One of the biggest examples is the physiological response of stress. 

 

The Benefits of Exercise-Induced Stress

During intense exercise, there is a release of endogenous stress proteins that prime the body's immune system. In other words, exercise boosts the body's ability to defend itself. One research paper wrote, "If one were a gazelle running across a savanna being chased by a lion, your body would experience activation of stress hormones... If you were wounded during the escape, the endogenous stress proteins would prime the innate immune response thus improving the efficiency of the immune response" (M. Fleshner, J. Campisi, & J. Johnson, 14).

 

Good stress releases small amounts of cortisol that improve memory. For example, if you have ever burned yourself, you can vividly remember the sharp pain and smell of singed flesh. Now you probably avoid similar situations to keep from burning yourself. 

 

In another study, heat-induced stress improved athletic performance. Oxygen consumption was more efficient (increased VO2 max), metabolic rates increased, and the cardiovascular system was enhanced. However, although the body's adaptation towards stress is usually beneficial in short lengths, it is dangerous when it is chronic. 

 

Avoid Distress

Chronic stress, also known as distress, is detrimental to the immune and cardiovascular systems, mental functions, and the aging process. According to a Stanford article, it is important to allow the body to return to a resting state for a sufficient amount of time. Most exercise programs have scheduled recovery days. If you are new to martial arts, try to schedule recovery days in your training regime to avoid overtraining. 

 

Join a Martial Arts Industry Association Today!

Are you having trouble integrating your love for budo into your schedule? Join a community of international martial artists who feel the same as you. SMAA offers separate divisions for karate, aikido, judo, traditional jujutsu, and iaido. As an associate member, you’ll receive a quarterly journal full of martial arts news and articles that may satisfy your budo desires. Apply today! Call us at 734-720-0330 or contact us to learn more about our martial arts industry association today!