Imagine my surprise when it turned out to be t-shirt weather, with a slight breeze and hint of Spring in the air. I started off for the mailbox using my "winter speed walk", but before long slowed down to a leisurely pace. It was midday so there were no cars buzzing through the lot nor children ambling about. All I could hear was the faint clacking of my shoes against the pavement.

After arriving at the mailbox I decided it might be appropriate to take the long route back to my apartment; a winding stretch of macadam that traces the treeline and wraps around a few extra buildings.

While traveling the path I fell into a comfortable rhythm, not mindfully set...just natural. I observed which trees had decided to push toward blooming, and which were still suspicious of impending frost (not unlike myself a few minutes earlier). I also passed my gaze over nearby apartments, decorations, birdhouses....anything that came into view. Not analyzing anything, just recognizing them as they slipped in and away.

I was enjoying this soft no-mind when suddenly I was invaded by an uncomfortable feeling. Guilt. Back at the apartment I had bills waiting, a lunch to make, and dishes to do. Before my walk I had heard about more struggles in Japan and Syria, not to mention a nearby house that had burnt down (as reported by the local news).

All of those misfortunes...and I was out strolling about.

For a moment it seemed unfathomable that I would be so negligent of the world and my responsibilities.

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My loss of focus, or perhaps loss of conscientious non-focus, is not surprising. Indeed, the mind is a complex network that can sometimes work against it's own benefit. We, as modern humans, seem to yearn for simplicity and quiet; yet when those rare moments arrive our minds fight back and remind us of our duties and concerns.

As a society we've adapted a few methods to combat this issue, the most prominent being 'vacation'. A lot of people can temporarily suspend their guilt and give themselves permission to relax. Even so, usually after a few days the 'real world' creeps back in steadily. Most parents I know don't experience much vacation even when on vacation.

On a day to day, week to week basis it can be extremely difficult to find ways to push out the world at large and find time to reset the mind and spirit.

That being said, let me ask: how often do you worry about bills during kata training? What about the kid's soccer practice while sparring?

My guess is that those external matters rarely creep in on you. In fact, those few training moments are probably your most focused throughout the entire day, or even week.

To perform a kata even remotely well, you need to pay exacting attention to what you're doing. Eventually you can even experience mushin. But the benefit of kata is that it maintains your focus and consistently draws you back into the moment. If you drift into other emotions (like I allowed myself to do during my walk) your kata will crumble. Naturally you don't want that to happen so your odds of course correction are much higher.

Good martial arts training can suspend time for you. It's often said that your training shouldn't stop at the dojo door, which is true. But it's certainly permissible to leave your troubles at the door when entering.

You've probably seen the 'work in progress' figure attached to websites, work sites, etc.

As we continue to endeavor in our martial arts,we realize the endless cycle of self analysis and improvement that comes with training. That mindset of laborious persistence is key to long term success in the arts, and we must therefore always be a work in progress.

Perhaps simply emblazoning this figure across our gi might be a more worthwhile patch than any modern sponsorship, advertisement, or world championship logo...

I thought this was a pretty fun concept, but then a few voices of wisdom on facebook took it a step further. They suggested martial art specific versions! So without further adieu, for your viewing pleasure:

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A significant part of Budo is coming to grips with mortality and learning how to make decisions, and once made moving forward strongly and bravely so as to better confront the next challenge. It's with that in mind that we should look back fondly on 2010 no matter the circumstances, knowing we can grow and learn from every experience.

As time continues to march, I've sometimes wondered if my love for the martial arts would wain. Over the past decade or so my involvement with the arts has, like a steam engine, slowly built in strength and speed. What was once an average 3-day-a-week activity has turned into a life pursuit, one which I have carefully intertwined into my every day dealings. My work, my writing, my training, my reading all revolve around finding slivers of growth, and helping others find theirs as well.

I've learned to build in breaks and purposefully put down my training, even if for just a few days. Even so, there's always that concern and wonder if one day I'll find myself falling out of love; when I'll wake up and not want to touch a gi. So far, after 15 years, it has not happened. Not even close, actually.

It's beyond my full understanding but the arts have a way of becoming the best part of you, if you let them. Letting go of them would be letting go of Ikigai.

It's with that I wish you a 2011 filled with strong spirit, so that you may overcome your obstacles and achieve those goals which will help you make the world a better place.

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If you think about it one way, I've been involved in the martial arts for a long time (14 years). I've been doing kata for longer than I've been driving.

If you think about it another way, I'm a karate baby. Bill Hayes knew twice as much as I do now 30 years ago. Sadness and depression for me.

That's why it's never too soon to address not just the physical nature of your training, but the mental approach as well. In my opinion, you should think by year and train by day.

Think By Year

In order to access the deepest parts of your martial arts you simply cannot be in a hurry. Everything takes time and the pacing of proper training can't be done at modern-world-speed.

We have a joke in our dojo called "okinawa time", which means that things will happen when they happen.

For instance, if a class starts a little late - don't worry about it. If you can't figure out a technique, there is no need to stress. You have the rest of your life after all.

Thinking By Year is a process in which you set your goals not a few months ahead but a few years ahead. For example:

• Is there a new kata you'd like to learn? Settle into the idea of focusing on it for two years.
• Would you like to improve your kicking? Set a reasonable regiment of kick drills that you can accomplish every week for a year.
• Do you wish to understand the bunkai of your forms? Pick a form and critically analyze it over the course of three years.

The goal of this process is to reset the mind out of modern pacing and slow...things down...a bit. Instead of hurriedly acquiring the gross movements of a kata, why not examine every little body change and nuance? After all, you've got two years to think about this kata so there's no rush to get on with it.

Now you might be thinking - Matt, it's a little tough to think in years when my next testing is 3 months away! You're right about that. In modern training where structured kyu ranking is involved, year-thinking is often not a great option. However, once you achieve black belt, designing your own training should be a top priority.

Train By Day

The main problem with Thinking By Year is procrastination. If you've got all the time in the world, it's easy to wait until next week to put in some real effort. Of course, when next week arrives there are new reasons not to focus. And the week after that will hold new reasons again.

The idea of "surviving" or "coasting" through a class is a big-time disease for many students. It can take the form of physical laziness (which we've all seen), or mental laziness. Mental laziness is an acceptance of going through the motions and "getting your workout" without putting any thought into improvement.

Training By Day is a method wherein every time you step onto the dojo floor you strive to improve just a little bit. You reach for a small piece of understanding that you didn't possess the day before.

One of the great big , mysterious, super inner circle secrets of the martial arts is that improvement takes place in painfully small increments over a hefty amount of time (interspersed with highly valuable 'ah ha' moments).

You need the short term fortitude to make those small steps, and the long term commitment to not feel hurried or impatient.

* * *

As a sidenote - living on "okinawa time" has been a great means of stress reduction in my life, and a source of aggravation for my friends and loved ones when they try to make plans with me.

Recently Dan Buettner, an American explorer and author, created a presentation discussing his research into the National Geographic blue zones. One of the locations he found most intriguing and noteworthy was the small island of Okinawa.

Watch this video as Mr. Buettner discusses his findings on why he believes the Okinawans and a handful of other cultures are so special.

There are multiple locations around the world that feature very interesting groupings of people that have achieved longevity. However, according to Mr. Bueller, Okinawa is considered "ground zero". They have a complex social system with many built-in habits that lead to longer and healthier lives. I'd like to discuss a few of the points in the video and how they relate to the lifestyle of a martial artist.

Mr. Bueller's Study In Relevance to Martial Arts

According to Mr. Bueller, the most important keys to longevity are:

• Eating Wisely
• Finding the Right Tribe
• Moving Naturally
• Adopting a Healthy Outlook

Within each of those categories Bueller features an Okinawan concept that achieves the desired results. Let's look at the Okinawan habits and how they coincide with martial arts practice.

Eating Wisely - Hara Hachi Bu

Okinawans utilize "hara hachi bu", which is the method of eating until you are 80% full. Similarly, recent western studies have shown that healthy dietary habits involve eating small meals throughout the day, and not eating excessively at any one time. The Okinawan people have found clever ways of maintaining this practice, such as eating off of smaller plates.

For martial artists, filling up the "fuel tank" with proper nutrients is critical to good study. One of the worst contributions Americans (and perhaps westerners in general) have given to the arts is the 'master' who is extremely rotund. Many times these portly experts can barely tie their belts around their waists. You might hear pseudo-explanations about these practitioners becoming more Buddha-like in their figure, or that the eastern arts benefit from a lowered center of gravity, but that's all really fancy ways of avoiding the truth.

The Okinawan diet is heavy in fish, fruits, and vegetables, including the bitter and scary looking Goya:

This kind of diet has helped cultures around the world obtain and retain good health. Unfortunately, I've heard that some western conveniences like McDonald's are slowly starting to creep onto Okinawa, especially in the southern regions. We will have to watch carefully how the longevity and quality-of-life numbers are effected by these changes (some senior karateka I've spoken to believe it is already having an effect).

Right Tribe - Moai

The Okinawans have a built-in social network of extremely tight-knit proportions. As technology increases all across the globe, humans are achieving a brand new level of social interaction. Will these online communities simulate the positive effects of Moai, or is something critical missing? We can't be certain yet.

One thing that is certain is the kind of community that can be built in traditional dojos and study groups. As martial artists grow and train, they become closer and closer. If the group is made up of good people, they can also rely on each other and trust each other.

Moving Naturally - Physical Activity

This is perhaps the most obvious benefit of training. The physical activity in martial arts is extremely healthy as it works the whole body. While weight lifting and running both have very important purposes, activities like kata are demanding on every muscle group in the body. One can get a cardio workout and a tension-muscle workout, not to mention improved balance, fast and slow twitch muscle endurance, and much more.

The "moving naturally" aspect of Bueller's speech is something I find very interesting. Although some arts like karate and tae kwon do appear to move practitioners toward 'unnatural' stances, ultimately they are designed to teach a person how to optimally distribute weight and move from one beneficial position to another. And, with enough practice, they are to be practiced naturally. Other arts, like aikido and tai chi chuan, place an even stronger emphasis on natural body.

Healthy Outlook - Ikigai

One of the biggest revolutions in thought in our time is the changing of emphasis from physical health to mental health in connection to longevity. The effects of negative stress and "inflammation" are cited more and more frequently as the cause of early death and lowered quality of life. One of the most important methods for counteracting that is ikigai, a sense of purpose.

Of course, not every purpose is ikigai. It's quite possible to be driven and dedicated but without experiencing the true nature of ikigai. Ikigai is something that brings joy and contentment. It fills a person with resolve and a sense of satisfaction in what they are doing. Most of all, it brings happiness. I contend, as I always have here on this website, that martial arts can be that for some people. Or, at the very least, give them the physical and mental tools to find an ikigai in there life, and keep them active enough to continue experiencing it.

My sig. other took this ethereal site known as IkigaiWay and turned it into something tangible. This mug swag is pretty hot and is very high quality.

The logo came out really nice, and I was surprised how well it transferred onto the mug. The company she worked worth definitely kept the style and font true to the website.

Did you receive anything cool this year? Perhaps something martial arts related? Let me know!

This particular propensity toward back strain has made me acutely aware of an all too common problem in myself and others - posture neglect.

First let's talk about me (whooooo), then let's talk about you.

These days most of my work takes place on the computer. I do my writing for this blog online (clearly), and I work predominantly for online companies. That has resulted in a lot of sitting. In previous jobs during college and such I often had elements of manual labor that kept my body up and moving about. Not so much anymore.

A few months ago my sitting started to effect my training; even though I did proper stretching and warmups before class I was still experiencing back pain. I realized in short order that it wasn't from any kicking drills or kata, but from how I operated through most of my day.

I pulled my instructor aside and had him run through my day with me mentally. I knew he had some back troubles in the past so I figured he would be able to help me spot  common problems and work out solutions. One of the major mistakes I was making was slouching like the man in the picture above. Not only did my body have a natural desire to sink down into that 'relaxed' posture, but I also had a chair that leaned back too easily. I was experiencing constant, mild strain on my lower back all day.

My instructor offered up some suggestions, which I'd like to pass on in case they might be helpful to you:

1. Get a better chair. If you're sitting for long periods of time, there is no reason to tolerate a chair that promotes bad habits.

2. Use ice or heat if your back starts to act up.

3. Lie flat on your bed with your legs hanging off. This will create a slight pulling and straightening sensation.

I made all of these changes immediately, but didn't stop there.

Esther Gokhale - Posture Expert

Regular readers of this site will notice that I link into the authors@google series frequently. I think it's a great resource wherein some really sharp people share their experiences and knowledge.

Esther Gokhale was one of the visitors to Google and, as it turns out, has been studying posture for quite some time. She even authored a book entitled 8 Steps to A Pain Free Back.  Gokhale mixes western science with eastern yogic theory and has come up with a great system. Check out her speech here:

Gokhale provides immediately applicable ways of improving posture. I use her method of seated posture correction everyday. My body still tends to want to slouch, so I need to make routine corrections. It's an ongoing effort.

One of Gokhale's big theories is proper stacking. Consider this image:

During normal slouching postures, the spine and weight distribution is out of sync. This is a tricky problem because it doesn't provide immediate negative feedback, like touching a hot stove. Instead it builds pressure over time and slowly wears away at the cartilage between the spinal discs. Although I've focused on sitting, these same principles apply to standing, especially for individuals who have a job that requires being up all day.

How This Applies To Your Martial Arts

The obvious way posture applies to your martial arts practice is good health. One of the biggest career killers is physical ailment. We have to try our best to stave off these injuries, and one way to do that is to be mindful of posture. The spine is a fickle thing, and if you don't take care of it you will run into trouble.

Posture isn't just a means of standing though; it's also a way to convey your personal sense of presence and power.

In his book "Living The Martial Way", Forrest Morgan dedicates a few pages to the concept of 'developing a commanding posture'. He explains:

"Some say the eyes are windows to the soul. This may be true, but posture is most assuredly the reflection of one's spirit. It tells a story, more eloquently than words ever could, of your strength, your resolve, and your confidence. Posture is an essential element of warrior bearing."

In the dojo, especially if you are assuming a teaching role, it is critical to adopt the mantle of authority. Posture provides a subtle, subconscious hint to everyone in the room that you are worth listening to. A tall stance and keen look can go a long way in capturing the attention of students.

On the student side, proper posture indicates a willingness to commit to excellence. Slouching is a sign of inattentiveness and lack of resolve. Standing up straight suggests focus, which is the currency of the dojo.

Practicing good posture will also assist in natural body movement. The more you practice, the more you'll realize the subtleties of body weight shifting. If you have to recenter your body every time you wish to move, you'll be at an immediate timing disadvantage.

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My goal is to be able to continue practicing martial arts deep into old age. If I abuse my body now, I'll never have that chance. I personally need to take posture very seriously. Perhaps you can take a moment today and figure out if you need improvement, and use some of the information above to start on a modestly paced track for positive change.

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First, allow me to provide you with a list of human characteristics. Consider them out of context:

* Being capable of self motivation and assessment
* Being inclined to set challenging goals and work patiently toward them
* Having the ability to create impact and influence, affecting change in others
* Having a high skillset for pattern recognition and mental retention
* Being able to analyze and anticipate actions and situations
* Having self confidence and a sense of persistence in the face of difficulty

Would you agree that this is an excellent list of abilities for martial artists? Would you also agree that acquiring these traits is crucial for long term success in the arts, and something that many traditional schools focus on?

I think they are, personally.

But the catch is I didn't create this list, nor was it designed for martial artists. Instead, these were factors that scientist Daniel Goleman found amongst successful people in the competitive business marketplace. Furthermore, he determined that IQ alone was not enough to bring about these characteristics; the true mark of exceptional individuals was their emotional and social intelligence (EQ and SQ).

But what is emotional and social intelligence, if it is so important? The short answer is this: emotional intelligence is the awareness and ability to manage one's emotions in a healthy and productive manner. Social intelligence is the ability to cope and adapt to a group environment and interact with other individuals. But, as you might suspect, they both run much deeper than that.

Goleman suggests that being able to assess and improve your EQ and SQ can substantially alter (and improve) your ability to thrive in the modern world. He also believes that there are existing practices (like meditation) that are invaluable to the process of improvement.

Some people are born with high emotional and social intelligence, but the majority aren’t. Furthermore, we live in a culture that places a low premium on compassion and happiness (hallmarks of high emotional intelligence), and instead focus on financial success and pleasure.

Watch Dr. Goleman's intriguing video to fully understand his research into EQ and SQ. It's about an hour, but if you can find the time (sacrifice that episode of big brother!), I think you'll find it worthwhile. The rest of this post isn't dependent on you watching the full video, but it will help. To learn more about Daniel's theories and work, check out his books on Emotional Intelligence and Social Intelligence.

We all agreed (didn't we?) that the traits listed at the beginning of this article are extremely desirable for martial artists. In order to attain those and many other valuable attributes, we have to improve our emotional and social intelligence. Although the studies presented in the video focus on meditation (which we will dive into later), it is my belief that traditional martial arts can satisfy the same needs, and build in combination with that a means for physical growth.

(body, mind, and spirit).

Let's Start With The Obvious...

Here's something you already know - martial arts can make you fit. Training involves every muscle group and challenges your body in ways that no weight machine could. Furthermore, you can learn how to defend yourself and stay alive (and last time I talked to Darwin, that's the fastest track to success in life).

But what you might not know is that physical activity is also good for neurogenesis. Contrary to popular belief, the human brain has the ability to create new neurons and braincells throughout adulthood. Healthy physical activity aids in neural production, along with releasing endorphins and providing natural avenues for stress release.

More to the point in this particular context, traditional training provides you with a way to confront stressful and dangerous situations.

As Dr. Goleman explains, the amygdala is the emotional center for the human flight/fight/freeze response. As he puts it, "the amygdala is a hair trigger". When presented with a stressful situation, the amygdala  triggers the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal access and causes us to revert back to our primal instincts. When something is perceived as very urgent, we suffer what's called an  "amygdala hijack", and often wind up reacting in ways we never thought we would (think 'scared stiff', or 'blind rage').

When suffering from an amygdala hijack, a person is rarely in complete control of their emotional and cognitive abilities. Their capacity to make rational decisions is greatly diminished and the time it takes to create good solutions is slowed dramatically.

That being said, the amygdala isn't alone in the decision making process of the brain. When it creates an emotional impulse, that impulse is sent to the Prefrontal Cortex (as shown in the picture above). The PFC assesses any other external stimuli in the area, checks in with the IQ and other rational parts of the brain, and ultimately creates a decision.

What determines how well a person is able to act under stressful circumstances is how well they can handle amygdala hijacks and utilize their own brain structure to it's optimum capability.

When analyzing the communication between the amygdala and the PFC, it's important to distinguish between the left and right PFC lobes.

If during an amygdala hijack the right lobe of the PFC becomes heavily engaged, a person is likely to fall into a state of depression, anxiety, fear, or panic. On the contrary, if the left lobe is utilized, they will feel in control, centered, focused, and confident. The left hemisphere has natural amygdala inhibitors which regulate input and allow a person to behave much more effectively.

As you can imagine, the more left-dominant you are, the more stable and "emotionally intelligent" you can be. To put it in a martial art perspective, the less gripped with fear/doubt you are, the better your body can utilize its techniques and make sound decisions. Any veteran of sparring can tell you that panic is the quickest way to defeat. Just imagine how valuable quick thinking, emotional control, and a quiet mind could be in a martial environment.

As stated earlier, few people are born left dominant (although those that are can consider themselves lucky). In fact every person has a natural resting rate of right-to-left dominance. People that are right dominant are often diagnosed with clinical depression. The desire, therefore, is to be as left as possible.

the good news is this - the brain has something called neuroplasticity. That means the actual neuron structure of the brain can be molded and changed. In order to use neuroplasticity to improve left PFC functioning, individuals need to practice and actively engage in activities that shift their neural structure from right-usage to left.

As I mentioned, meditation is often considered one of the top practices for achieving just that...but how did the scientists come to such a conclusion? Research has revealed two main human tendencies that build good neural structure:

1. Self Awareness and Mastery. This entails the confronting and analyzing of negative emotions when they occur, and understanding that decision-making is a combination of external stimuli and emotional training. In essence, what Bong Soo Han stated in the book "Zen in the Martial Arts": "you cannot run away from fear in the dojang".

2. Managing Emotions. When negative emotions do arise, the properly trained mind can integrate and handle those emotions. The leftside PFC can inhibit otherwise detrimental cases of agitation, impulsivity, and flash anger. Or, as one very well known karateka put it: "the karateist who has given the necessary years of exercise and meditation is a tranquil person. He is unafraid. He can be calm in a burning building.” – Mas Oyama

An Example!

Let's put it all together. If the amygdala is shooting out uninhibited negative impulses, the PFC cannot be free to analyze a situation in a healthy, effective way. There can be no focus on the primary goal at hand.

If in a fight one competitor is 85% preoccupied with the fear of getting struck and the other competitor is only 5% distracted, you can be certain that the competitor with 95% focus on his objective will have a significant edge. Even if the fearful practitioner is stronger and faster, he will be constantly behind the decision cycle (or OODA Loop) of the better practitioner.

You may like the idea of a calm, left PFC mind (aka mushin), but if you are a fretful, right-dominant person, you cannot achieve the skill you see in others who are further along the martial path. In order to achieve your maximum efficiency and enter a flow state - you must shift your training to coincide with the idea of producing high levels of emotional and social intelligence.

Social Intelligence

We talked about the emotional side of things, but what of the social? What does being able to network at a party have to do with becoming a better traditional martial artist and person?

In a work environment, like where Dr. Goleman gave his presentation, the benefits of social intelligence are obvious - you can interact, discuss, and debate with your coworkers in a productive manner. But in regards to the combative arts, being able to read the intentions of opponents is just as critical as knowing how to punch.

We hear a lot about the 'sixth sense' developed by martial art adepts. The ability to read opponents and get inside their head. Dr. Goleman presents a more tangible but equally astounding version of that concept. He explains that we all have "an array of neurons that allow us to mirror what another person is doing, feeling, or intending." Known as mirror neurons, these small fibers play a big role in the overall behavior of every human.

Goleman gives an example in his speech: whenever a zoo attendee raised his arm to lick an ice cream cone near a captive monkey, the neuron in charge of that monkey's arm would fire. The monkey saw what was happening and experienced a simultaneous mental reaction. This phenomena  can occur in situations as subtle as perceived emotion or intent.

Now let's put it into a martial context:

"You and your opponent are one. There is a coexisting relationship between you. You coexist with your opponent and become his complement, absorbing his attack and using his force to overcome him." - Bruce Lee

"When someone hits you, he is extending his ki toward you and it starts to flow when he thinks he will hit you – even before his body moves. His action is directed by his mind." - Aikido Adept in 'Zen in the Martial Arts'

Developing sensitivity to our own social 'pangs', and having a quiet enough mind to hear it, can benefit in remarkable ways.

If You Don't Got It, How Do You Get It??

Like I mentioned above, very few people come readily equipped with a left PFC mind and social acuity. It takes practice and development. One of the best ways to train, according to Dr. Goleman and Dr. Richard Davidson, is meditation (I told you we'd dive more into it!).

While Dr. Goleman touches on the concept, it is Dr. Davidson that provided strong, breakthrough evidence that the lifestyle of Tibetan Monks produces huge advancements in left PFC activity, emotional and social brilliance, and overall mental excellence.

If you'd like to view Dr. Davidson's work for yourself, check out his speech entitled "Be Happy Like a Monk" (Part 1 here, Part 2 here, Q&A here).

Davidson gathered roughly a dozen extremely qualified monks (ranging between 10,000 and 62,000 hours of meditative practice each) and hooked them up to complex brain scanning equipment. He then monitored their activity when in various forms of meditation, ranging from seated zazen to other (unspecified) methods. He also subjected them to emotional stimuli such as the sound of babies laughing or women screaming in terror.

Davidson was able to watch the function of their brains and how they reacted and recovered to startling "events". The results were undeniable - left PFC activity was sky high, and their brain structure was able to recover and adapt to unpleasant stimuli much faster than a normal person.

Just as astounding was a find mentioned by Dr. Goleman - new meditation practitioners experienced improvement in their left PFC circuitry in as quickly as 8 weeks.

It can be said confidently that meditation, whether inside or outside a belief system (meditation is not necessarily connected to religion), can be extremely beneficial. But what about the skills of a martial artist...what about MOBILE meditation?

Getting Down To Brass Tax - The Ancient Wisdom of Old Style Training

Have you ever heard the idea that kata (and other martial practices) can be used as mobile meditation? Once a karateka practices a kata thousands of times, the moves become ingrained in muscle memory and no conscious thought is needed at all. The person's mind is free to visualize, focus, or do nothing.

Could it be possible that the phenomenal mental gains of meditation can be combined with the physical benefits of martial training, creating a perfect breeding ground for personal development? I can't say for sure because I am not a master of anything. But I would like to offer up some comparisons that you may find convincing.

In his book "My Journey with the Grandmaster", Sensei Bill Hayes discusses a time in which he experienced what I consider high level meditation and even enlightenment through kata.

A brief summary: Bill Hayes found himself in a foul mood one night, and on his way to training he could tell his motivation and balance were off. Upon arriving he decided to spend time alone in a small dojo aside his instructor's main dojo. He sat down dejected, but soon after, his Sensei Eizo Shimabukuro appeared in the doorway and told him to do kata Sanchin. In an unspoken way he suggested that it might help with whatever was clearly ailing Mr. Hayes. Shimabukuro Sensei then left.

Although he wasn't sure why he was doing it, Sensei Hayes faithfully stood up and began his practice. He practiced, and practiced, and practiced. Eventually he found his mind and attitude melting away into the kata, and he experienced a level of mental and emotional acuity that he had previously never felt.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

One of the strange side effects Dr. Davidson found in the monks he tested was a lessening in pain aversion. He stated: "although it may seem masochistic, they learned to love the pain". Similarly, Bill Hayes said this about his Sanchin experience: "I watched my body turn when it was supposed to turn and even the muscular aches caused by the constant tensing and retensing of my body seemed to bring me pleasure and then float away." This also speaks to the out-of-body-experience described by many meditative practitioners.

Hayes Sensei also stated: "[After many repetitions] I had more energy than when I had first started the kata. That had never happened before but Osensei had mentioned that such a thing was good. I was strangely happy inside. I started to grin as I did the kata. then I laughed out loud. I could hardly hear myself due to the high winds, but I could not contain my happiness." This resonates with Dr. Goleman's experience when he encountered a monk named Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche: "[Rinpoche] told me he was in the middle of a shower – but not in the usual sense. The shower, he told me, had run out of hot water midway. When he called the front desk, he was told to wait several minutes and there would be more hot water. In this situation, I probably would have been peeved. But as Rinpoche told me this, he was laughing and laughing." Seemingly strange bouts of joyfulness overtook both men in situations where normal people might feel dejected.

If we combine the out-of-body autonomy of Sensei Hayes's movements with his emotional transformation, we arrive at what Joe Hyams (author of "Zen in the Martial Arts") considers to be a core meditative paradigm: "The zen of martial arts deemphasizes the power of the intellect and extols that of intuitive action. Its ultimate aim is to free the individual from anger, illusion, and false passion".

As most karate practitioners know, Sanchin is a heavy breathing kata. While many times the breathing is hard and rather aggressive, it doesn't have to be. In fact, focus on breath is one of the most effective ways to center and balance oneself. As Joe Hyams says: "I have found the [zen breathing] technique especially useful in stressful or anxiety-provoking situations when my breathing becomes irregular and fear distorts orderly thought processes, which tend to immobilize both my body and mind." I can't say for certain that Hayes Sensei was performing zen breathing, but he certainly was using breathing as a focus mechanism, which invariably had the same positive effects on him that Hyams suggests. In Hyams description we can almost read a line-by-line protocol for switching the brain from right PFC to left.

Some readers may still be a little unsure about how such a sedated activity like seated meditation can possibly be relevant to the rigorous mindset of a karateka.

Consider this explanation from Dr. Davidson: "Meditation is a broad term, much like 'sports'. Meditation can mean different things. Among the experts that we tested, rather than a slowing of the brainwaves we actually see a speeding up. The gamma signal is the fastest brain rhythm recorded in the human brain. It’s associated with focused attention and alertness. Rather than producing a physiological subdued state its rather a state of very active acuity and alertness and awakeness."

During his repetition, Bill Hayes stated that he was eventually able to focus on a single pinpoint in the room which grew and surrounded him. His consciousness zeroed in, but was ultimately able to branch out and awaken to his entire surroundings. This mindfulness of 'one-thing-but-everything' is mirrored in a piece of advice given by Bruce Lee: "concentrate all the energy of the body and mind on one specific target or goal at a time. The secret of kime is to exclude all extraneous thoughts, thoughts that are not concerned with achieving your immediate goal". The extraneous thoughts that Bruce mentioned are exactly the kind of rogue impulses a right PFC would fixate on.

To bring things back full circle, Goleman originally stated in his video that meditation can increase left PFC activity and ultimately improve the disposition and emotional intelligence of a person, who will then have a better chance at succeeding in the work place (and in life). Bill Hayes, after listening to his Sensei and pursuing the ways of introspective kata, experienced Goleman's kind of results: "over the course of my tours on Okinawa the grandmaster designated me the dojo dai sempai (senior student) and even presented me with promotion certificates, things I had never sought. The marine corps assigned me ever more challenging duties and I did well enough to be selected for higher ranks and assignments, I had begun a process of personal emancipation and metamorphosis".

Wrapping Together

The mind is a complex place, but we are slowly starting to unlock its secrets. The more we press forward, the more the wisdom of our ancestors is becoming evident.

A keen, emotionally stable mind requires strong left PFC connections. In order to build those connections, people should engage in activities like meditation. In order to physically survive the rigors of both meditation and life, people also require activities like martial arts training. Include a need for social intelligence and ethical wherewithal and you would need a very complex, yet simple system to bring everything together.

It's my opinion that traditional martial arts training is that system...if we can appreciate it and use it to its fullest capacity.

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Sun Tzu: "To win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the highest skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the highest skill."

Dr. Goleman: "If we have a very well groomed left prefrontal cortex, we can spread feelings [of  joy, comradery, and understanding] throughout our day. We can use emotional and social intelligence to stay ahead of conflict”.

Funakoshi Gichin: "You may train for a long, long time, but if you merely move your hands and feet and jump up and down like a puppet, learning karate is not very different from learning to dance. You will never have reached the heart of the matter; you will have failed to grasp the quintessence of karate-do.”