About this blog..

This is a blog that I started in April 2006, just after I first put on my bogu (kendo armour). It collects the advices given by more experienced kendo practitioners as well as those from my own experiences. Both technical and the mental aspects of kendo are written in the blog. I hope someone will find them useful or interesting at least!

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Zanshin 残心

What is Zanshin? What is the manifestation of Zanshin? The wikipedia says:
... the continued state of mental alertness and physical readiness to instantly attack or respond to an attack or counter attack by ones opponent.
The kanji's are 残心 (Zan-Shin). Zan (残) means residual or remaining; Shin (心) means heart or mind. So the literal translation would be something like the remaining mind. Of course, as we know, it is used in the world of martial arts, but in a general way, it is simply the state of mind after one has performed a task. In kendo, one teaches that Zanshin should be the alertness after a strike, accompanied by clear physical postures and movements to manifest this state of mind.

For me, however, I think there is an element of "declaring victory" for the attack just made. This goes to the aesthetic part of kendo. When I execute Zanshin, I want to show with my kiai and movement: "I wanted it, I went for it, and now I am claiming it!"

What is Zanshin for you?

2 comments:

Georg said...

hey Ivan,
please activate Backlinks :)
I posted in my blog about this:
http://taiatari.blogspot.com/2007/08/what-is-zanshin.html

Georg

Unknown said...

Done!