Zanshin: attack with the mind

Posted on Oct 17, 2009 in Martial Arts | 0 comments

There is a concept in martial arts called zanshin that I was exposed to recently that is quite amazing. The Japanese term is actually two kanji characters, zan and shin:

The English translation varies, but a common one is “remaining mind.” Defining the term’s meaning can be tricky, and certainly my interpretation of it isn’t the only one, or even the “most correct.” It was explained to me, along with other students in a karate class at NW Martial Arts in Bothell, by Hiroo Ito-Sensei. And if there’s anyone who better exhibits this concept… well, I certainly don’t want to meet him!

In a fight, opponents can be in an equally good position—posture, balance, stability, striking range, etc.—or one can have an advantage. True karate, as Ito-Sensei says, is never being fifty-fifty. “Always go forward,” he says, and that’s what zanshin is. After striking you shouldn’t let your body—and more importantly, your mind—stop. If you must fight, there’s no point in trading blows back and forth with an opponent; attacks should be decisive. Once you strike, keep your mind and your ki forward to press the attack. The opponent never has a chance to regain their posture and therefore their ability to hit you.

That attack, though, doesn’t have to be destructive. The true power of zanshin is to “attack with the mind,” and that manifests itself in your opponent feeling like you’re about to crush them physically. It’s a concept that still might not be clear even if I wrote paragraphs about it, but you’d understand in a moment if you experienced it even once. But I’ll try anyway by describing two scenarios, both of which begin with someone throwing a right punch at your face:

1. You stand your ground and effectively block the punch by raising your left arm solidly up and slightly out (a hara uke in karate terms);
2. You move forward slightly and effectively block the punch with a left hara uke and you stare intently at your oppenent, your right hand brought forward, clenched to a fist, and aimed aggressively at their face.

They sound similar, and in terms of your safety from the initial punch and physical damage to your opponent, they are the same. But scenario two is dripping with zanshin. What do you think your oppenent is likely to do in each case? In the first, the attacker would realize his opening attack was blocked and he’d simply strike again (probably with his left). But in the second case, you’ve done much more than block the first punch: you’ve attacked with your mind by your slight forward motion, your stare, and your aggressive posture. Trust me: zanshin is palpable! Quite literally, it takes the fight out your attacker in a way that must be experienced to be truly understood. You don’t even have to throw a punch to win a fight… now that is true martial arts!

Of course, zanshin requires the training and more importantly, the confidence to be effective. And therein lies the challenge!

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