Bridging Ancient Wisdom and Modern Challenges Through I Liq Chuan
As a long-time student of I Liq Chuan, the martial art of awareness, I recently stumbled upon a compelling video featuring Master Tetsutaka Sugawara. His reflections on the traditional and contemporary relevance of martial arts resonated deeply with my practice and philosophy.
Introduction to Katori Shinto Ryu
Katori Shinto Ryu, one of Japan’s oldest martial arts schools, was founded in the 15th century. It encompasses a broad curriculum that includes kenjutsu (swordsmanship), bojutsu (staff techniques), and more, integrating tactics and philosophy. Recognized as a cultural treasure in Japan, it emphasizes Shinto principles like purity and sincerity, promoting physical prowess and spiritual growth. As a cornerstone of traditional martial arts, Katori Shinto Ryu offers profound insights into the synthesis of martial discipline and ethical living, enriching the practitioner’s life and martial arts culture globally.
In this blog post, I explore how Sugawara’s teachings on concentration, self-awareness, and community parallel the principles of I Liq Chuan and how they can be transformative in our digitally-driven world.
Reflecting on Master Sugawara’s Philosophy Through I Liq Chuan
The Art of Slow Movements and Mindful Awareness
Master Sugawara’s emphasis on slow movements and the development of concentration mirrors the foundational practices of I Liq Chuan. In both disciplines, the meticulous attention to motion cultivates an inner quietude, essential for personal growth and mental clarity. These practices are not just physical—they are profoundly mental and spiritual pursuits that challenge practitioners to be fully present.
Self-Awareness as a Transformative Tool
“Attentive self-awareness can change our lives,” asserts Sugawara Sensei. This statement could very well be a maxim in I Liq Chuan, where awareness is the gateway to understanding oneself and the environment. The practice teaches us that awareness leads to the right understanding, guiding the right action. This philosophy fosters a proactive rather than reactive approach to life’s challenges, enhancing resilience and peace.
Attentive self-awareness can change our lives.
Tetsutaka Sugawara
Reframing Concentration: Pursuing Wisdom Over Desire
Master Tetsutaka Sugawara offers profound insights on the role of concentration in martial arts, suggesting its vital role in guiding us toward wisdom rather than immediate gratification. He describes how a disciplined focus helps filter the influx of impulses, allowing only the “right inspiration” to influence our actions. This inspiration drives us to pursue what we genuinely need—such as personal growth and wisdom—over fleeting desires.
The Discipline of Concentration
Sugawara Sensei points out that “right inspiration enters when you concentrate… bad people receive bad inspiration. Be careful. When good inspiration enters, it can change your life.” This perspective underscores how concentration isn’t just about attention to the immediate task but acts as a gateway to higher discernment, enabling us to differentiate between shallow desires and more profound needs.
Concentration as a Path to Wisdom
In martial arts practice, the continuous refinement of concentration enhances physical abilities and deepens our understanding of ourselves and our motivations. This practice helps steer us away from hedonistic and self-indulgent impulses, directing our energy towards discipline and, ultimately, wisdom. Focusing our minds, we learn to resist the easy temptations of immediate satisfaction in favor of long-term development and genuine fulfillment.
How Martial Arts Encourage Righteous Pursuits
The dojo is a microcosm where practitioners learn to cultivate their mental faculties through physical discipline. Every movement and technique in martial arts requires acute attention and precision, which trains the mind to manage its focus efficiently. This training is crucial, as it teaches practitioners how to apply the same level of discipline and concentration in other areas of life, promoting a balanced and wise approach to everyday challenges.
The Social Fabric of Martial Arts: Community and Connection
Fostering Deep Connections Through Shared Practice
Both Sugawara Sensei and I Liq Chuan highlight the community-building aspect of martial arts. In our increasingly isolated world, the dojo becomes a haven where genuine bonds are forged. These practices bring diverse people together, promoting mutual respect and shared growth. The depth of these connections, often cultivated through physical touch and cooperative practice, starkly contrasts the superficial interactions that predominate on social media platforms.
Integrating Martial Arts into Modern Life: Lessons from the Dojo
The Paradox of Modern Connectivity
In an era defined by digital connections, the teachings of Sugawara Sensei through the lens of I Liq Chuan remind us of the value of real, physical, and meaningful interactions. Martial arts practice offers a tangible way to counteract the digital divide, promoting real-world interactions that are rich and fulfilling.
Real-Time Connections: The Dojo as a Social Crucible
The dojo offers more than just physical training; it is a place where life skills are developed. The physical closeness required in martial arts training encourages a type of vulnerability and trust that is rare in other aspects of modern life. Through the physicality of martial arts, we engage more deeply with others, fostering empathy and understanding in a way that virtual interactions simply cannot match.
“Softness Overcoming Hardness”: A Misunderstood Principle
The Real Meaning of Softness in Martial Arts
In the insightful video featuring Master Tetsutaka Sugawara, he discusses “Jūyokugōwoseisu” (柔能く剛を制す, which translates to “softness overcoming hardness”) and the importance of incorporating soft movements, particularly from disciplines like Qigong, into martial arts practice.
The often-quoted martial arts principle of “softness overcoming hardness” is frequently misunderstood. Contrary to popular belief, this phrase does not champion softness as an end in itself; instead, it highlights the strategic use of flowing to manage and redirect external forces.
Sugawara Sensei rightly highlights these techniques not as combat strategies but as essential components of a restorative recovery practice. These soft movements are employed to counterbalance the physical stress and intensity of martial arts training, serving as a crucial method for maintaining overall health and longevity in the practice
Softness as a Tool, Not the Goal
When it comes to martial arts and the use of force, GM Sam Chin often says, “Relaxation is a tool, not the goal,” we see that relaxation—or softness—is merely one aspect of a broader strategy to cultivate balance and control in martial arts. In I Liq Chuan, we are taught to use softness to understand better and adapt to the dynamics of combat and interaction, not to remain passive or yielding at all times. In this context, softness allows practitioners to achieve a state of flow in their movements, facilitating the ability to respond to changes dynamically.
Change as the Ultimate Technique
As GM Chin highlighted, true mastery in martial arts lies in the ability to change and adapt. This concept of change is pivotal—martial arts training is not about developing a set of rigid responses but about cultivating the agility to alter one’s approach based on the situation. This agility is the real ‘softness’ that overcomes ‘hardness.’ It’s not about being soft in a touchy-feely sense but about being supremely adaptable and responsive.
Conclusion
The exploration of martial arts through the philosophies of Master Tetsutaka Sugawara and I Liq Chuan offers profound insights into the development of self-awareness, concentration, and physical discipline. These practices serve not only as methods of self-defense but as profound vehicles for personal growth and spiritual enrichment. By focusing on slow movements, mindful awareness, and the transformative power of attentive self-awareness, practitioners are guided toward a deeper understanding of themselves and their interactions with the world. Moreover, martial arts provide a compelling antidote to the superficiality and isolation of our digital age, emphasizing real, meaningful human connections through shared physical practice. In these disciplines, the concept of “softness overcoming hardness” transcends physical technique, embodying the flexibility and adaptability necessary for managing life’s complexities. Thus, martial arts stand as a bridge connecting ancient wisdom with modern challenges, promoting a balanced, wise, and interconnected life.
About Tetsutaka Sugawara
Born in Hokkaido in 1941, he began studying Aikido in 1960 under Morihei Ueshiba and became an uchideshi in Ibaraki the following year. He received his kyoshi license in Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu in 1986 and introduced Aikido to various institutions in China during the early 1990s. He also received a 7th Dan in Aikido in 1995. He actively teaches Aikido and Katori Shinto Ryu in 12 countries.
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Disclaimers & Conflicts of Interest
I am not a doctor, and the information provided should not be considered medical advice. The information provided is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult your doctor or a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your diet, exercise routine, or lifestyle.
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