Sunday, April 09, 2006
Bangkok Post Interview My Sensei! :)
The way of the spiritual warrior
Learning the art of samurai sword-drawing is learning self-discipline and peace of mind
Story by Arusa Pisuthipan, photos by Yingyong Un-Anongrak
Centimetres apart, two swordsmen face each other. Tense, yet outwardly calm, their eyes study each other. Minutes pass. Then, in a flash of silver blade, one collapses, dead. Shaking drops of scarlet from the sword, the samurai returns the blade to its scabbard, remaining composed.
Learning the art of samurai sword-drawing is learning self-discipline and peace of mind
Story by Arusa Pisuthipan, photos by Yingyong Un-Anongrak
Centimetres apart, two swordsmen face each other. Tense, yet outwardly calm, their eyes study each other. Minutes pass. Then, in a flash of silver blade, one collapses, dead. Shaking drops of scarlet from the sword, the samurai returns the blade to its scabbard, remaining composed.
Such is the commonly imagined picture of samurai (or bushi, members of the Japanese warrior class in the service of a master). But to Ryoichi Fukushima, the art of the samurai sword means peace and meditation.
"Fighting is not the goal of the practice of samurai sword-drawing," said Fukushima, a Japanese samurai sword-drawing sensei (teacher). "The sword is actually a tool for meditation, a door to the spiritual self. That is the way of the samurai or bushido [the way of the warrior]."
The art of battoujutsu, or unsheathing the sword, has its roots in the samurai era, which ended in the late 19th century. Samurai were tax-collectors and protectors of land and property for absentee landlords, and were expert archers, swordsmen and horsemen.
For the samurai the sword was the symbol of the samurai code; the best friend of bravery, the worst foe of treachery. A samurai sword was believed to be the emblem of the samurai's soul and a symbol of his authority, but for Fukushima, the sword represents a means to attain peace.
"The sword has no use if you bring it out on the street. However, for those who dedicate their hearts wholly to the practice of this ancient art, the sword is not a weapon, it is a pathway to a peaceful life."
The art of battoujutsu, or unsheathing the sword, has its roots in the samurai era, which ended in the late 19th century. Samurai were tax-collectors and protectors of land and property for absentee landlords, and were expert archers, swordsmen and horsemen.
For the samurai the sword was the symbol of the samurai code; the best friend of bravery, the worst foe of treachery. A samurai sword was believed to be the emblem of the samurai's soul and a symbol of his authority, but for Fukushima, the sword represents a means to attain peace.
"The sword has no use if you bring it out on the street. However, for those who dedicate their hearts wholly to the practice of this ancient art, the sword is not a weapon, it is a pathway to a peaceful life."
According to Fukushima, though battoujutsu is classified as martial art, its main objective is not self-defence. Training one's mind to stay calm through the act of drawing a sword is a way for practitioners to gain self-control and inner peace.
The practice of samurai sword-drawing is closely related to Zen buddhism, which emphasizes enlightenment through meditation.
The practice of samurai sword-drawing is closely related to Zen buddhism, which emphasizes enlightenment through meditation.
"The practice of the samurai sword is absolutely different from what we see in the movies," remarked Fukushima, founder of the Samurai Sword Technique Institute of Thailand.
Like meditation, every step must be performed with respect, peace and a clear mind, he said.
Fukushima is the only Japanese sword-drawing teacher in Thailand. The 40-year-old sensei, with almost 10 years experience as a sword-drawing teacher, has been living here for two-and-a-half years. To him, studying the art of sword-drawing is purely spiritual training. Rather than learning how to fight an enemy, one learns how to battle oneself, that is, to learn how to control one's movements and mind.
"We shall be like fish in the water, like seaweed under the deep blue sea. We shall not be too overwhelmed by our surroundings. What we shall focus on is ourselves and our minds," Fukushima said.
During the past few years, Fukushima has selected pupils using very strict criteria for fear that the class will become too big and filled with people who only want to learn to fight. What he takes into account most when recruiting students is their manner.
"Good manners make things better. Aggressive manners ruin everything," he pointed out.
Acquiring sword-drawing equipment must be done with care. A pair of loose-shaped trousers called hakama and a samurai shirt called an iaigi are required, which must be tailored in traditional Japanese style, to fit each individual's size. Swords are not generally available and must usually be ordered from Japan. Again, they are specifically made to fit each student's height and arm length.
"When one points the sword downward, its tip must be about an inch [2.5cm] above the ground. The tip of the blade must not touch the floor when one swings one's arm," Fukushima explained.
A razor-sharp sword called a shinken is not necessary for battoujutsu practice, especially for beginners: A real sword in unskilled hands can be very dangerous. In class, a sword with a dull blade called an iaito or wooden swords are used.
Fukushima is the only Japanese sword-drawing teacher in Thailand. The 40-year-old sensei, with almost 10 years experience as a sword-drawing teacher, has been living here for two-and-a-half years. To him, studying the art of sword-drawing is purely spiritual training. Rather than learning how to fight an enemy, one learns how to battle oneself, that is, to learn how to control one's movements and mind.
"We shall be like fish in the water, like seaweed under the deep blue sea. We shall not be too overwhelmed by our surroundings. What we shall focus on is ourselves and our minds," Fukushima said.
During the past few years, Fukushima has selected pupils using very strict criteria for fear that the class will become too big and filled with people who only want to learn to fight. What he takes into account most when recruiting students is their manner.
"Good manners make things better. Aggressive manners ruin everything," he pointed out.
Acquiring sword-drawing equipment must be done with care. A pair of loose-shaped trousers called hakama and a samurai shirt called an iaigi are required, which must be tailored in traditional Japanese style, to fit each individual's size. Swords are not generally available and must usually be ordered from Japan. Again, they are specifically made to fit each student's height and arm length.
"When one points the sword downward, its tip must be about an inch [2.5cm] above the ground. The tip of the blade must not touch the floor when one swings one's arm," Fukushima explained.
A razor-sharp sword called a shinken is not necessary for battoujutsu practice, especially for beginners: A real sword in unskilled hands can be very dangerous. In class, a sword with a dull blade called an iaito or wooden swords are used.
According to Fukushima, those purchasing a shinken in Japan must obtain an export licence, since there is a ban on the export of historic and family swords, and prices can range from 200,000 to many millions of baht.
The battoujutsu class usually begins with a bow to show respect to the sword, followed by meditation. After that the battoujutsu practice begins. There are four stages: Nukitsuke (sword-drawing); kiritsuke (cutting action); chiburi (removing blood); and noto (returning the blade to the scabbard).
In class, students are required to complete these four stages repeatedly until they can perform them in a smooth and fluid manner, as if they were a single action. During practice, one's mind should be focused on every move of the sword which, according to Fukushima, is a method of meditation.
Practice usually takes around one hour for individual classes and two-and-a-half hours for groups. The class ends with sitting and moving meditation.
From start to finish the class stays in a peaceful spirit. All students listen to the sensei with respect. Every move is regarded as sacred, even entering and leaving the training room. Students have to bow to show respect to the space.
Battoujutsu ranks students in levels called dans (degrees of proficiency), according to Fukushima. There are five dans, measuring from how smoothly and well practitioners perform each stage of battoujutsu. Some people take their whole lives to reach the highest level.
"Though technically the practice of battoujutsu is complete when practitioners reach dan five, in practice samurai practice is endless. In other words, it is a lifetime practice," said Fukushima.
In Thailand, there are 12 samurai sword practitioners, aged between 22 to 62. According to the Fukushima, the practice of battoujutsu can be carried on by people from all walks of life, regardless of age or sex.
"As long as they are well-mannered and highly disciplined," added Fukushima. "Battoujutsu is not a sport. Therefore it does not require physical strength. Self-discipline and peace of mind are more important."
Apart from battoujutsu, the class also includes jojutsu (a Japanese martial art that uses a staff) and jujutsu (or jujitsu, an unarmed martial art). For all, the emphasis is on meditation and self-control. From time to time, Fukushima and his students walk barefooted on the grass and meditate in the shade of a big tree. This is in accordance with the teachings of Zen, which place an emphasis on simplicity and the importance of the natural world.
"There are a variety of ways to practice meditation. Sitting meditation is the simplest method, then moving meditation. Meditation through sword-drawing is the most difficult one," noted Fukushima.
While the art of samurai sword-drawing does help strengthen physical health as well as improve personality, Fukushima said that these should not be regarded as the main objectives.
"Everybody has a power within. It's a natural kind of power that we cannot get from any kind of sport or physical training. But the only person who can employ such power is the one who remains composed, so that he or she can control and use that inner power as they wish. It is like we can catch a mosquito with our bare hands while we sleep because our mind is very still, but we cannot do it when we are awake as we are always distracted."
According to Fukushima, practising meditation is not confined to class or merely one or two hours a week. After students return home, they should apply their peace of mind to daily activities. The fees for attending the sword-drawing class are high - about 50,000 baht inclusive of outfits, practice swords and protective equipment. In a way, the Japanese teacher set it high to discourage those who might consider learning battoujutsu as a sport or martial art. After the initial fee, students pay 4,000 baht for each individual class or 2,500 baht per person for group study.
"I welcome only people who are truly devoted to this art," stressed Fukushima. "I love to teach highly disciplined people how the samurai sword can help them to gain self-control and inner peace. But for those who just want to be like the samurai in the movies, to look smart and have some fun, this is certainly not the right place."
The battoujutsu class usually begins with a bow to show respect to the sword, followed by meditation. After that the battoujutsu practice begins. There are four stages: Nukitsuke (sword-drawing); kiritsuke (cutting action); chiburi (removing blood); and noto (returning the blade to the scabbard).
In class, students are required to complete these four stages repeatedly until they can perform them in a smooth and fluid manner, as if they were a single action. During practice, one's mind should be focused on every move of the sword which, according to Fukushima, is a method of meditation.
Practice usually takes around one hour for individual classes and two-and-a-half hours for groups. The class ends with sitting and moving meditation.
From start to finish the class stays in a peaceful spirit. All students listen to the sensei with respect. Every move is regarded as sacred, even entering and leaving the training room. Students have to bow to show respect to the space.
Battoujutsu ranks students in levels called dans (degrees of proficiency), according to Fukushima. There are five dans, measuring from how smoothly and well practitioners perform each stage of battoujutsu. Some people take their whole lives to reach the highest level.
"Though technically the practice of battoujutsu is complete when practitioners reach dan five, in practice samurai practice is endless. In other words, it is a lifetime practice," said Fukushima.
In Thailand, there are 12 samurai sword practitioners, aged between 22 to 62. According to the Fukushima, the practice of battoujutsu can be carried on by people from all walks of life, regardless of age or sex.
"As long as they are well-mannered and highly disciplined," added Fukushima. "Battoujutsu is not a sport. Therefore it does not require physical strength. Self-discipline and peace of mind are more important."
Apart from battoujutsu, the class also includes jojutsu (a Japanese martial art that uses a staff) and jujutsu (or jujitsu, an unarmed martial art). For all, the emphasis is on meditation and self-control. From time to time, Fukushima and his students walk barefooted on the grass and meditate in the shade of a big tree. This is in accordance with the teachings of Zen, which place an emphasis on simplicity and the importance of the natural world.
"There are a variety of ways to practice meditation. Sitting meditation is the simplest method, then moving meditation. Meditation through sword-drawing is the most difficult one," noted Fukushima.
While the art of samurai sword-drawing does help strengthen physical health as well as improve personality, Fukushima said that these should not be regarded as the main objectives.
"Everybody has a power within. It's a natural kind of power that we cannot get from any kind of sport or physical training. But the only person who can employ such power is the one who remains composed, so that he or she can control and use that inner power as they wish. It is like we can catch a mosquito with our bare hands while we sleep because our mind is very still, but we cannot do it when we are awake as we are always distracted."
According to Fukushima, practising meditation is not confined to class or merely one or two hours a week. After students return home, they should apply their peace of mind to daily activities. The fees for attending the sword-drawing class are high - about 50,000 baht inclusive of outfits, practice swords and protective equipment. In a way, the Japanese teacher set it high to discourage those who might consider learning battoujutsu as a sport or martial art. After the initial fee, students pay 4,000 baht for each individual class or 2,500 baht per person for group study.
"I welcome only people who are truly devoted to this art," stressed Fukushima. "I love to teach highly disciplined people how the samurai sword can help them to gain self-control and inner peace. But for those who just want to be like the samurai in the movies, to look smart and have some fun, this is certainly not the right place."
