What is Zanshin

[Matthew Lagden]

The more i learn, the more questions i have.

Can someone explain what Zanshin is?

[Jerry Wellbrock]

Matthew....I hope you recieve many replies to this as there are probably as many ways to describe zanshin as you will recieve replies....I think of zanshin as alertness or awareness....I always hear or read about maintaining zanshin after a strike which I agree is absolutely necessary but I believe zanshin should be present all the time....before...during and after any technique....it is that state of mind where you do not let your guard down so as not to be volunerable to either attack or counter attack....Zanshin should always be present in your life not just the dojo....it is outside the dojo also and may even be more important on the outside.....it is being aware of what is going on around you at all times.....How do you develope zanshin.....just work at it....concentrate and pay attention....don't let your guard down and don't let your opponent distract.....I know much easier said than done....but over the years it will get easier and easier......one of the ways to work on zanshin is the practice of the kendo no kata and the practice of iaido......just train and it will happen

[JSchmidt]

I'm not touching this one

Jakob

[kendo_chick]

I believe Zanshin is just a way of showing that you know you hit the target. It is a way to show your spirit and your intention. Basically, in a nice way, you are saying to the judges, "hey look at me, I know I got this point, you should give it to me". And more often then not, if you "sell" your point, it will be awarded.

[Charlie]

Okay, bear patiently with me. Ignore, for a moment, all New Age-type connotations in this explanation.

I believe a kenshi stores up energy, and expends energy on the attack.

Zanshin is the energy left over after you attack, energy that can be used to defend or, really, to make another attack.

Zanshin can be replenished by breathing and recentering. So when you fight you should be constantly expending and replenishing the energy.

You know, kinda like the "power bar" in a Street Fighter-type video game!

What is this "energy"? Is it physical or spiritual? Take your pick. You could think of it as chi, you could simply think of it as concentration, you could think of it as breath in your body combined with the will to use it.

That's how I think of zanshin. Like Jerry said, I hope this thread gets a lot of thoughtful answers.

[Hagakure]

Well, I believe that zanshin is essentialy a means of showing awareness, as Kendo stresses alertness and comitment. It is also a way of showing your conviction to strike (e.g Not hesitate) It is an expenditure of spirit in the form of an accurate and comitted strike.

[Matthew Lagden]

Thank you all - keep it coming - and that means you too jacob!

i begin to see what you mean - and can certainly see it in some of the better Kendoka at the Dojo.

It is part of what i started Kendo to develop as i am notoriously dozy, and am pretty sure i either as yet have no zanshin, or it is well buried.

[Ares2907]

Originally posted by kendo_chick
I believe Zanshin is just a way of showing that you know you hit the target. It is a way to show your spirit and your intention. Basically, in a nice way, you are saying to the judges, "hey look at me, I know I got this point, you should give it to me". And more often then not, if you "sell" your point, it will be awarded.

I'm going to assume this was humour on your part, given you described 'selling a shiai point to a shinpan' and nothing more.


Jerry's post was a pretty good one actually. Covered more or less what you want to know. The thing about 'maintaining' zanshin after a cut is a particularly important one. Too often people seem to confuse 'show' with 'maintain' in that they sort of tack some pretend zanshin onto the end of a cut to 'sell it to the shinpan'.
Zanshin should, as has been said, be always present - the fact that it is most often focused on post-impact is irrelevant unless zanshin was not present prior to an attack being made.
It's very (very) obvious when someone is 'tacking on' zanshin to the end of a cut as opposed to 'maintaining' it.

[Tato]

Ok, but for the sake of the beginers (like me), it's possible to developpe Zanshin trough special exercises, and if yes, wich kind?

I'm not sure that it's possible, but again, I'm just starting my travel.

Rei

[JSchmidt]

Not really, apart from always doing it like you mean it. Maintain the kiai, posture, etc, all the way through the cut and only stop once you have turned around and are facing the opponent.

Jakob

[mingshi]

I suppose the concept of Zanshin is demonstrated clearer in Kendo Kata. Watch and practice more.

[Jerry Wellbrock]

I don't know of specific exercises to develope zanshin but anything that will help you to focus and stay focused on your opponent whether in keiko or practicing kendo kata I think a starting point is your eyes....practice focusing your eyes with unwavering concentration on your opponent....stay centered....use your mind to focus your eyes.....as for trying to show that you got a point to the shimpan....this could actually be seen as a break in zanshin and result in not being awarded the point that was there

[Hagakure]

The only real exercise for zanshin, as well as many other things in Kendo, is partaking in Keiko itself. My sensei, when practicing one on one, will always be very careful of things associated with zanshin, especially kiai and posture.

I have to agree with Mingshi, Kendo no Kata puts heavy stress on zanshin, as it is all about forms and careful timing between you and your partner.

[Kendoboy]

I agree with minshi, zanshin is definetly best demonstrated in kata.

To me, zanshin is focused fighting spirit. In one practice when sensei jeff was doing kata (I forget the kata, which would have been helpful), he was stepping in to draw out an attack (I think) and he explained that when you step in, the opponent won't attack (be drawn into an attack) unless you make him FEEL threatened. That, to me, is zanshin, the beleif in what you are doing, and making an opponent feel, or see your focus, and commitment.

[alexpollijr]

> and he explained that when you step in, the opponent won't >attack (be drawn into an attack) unless you make him FEEL > >threatened.

That is called 'seme' or 'pressure'. In this case it'd be sen-sen-no-sen I believe.

Zanshin is the alertness that follows the strike, in my opinion. Other might have more spiritual interpretations.

Alex Polli