Mokuso

Presence, the method to achieve many things through being present. A martial concept bringing together mind and body to create an indomitable spirit.

Mokuso [黙想]: Meditation: contemplation, thoughtfulness, rumination, musing, reflection, reflexion; study, meditate 🧘.

黙: Silent: become silent; stop speaking; leave as is.

想: Thoughts 💭: concept; think; idea

Simply, to meditate one must achieve present moment state of mind; one must become silent, in thought 💭 and in voice.

Where mokuso diverges from the standard of rumination, reflection and musing one must let one’s focus be on that which occurs in that present moment. Human minds chatter and mokuso is not about silencing the mind but simply observing and immediately releasing such chatter letting it pass through a moment releasing the quietude of the presence of a moment.

Moment to moment: Shunkan kara shunkan e [瞬間から瞬間へ] a lofty goal for all martial artists. 

Seiza no Mokuso [正座の黙想] or sitting in meditation in a very Japanese form of sitting. A very important conceptual part of the karate dojo as well as Zen. It’s not unique to martial arts or karate, it was adopted naturally because it is a part of Japanese culture.

Read more on seiza here:

https://isshindo.blogspot.com/2016/11/sitting-seiza-in-karate.html?m=1

https://isshindo.blogspot.com/2013/09/sitting-and-moving-in-martial-arts.html?m=1

https://isshindo.blogspot.com/2012/01/sitting-seiza-first.html?m=1

https://isshindo.blogspot.com/2012/01/sitting-seiza-now.html?m=1

https://isshindo.blogspot.com/2016/12/close-n-twist.html?m=1

https://isshindo.blogspot.com/2017/01/mokuso-in-dojo.html?m=1

Ahh 😯, a good start and I must let you know that for Americans sitting seiza is not comfortable. Japanese begin learning to sit seiza from a very, very early age. At least at one time as I have been informed that today’s Japanese youth are not being required to sit seiza much anymore.

It can take a very long time for us to adapt but I must tell you that sitting seiza or kisa is NOT mandatory for mokuso!

Also, if you do sit seiza only for a few minutes in the dojo you may experience discomfort, it hurts a great deal, a lot. You really need to practice it for extended periods forever to gain that ability.

I want you to note, here and now, sitting seiza does NOT adhere to good physiokinetic principles thus why it’s is difficult and painful 😖. Seiza is not done with skeletal structure in mind. Japanese way of life historically speaking by necessity lead to seiza sitting.

One in a principled sitting position all the other bodies positioning is structured principally to our benefit especially martially.

The previous links all describe sitting seiza and/or kisa so if you desire or your dojo requires it … just remember, practice, practice, and more practice!

Mindful present moment mokuso is where you want to focus your efforts because that is where you want your mind, body and spirit if or when you face violence.

Since the mind is of great, critical, importance in violent situations your dojo and Sensei must spend as much time and effort and training and practice on mokuso. It’s critical to defense against all types, levels and degrees of violence from an irritating disagreement to full on predatory violent physical and/or armed attacks involving great harm to death ☠️, there is no other way.

Note: using google and searching my blogs will reveal a good deal of information you can use to direct your efforts to learn more about mokuso and survival through defense, security and safety.

https://isshindo.blogspot.com/?m=1

“Our bodies, minds and spirits are always in the present, the dividing line between past and future much like the line of yin-yang. But, the mind has more freedom. It can think and is in the present. When we remember, we’re in the past. When we imagine, we’re in the future. It can choose from all possible futures.” - Eric Frank Russell (1941) 

It’s about focus and discipline to remain in the reality of the present moment - moment to moment. Resistance is futile, so don’t and simply use your techniques, like breathing, to bring the mind, thus the body and spirit, back to the moment.

This is mokuso, the art and ability and discipline to be - be present in this moment!