Introduction
Focusing solely on physical techniques does not fully prepare us for the dynamic situations that arise in martial arts, where distance, timing, rhythms, and speeds are constantly shifting. Developing a “state” of being present is also crucial.
Being present is a state in which our sensory awareness is focused on the present moment and external environment.
This heightened sensory experience helps us to perceive clearly and respond appropriately to what is unfolding in front of us be it in the dojo or life in general.
Our internal mental chatter, judgments, descriptions, and interpretations of sensory information are examples of secondary experience. This extra mental noise is prone to distortion and oversimplification, reducing our ability to accept each moment as it truly is.
Practicing Washindo requires us to continually update our awareness and set aside previous assumptions in order to fully experience the here and now. This can be challenging, as the student must redefine concepts like timing – being truly present alters our sense of time and perceives distance and movement as one continuous flow.
The significance here is the difference between being “on time” mechanically and being “in time” with the living rhythm, like a musician.
To be in the present is to be in time – no hesitation, no thought of outcome. To see with clear eyes and open heart – not just the start or end, but the subtle shifts throughout every motion.
Expanding this state of presence beyond our individual self allows us to develop a strong connection with others. This connection transforms confrontations into partnered dances of motion and energy.
In the dojo as in life – the future unfolds in its own way, but the decisions and actions we take in the present shape most of it.
If you can envision it, you can bring it into this present moment. Dreams need not be mere escapes but can rejuvenate us when we invite their energy into our daily experience.
Consider if we transform our dreams into visions, link the vision to a strategy, the strategy to a plan, and align our behaviours each day with that plan.
By taking steps, however small, we move toward our dreams in the only place they can manifest – the present.
We need not compartmentalize our dreams, but can live them fully in each arising moment, no matter how humble. Work on the dream – live the dream – presently.
