Sei Chuu Do　静中動

Sei chuu do, do chuu sei is an Iaido saying that means, “In stillness there is movement, in movement there is stillness”.  This comes originally from the Zen Buddhist Hannya Shingo, the Heart Sutra (prayer).  The Heart Sutra discusses fullness and emptiness and light and dark; basically opposites that must have their complements. 

            One of the most difficult aspects of Budo is the ability to be calm in the midst of battle.  When you “see red”, you have lost your technique and awareness.  This makes you vulnerable to attack.  It leaves you at the mercy of your opponent and your surroundings.  Often people who do not have control over their anger or aggression are quite self-centred; thinking of themselves and not caring about another person or people.  By remaining focused and calm in a difficult situation, you can bring not only your training but also your intelligence into the circumstances for a better solution.  Even when the solution requires violence, being in control allows you to better assert your technique.  This is why the Samurai took to Zen so well.  The meditation helped them to forget about all but the present moment and to calm their spirits.

            You can see many practitioners of Budo either moving too quickly or too slowly.  On top of that, there seems to be a dead area around and inside them.  By this, I mean that when they are moving, they don’t seem to have a stable core and when they are not moving, they don’t seem to have the feeling of potential  energy. 

            Movement in stillness is the ability to hold a dynamic tension, without being tense, while in a non-moving position.  This can be from seiza or a standing posture in between actions.  Stillness in movement is the ability to hold a calm centre while attacking or defending.  It is easy to see this or the lack of it in Budoka.  Often the difference between one person’s technique and another’s is just this very thing. 

            How do you develop this?  Simply by practicing with good teachers, copying them, feeling for the ways they express their Budo and giving yourself a lot of time.  Tens of thousands of practice hours, practicing the correct forms and techniques, leads to a self-understanding as well as a deeper knowledge of the art you practice.  Don’t rush what you are doing, go slowly and feel the technique.  Fully focus on your opponents so that no space exists between you and them.  Most of all, be in the technique, let it become you and you it.  Practice, practice, practice!

By Ken Maneker