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A Letter from the Boss (Editorial) - Bushido Lessons: Kime and One-Point Concentration
Originally posted 2.1.04
In Bushido and other Zen-influenced Martial Arts, there exists a concept of One-Point Concentration, sometimes referred to as Kime. This concept is at the core of arts such as Kendo, Aikido, Iaido, Karate-do, but can also be found in many other Martial Arts as well. This is what I like to consider a Universal Concept.
Kime is a Japanese word, often translated to describe the concept of "an absolute concentration on one focused action, without hesitation, deliberation or distraction, often in the face of fear or death." In a life or death encounter, this concept describes a fully committed movement, where one does not hold back or allow doubts to enter their mind. A famous Zen saying goes:
"When sitting, just sit.
When walking, just walk.
Above all, don't wobble."
We often do things with less than full concentration. When we train, we are also thinking about what happened at work or at school, we think about the movie we saw last night or the week before, we think about a joke our friends told us,
It is very important for Martial Artists to develop in themselves a tight mind, one that is capable of a high degree of concentration. Some schools liken the practice of Martial Arts to a form of moving meditation. Each action in training is an opportunity to close out the distractions that followed you into the dojo and focus your entire mind and body on the action your are taking.
If you practice this while training, you will find that you will improve your technique much more quickly and be much more consistent in your actions, especially when you are under stress. As Edgar Sulite has been quoted saying, "Repetition is the Mother of all Skill." Not only is a high quantity of repetition necessary, but a high quality of repetition is also necessary, one that is developed through concentration.
In this mindset, each action is an opportunity to do better, to improve, to whittle away at the inefficiencies of the previous action. This is how steel is forged, through the repetitive process of hammering out the impurities; this is how a sculpture is carved, chipping away in small increments, the parts that are not essential. This is how an expert is formed, through constant repetition. The action becomes a test, every punch, every kick, each movement that is made is compared to the ideal, until it becomes a part of you and the way you move. The ideal of Kime represents a a degree of skill and confidence, competence, and the pursuit of this concept is a process of transformation, making one capable of masterful grace in the simplest thing.
The practice of Kime is also a method of steeling oneself in the face of conflict. An action that is done with this degree of concentration is not bothered by adrenaline, fear, doubt or anxiety. Nor is it powered by anger, rage or emotion, it is simply a masterful stroke, expertly timed and well-placed. Such an action requires a high degree of coordination as well, such as with the various types of Kokyonage (the Breath-timing throw) in Aikido. Even for beginners, the concept of Kime is essential to effective Self-Defense and is worth further investing the time and effort to develop.
Conclusion
The pursuit of Kime can be a very spiritual practice, many Martial Artists can appreciate the fact that they are throwing the same punch the same way as those who have come before them, centuries apart. In this way, the lore is hidden in the art, the lessons will reveal themselves with consistent practice. I am fond of saying about Kali that the Art will reveal itself to the observant. This is true of many systems, the underlying logic of the system is self-apparent to those willing to put in the repetition. Students already have the means to access the wisdom of our predecessors, our teachers' teachers, and gain insight into that which is new to them.
Study This.
- Anthony Sell
Feb. 1, 2002