Sensei Says… Flow

When I think of all the traditional styles of martial arts that I have been able to read about, study and observe, I always seem to focus on the style that is most fluid, and not one that has a more forceful style.  Shihan Osaka has always stated that we should flow with nature in everything that we do.  I tend to agree.

The author, Mihaly Csikszentmihaly, outlines his theory that “people are happiest when they are in a state of flow–a state of concentration or complete absorption with the activity at hand and the situation. It is a state in which people are so involved in an activity that nothing else matters.” The idea of flow is identical to the feeling of being in the zone or in the groove.
Hence, when training in martial arts students should be in a state of flow, “Your whole being is involved, and you’re using your skills to the utmost.”  In a true state of flow, the student will have “mushin” or empty mind.

Grand Master Ohtuska has always used flow in his training and his theory was to pass this art of training to his students.

Wado-Ryu…..the way of peace and harmony.