Zen Martial Training

[Stepsy]

Is Zen Martial Training as taught by the Kondokan all it's cracked up to be. I hear it is the complete martial arts aexperience where you can learn skills in healing as well as fighting but the training is heavily centered around principles of zen. What is Zen? Why is it so important? Who are the Kondokan? Do other people practce zen with their martial arts?

[Juicefree]

Not sure. I'm still trying to hear the sound of one hand clapping !

[Stepsy]

Heh heh. I really want to know what Zen is and how to use it. Even books i read are so vague that i'm beginning to wonder if it really exists or not!

[Stepsy]

I'e just found the Kondokan website www.kondokan.com which looks really interesting but still doesn't explain anything about zen!

[Sagacious Lu]

Each instructor is paid by the session £150. This is a flat fee for the instructor providing one to one tuition. Each session lasts approximately 2 hours. If you want to bring friends and family, you are welcome, the cost increrases to £200 per session flat rate. Business and group seminars last one day and cost £500. Concessionary rates are available for students on low income.

Wow, this place charges almost twice as much per hour as my club charges per month They look more like a cult than a martial arts school. The web site is pretty funny though.

[LoneHusky]

Looks like some Reiki Dikey bullshit.

[OmaPlata]

the most zen thing to do is save the time you would be training and go buy a gun

[Juicefree]

I think by it's very nature Zen cannot be defined. If you check the books by the 'knowledgeable' they all repeatedly state that it is impossible to define.

Off the top of my head, try 'Beginners Mind' by Shynryu Suzuki (apologies if the name is not spot on), books by Alan Watt's or even Jack Kerouac

As to it's benefits for the martial artist I would imagine that they would be immense and would definitely provide the edge in a lot of fights. Being acquainted with Zen may help with visulisation of success/technique or assist in overcoming mental blocks to fighting.

Traditionally a major application of Zen awareness was with the Samurai who would need to cope with the fear/possibility of facing death on a daily basis.

However that being said developing an understanding of Zen would demand an awful lot of time and dedication, if you wish to improve your fighting skills I would suggest that mat time is the way ahead.

Check it out and let me know what you find out.

Good luck .

[Stepsy]

I think by it's very nature Zen cannot be defined. If you check the books by the 'knowledgeable' they all repeatedly state that it is impossible to define.

Off the top of my head, try 'Beginners Mind' by Shynryu Suzuki (apologies if the name is not spot on), books by Alan Watt's or even Jack Kerouac

As to it's benefits for the martial artist I would imagine that they would be immense and would definitely provide the edge in a lot of fights. Being acquainted with Zen may help with visulisation of success/technique or assist in overcoming mental blocks to fighting.

Traditionally a major application of Zen awareness was with the Samurai who would need to cope with the fear/possibility of facing death on a daily basis.

However that being said developing an understanding of Zen would demand an awful lot of time and dedication, if you wish to improve your fighting skills I would suggest that mat time is the way ahead.

Check it out and let me know what you find out.

Good luck .

That's really useful. Thanks for the those. I finished reading Zen and the Art of Archery today and it has really wet my whistle for Zen training. I like the idea of not thinking about tings and instead relying on feeling. I was throwing paper into my bin earlier and if i switched of my concentration and became at one with the bin, the paper flew in. Eyes are deceiving it seems.

By the way i may have become one with a bin but that doesn't mean i smell like one!

[Stepsy]

Wow, this place charges almost twice as much per hour as my club charges per month They look more like a cult than a martial arts school. The web site is pretty funny though.

Yep! Too expensive for me! Even the offers:

"Introduction Pack - £250 - 3 sessions or 6 hours. Experience the world of Zen Arts in three stimulating and mind expanding sessions.

Ten Session Pack - £1000 - 20 hours. Learn all the basics and more in any of the martial training styles. this includes and introduction to the healing arts and the basics of meditation.

Grading Pack - £1500 - 15 sessions or 30 hours. This pack is designed to take a student from one grade to the next. There are ten grades to Black Belt."

Looks more like an offer for them to make loads of money. Interesting though! Do you think you can buy a black belt for £15000 then?

I really don't approve of that sort of thing. Money can't buy experience!

[Sebastian]

Is Zen Martial Training as taught by the Kondokan all it's cracked up to be. I hear it is the complete martial arts aexperience where you can learn skills in healing as well as fighting but the training is heavily centered around principles of zen. What is Zen? Why is it so important? Who are the Kondokan? Do other people practce zen with their martial arts?

Hi there Stepsy,

I train with the Kondokan in England and i have done for a few years now. During my training i have studied various styles but i specialise in Kenpo. This was the style which best fitted my needs, physicality, psychology etc... However i have recently begun training in Iaido with the Kondokan. It seems that my needs have changed somewhat over the years.

Is it all that it's cracked up to be? Yes most definitely. In terms of fighting arts my skills from one to one training developed very quickly and in the early years of my training i won every competetion i entered. (Though competetion was not encouraged by my instructor).

In terms of healing arts, i now never need to go to the doctors or the chemists. Colds last one day, headaches never appear, aches and pains leave in seconds. I was able to heal my recent broken arm (a car crash) in less than two weeks.

An understanding or at least an appreciation of Zen is the underlying motivation behind all Kondokan training. Zen cannot be defined, but it can be witnessed. Particularly by watching the natural world.

Many people do not practice Zen training because they are concerned that it falls into the realm of spirituality and belief. Zen is not about belief, it is a natural force for all to witness and one that i am sure science will one day be able to qualify.

[Sebastian]

Best contact the Kondokan direct if you want any answers. They are happy to help.

[Sagacious Lu]

Off the top of my head, try 'Beginners Mind'

That's one of my favorite books- it's absolutely amazing. Zen is a great practice, but it has nothing to do with fighting. That's not the point though; the point is that that Kondokan place is obviously a load of horseshit. For starters no legitimate trainer would charge such a ridiculous amount of money. I doubt they have any business teaching either zen or martial arts.

[Sebastian]

That's one of my favorite books- it's absolutely amazing. Zen is a great practice, but it has nothing to do with fighting. That's not the point though; the point is that that Kondokan place is obviously a load of horseshit. For starters no legitimate trainer would charge such a ridiculous amount of money. I doubt they have any business teaching either zen or martial arts.

Woh! Why are you so cross?

Yes it is a good book by the way.

In my experience you get what you pay for. I'm very happy with the training and the service and would recommend the Kondokan to anybody. Really it isn't so much money. Though compared to the church hall clubs full of kids where most people have to train i do take your point.

I agree, there is some knowledge that we should all share irrespective of money. I know several of the instructors at the Kondokan and they are good people. Specialists in their own seperate martial arts and very generous with their time and knowledge. Don't be too quick to judge.

Peace.

[Stepsy]

It's way tooooooooo expensive for me!

I heard that Madonna trains in martial arts at the kondokan and someone from the English royal family. Are you from the royal family Sebastian?

If it's good enough for them I don't think it's gonna be horsesh1t! However you are sagacious! :-)