Meditation: The mind, like the body,
benefits from training. Weekly meditation classes are available based on the form of Rinzai Zen, the style
preferred by the Samurai warriors of Japan.
While Zen's ultimate goal is Satori (enlightenment), for martial
art students, the emphasis is on what may be considered a byproduct,
Mushin (lit. no mind).
Mushin refers to the state of mind
that is alert and unclouded by the barrage of
thoughts that confront us from one moment to the next. It is that state of
mind that resides in the now.
In addition to seated meditation the class occasionally
meditates in standing positions (pictured).
Meditation is open to everyone.
Ki training: Aikitaiso (Aikido exercises)
and ki exercises were created specifically for the development of
centering, both mentally and physically. Typically, ki training's emphasis
has been on physical centering and stability.