護身術 Go Shin Jutsu The Art of Self Defense. 護-Go-Protect, Defend; 身-Shin-Oneself, the Body; 術-Jutsu-Art.  The art of defending oneself, the body; physicality. This is an important first step and usually the one that starts the martial journey for many. At this level, one is concerned with the physical aspects of self protection. This could include but not be limited to conditioning the body, learning techniques, and much practice until your physical body becomes one with the skills.

    There was a karate master here in Japan, he said that the art of self defense should be written not as above, but as 護心術. The middle character being changed to heart, meaning protection of the heart. Pronounced the same but with a totally different meaning! The amazing thing about the Kanji or Chinese characters that the Japanese use so heavily is that they can be manipulated to totally change the meaning or flavor of a statement but still retain the same pronunciation. It makes for some startling revelations and allows for a fixed idea to suddenly blossom and expand as a single seed is to a forest and beyond. Fixed ideas are like anchors on our spirits. We should be willing to cut loose the anchors of fixed concepts and allow our spirits to soar in the infiniteness of possibility. So here, Self Defense has morphed into Protection of the Heart. This has again many meanings for each individual. Protection of loved ones, family, community, country cetera. Essential in life as we know it.

    But is this the best Go Shin Jutsu? We are still in a defensive posture, inward facing, guarding, fearful, dug in, defending with sharp points and straight edges. Based on the teachings of my Sensei and others, it would seem that a more meaningful translation of Go Shin Jutsu may perhaps be written as 悟心術. Again similar pronunciation but now it reads The Art of Enlightening the Heart.  The art of opening the heart or unfolding the heart to the world. This, I feel, is the true meaning of Go Shin Jutsu.  Only by the opening your heart and the throwing away of fixed ideas will you be able to move with ease and correct spontaneity in the space of which we are all a part. Examples of this can be seen throughout the history of war. There is the famous Japanese saying "To win without drawing your sword". Or the biblical saying "Love Thy Enemy". Or an old saying that my teacher taught me. " Don`t draw your sword, if you do draw, don`t cut! Know that taking life is sacred and of utmost importance". Or take a lesson from the great Father of the Turks, Ataturk, who fought so valiantly at the battle of Gallipoli during world war one where thousands of soldiers died assaulting Turkish troops. After the battles ended his memorial to the fallen soldiers stands as follows: "Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives...You are now living in the soil of a friendly country.  Therefore rest in peace.  There is no difference between the johnnies and the mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours...You, the mothers who sent their sons from far away countries wipe away your tears.  Your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace.  After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well."

    All artists of martial skill should be aware of these concepts so as not to simply become a person of violence but a person of light and Martial Virtue. 武徳. Rise thru these stages as you will. It reminds me of the san shin. So with a 1, 2, and a 3, a hop, skip and a jump, find yourself leaping yet beyond all these concepts as your true artist self.