AJAAJA NNEWSLETTEREWSLETTER Volume XXXV, Issue 1 Winter 2012 Special points of interest: 2012 AJA dues are due The Concept of Zanshin in Japanese Martial Arts now. Please see your Reginald Lee Heefner sensei to submit as soon as possible. The concept of zanshin in Japa- written with the Sino-Japanese name), it also means “to take nese martial arts (bugei) and character heed.” So together, quite liter- martial ways (budo) is not easily ally, the two characters mean defined. For the moment, let us “remaining heart/mind” or use “a heightened state of alert- “remaining attention.” ness once one opponent has been dispatched” as a working Nelson’s classic Japanese-English definition, though it may be a bit dictionary does not list the clumsy. I personally believe that the basic meaning of which is compound for zanshin. How- it is not something that can be “to remain; be left over; linger; ever, it is listed in the Kojien, a explicitly taught, though a good stay; survive.” 1 comprehensive Japanese- sensei can draw students’ atten- Japanese dictionary that native tion toward its attainment, The syllable shin is the Sino speakers use then they are which happens only of its own Japanese character for “heart”2 stumped by the meaning of a Inside this issue: accord after decades of rigorous compound. Here it states that training. zanshin is “an attitude of mental preparedness for an enemy’s In order to get a better handle counter-attack once a technique The Pre-Emptive 2 on the term, I believe it can be has been effected in the art of Strike apprehended theoretically by sword or the art of the bow.” examining the meaning of the This character also expresses Thus, as we might well have two Sino-Japanese characters the semantic range of “mind, surmised, the origins of the The AJA: More 3 used to write the compound spirit, mentality, attention, in- concept inhere in the sword, Than Just Insur- that represents the concept. tention, interest, will, and true with a carry-over into the theo- meaning.” Combined with the ance retical and practical framework The syllable zan in zanshin is Japanese verb sura (to do, to (Continued on page 4) Newsletter Sub- 3 missions Stay On Your Feet About the AJA 5 J.D. McCurdy, President If attacked on the street, remain because they have studied self- tion of my closest karate friend. standing if at all possible. No defense strategies, and we have Promotions 5 one should want to go to the discussed such situations off and An aiki-ju-jutsu friend empha- ground. Hitting concrete or on over the years. I’m re- sized that the ground hurts (no asphalt will hurt. minded of what Sensei Al Gard- matter how well you are versed ner said at a camp at the Uni- in uekmi on hard surfaces), but When I decided on this topic, I versity Of Maryland one sum- he had mixed thoughts about knew where my thoughts were mer: “Dennis, as a karate-ka I the subject. According to his and why but was interested in will kick you and punch you to ryu, standing is the default strat- what other good martial artists I the ground so you will not get egy. Going to the ground is know thought about it. I al- up.” I got the same response either a last resort and danger- ready had a pretty good idea, when I recently asked the ques- (Continued on page 4) Page 2 AJA Newsletter The Pre-Emptive Strike David Patton In thinking about self-defense I was not the primary aggressor. disable the attacker and ensure have often asked myself when Of course, we do not know all the success of your defense. and where a pre-emptive strike of the dynamics of this event, Remember, this is a violent or “first blow” would be ap- but let us assume that she had robbery where a deadly propriate. It is important for been battered for years and weapon is used. There is noth- people who train as we do to knew from his body language ing that says you have to wait go through a kind of mental and statements that he had to be struck before striking scenario from time to time. every intention of hurting her. out. Doing so has proven to make Why would anyone believe that people sharper and more pre- she would have to yield or try The aggressive incidents de- pared when confronted with to run away before striking scribed above are potentially the prospect of real violence. first? very violent, a fact that justifies For those of us who study a pre-emptive maneuver. Keep “There is under the Budoshin system, it is Let us look at another situation in mind that most assaults are common practice to yield and that could happen to any of us. far less likely to harm people nothing that block before stunning and strik- You have just left the local mall physically. The prospect of ing or kicking. Of course, it is after shopping. You are in a being shoved or touched in an says you have our obligation as good citizens dark parking lot trying to get offensive manner will probably to avoid, evade, create dis- into your car. Just then, a man not justify a pre-emptive strike. to wait to be tance, and/or run whenever walks up behind you with a tire In most cases you will have to possible to thwart conflict. iron in his hand and says, “Give “yield” first. Students should struck before me all your cash or I’m gonna practice in reality-based situa- However, as a police officer for bust you up!” Just as you reach tions whenever possible, while striking out.” the last 23 years, I can tell you for your wallet, he raises the acting and responding in a re- that there are times when a iron as if to strike. What do sponsible and prudent way. person can defend him- or you do? Most of us know that This requires more than just herself lawfully by striking first. Osoto Gari would work well in dojo practice. It requires discus- For example, take a domestic this situation. Most of us do sions of legal matters, research- violence case: An abused not see that technique as pre- ing case law, speaking with woman faces her batterer. His emptive, but it is! You counter- lawyers about self-defense hands clinched, he looks very attack the attacker before he cases, training in real life sce- angry, and he says, “I’m going has a chance to complete the narios, etc. I not only train my to make sure, once and for all, strike. [Editor’s Note: This people in kata and waza, I ex- that you do what I say.” The might be an example of sen sen plain to them why we do what woman has no immediate es- no sen, as described in Reginald we do and what the ramifica- cape and decides she is not Heefner’s article, although that tions might be. We train with- going to go back to the hospital concept often applies to subtler out gi tops, with blindfolds, and again. Before he has a chance forms of threat.] If the tire iron in inferior positions to make to do or say anything else, she goes past the apex of his swing the training as real as possible. strikes him hard, breaking his (where his strike is most pow- The more you train in real jaw, and runs to safety. In erful), it will be too late and the terms, the better off you will many cases, despite the fact Osoto Gari will not work. So be when faced with a real dan- that she struck first, she may this is the time to strike. Now, ger. not be held at fault, since it can as most Yudansha know, you reasonably be inferred that she can amplify this technique to Volume XXXV, Issue 1 Page 3 The AJA: More Than Just Insurance George Kirby, Chairman For some sensei and students, the AJA don’t even have to meet on the outside sensei at black belt boards. is like a shoebox in the back of the same mat! It’s good PR for you, the sensei, closet with the word “Insurance” on it. and your students will appreciate it However, others see the AJA for what The AJA publishes the AJA News- too. it is – a service organization. You might letter. David Boesel and Will Har- ask, besides providing insurance, what ris have been doing an excellent job There are also AJA sensei who’d else does the AJA do? Well, it does a putting out issues of the newsletter love to teach a seminar at your lot! as an online publication. If you’re a dojo. This could be a good fund- sensei, you should be giving the link raiser for your dojo. All you have The AJA provides national certifi- to your students or providing them to do is ask. cates of rank, which are recognized with printed copies. You are en- in AJA dojo throughout the county. couraged to write an article for the The AJA can do a lot for you and your The certificates, required for all newsletter, whether you’re a sensei dojo – but you’ve got to get the shoe- members sankyu and higher, are or a student. Sensei Dave also box out of the closet. Use the AJA logo nice looking and inexpensive.