IOGKF International Magazine | Page 8

nique…’) would render that person fixed on one course of action. If anything other than the anticipated attack occurs, that person now has to first break his/her train of thought and then think of what to do, all the while probably getting hit for being too slow. Keeping a clear mind that can reflexively respond is the product of a very relaxed yin mind that came from the consumption of a yang state of training. The last correlation that I would like to share is evident at the closing ceremony of every Goju-Ryu class with the recital of the Dojo Kun. Composed of 5 ways to improve one’s character, one of the Dojo Kun translates to ‘Train your mind and body, strive to reach the essence of Goju-Ryu.’ The essence of Goju-Ryu lie within the spiritual or meditative side of training in which one tries to be in balance with one’s own nature and the nature of the universe. The Yin-Yang Model provides a framework that illustrates how this goal is obtainable by balancing opposing elements that are independent, transitional and mutually consuming and supportive within a person. My karate training makes it easy to appreciate the advantages of utilizes such dichotomous elements in order to defend myself; being able to transition between a hard (resilient) and soft (yielding) body and a hard (active) and soft (receptive) mind. Practicing Sanchin kata, where this paradox is the focus, is the way that I best internalize the Naturalists School’s requirments for applying the Yin-Yang Model. The Yin-Yang of GojuRyu.