Zen Breathing Seminar

    Sounds very strong and anti-martial arts philosophy but Isshin Ryu was designed by Master Tatsuo Shimabukuro to teach Marines a very simple but deadly means of combating an enemy very quickly and effectively.
Master Shimabukuro did not think this method up himself. Masters Choki Motobu and Chojun Miyagi taught Zen breathing methods to Master Tatsuo Shimabukuro.
    Master Shimabukuro incorporated these methods into the Isshin Ryu system by the systematic use of proper breathing techniques to create a path to a plateau where a student, in effect, hypnotizes himself. The katas are designed to create a state of oxygen narcosis where a chemical change is produced in the blood stream.
    Tatsuo Shimabukuro, along with Eiko Kaneshi, in teaching this plan would repel from a tree or telephone pole upside down, pictures of which I have. And in doing so this would force the blood to rush to his head creating a state of hypoxia, that condition which starves the tissues of oxygen.
    This is the exact state that our bodies are subjected to when practicing proper breathing methods. In this state our minds become open to suggestion. When Seisan is completed using thirteen breaths, Seiunchin using four breaths, and Naihanchi only one, a student then can perform Sanchin effectively, using the ten moves, ten breaths to allow the mind to open to suggestion.
    To prove this to yourself, that is providing you use breathing methods, do Sanchin two ways. First perform it telling yourself how tired you will be when you complete the kata, and you will be. Now again perform Sanchin telling yourself how good you will feel, and you will. Even with poor training you will feel a difference. To go another step further, each of you are plagued with dreams (unless you are training properly) where you are trying to protect a loved one from harm, and each of you have the same feeling of uselessness and impotence, meaning when you strike or kick your moves seem to have no effect on your enemy.
    The cure for these dreams is simple, as is the answer for this phenomenon to happen. When you are playing kata you must see and feel the effects of your moves. You must have the feeling of "One Punch, One Kill". You must see the damage your moves are doing. You must see blood fly much like the video games portray. Somewhere in training, self-confidence will dominate your mind and this in turn will cause you to be able to accept aggressive acts and treat them as minor irritations. This in turn then causes you to gain peace and your mind will allow you to concentrate on more important things.
    Tournament fighting will become a snap when you concentrate only on what you are doing, not what is going to be done to you.