‘Sho Shin Do – Zen Kara Te’ was founded in August 1998 in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia.
The style is firmly based in Japanese Karate but has grown to incorporate a number of other influences over the last twenty plus years.
SHO SHIN
Sho means beginner and Shin means mind or heart. Having a beginner’s mind is to be open to new ideas and to the thoughts and arguments of others WITHOUT being naive or needlessly accommodating. Actually listening and understanding another persons ideas not only gives us an incredible opportunity for growth but also places us in a position to understand a conflict and how best to negotiate it.
DO
Do means a way or path. Specifically this is associated with an activity with which one seeks to better understand the self. It encourages introspection and provides a tool for developing self discipline. Whilst this technique of self-development is not unique to Japan, the etymology of adding Do to an activity to demonstrate its intended purpose is. Each of the martial arts can be found with a Do appended. Judo, Kendo, Karatedo etc. Jitsu on the other hand refers to the techniques of the martial arts. So the techniques of Jui Jitsu, used for self development, become Judo.
You will note that our martial arts is called Sho Shin Do. That is, the way to self improvement by cultivating a beginners mind. Whilst there are techniques to be practiced it is ultimately the beginner’s mindset which we seek to engender in our day to day lives.
ZEN
Zen is a Japanese word often associated with a specific type of Buddhism. The word can be translated as ‘ceremony’. In particular it is the formal practice of meditation. There are many forms of meditation and the formal Za-Zen seated meditation is actively practiced within our school. The religious elements of Buddhism are not.
KARA TE
Karate or Toudi is the name associated with the fighting art indigenous to the Ryukyu chain of islands known as Okinawa. This art is an amalgam of wrestling and boxing inspired by local traditions supplemented by the fighting techniques of China, Japan and the Philippines.
Zen karate is then, the practice of martial techniques in an effort to achieve what in current Psychological literature is referred to as a ‘flow state’. This is a state of meditative action which is associated with reduced stress and increased energy.
What about self defence?
It is essential that students of Martial Arts understand and are given the opportunity to develop effective self defence tools and strategies. Not all martial arts techniques are suitable for this. Some techniques are excessive and have the potential to cause injury disproportionate to the threat. Some techniques are historical and have little applicability in the assault scenarios faced in modern times. At Sho Shin Do students are taught a range of techniques, but a select few, very effective and suitable techniques, are designated for ‘self-defence’ training. These techniques are integrated into general training classes and practised at increasing levels of intensity to ensure students have the confidence and technical ability to initiate defence for themselves and or their loved ones.