Warlike Demons & Buddhist Discipline + Hidden Technique (秘密技)

It has been said that even a warlike demon born from hellfire may find redemption in the light of Buddha.

I have always been partial to the demons of Japan, found in tattoos, and artwork through out the country. Histories as well. Often I aspire to such primal, physical mastery of my own body. To be a demon in the flesh, is something I think of often while training. I shout *KIAI (気合) while lifting weights as well. It’s a powerful technique you know.

If there is such a thing as a demon, what makes a man a demon? I have read, that a demon cannot find enlightenment. I wonder, if that is what makes a man a demon? Can a demon reach enlightenment?

*Kiai (気合) are spirit shouts (read: Japanese battlecry) used in martial arts in conjunction with a technique to execute more power (they work very, very well); they’re old as hell, they’re ancient and they’re a Japanese technique.

*There has (not) been (enough) a lot of cross-talk across all the martial arts traditions so a lot of techniques have drifted into and across various martial arts traditions and informed each other (but nobody knows everything) now a days, there needs to be more advanced learning from the strength & conditioning side of things introduced into martial arts as well.

*The truth is a very strong martial artist who is also adept in training the technique (技), must become formidable through practice and confrontation, matches also improve a student’s ability, but there is always danger and threat of injury while training. It’s important to win. It is not true that a person cannot learn while winning, either.

*The true technique at its best must be like a rushing water in flow, moving seamlessly, without error and hacking down the adversary like a powerful torrent to the stunning conclusion of victory and the vanquishing of the enemy (opponent)

*Kiai are however, a type of Battlecry. I will disagree with the notion that the fighting spirit must always be excessively concealed or excessively cool as well. KIAI!

*(The sound can sound a lot different from the word kiai, it’s actually something that can be practiced, if you need it to, I usually say HYA! Like Link from Legend of Zelda, because it works well. Really Link is using Kiai to enhance his strength and power with a battlecry, the neurological activity involved when someone tenses while using a battlecry is extreme, it is spiritual, and a lot like it’s own art form to be added to training. Again, however it is important not to rely excessively on kiai without properly training technique and athleticism. Likewise, kiai, enhances courage and bravery and commitment in the middle of the battle.)

*(There is, it would appear to me, a deep physiological and neurological advantage to subtle use of kiai, be careful not to wear your self out, or rely excessively on kiai, you need strength and technique too. However kiai is still something that can be practiced and improved on. Also, try it out while weightlifting, it can improve the strength of the kiai, as well as the power exerted by the athlete while lifting, as well as in the training hall, or in a real fight or confrontation)

*The Way is in Training.