Meditation and Martial Arts Part 1

“Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.” 

-Thich Nhat Hanh

 

“That deep silence has a melody of its own, a sweetness unknown amid the harsh discords of the world's sounds.” 

-Paul Brunton

In this section I will begin a series of posts on Meditating. This part focuses on the simple mechanics to start meditating.

Meditating is beneficial to our health, and mental state of being. It allows for greater mental control, as well as being able to better enjoy life. One can take as little as five to fifteen minutes to do this daily, and will almost immediately begin to see positive results.

In the martial arts meditation is essential to developing awareness, allowing us benefits in combat, greater emotional control, thus allowing us to begin discarding the distractions such as anger or pain can cause, and increasing focus which is especially important in martial arts. Focus alone is something many people desire to develop, allowing one to concentrate on activities for longer durations of time. People such as myself with ADHD can very much benefit from this simple exercise.

So to begin, how can, and how does one begin to meditate?

There are multiple methods one can utilize, but I will focus only on those I was taught in martial arts and in yoga.

There are two general states of ming one should strive for in meditation. The first is single mindedness, where we focus on a sensation; our breathing, a sound, something seen or envisioned, a thought or emotion among many, many others.

The second state of mind is no minded-ness; if the human mind can be alikened to that of a cloudy sky, with thoughts being like clouds; constantly formed and shifting and moving, than this state is one of a clear sky. We become conscious, and we slip from time and space, and when we exit this state, it is difficult to tell where we have been and how much time has passed. This state is what can lead us to truly see our inner essence and being, and in part 3 I will elaborate on how to enter this state and how it can benefit us.

To begin meditation take a seat of comfort, or position taught by your meditative school of thought. This is generally a kind of seated position, such as legs crossed indian style or in the buttfly stretch position, to even the more complex lotus. The kneeling, such as in Christian prayer or seiza seated position, to lying down. Do what is comfortable for you; pain will be a distraction to the meditative process, unless you are using it as something to afix on or learn how to move past. I generally recommend that one be as comfortable as possible.

Keep your back as straight as possible for the duration. If you have back problems do not worry too much about this, but if slouched it becomes a problem where one gets too comfortable and then nod off. We are looking to meditate, not go to sleep after all.

Focus on your breathing; breathe first through your nose, then out through your mouth. Start with counts of two; 1- in, 2-out. Then to counts of 4. 1-Breathe in, 2- Breathe out, 3- Breathe in, 4- Breathe out. Your first breath should fill your abdommen, your focus on your dantien, your second inhalation should focus on filling your upper lungs. It is a process, and this will enable better focus.

When your mind becomes distracted it is ok. Do not be dissapointed, just restart the count again. The more you do this, the more you will find yourself not distracted over time and practice.

Attempt not to fidget, remaining as still as possible.

One can meditate with their eyes open or closed, though I have always found it easier to do with the eyes closed to reach better mental clarity. I have heard that sight accounts for up to 80% of what we observe, and thus, if we close our eyes, we greatly limit what can distract us.

Your hands should be placed over the dantien, or one on each knee. This is a position that should not wear out the arms, and their shape should be that of a circle. This will create a subtle thought in your consciousness and subconscious that you are connected with yourself.

Namaste.




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