Zanshin

Today is a very special day for me: I received my nidan (2nd degree black belt) from my sensei. Two months ago, I endured a grueling physical and mental test in the effort to promote to this level. I utilized not only the nearly 10 years of karate training, but my insights from my study of hypnosis and related topics in order to not only make it through the four hour process, but to excel while doing so.

Coincidentally (or not!), today my sensei talked about finding zanshin in our martial arts practice. The spirit of zanshin is the state of the remaining or lingering spirit. It is often described as a sustained and heightened state of awareness and mental follow-through. However, true zanshin is a state of focus or concentration before, during, and after the execution of a technique, where a link or connection between block and attack is preserved. Zanshin is the state of mind that allows us to stay spiritually connected, not only to a single attacker, but to multiple attackers and even an entire context; a space, a time, an event.

This left me thinking of the importance of applying zanshin to my hypnosis practice. Too many times, I used to be preoccupied with the next step of guiding the client, of how I would end up at the desired outcome...missing out on a total focus and involvement with the moment at hand. I have learned to grow past this limitation and continue to consciously remind myself to experience zanshin in my hypnotic work...hoping that eventually, it will become automatic.

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Comment by Amy Marsh on October 17, 2011 at 6:14am: This is so inspiring! Congratulations!

Comment by Kelley Woods on October 14, 2011 at 6:27am: Ah, Dennis...one of the usages of zanshin is that you might only need to walk up behind me, no tapping required! Hai!

Comment by Kelley Woods on October 14, 2011 at 6:26am: Hello, Anthony. I do use hypnotic approaches in the dojo...sometimes I help teach and need to address not only my own fears and pain, but others'. Many of my karateka now use a belt-tightening anchor to enter their "karate zone"! I regularly use negative hallucination to ignore spectators at competitions.

I have only once had to use physical martial arts in the hypnosis office, when a client leaped out of trance and grabbed me. He was not injured by my response, but I did refer him out to a mental health pro. Otherwise, yes, the principles of MA have worked beautifully on my journey to improve not only myself through hypnosis, but in building my practice.

I was fortunate to be able to visit Okinawa, the home of my style of karate. THAT was an incredible trip and I want to return one day.

Arigato gozaimasu!

Comment by Anthony Lucas on October 14, 2011 at 5:29am: Congratulations on your promotion. Martial arts certainly is one of many ways to attain zanshin. I use it in my practice as well as my budo training. Kelley, have you use hypnosis principles in your martial arts training and used your martial arts principles in your hypnotherapy practice? In the dojo, I've taught arm catalpsy to my students.. The funny thing, there quick to associate this strategy as esoteric, then simply suggestions.. LOL

What style do you study? Have you been to Asia yet?

In Japanese we have a saying, "Gambatte Kudasei" - Please keep going!

All the best,

Anthony

Comment by Dennis Atkinson on October 13, 2011 at 5:21pm: Congratulations! Remind me to never come up behind you and tap you on the shoulder :)

Comment by George Guarino on October 13, 2011 at 6:25am: Congratulations and thank you for sharing. It reminds me that the study of hypnosis is much more than simply reading books with hypnosis in the title. So many lessons are all around us. Your passion and commitment to self growth and awareness will serve you well. It serves me just to read your words. G

Comment by Kelley Woods on October 12, 2011 at 9:08am: Thank you, everyone! I'm happy to share my accomplishments and am sure that you each have your own that mean as much...

Comment by Kelley Woods on October 12, 2011 at 9:07am: Hi Don,

That's an interesting question, about the relationship between zanshin and rapport. I feel it would be ideal to include a client (or conversely, step into the client's state) in one's experience of zanshin. This would automatically result in rapport. Would being in rapport establish a sense of zanchin? Probably!

As John C. stated, it's a wonderful place wherein the peripheral ceases to influence. To visit there with a client affords many healing possibilities!

In fact, when I am in the act of sparring (which I often reframe as dancing) and I achieve zanshin, my opponent is there with me. I sense, on a gut level, not only who they are, but what their intent and even plans for implementation for that intent are. Another karate term that describes the ability to pre-empt attacks is sen-no-sen. This is the subconscious response, relayed physically, to subconscious cues from the opponent.

Can you think of when you might react to a client, while in a state of zanshin, with sen-no-sen? It's a lovely dance!

Comment by Kathleen Hanover on October 12, 2011 at 4:27am: Congratulations on your achievement, Kelley. :)

Comment by Don on October 12, 2011 at 3:46am: Felicidades, Kelley!

I'm intrigued by any similarities and differences you might see between Zanshin and the hypnotic phenomenon of rapport. Could rapport perhaps be expanded by means of suggestion to incorporate various properties of Zanshn, to the benefit of both hypnotist and client?

Don