Sei chûshin-dô is not the name of a martial art per se or a style of karate. Sei chûshin-dô is the synthesis of Butoku-kan philosophy and the thinking of our master Taketo Okuda.
During decades of training, Sensei Okuda improved and developed in the three modalities we teach: Karate, Kyoken-jutsu and Taikyoku-ken. However, this division gradually became merely didactic, because in practice the border between them disappeared.
When he trained alone or when he taught more advanced classes, sensei Okuda did not separate one technique from the other. Each of them contributes in a way to our development.
_cc781905-5cde-3194 -bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ _cc781905 -5cde-3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ forge in us all the warrior spirit necessary; creates the necessary discipline and constancy for those who want to follow a spiritual path.
nteaches them to perceive and develop our real center which is our source of energy; brings us closer to our true self, our essence.
_cc781905-5cde-3194 -bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ _cc781905 -5cde-3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ _cc781905-5cde-3194- bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ _cc781905- 5cde-3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ _cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b- 136bad5cf58d_ helps us relax deeply and feel the energy flow in our body so that we can blend with the energy of the Universe.
Despite being independent, each of these techniques are complementary and the union of the three synthesizes the philosophy of Butoku-kan. The word Sei chûshin-dô means: “Way to the royal center”.
Karate emerged in Japan at the end of the 19th century, during the Meiji Restoration, at the end of the Shogunate (a time when the nation was controlled by the Samurais).
In order to govern without the threat of a possible revolt, the Emperor sought to dilute the Bushi tradition (Ethical Principle of the Samurais), with a ban on carrying swords.
The Samurais, however, with the aim of keeping the warrior spirit alive, began to practice "clandestinely" a Martial Art that did not use weapons, but which transformed the body into a deadly weapon.
Far from wanting to teach people how to use their bodies to fight, Butoku-kan seeks to recover the philosophical and spiritual dimension of this Martial Art in its origins.
There is a governing center in our body, responsible for both body stability and contact with
the universe. This center, called Sei Chushin, is located in the region between the lumbar and lower abdomen.
The way to discover and strengthen our real center
is the aim of Kyoken-jutsu. Once this mysterious universe is activated within us, we feel our body fill with energy and spirit. This energy promotes a great increase in health and also immerses us in the essence of our true being.
Kyoken-jutsu is a set of exercises, which through breathing and posture correction, explores and intensifies the strength of this center, strengthens the body base and seeks constant balance. With its practice, Sei Chushin becomes a dynamic zen, which is the foundation of all martial arts, a joint work between body, mind and spirit.
Contrasting with the fast pace of everyday life, Taikyoku-ken combines slow, smooth and graceful body movements, seeking harmony between the spirit and the universe. Combined with proper breathing, these dance-like movements activate the body's stagnant energy, stimulating blood circulation and promoting several benefits to the practitioner's general health. An art that aims to relax both body and mind.
It is an activity that does not require much physical effort, on the contrary, it is comfortable. It is not violent or tiring and its movements are easy to assimilate. The right mental attitude is concentrated stillness. It is the interior that starts to move the exterior.