MOVEMENT

 by Phillip Starr

The martial ways are really a panapoly of movement; there is often jostling and clashing...weapons of steel, wood, or bamboo twitch and flash, hands and feet shoot out quickly, the quick jolts of the judo/jujutsu practitioners as they strive to take their opponents to the mat, the sudden thrust of the staff, the snap of the arrow from the bow.... These called “yundong” (“movements”) in Chinese and “sabaku” in Japanese.

The Japanese character for sabaku means “to judge decisively a cut.” This is readily applied to the kimono maker; if he makes a proper cut, he will get all that he needs with a single cut so than none of the precious cloth is wasted. And so, the movements of the bugeisha (practitioner of the martial ways) are described with this in mind...

Sabaku is not random motion; there is no nervous fidgeting or displaced movement such as we see in untrained people or prey animals when they're faced with the stress of an impending attack. Rather, his movements are calculated. He conserves his energy. Sabaku is the movement of the predator. Tigers don't roar when they attack their prey, eagles, falcons, and hawks don't flutter or scream when they dive down on their quarry. In the midst of chaos, fear, and mutual danger, they appear quite relaxed. Their actions are the essence of economy.

Could it be that the ability to relax, move easily and economically, and release energy only when it is required are the reasons that allow the advanced martial artist to continue to practice long after other athletes have had to shelve their chosen activities? His/Her movements seem almost leisurely while younger practitioners exhaust themselves by exerting unnecessary power or effort in almost every movement.

Certainly, it's no coincidence that these senior martial artists remained active even in old age. And when death finally comes, it is as a flame that has burned its candle to the end. It sputters and then is extinguished. It is reminiscent of the decisive cut of the kimono maker, cutting with absolute precision. Not a single shred of cloth is wasted...