Awareness-Mindfulness-Now-Present Moment

Awareness is being mindful. Mindful is an inclination to be aware or having awareness. It is a certain vigilance in observing what one experiences. To have "Mindful Awareness" one is to be aware of awareness. This implies that one is aware of self and has a capacity to reflect.

This is our way of explaining the awareness one must use to remain in a state of "avoidance" in the martial system of karate. This also speaks of the "Way or Do" of bu-do, karate-do, etc.

To achieve a level of proficiency in karate-do one must have equilibrium in awareness. The one spoken of here of the self and then that of what you experience.  This experience is not limited to conflict of fighting yet it must be taught and practiced by individuals so they remain aware of all the present moment experiences that may or may not include any form of conflict.

Remain aware of the self to control our actions and reactions as we experience life and what it offers us at each and every unique moment, not past or future but the now of the moment as fleeting as it is or may be.

The practice of any budo promotes this type of mental training yet it seems as if that is focused solely on the fighting art or martial system being taught and practiced. It becomes clear as one progresses that it is merely a singular form of practice that can and does open the connections to all of what we are capable.

To parry a strike or punch in reality is no different than parrying a verbal assault. We do this parry by not allowing the verbal assault to reach our emotional monkey thus keeping it reined in or shackled so our logical side can act or react appropriately.

Once one opens the mind to all that is present and allow it to lead us and guide our travels we connect to the tribe, the group, society, our world, nature and the Universe and all the energies that propel us from this exact moment into the next and so on.

Ah, you say, what has this to do with the ken-po goku-i? Awareness, mindfulness, the self, etc. are all referenced within the goku-i.

Awareness of our bodies, the energies that circulate like the sun and moon. Our bodies weight for weight transfer to build energy and power in movement, i.e. body is like a weight where we use our bodies weight as it moves to build momentum which is the bases for power.

Seeing and Hearing is tantamount to both seeing and hearing our environment to perceive all things in the present moment both benign and not. Seeing and hearing within ourselves those weaknesses to build a better person.

To see or hear in all directions means in the environment as well as in ourselves, others, and society. Unlimited and when present and mindful you see and hear things most others take for granted.

The body changing direction not only to movement, another stone in the power chain, but movement within the self that promotes the way.

See, there are connections in all that we do, hear, see, say, feel and perceive: Awareness, mindful of awareness, aware of awareness for each present moment. The now of our existence for the now is always now.

Heaven and Earth as representative of all the Universe with all its present moments of life giving energy that we are able to perceive and tap into if we remain mindful; aware of awareness; awareness of the Universe's primordial energy that permeates all.