Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Cold Weather Training


Kangeiko, or mid-winter training, is a form of shugyo training. It is an austere training. It is a mind-body training regimen, i.e. karate training in the dead of winder - a Japanese traditional martial training. It is about training the mind while subjecting the body to winter extremes as one might do for shugyo. It is a process of individual growth through martial training that subjects the practitioner to things normally not endured. 

Kangeiko or cold training is a type of toughness training. I look at it as a mind-state training. If the mind does not experience hardships then it will not remain fluid when hardships are encountered. Hardships teach us to endure and persevere. We force ourselves to perform under difficult and painful conditions to strengthen the individuals spirit by teaching us about our true limitations or as I like to say, our limitless abilities. 

It is an annual challenge to the dojo and its practitioners. It is about engaging in practices that bring the practitioner closer to perceived limits so they may surpass them thus teaching them about their limitless abilities. It is about pushing yourself so as to develop the ability to surpass the stresses of combat, fighting and self-defense.

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