UNDERSTANDING SABAKI
In the martial arts, we voluntarily subject ourselves to conflict in a training environment so we can transcend conflict in the real world. After all, we wouldn’t knowingly train in a style that makes us weaker or worsens our position. The irony of all this is that we don’t want to fight our opponent. We prefer to work with what an opponent gives us to turn the tide in our favor, to resolve the situation effectively and efficiently.
The Japanese have a word for this: sabaki. It means to work with energy efficiently. When we train with the sabaki mindset, we receive our opponent’s attack, almost as a gift. Doing so requires less physical effort and frees up our mental operating system so it can determine the most efficient solution to the conflict.
In this essay, I will present a brief history of sabaki, as well as break down the sabaki method using Miyamoto Musashi’s five elements.
BRIEF HISTORY
Musashi was a samurai who lived during the 17 century. In feudal Japan, he was regarded as a or sword saint. Toward the end of his life, he wrote a classic on strategy and philosophy. It delineates the elements of air, water, fire, earth and the void. The timeless beauty of this text lies in the way it can help us understand those elements in a way that improves our skill in combat, as well as our ability to comprehend human nature.
