Budo - The Martial Way
KORINJI BUDOJO 光林寺武道場
"Zen without the accompanying physical experience is nothing but empty discussion. Budo without truly realizing the mind is nothing but beastly behavior. We agree to undertake all of this as the essence of our training."
- Omori Sogen Roshi
Korinji’s Zen lineage stresses that genuine spiritual practice is embodied and energetically vital. For this reason, physical disciplines like martial arts are especially valued because they train body, breath, energy, and fearlessness in ways that complement Zen. This is the path of Zen-Ken-Sho, “Zen-Sword-Brush”: the unity of Zen practice, martial discipline, and fine arts.
Korinji Budojo is the division of the monastery overseeing our martial curriculum. Training encompasses practice of tachi and kodachi (long and short sword), batto (sword-drawing), juken and tanken (bayonet), and taijutsu (body methods). Through practice of forms that arose on the edge of life and death, students polish their spirits like swords. In this training, the enemy to be faced is not another person, but the fear, hesitation, anger, and attachment within oneself.
Monastery residents undertake this training as part of their intensive immersion. A monthly class is also open to all members, along with periodic intensive martial arts training events and retreats hosted at Korinji and elsewhere. Please see the Calendar for more information.
Budo organizations with which we are associated include:
The Aikikai Foundation/Aikido World H.Q. through Aikido Shimbokukai,
and The International Jukendo Federation.
