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A handy way to exercise
 

As soon as I enter the studio at Fitness First in Queen’s Park, Bournemouth, I realise I have already made my first mistake.

Coming straight from the gym, I’m wearing a yellow T-shirt and green tracksuit bottoms (a combination that’s not as hideous as it sounds, I assure you). But everyone else is dressed from head to toe in flowing black.

I hastily turn off my mobile, as I guess the A-Team theme ringing out in the middle of the class would not be very “Zen” and try to look inconspicuous at the back. Feeling as inappropriate as if I’d turned up at a black-tie do in my pyjamas, I assumed my best “spiritual” look and waited for the class to begin...

 Shizenryu, which translates as “the natural way”, was founded in Bournemouth in 1996 by karate expert Ian Smith. Ian, a fifth dan in Wado-ryu karate, became more and more disillusioned with the discipline he taught and wanted to get back to the roots of martial arts. “Most people who go into martial arts are not particularly interested in its history,” he said. ‘They put on the white gi (uniform), which is a symbol of purity, and they want to believe they are doing something quite spiritual but, at the same time, they still want to fight and get bloody and snotty. “I always say it’s very hard for me to feel spiritual when I’m putting my foot in somebody’s face!” After years of research into the beginnings of all martial arts, going back to ancient Egypt and beyond, Ian took the parts they all had in common, or “the truth” as he calls it, and Shizenryu was born.

Shizenryu has now grown into an association of schools that specialise in the ancient art of pushing hands”.

From the outside the moves look very similar to those you might see in T’ai Chi or yoga — soft, flowing and very graceful. There are, however, very deep philosophical roots to the practice, and all the moves have reason behind them. I don’t have anywhere near enough space here to do these theories justice but as one member of the group said: “Shizenryu is not just a class, it teaches you a new way of life”. For those of you scoffing in disbelief and waiting for me to add “man” at the end of every sentence, there are more tangible, practical benefits. Shizenryu teaches proper breathing techniques which are excellent for combating stress and increasing concentration. Other physical benefits include increased muscle tone and flexibility. I’ve always thought I was pretty flexible and was secretly quite pleased when I managed to touch my toes within five minutes of starting the class. I peeked smugly around, and the smile was wiped abruptly off my face as most of the others in the room had their entire palms flat on the floor! Surely it’s not normal to be able to bend yourself in half like that?

The class started with everyone kneeling on the floor, hands pressed together and eyes closed. I ought it best to keep my eyes open m case I missed the point where everyone stood up, or worse, fell asleep, and took the opportunity to look around at the people in the class. Everyone looked very serene and relaxed. We moved on to a sequence called “salute to the sun”, which will be familiar to any of you who have tried yoga before. Teacher Sally Woods stayed by my side and whispered instructions in my ear to ensure I didn’t go too far wrong.  I did have some trouble putting arms, legs and various other body parts in the places they were supposed to be, and I don’t think my snorts of laughter (at my own efforts, I hasten to add) went down particularly well, but I did find the whole experience very invigorating indeed. Sally then took me to one side, presumably to prevent me from disturbing the class any further, and went through some breathing techniques. To do this you have to stand pigeon-toed with your knees bent and bottom out — not a method I would employ if you’re trying to impress someone — and then, using hand and arm movements, you take yourself through the three stages of breathing diaphragm, chest and throat — and back again. I imagine a heavy smoker may keel over attempting this as it works your lungs to their capacity, but again, it felt good. I was seduced by the idea of participating in something so spiritual but this will unfortunately be my only taste of Shizenryu for some considerable time as all the classes are full and have long waiting lists. It has begun to expand to other parts of the South West, including Bristol and Exeter, and the word of Shizenryu has even spread as far as Canada, Spain and, most recently, Hawaii, where Ian travelled to instruct monks from the International Institute for Zen Research.

Ian explains Shizenryu by calling it “the missing link between martial art and meditation”. The effects of the moves performed in the class are very calming — it can be described as physical meditation — and it works by occupying the conscious mind with the sequences of pushing hands with a partner, so the subconscious mind is free to heal itself. Well, that’s the theory anyway. Ian is extremely passionate about the practice and talked at length about its foundations and the future, which is looking pretty good. “What we’re trying to do at the moment is produce more teachers, so we can take more people in,” he said. “We need to make sure what we do here remains consistent, because that’s what went wrong with martial arts in the first place — everybody was trying to do what they wanted with it.”

Daily Echo Magazine: September 7. 2002

Shizenryu has now grown into an association of schools that specialise in the ancient art of pushing hands”.

Copyright © 1996 by Shizenryu. All rights reserved.
Revised: 06 Feb 2010 14:56:51 -0000 .