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Quiet Minds, Empty Hands

The practise helps us to deal with our complex and sometimes stressful lives

THE MONKS of the Shaolin Temple would have understood but most visitors to Southbourne beach stare in curiosity at the group practising Pushing Hands, one of the most ancient martial arts, on the sand. Pushing Hands, also known as Shizenryu, was developed by Buddhist and Taoist monks about 1,500 years ago to help them reach a meditative state, but it is now being taught in Bournemouth by top teacher Ian Smith. Ian took up the martial arts when he was just 10 years old and after gaining a Fifth Dan Black Belt in Karate he gradually became disillusioned with contemporary martial arts. He joined a research group dedicated to studying the origins of the art and as a result of their findings he formed Shizenryu. At Oxford University in 1996 Ian was awarded the Menkyo Kaiden, the highest possible honour in the empty-hand arts. 

Ian believes Shizenryu, which combines the mental discipline of yoga with the physical movements of the martial arts, can help relaxation, improve breathing and concentration and combat stress.  The empty-hand art is performed in pairs with the exponents linking their arms and reacting subconsciously to the exchange of forces.

Ian, who has been teaching martial arts for over 20 years, explained: “It centres on the three cycles of mind, body and spirit and uses simple, fluid and spontaneous movements as opposed to the hard, pre­arranged movements that you usually see with some other forms of martial arts. In practice, forces are passed between two exponents with the aim of avoiding struggle. Instead they blend, harmonise and return the force to its point of origin in a dispassionate manner.

The movements of Shizenryu can only be executed correctly and smoothly if a person has reached a meditative state. Ian added: “Shizenryu is the physical manifestation of normal, seated meditation. By practising in the physical dimension it is possible to feel and test one’s ability to meditate. This can only be achieved if the mind is concentrated, clear and empty of ego and intent. By dealing with physical changes outside our control the practice helps us to deal with our complex and sometimes stressful lives."

 Ian said "Shizenryu, or the “natural way”, would probably not appeal to people looking to learn to break limbs because the art’s origins were essentially peaceful." He said: “The monks and nuns who practised this art would not deliberately tread on an ant, so why would they want to hurt someone in the area of self-defence?”

 Daily Echo, Saturday July 24 1999

Poise: Shizenryu helps to combat stress in our busy lives

Copyright © 1996 by Shizenryu. All rights reserved.
Revised: 06 Feb 2010 14:56:50 -0000 .