Budo Beat

The “Budo Beat” Blog features a random collection of short reflections, musings, and anecdotes on a wide range of budo topics by Professor Alex Bennett, a seasoned budo scholar and practitioner. Dive into digestible and diverse discussions on all things budo—from the philosophy and history to the practice and culture that shape the martial Way. Feel free to leave comments at the bottom.

Heijoshin (平常心) : The Calm, Unwavering Mind

I was late for training again today. Yet another traffic jam on the road out of Kyoto. Bloody typical! There’s been a lot of them recently, for whatever reason, and it was seriously, and I mean seriously, hacking me off. Many unfriendly invectives were shared!

But then, as much as it irked me, I realised I needed to calm down a bit and take it in my stride. After all, isn’t that what budo training is supposed to promote?  I started thinking about “Heijoshin,” a term that gets bandied around a lot in the dojo…

When life’s throwing a little tantrum, Heijoshin (Hey Jaw Shin) is the inner Zen voice calmly saying, “Chill, mate, it’s just another Tuesday.” Heijoshin, often translated as “a calm or ordinary mind,” is a concept deeply rooted in martial arts and Zen Buddhism. It’s the art of maintaining a composed and balanced mental state, no matter what the world chucks your way. In both martial training and daily life, Heijoshin is like a ‘superpower’—it enables you to face challenges with clarity and decisiveness, without letting fear, anger, or any other cocktail of emotions cloud your judgment. Easier said than done!

Interestingly, my first introduction to Heijoshin wasn’t in the dojo. It happened in high school, when my shodo (calligraphy) teacher in Japan had me write it as part of a lesson. That was the day I created my first—and let’s be honest, my only—‘beautiful’ piece of calligraphy. It was a fleeting moment of aesthetic glory.

But understanding Heijoshin? That didn’t come until much later, through the sweat, contusions, and occasional bruised ego in the dojo. In budo, Heijoshin isn’t just a mental state; it’s a core principle, one that defines how you approach everything from matches to the more intense tests of life. Whether you’re facing down an opponent, a major exam, or a moment where stakes are high, Heijoshin is the mindset that allows you to react with calm precision, not wild panic or misplaced aggression. Achieving that kind of balance doesn’t just happen by accident—it’s the product of relentless training and a clear understanding that fear and excitement can trip you up if you let them.

Ultimately, Heijoshin is the essence of mental discipline. It’s what keeps you centred and focused, even when the heat is on. Mastery in budo isn’t just about physical technique; it’s about mastering the mind. Through nurturing Heijoshin, you can find clarity, balance, and strength, whether you’re on the dojo floor or out in the world, dodging life’s metaphorical punches.

In the end, I only missed the first ten minutes of training, so it really wasn’t worth getting that worked up about after all… Is anything?