My Aikido students hear me refer often to Iaido principles and practices that apply and enhance our Aikido practice. Originally, in Aikido, Zanshin was explained to me as letting my breathing lead my physical movement. That the breathing slows the heart rate thus relaxing the mind and body-slowing down the situation and allowing the defense to be effortless. I've always liked that explanation. Recently it was defined for me this way; As you step onto the practice area imagine you are in a room with a thousand people. All of the people have knives and would like to kill you. You have an opponent in front of you who will attack you. You must sense his intention and kill him before he can fully attack. You must make absolutely sure he is dead while keeping an encompassing awareness on everyone in the entire room.

   Zanshin is defined as "remaining mind". What does that mean. Let's pick a technique: kotegaeshi. Picture the technique......picture yourself performing the technique....do you see your opponent? Do you see the thousand people with knives surrounding you?...you should. Once you have performed the technique thousands of times it should be second nature to you....achieved without thought. If it is practiced where you expand your focus on the surroundings beyond you and Uke, and can achieve this focus without thought - you have achieved Zanshin.

   We often practice technique stopping at intervals to assess our progress. That's fine and it helps our understanding of the micro-aspects. The majority of your repetitions should be the full motion without hesitation. Breath-blending with Uke's Ki and breathing afterwards-one motion-aware of all without thought. It takes many years of practice to achieve but it is neccessary. Happy training.