Kenichi Sawai

Taiki-Ken, The Essence of Kung-Fu

Standing Zen Meditation:

Ritzu-zen

"Because of the basic importance of standing Zen to Taiki-ken, it is imperative to learn the proper way to do it. Stand with your feet spread somewhat wider than the width of your shoulders. Raise your hands to the front as if you were embracing a tree. Allow your eyes to rest in front of you but do not stare at one point. Lift your heels slightly off the ground and bend you knees inward slightly. Lower your hips a little. In the beginning, you need stand this way for no more than ten to fifteen minutes. As you become more experienced, strive to be able to hold thirty minutes to one hour. Once you have assumed the position, do not move your hands, feet, or hips."

Swaying:

Yuri

"After a long session of standing Zen, return to ordinary activity by first lowering your arms. At the same time straighten your knees. Then, slowly composing yourself, sway. Zen calms the body and the mind; but the mood of repose resulting from Zen would be wasted if you began to leap and run immediately after a session. For this reason, it is important to move gently from the still world of immobility to the world of action. Swaying is the first step on the way back to ordinary activity. You must take great care to do it in such a way as to preserve the mood of the standing Zen. An awareness of the Martial arts must pervade this whole process since transition from the static to the active models is a basic element of Taiki-ken. "