７。Nervous system 神経(SHINKEI) as Motive Power of martial art

Nervous system 神経(SHINKEI) as Motive Power of martial art

Martial art’s essence lies in its connection to physiological meridian and nervous function. Nervous system or nerves in Japanese is called 「神経（SHINKEI）」term is assembled with the word 神“KAMI or SHIN”(God, divine) and 経 “Kei” (pathway) literally meaning Divine Pathway. As the word SHINKEI indicate, martial art is originally conducted by tapping into the divinity through the Nervous system.

In the SHINTO  “神道” (way of divine), an indigenous life concept in Japan, its world view is YAOYOROZU NO KAMI or Eight Million Gods reside in all things in nature and whole of creation SHINRA BANSHO.

Through history, essence of martial art is to be one with the KAMI and acquire the positive divine energy which enters through the nervous system that manifest as the 技 “WAZA” or art.  From the ancient time, martial artist has trained to obtain the KI, and masters has aimed for the ground to inherit the神通力JINTSU RIKI, a thaumaturgical power.

TEGOI which is essentially a “art of nerves”, utilize opponent energy to generate effect through the precise senses. Besides from power and speed, opponent’s reaction such as psychological “Feed Forward” function, escape reaction, leverage and movement using centrifugal force and centripetal force and many other dynamics are utilized. This is acquired WAZA or technique derive from invisible but realistic mechanical function derived from “nerve senses”.

Through the literal meaning of SHINKEI, a physiological nervous system connection to metaphysical divinity, instead of attributing the skill as self-induced, martial art teaches the flow of technique and participants both depends up on the situation and the timing created by the nervous impulses that is directed by the will of the divinity or cosmic consciousness.