You are here: Home / Archives for Spiritual Training

Sensei Paul Stewart Joins The Budo Institute

August 17, 2017 by

Paul-Stewart-Kendo-ProfileIt is with great pleasure that The International Budo Institute announces that Sensei Paul Stewart has joined as Instructor of Kendo. Sensei Paul is a member of Sumida ku Renmei in Tokyo and has reached 2nd dan in Kendo (2017) and the same year 1st dan in Iaido in the Seitei style of the All Japan Kendo Federation, while also being introduced to Muso Shinden-Ryu. He trains regularly with local Sensei and is very much a part of the budo community of the area participating in tournaments and gatherings. Sensei Paul holds a Diploma in Sports Studies from Otago University, New Zealand. He has invested in various ongoing opportunities particularly related to the field of conscious awareness and deliberate creating. With a wealth of rich experience, Paul enjoys the freedom of choosing a perspective, trusting one’s true nature and of course, being one’s self. Sensei Paul is an active writer and speaker.

View Sensei Paul Stewart’s Extended Biography Here

Paul-Stewart-Kendo

Filed Under: Iaido, Kendo, Kenjutsu Tagged With: ,

First Spiritual Training

December 16, 2016 by

This is a cross post from the permanent page found at: Home / Bubishido Monks / Spiritual Training

First Spiritual Teaching: 12 Day Routine – Gratitude

The 12 day routine consist of kata practice for 12 days in a row each morning repeating the same kata 12 times. It is important that the same kata is practiced each day throughout the routine in order to open the door for insight and gratitude. Non-karate practitioners can replace the typical karate kata with other forms. This routine takes approximately 45 – 60 minutes to complete depending on the length of the kata chosen. Many Sensei teach younger students that when practicing kata the student should complete the kata at least 12 times in order for learning to take place. It is in this spirit that the First Teaching is designed. Any less than this and the student will not consolidate even the basic elements of the kata teaching thereby preventing the cultivation of spiritual understanding. This level is considered the beginner or entry level teaching and is simply meant to move the student towards a sustained practice manageable to all. A sense of gratitude for having been provided with the essential teaching that enables one to improve the physical, mental and spiritual natures should be contemplated. As with all the training illustrated herein, it should be started before dawn so that the body can feel the energy of the new day. This training is available to all practitioners.

  • Preparation: Wake-up before dawn;
  • Meal Preparation: Eat a very light snack: light soup or yogurt;
  • Entrance: Enter the Dojo and bow to Shomen.
  • Spiritual Preparation: Complete Candle Meditation for 5 minutes as spiritual warm-up. Practitioners should meditate on the importance of maintaining appreciation and gratitude for their study and for the teachings being made available to them;
  • Physical Preparation: Bubishido Yoga Sun Salutations, circumambulations of the dojo or other routine;
  • Integration: Kata Practice – Same Kata repeated 12 times each day;
  • Completion: Candle Meditation and/or Corpse Pose for 5 minutes;
  • Exit: Bow to Shomen 3 times in gratitude and exit the Dojo.
Filed Under: General Tagged With: ,