Mental Toughness Advice From Ancient Japan

The Samurai.. the privileged warrior class of feudal Japan. The samurai were indifferent to death or pain and wore two swords which symbolized the “soul of the samurai.” These guys trained as though their very lives depended on it... because... it did. It wasn’t just about losing a competition it was about surviving to fight another day. They knew from experience that in order to win battles—most of which were fought in hand-to-hand combat—they had to develop their minds as well as their bodies.

3 MENTAL TOUGHNESS STRATEGIES FROM 3 OF THE GREATEST MARTIAL ARTIST

1. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE

“Once you have trained yourself well, your body and limbs will move automatically without any conscious effort. Your mind will not be overwhelmed by your physical movements. You will employ techniques without having to think. Once you have attained this state of mind, not a single doubt nor hesitation will arise... Train yourself thoroughly and then forget about it. Throw away your mind.”


Yagyu Munenori – the most respected samurai serving the Tokugawa Shogun family.

2. HAVE A SHORT MEMORY

“It is not good to hold on to one's previous thoughts or to retain what is presently in the mind. You must make a clean and complete cut between the past and the present. If the mind is drawn off into thoughts of the past, that means it has stopped. It is important that the past does not interfere with the present, so cut off your previous thoughts and be careful not to stop you mind.”

Takuan Soho – revolutionary samurai priest who was fired because he advocated the separation of religion and the shogunate government. He was later rehired by our friend Yagyu Munenori.

3. EXERCISE YOUR BRAIN

“Never forget to make your mind work when your body is quiet, and to make your mind calm when your body is in action. It is important to make your mind useful and enrich it with knowledge. Take no account of the trifles and thoroughly keep your spirit strong... Keep your mind clear and maintain a broad view of things.”


Musashi Miyamoto – genuine samurai badass. Between the ages ages of 13 and 39, he had over 60 to the death sword fights and never lost one! Not only was he a master swordsman, he also was a master of drawing, poetry and sculpture.





Marinate on that....