When you complete a KATA, it is customary to spend a few seconds looking at the direction of your last attack. Even as you return to a natural, standing position, you should maintain your focus in that same direction a few seconds linger. This makes sense when you consider kata to be a sequence of techniques against imaginary opponents. You have to make sure upon the completion of the kata that your last opponent has been completely dealt with and will not be attacking you again. This is called zanshin.
The word is made up of two ideograms: zan, which means “to leave,” and shin, which means “mind” or “consciousness.” Therefore, zanshin is the act of setting aside a part of your conscious mind when you finish a kata in order to ensure that it is completed properly.
Of course, not properly maintaining your guard in a physical confrontation from start to finish can have dire consequences. Even an opponent who appears defeated may still be looking for opportunities for further attack. He may even exploit a moment of distraction to pull out a weapon. Zanshin will get you in the habit of maintaining your guard until you are absolutely certain everything is safe.
As in most karate customs, however, the lesson to be gained from zanshin can be applied to other aspects of life. Many of us, in our eagerness to accomplish our tasks, rush through them and are inattentive to details and finishing touches. We may leave some dirt in the corners of the room while cleaning house, or rush through the annotations and make unnecessary errors when writing a term paper. Neglect of details can undermine all the efforts we have devoted to our work.
In both Asia and the West, something worth doing is worth doing well. Unfortunately, human nature is such that when we are eager to complete a task, we tend to become inattentive to detail. Karate provides the very useful practice of zanshin to help you get in the habit of not being distracted by the very goals you wish to attain.
