Part of our mission here at Shin Gan Dojo is to preserve, as well as teach, authentic traditional Japanese martial arts. To that end we would like to share some Japanese culture with you as it directly pertains to the martial arts disciplines we teach.
As many know, Sensei Brian and Senpai Gigi recently traveled to Japan for professional development training. During the trip we acquired some artwork to compliment the dojo. We wanted to share a little bit about one of the new scrolls.
This scroll depicts Fudo Myo O – a buddhist diety that is closely associated with martial arts in Japan – Shinden Fudo Ryu for example. It has a close association with Asayama Ichiden Ryu, as it is said he had a vision of Fudo Myo O that gave him the philosophical and technical insights on which the school is based – most Koryu have similar lore.
In his right hand he carries a straight blade for cutting through ignorance and in his left he carries a rope to bind evil. The flame represent purity, the impure having been burnt away (akin to forging something like a sword, removing impure elements from the raw steel), and his face usually has one fang up, one down to show a balance of compassion and ferocity.
Basically, the image represents change and refinement, hence the tight association with martial arts and ascetics in historical Japan.
The artwork in our dojo is a key part of our commitment to sharing the Japanese culture that is central to the martial arts we teach. We want to be clear that we do not teach or promote any specific religion or spirituality. Our school is a place for martial arts training, and we welcome all students, regardless of their personal beliefs or background.
