SHIATSU, MOVEMENT ANDMARTIAL ARTSbyK. Waight Oriental medicine encourages these natural self-

healing properties ta prevent disease. Treatmentoften lies in promoting vital enerqv, creatingbalance and dispersing stagnation, and thereforeaims at prevention, ratherthan justthe alleviation ofsymptoms.

Oriental Medicine is inseparable from the Taoistconcept of Yin and Yang, which are symbolised inthe circle with two fishes, or by Fire and Water,Heaven and Earth. It would be appropriate ta look alittle deeper at this concept before continuing.

Yin and Yang are polarities which define eachother. They are not forces or phenomena ta be-seenor measured. They are a symbolic way of describingthe constant change, the dynamic interplay andtransformation of the Universe. Ali qualities of Yinand Yang are relative, not absolute, and this hasimportant implications in treatment, ie., as nothingcan be isolated from its relationship with otherthings, nothing can exist by itself. This brings tamind the wave-particle theory of modern physics.Nils Bohr, the discoverer of Quantum physics said:"The knowlege of the position of a particle iscomplementary ta the knowledge of its velocity ormomentum. If we know one with accuracy wecannat know the other." ln other words, "Limitingoneself ta one excludes the ether."

.The theory and practice of SHIATSU is based uponthe Oriental principles of medicine, which weredeveloped several thousand years aga in China. Theearliest known text, the classical book on ChineseMedicine, Nei Jing, was written some 500BC.Chinese Medicine has a large body of texts. whichhas been formulated and refined over the centuries.

Chinese Medicine is holistic, that is, a single partcan only be understood in its relationship ta thewhole. Holistic medicine is multi-dimensional; itincludes allieveis of our being, mind, body, spirit, asweil as our inter-relatedness with the environmentand other human beings.

The basic concept of Oriental medicine lies inbalancing Yin and Yang within one's body and life.Imbalance creates disharmony and disease.Disharmony may occur from external or internaisources, either emotionally or mentally.

Another important principle is that we ail possessnatural self-healing and maintaining powers. Theseenergies have always existed and sustained life. It isthe reason we have been able ta evolve and livethrough incredible changes in life and theenvironment. When these powers are weakenedand eroded then we become prone ta sickness.

K. Waight shown using 80 (staff) in Kata.

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Shiatsu and martial arts can go together today as they did in the past.

Furthermore, any aspect of Yin and Yang can befurther divided into Yin and Yang and each hascontrol over the other. According to anothereminent text, the Su Wen:' "Excess Yin creates aYang disease. Yang in excess produces excess heat,which can suddenly change to Yin and producecold." Yin and Yang can transform into each otherand are seen in the rhythms in our lives, asindividuals and as groups, in cultures and societies.

Taoist philosophy saw the human body as arnicrocosrn. manifesting the same patterns andrhythms as the Universe, Man and Universe couldnot be separated.

Connections with Martial Artsln Martial Arts the concepts of Yin and Yang havebeen studied and applied since their creation. Otherimportant concepts such as Qi or Ki, itsstrengthening and balancing are also essential toMartial Arts practice.

The many ways of applying a technique bytiming,space, energy and breath can ail be expressedthrough Yin and Yang aspects. And the MartialArtist seeking to develop an effective andharmonious technique cannot ignore this alongwith the unification and balancing of mind,technique and energy.

Again the Su Wen states, "Functional movement, belongs to Yang, nourishing substance to Yin." Yin.

is the interior guardian of Yang, and Yang in theexterior is the activator of Yin.

This might be compared to a relatively modern17th century text on Swordsmanship. "lnmovement the heart should not lose its essentialstillness, yet even if we are still the purpose oftheheart is to be fluid."

If Martial Arts are seen as a way of developing Ki"and promoting positive health, they cannot beseparated from creating harmony and balance,because real health in its fullest and broadest senseis balance. Ultimately ail Martial Artists become old,their powers diminish so what is left after years oftraining? lsn't that where the connection betweenhealing the individual and society lies? lt's what isleft from the actions in our life, the environment wehave helped to create in ourselves and about us."Perhaps that is our ultimate life-Iong technique!

As mentioned before disease is brought about bythe imbalance of Yin and Yang within the body,although the causes ofthis may originate externally.The purpose of Shiatsu is to balance Yin and Yangby stimulating or reducing Qi along the meridians orenergetic pathways and promoting the flow ofblood and dispelling stagnation. ln this wayMeridian Shiatsu uses the same principles oftreatment as acupuncture, although actualtechnique and application are different.

Energetic pathways run throughout the body andconnect with internai organs. These pathways andorgans are also divided into Yin and Yang. Basically,a Yin organ is solid, deeper within the body andblood flows through it. These organs, Heart, Liver,Kidney, Spleen, Lung provide the substance oressence for the body. An imbalance within one ofthese organs is much more serious than within aYang organ. The Yang organs transform food toprovide sustenance and energy for the Yin organs.These organs, the Large Intestine, Small Intestine,Bladder, Gall Bladder, Stomach are generally nearerthe surface of the body and are hollow.

The Chinese concept of these organs is totallydifferent from that in Western Medicine, and they

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Shiatsu and martial arts can go together today as they did in the past.

Furthermore, any aspect of Yin and Yang can befurther divided into Yin and Yang and each hascontrol over the other. According to anothereminent text, the Su Wen:' "Excess Yin creates aYang disease. Yang in excess produces excess heat,which can suddenly change to Yin and producecold." Yin and Yang can transform into each otherand are seen in the rhythms in our lives, asindividuals and as groups, in cultures and societies.

Taoist philosophy saw the human body as arnicrocosrn. manifesting the same patterns andrhythms as the Universe, Man and Universe couldnot be separated.

Connections with Martial Artsln Martial Arts the concepts of Yin and Yang havebeen studied and applied since their creation. Otherimportant concepts such as Qi or Ki, itsstrengthening and balancing are also essential toMartial Arts practice.

The many ways of applying a technique bytiming,space, energy and breath can ail be expressedthrough Yin and Yang aspects. And the MartialArtist seeking to develop an effective andharmonious technique cannot ignore this alongwith the unification and balancing of mind,technique and energy.

Again the Su Wen states, "Functional movement, belongs to Yang, nourishing substance to Yin." Yin.

is the interior guardian of Yang, and Yang in theexterior is the activator of Yin.

This might be compared to a relatively modern17th century text on Swordsmanship. "lnmovement the heart should not lose its essentialstillness, yet even if we are still the purpose oftheheart is to be fluid."

If Martial Arts are seen as a way of developing Ki"and promoting positive health, they cannot beseparated from creating harmony and balance,because real health in its fullest and broadest senseis balance. Ultimately ail Martial Artists become old,their powers diminish so what is left after years oftraining? lsn't that where the connection betweenhealing the individual and society lies? lt's what isleft from the actions in our life, the environment wehave helped to create in ourselves and about us."Perhaps that is our ultimate life-Iong technique!

As mentioned before disease is brought about bythe imbalance of Yin and Yang within the body,although the causes ofthis may originate externally.The purpose of Shiatsu is to balance Yin and Yangby stimulating or reducing Qi along the meridians orenergetic pathways and promoting the flow ofblood and dispelling stagnation. ln this wayMeridian Shiatsu uses the same principles oftreatment as acupuncture, although actualtechnique and application are different.

Energetic pathways run throughout the body andconnect with internai organs. These pathways andorgans are also divided into Yin and Yang. Basically,a Yin organ is solid, deeper within the body andblood flows through it. These organs, Heart, Liver,Kidney, Spleen, Lung provide the substance oressence for the body. An imbalance within one ofthese organs is much more serious than within aYang organ. The Yang organs transform food toprovide sustenance and energy for the Yin organs.These organs, the Large Intestine, Small Intestine,Bladder, Gall Bladder, Stomach are generally nearerthe surface of the body and are hollow.

The Chinese concept of these organs is totallydifferent from that in Western Medicine, and they

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Martial arts can produce an impression of beauty as welt as force.

really cannot be compared. ln Chinese medicineeach organ not only has specifie functions, but alsohas certain characteristics, as if it had its ownpersonality. Each organ also has a related emotion,and this emotion could affect it very much.

Let's take an example, the liver. It ensured thequalities of smooth flowing circulation of bodilyfluids and was called the General of the army. It wasa Commander who looked over the field of activity.To maintain this smooth even flowing it neededmoisture. Vou can imagine a fine mist which theliver spreads throughout the body creating asmooth flowing system. Disharmony of liver wouldbe brought about by excess fire, ie. heat, creatingdryness or constricted Qi and stagnation. When theliver becomes dry it becomes 'touchy'. The emotionassociated with liver is anger. So in this case ofexcess fire rising, we are liable to become angry,irritable, have violent headaches, pain in the flank,be restless, nervous and as the liver opens into theeye, have bloodshot eyes. To treat this condition wecalm the liver, remove excess and tonify the waterpoints to balance fire. Let me say it workswonderfully and. 1 have treated many peopleeffectivelyforthis common syndrome. Excessfire inthe liver can be brought on by leading too stressful alife, excessive alcohol intake, hypertension, agenerally overactive and restless lifestyle.

So vou recognise this condition? Yes, it is quitecommon these days.

Shiatsu is also very effective for correcting bodyposture and alignment, as weil as softening andstrengthening muscle tissue. It is good for calmingdown the sympathetic nervous system, whichreleases adrenalin. It generally relieves fatigue andnervous tension, irritability, headaches, eye strain,

body aches and back pain.Many of the important qualities studied by the

Martial Artist can be applied in Shiatsu and 1 will berunning courses in the near future designedespecially for Martial Artists, based upon a strongpractical grounding. (ML Waight has spent time inJapan studying these subjects. He can be contactedon 01-894-7650).

At work with Shiatsu therapy.

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