Awakening
- mjersg
- Jun 15
- 2 min read
The character 「啓」 (kei) — meaning to open, to awaken — appears in the seasonal term Keichitsu (啓蟄), when dormant insects stir beneath the warming earth in Spring. This mirrors the earliest steps on any new path: subtle, tentative, yet full of potential. In Budo, progress often begins not with bold leaps, but with the patient sowing of effort — daily movements, small corrections, quiet repetitions... Like roots pushing gently through soil, we build the foundation for growth not through force, but through consistency. To begin is to awaken — not only to technique, but to the inner stillness and attention that sustained practice demands.
Iaido often begins the same way. At first, the practice may seem opaque — foreign terminology, unfamiliar forms, and movement that feels stilted and awkward. But over time, as the body responds and the mind settles, subtle alignments become perceptible. This is like kei: the awakening that follows through repetition and presence.
In budo, we begin by showing up consistently, attentively. We plant the seeds of future understanding through the simplest acts: a bow, a cut, a step. Though these moments may seem small, they have a compounding effect, paving the way towards steady growth, unseen momentum, the quiet becoming of something vast.
We hope this article has been interesting and informative for the readers.
This article opens with the character 「啓」 (kei) — meaning to open, to awaken, or to enlighten that appears in 啓蟄 (keichitsu). Understanding, much like the seasons, comes gradually. The nature of growth in Iaido lies not in force but in consistency and patience. Just as nature gradually awakens with the arrival of spring, our understanding of Iaido awakens gradually, over time, through the consistent practice of mindfulness, presence, and focus. As students continue practising and developing their skills, they will eventually see progress (maybe the first successful kata or achieving a clear understanding of a principle).
Please look forward to the upcoming articles in this series. If you're curious about iaido or considering joining our practice, we warmly welcome enquiries about our classes and training schedule. Feel free to reach out — we'd be happy to hear from you.
Singapore Genyokan (厳洋館) is an official dojo of the World MJER Iaido Federation 正統正流無雙直傳英信流居合道国際連盟
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