DARUMA TAISO
Called also "DARUMA WAZA" (Exercises of Bodhidharma), are a series of exercises that prepare the body in order of doing possible the training of Karate - or others Martial Arts - without risk of lesions.
These exercises - that come from Zen Buddhism, and from Do In - have as objective to strengthen and to give tone to each part of the body (muscles; articulations; tendons; etc.), stimulating the vital energy, and massaging the internal organs through the breathing method known as "Ki Kyo" (Chi Kyo).
Most of these heating exercises and of these gymnastics exercises, that today are practiced at the beginning of each training by our style Kenshin Ryu (and obviously by our TOKU IN KAN School), in fact are also combat techniques, and for this purpose can be used.
These exercises begin from the most far point of the heart (fingers and plants of the feet), in order of avoiding that the heart accelerates too much from the beginning, and ascends in sequential form, traveling by all the muscles; tendons and articulations, until arriving to the fingers of the hands.
Later on the descending cycle begins. Through this cycle are executed the strongest exercises (push-up of arms; abdominal routines; etc., ending with exercises to invigorate the legs.
Among each series of the strongest exercises of this descending stage, also are executed several stretching's routines, looking for corporal flexibility, muscular recovery and muscular tone, as well as to avoid an excessive pumping of blood that accelerates in excess the heart rhythm.
Each one of these exercises should be executed in rhythmic way, and accompanied by the " Ki Kyo" breathing, looking for to regulate the rhythm of the beats of the heart (palpitation), and to massage the internal organs.
Also are very important some exercises (summarized from Do In), that look for to massage the fingers of the hands; the hands; the fingers of the feet; the feet; the abdominal muscles; the muscles that are among the ribs, and the legs's areas (interior, external and back areas).
DO IN
The Do In it is a traditional Asian technique that has as objective to reestablish the harmonic flow of the energy in the human body.
The practice of the Do In is divided in three parts:
= The Manipulations, that have as objective the correct distribution of the energy's circulation; as well as to reactivate the stagnated energy, and to recharge the weakened areas.
= Taking Prana and Ki through special breathing's exercises, and through some movements, in order
of recharging the body.
= Concentration of the energy in the Hara.
Do In strengthens and it harmonizes the functions of all the organs, stimulating the life of the same ones.
It also prevents the illnesses, returning the normal life of those weakened organs that are not working in harmony with the natural balance.
Do In is also good to diagnose. When an organ works bad, the areas; the meridians and corresponding points are aching. Then, the pain in these areas warns us a lot of time before being noticed by the pain in the own organ.
Do In uses techniques of massages, that are carried out mainly with the yolk of the thumb.
When a point is aching and / or hardened, this point should be massaged with the thumb and index fingers (through circular movements), without surpassing the limit of the pain. When the pain begin to disappear, and the area begin to relax, the point must be massaged with more pressure, until it raises the pain again. The pain determines the intensity of pressure of the massage, and the massage will be continued (little by little, and step by step) until the pain and the contraction disappear.
When the pain is concentrated particularly on a point, this point should not be pressed, but its symmetrical homologous in the opposed member or in the opposed side.
To give massages of Do In, rings should not be used; neither necklaces; nor bracelets; nor clocks; nor any metal's object, because of the metals influence in the concentration of the energy.
There is a series of massages of Do In that are made on the fingers of the hands, and of the feet. These massages improve the work of some internal organs.
Following lines are a correspondence among the fingers; the organs and their functions:
THE THUMB CORRESPONDS TO THE LIVER and LUNGS
Pressing strongly the tip of the finger (at each side of the fingernail), the breathing dysfunctions are alleviated.
THE INDEX CORRESPONDS TO THE THICK INTESTINE and TO THE MOUTH
The tip of the index finger is directly related with the mouth, and there is a particularly important point in the external border of the base of the fingernail.
THE HALF FINGER CORRESPONDS TO THE CIRCULATION OF THE BLOOD and TO THE SEXUALITY
These functions are very united among themselves.
THE RING FINGER CORRESPONDS TO THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
This finger also has to do with the health in general, and because of this fact it is called "medicinal finger".
THE LITTLE FINGER CORRESPONDS TO THE HEART; TO THE THIN INTESTINE and TO SEXUALITY
Pressing the tip of the little finger (on the fingernail) with the thumb and the index, and following the heart rhythm, the functions of the heart and of the thin intestine are harmonized.
SHIATSU
Shi it means " finger " and atsu it means " pressure ". Shiatsu is an oriental massage that looks for to alleviate sufferings; pains; tension; weariness and symptoms of some illnesses. The technique is to press with the fingers on determined points of the body (nervous centers; or nervous terminals) that are located under the skin, and in the muscular system.
When the flow of vital energy that circulates by the body is blocked, the nervous terminals become more sensitive in front of the pain or the uneasiness of the organism.
The purpose of Shiatsu is not the cure of illnesses, but maintain the body in the best condition of health and of vitality. Shiatsu also looks for to reinforce the internal organs; to conserve the energetic tone, and to prevent that the energy could be blocked in some of the nervous centers".
Shiatsu arises from the deep investigation of the natural and instinctive reactions of the human being, and of the animals too. When hurts us a some part of the body, our instinctive reaction is to take the hand to the aching point; or to massage it, or to press it with the fingers. In situations of edginess and tension, we rub ourselves the neck and the nape, and if we have a stomach pain, we grab it, and / or we rub it with force.
Also the animals look for the alleviate, being licked themselves, or being licked among them the one to the other ones.
Shiatsu studied and improved this healing method that the instinct dictates us.
Shiatsu doesn't require instrumental and it can be applied in any place and in any moment. It is preferable to carry out it on a carpet in the floor. This way, who applies Shiatsu can overturn the whole weight of his body in the moment of the pressure on the specific points.
The body should be completely parallel to the floor. Cushions should not be placed under the head, because muscular spasms could take place when exercising pressure on the neck, or on the shoulders.
It is convenient to be relaxed and comfortable, with the arms stretched to one and another side of the body.
In the event of being face down, the chest will rest totally on the floor, supporting the chin in some pad of little thickness.
About the determination of diagnosis, in Shiatsu the people are classified in one of the two basic categories: " Yin " or " Yang " -
People " Yin " are those who work without arriving to their normal capacity, then they should be strengthened to increase their energetic tone.
People " Yang " are those who work with more capacity that their normal capacity, then they must be tranquilized.
FERNANDO PRIETO
8th. DAN