HOMENAGEM A NAKAYAMA HAKUDO (1873-1958)

"The ethics of swordsmanship, Mr. Nakayama wishes to clarify, is not in aggressive manslaughter. It lies primarily in psychic training. In the same manner in which the Yogis developed their physical inhibition to attain meditative states for higher psychical conditions, kendo trains the nervous system to respond, making awkward conscious efforts into reflex. The instrument, the sword, is necessary to give that serious frame of mind. What is more serious than life as forfeit for mistakes or inattention? The cold, mirror-like glimmer of the blade facing you, you cannot but be serious. The behavioristic school of psychology is well in accordance to this principle".
Kimura Shoji (1926)

A pensar na Miss Pearls (que em linhas despretenciosas revela o espírito adequado a estas andanças, que é querer saber mais sem receios de mostrar que sabe pouco) uma homenagem a um dos maiores mestres de sempre das artes e da via da espada. No fabuloso documentário acima, reparar ao minuto 3.08 o já venerando Nakayama na demonstração das kata de iaido, e ao minuto 5 a mágica performance das kata de kendo perante o Imperador Hirohito.