29 Jul, 2025

Pressure is a really good tool when it comes to understanding position and distance from an opponent. Putting a light amount of tension on the opponent can reveal where their balance points are, and the pressure works sort of like an antennae to feel out what's coming next before you can even see it. A lot of pressure will just feel like an attack, and you'll be countered. A little pressure is okay, though.

Pressure can be physical or psychological, but you have to make a connection regardless. You can start to train both with Sanshin No Kata. The whole thing is about how to apply pressure and respond to incoming pressure in a "ninja" way. You learn how to fill the physical tactical space, you learn Sanshin breathwork and mindsets, and you're introduced to Kyojitsu Tenkan Ho, all in this one fluid example.

Pressure in the dojo is also a safe way to keep yourself honest. Putting your skills under a safe amount of pressure keeps your ego in check because you understand your real life ability better than the average person does.

I don't promise that you'll be better at fighting than everyone else, but you'll understand your real life capabilities better than the average person, and won't make the same mistakes as the average person who overestimates or underestimates themselves, and doesn't know what dangers to look out for in real life.

"Know thyself," and all that!

If you live a normal everyday life where you're not getting into dangerous situations, congratulations! Keep it up! The primary purpose of Budo is to learn courage. The confidence and ability to defend yourself is an important fundamental element of building that courage, but it's not even close to the entire reason to practice Bujinkan Budo, let alone is it the only reason a person would ever need to have courage. I'm sure you can think of some everyday examples of courage that apply to you.

Those are why you study Budo!