Ken and Kan: Seeing and Feeling in Martial Arts and life

The Pen and Sword Journal - Vol 12

“Perceive what cannot be seen with the eyes.”

- Miyamoto Musashi

There is an important element in martial arts without which all other attributes, such as strength, speed, footwork, technique, or even a warrior’s psychological strength, become less efficient. That is the ability to perceive.

In Japanese martial arts and not only, one of the most crucial skills that differentiate a novice from an experienced practitioner is their observation abilities. Interestingly, the type of observation we will discuss today isn't confined solely to a rationalistic process but also involves a sense of feeling.

That's why today, I'd like to explore a concept that every human being should embrace, particularly martial artists. This concept is referred to in Japan as "Ken" and "Kan," which translate to "seeing" and "feeling", in an intuitive sense. Along your path there are things you can learn by “seeing,” through a visible, clear, structured, rational learning process, and things you must learn to intui…