The Relationship of the Martial Arts and Reiki Healing

Long before anyone became a ‘Reiki Master’ or a ‘Martial Arts Master’, Reiki and the Martial Arts have been intertwined. When studying the history of a particular Martial Arts Master, one often finds out about their teachers, their influences, where they studied, who were their students and what exactly their Martial Art taught in the way of its techniques and how it applied to self defence. When ones seeks to study Reiki, they are interested in energy, healing, and the mystic side of Reiki. You learn about its founder, how he developed this unique healing method and what techniques are involved in learning how to practise it yourself. However what I was surprised to learn is how these two overlap in both philosophy and in understanding Ki (life force energy) and the health benefits of both. The founding fathers of both Martial Arts, and Reiki knew this long ago, as the two had crossed paths many times in history.

Mikao Usui, the founder of Reiki Healing had deep roots in the martial arts. From the age of a young boy he was trained as a Samurai, learning martial arts, specifically Aiki Ju Jitsu. He studied Buddhism, Shintoism, Taoism, Christianity, history, medicine and psychology. In the 1920’s Usui did a 21 day practice consisting of prayer, meditation and fasting in the mountains. It was during this practice that in meditation, he received and developed the principles used in Reiki healing. The term ‘Reiki’ means, ‘ life force energy’. The principle behind it is that the practitioner through, mantras, symbols and laying of the hands, life force energy is harnessed from the divine source, through the practitioner and directed to the recipient. When Usui returned from the mountains he opened a healing clinic and practised Reiki healing.

When studying the martial arts, you learn about Ki (life force). Training and strengthening your Ki is important in good health, both mentally and physically. Internal martial arts such Tai Chi, Qi Gong, Paqua all have a strong foundation on harnessing our Ki energy and developing it for strength and good health. Some of the other traditional martial arts such as Judo, Aikido, Karate have principles of learning how life force energy affects not only our health but in movement when learning how to defend ourselves. Injuries can be sustained when practising and many old Japanese style healing methods such as massage techniques, Nikko Restoration and Reiki have helped students recover from their injuries. Men in Usui’s class were very familiar with practising the arts as well. Gichen Funakoshi, founder of karate, Jigoro Kano, founder of Judo and Morehi Ueshiba, founder of Aikido were all said to have travelled in the same circles as Mikao Usui and in fact knew one and other.

Many healing arts, have their roots based on Ki, Chi, (life-force energy), and these roots were formed from teachings learned in Shintoism, Buddhism and Taoism. Their influences trickle down to not only religion and philosophical beliefs,but to martial arts and to Reiki. The relationship between Body, Mind and Spirit are taught not only in a healing modality such as Reiki, but also are at the foundation of Martial Arts training. These two practices develop one’s mind, help keep the body strong and vital by increasing the Ki ,and through meditation help to keep connected to spirit, all for the betterment of the individual.

About the Author:

Tracy Warrener has been fortunate to have been raised within the Martial Arts since the age of 4 years old and is a 4th Degree Black Belt in Goju Ryu Karate. She has had the opportunity to study with some amazing Martial Artists. Sensei Richard Kim, Sensei Peter Urban, Professor Don Jacob, Sensei Jim Wilson, Professor Wally Jay, just to name several. Of course her main Sensei is her father, Sensei Don Warrener. Throughout the 40 plus years of her involvement in the Martial Arts, she has worked her way from being a student of the martial arts to a Martial Arts Sensei ,teaching hundreds of students. She has ran and managed martial arts schools teaching students of all ages, worked within the community teaching at fitness centres, schools, businesses and

Women’s Shelters, the benefits of Karate. One the causes close to her heart is teaching and empowering young girls and women the importance of self defence and awareness. Her program called Look Strong! Act Strong! Be Strong! focuses on easy self defence techniques and mind self defence techniques. In 2013 she was awarded The Silver Lifetime Achievement Award in the Masters of the Martial Arts Hall of Fame in California for her contribution to Women in the Martial Arts. She is also a Certified Reflexologist and Reiki Master. She has starred in three of her own DVDs produced by Rising Sun Productions on Reiki, Reflexology and her Look Strong ,Act Strong ,Be Strong Self Defence Program.