Kimeda Sensei's lectures always offered something "more" — more than a simple physical explanation or application of technique. They provided us with additional historical, philosophical or cultural insights that gave us a more complete understanding of our art. In this way, Sensei gave us a way to contextualize our Aikido, a way to better comprehend the practice of Aikido in the modern world.

Over recent weeks of jiyu-waza training, one of Kimeda Sensei's teachings has repeatedly come to mind — Heijoshin. This term refers to a mind that is in a natural, calm state — a mind unperturbed by the goings-on that swirl around it. We would say that someone who had achieved Heijoshin had a certain "presence of mind." Literally translated, Heijoshin (Hei-jo-shin) means "peaceful-ordinary-mind." Takuan Soho referred to a related concept as "Fudoshin," meaning "immoveable mind."

From the perspective of experience, jiyu-waza is unlike anything else in our training. The comfort zone provided by the "prior knowledge" of our kata-geiko is no longer present. Shite has no knowledge of key variables such as speed, intensity or direction — and there may be multiple attackers. Jiyu-waza propels shite into new and unfamiliar situations and asks them to deal with unknown variables. The result, typically? Confusion.

Here we can gain insight into the often-quoted adage by Gozo Shioda, the founder of Yoshinkan Aikido: "Aiki soku seikatsu" — Aikido and life are one. Aikido training mimics experiences in life, and it is through our practice that we can acquire the skills to deal with similar experiences in our daily lives.

Learning to cope with confusion on the mats through the practice of jiyu-waza is extremely useful to us. Most of us are confronted by confusion in varying degrees of intensity every day, in both our personal and professional lives. Staying calm, understanding the variables, and responding appropriately are competencies we gain through jiyu-waza — skills that can help us become more stable in our approach to potentially disruptive people and situations.

So how do we acquire Heijoshin — that unperturbed, always-calm state of mind? There are no shortcuts. Shortcuts rob us of experience, and of the very quality and depth of learning we are seeking. You will not achieve Hei-jo-shin by philosophizing over your tea or joining a book club. Achieving Hei-jo-shin in Aikido requires that you get on the mats.