SECTRET OF THE SAMURAIs
- By Vani Jain, XI-C
- Fri,09 May 2025
The era of sword welding Samurai got over nearly 2 centuries ago, but their battlefield excellence is still in the talks. Have you ever wondered what made them a cut above the rest? The answer to this burning question lies in the concept of ‘Hara’. ‘Hara’ in Japanese culture refers to the abdomen or belly, but it carries a much deeper meaning beyond just the anatomy. Located three fingers below the navel, it is considered the centre of a person’s physical and spiritual energy. A strong Hara reflects a calm, focused mind. The Samurai placed deep importance on the Hara, both physically and spiritually. Effective sword fighting required an intuitive and instinctive approach. Thinking too much from the mind could slowdown their reaction times, while emotions from the heart could make them reckless. The Hara provided a centred, immediate response. Hence, they trained to move and fight from the Hara, not just their limbs. They cultivated it through meditation, breathing, and austerity practices to build inner stillness.