What Is Tanren? (Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu / Martial Arts)

The word Tanren is related to the process of making a sword. It is comprised of two parts, Tan and Ren. Tan means to improve the quality of the metal by hitting it from top to bottom, whereas Ren means to improve the quality of metal by melting it and sifting out the impurities it contains. Both processes are very intense. It takes a massive amount of heat to melt metal into liquid in order to separate the impurities. Then, once the metal is "purified", it is cooled and shaped through intense hammering and folding. Once it is completed and the quality meets the expectations, it is sharpened with great care into a razor edge.

Martial arts training is no different. We need to experience the intensity, the heat, in order to sift out our own impurities. It's difficult and painful, but necessary. Then, we need the hammering of our technique through drill and repetition, over and over, so that it becomes ingrained, consistent, and precise. Finally, we are polished and sharpened with great care into works of beautiful art and deadly effectiveness.

Our modern society keeps us comfortable and gives us short term results with minimal effort. Often, people struggle with the discomfort and mental fortitude it takes to really build themselves as quality martial artists and give up, or fall into laziness and poor effort. Conditioning becomes a warm up instead of a building tool. Drills become play time instead of focused repetition. Kata become entertainment and mental stimulation over real skill development.

How is your training? Do you push yourself beyond your comfort zone, both mentally and physically? Do you keep practicing the same kata over and over, each time looking for "impurities" to improve, until the instructor finally tells you to stop? Do you spend more time talking in class instead of actually putting in the hard work? Do you hold yourself in correct Kamae to such a degree that you shake, sweat, and feel the burn in your body? Do you practice striking targets over and over to the point where it hurts (pain, not injury!)?

Tanren is far more about us than it is about making swords. If we can "embrace the suck" and be willing to push through the discomfort, then we can truly grow. The mental strength it takes to really go through that process not only applies to martial arts, but in all areas of your life. It is at the root of real survival.

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Darren Dumas
Shidoshi
Bujinkan Ryuuko Hikan Dojo