Bushin

Bushin (武心) is a Japanese term meaning "martial heart" or "warrior's spirit." It combines bu (warrior) and shin (heart or mind) and is used in martial arts philosophy to describe a state of inner resolve, situational awareness, and disciplined intention. Practitioners aim to maintain bushin by training the mind to stay calm, focused, and ethical in the face of challenge, fatigue, or confrontation.

Bushin is often contrasted with mushin (無心, "no mind"), a state of clear, unselfconscious action free from attachment. While mushin emphasizes freedom from obstruction, bushin emphasizes directed will and readiness to act in accordance with martial purpose. In this sense, bushin can be seen as the mind that drives purposeful technique and principled conduct under pressure.

In practice, bushin is invoked in dojo teachings as a quality to cultivate alongside physical technique. It can manifest as decisiveness in timing, consistency of effort, and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances without compromising core principles. The concept appears across various Japanese martial arts, including karate, kendo, aikido, and judo, though the emphasis and wording may vary between schools.

In translation and popular usage, bushin may appear in training literature, biographies of martial artists, and in some contemporary fiction as a character trait or motto. Its interpretation can differ, reflecting the diversity of martial arts traditions in Japan and beyond. See also: Bushido, Mushin, Zen, Dojo, Martial arts philosophy.