As the legend goes, a samurai master would hold a feather or a piece of silk under the noses of training samurai to see if they had control over their breath. If the feather didn’t move, they passed. If it did, they had to keep training.
Breath control (or kokyu) is fundamental to samurai - it’s the difference between a calm, focused mind and a scattered one.
Kokyu is also considered essential to mastering mindfulness, martial arts, and emotional regulation. It’s the foundation of many aspects of samurai life—particularly swordsmanship (kenjutsu), archery (kyūdō), and Zen meditation (zazen).
Here are four key lessons from samurai life.
🥋 1. Kokyu (呼吸) – Breath Control
In Aikido and Kenjutsu, kokyu isn’t just about breathing—it means syncing the breath with movement, intention, and energy (ki). Practicing this allowed samurai to:
Calm the nervous system before combat.
Increase focus and presence.
Strike or defend with precision and grace.
🧘♂️ 2. Zazen (Seated Zen Meditation)
Zen Buddhism had a huge influence on samurai. Before battle, warriors would often meditate using deep, slow nasal breathing to still their minds.
Focused on tanden breathing (from the lower belly, or hara), which grounds energy and emotion.
Mastery of zazen breathing was a test of discipline and composure.
🎯 3. Kyūdō (Japanese Archery) and the Breath
Kyūdō—considered more of a spiritual practice than a martial arts one—involves an 8-step ritual called hassetsu, where breath control is meticulously woven into the draw and release of the arrow. Missing the target wasn’t a failure; rushing the breath or lacking presence was.
⚔️ 4. “Breath Before Blade” Philosophy
In some dojos or warrior schools (ryū), students were tested on their ability to remain calm under pressure using only their breath. This wasn’t a formalised “samurai exam,” but it was understood:
“If you cannot control your breath, you cannot control your mind. And if you cannot control your mind, you cannot control the sword.”
Everything starts with the breath.
So, if you can master your breath, you can master your life.
Closing Thoughts
It’s unlikely that you’re on course to become a samurai. So the intensity, precision, and dedication needed to do so doesn’t really apply.
However, their philosophy does.
Slow breathing leads to a slow nervous system and a slow nervous system leads to a calm and alert mind.
This is not only the key to a happier and healthier life, but a longer one.
You don’t have to become a samurai to think like one.
Thanks for reading!
See you next week :)