Mokuso Meaning in Karate

Mokuso is a mental karate practice that translates to a period of quiet meditation or reflection. It usually occurs at the very beginning and the very end of every formal training session. The students close their eyes and focus on their breathing to clear the mind of distractions. At the start it helps a person transition from the outside world into a training mindset. At the end it provides a moment to reflect on the lessons learned during the class. A class sits in silence for one minute before starting their physical warm up routine. Deep breathing during this time lowers the heart rate and improves the ability to stay focused. Mental clarity is just as important as physical strength for any serious martial arts practitioner.