Nyuanshin

Zan-shin, the "heart's remaining" would be close to the English word "nostalgia", - sadness or emptiness because we feel that something has passed or slipped away. But in budô the idea of this term is very different. Zan-shin deals with the state of mind and body posture of a fighter in which, even after striking, one is alert and ready to respond instantly to any counterattack by the opponent.

Through learning of traditional karate one must adopt this notion of zan-shin, which is the capacity to be always in the alert and attentive to things even after it seems that the work is done, - because one can never know fully the totality of a situation. We could have missed, and the opponent could catch us off our guard and counterattack. So we must never lower our defences and remain steadfast to pursue the fight.