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The Way that Cannot be Described
By Roger Sheldon.  17th June, 1993.
A thought re-visited. July 3rd. 1994.
I am interested by a phenomenon that has, in the past, followed me like a shadow.  I have struggled with concepts, with imaginary problems, not immediately realising that to step back pace and look will reveal all.  One cannot begin to understand without seeing the whole.  It is difficult for me to believe that little more than a year ago I said, "Most people, after having seen Shinseido in action, would call it 'martial arts' or more specifically ‘karate’ or ‘kung-fu'.  However, for the public, these terms have largely militaristic and violent connotations.  As a result I have a reluctance to use them to describe my art.  Shinseido, in practise, has no militaristic or violent connotations.  Shinseido embodies reasonable responses to violation.  Some confusion may have occurred because I utilise methods of practise that were devised by early Luchu warriors, but my purpose in using them is certainly not militaristic.  In similar vein, (many versions of) the so-called martial art of ‘Tai Ch'i Ch'uan’ today embody slow breathing, tensioning and meditative movements far removed from any militaristic practice.
I have been constantly drawn back to this old problem of mine - what is Shinseido?  Why have l constantly sought to describe my art in a way that is fully understood by the public at large?  That such a thing is impossible is absolutely clear to me.  It is difficult enough to describe to an adept!  Yet still my thoughts have dwelt on this question.  I did not realise it for a long time, but now it is clear and I can now lay this problem to rest.  Today I know that Shinseido is, and that is an end to it.  Lao Tsu said "the Tao is forever undefined."  I should have listened to him long ago.
The practise of Shinseido has given me a thousand things, among which are:
	Self awareness
	Self-confidence
	Self esteem
	Feelings of empathy, unconditional love and understanding for others
	An understanding of aggression and how it is manifest
	Inter-personal skills and an ability to communicate and handle difficult inter-personal conflict situations
	An ability to handle violence
	A much improved perception and understanding of the way of things
	A sense of well being and contentment with my life
	Meaningful and genuine friends