Dojo Haiku

Please enjoy Haiku written by students of Simba Dojo!

 Haiku is a traditional form of unrhymed Japanese poetry consisting of 17 phonetic sounds structured in three lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables, historically designed to capture a fleeting moment in nature with striking economy of language. Originating from linked-verse court poetry (renga) and popularized during the Edo period by masters like Matsuo Bashō, haiku historically shares a deep philosophical alignment with Japanese martial arts (budo), as both disciplines were shaped by Zen Buddhism. For the samurai, practicing haiku was not merely a literary pursuit but a mental conditioning exercise: composing a poem required zanshin (relaxed awareness), instantaneous focus, and the elimination of superfluous motion or thought—the exact same mental state required in life-or-death sword combat. This union of pen and sword (bunbu ryodo, or the dual way of culture and martial arts) allowed warriors to cultivate emotional composure, mindfulness of impermanence, and the absolute presence of mind needed both on the battlefield and in daily life.

		Bamboo in the rain, Drowned in the tears of summer, Awaken, new life!           -Sensei Miller 2026