Remembering Carl Cestari – The True Meaning of the Word Kokoro
The word "kokoro" is literally defined as "heart" but, as with many Japanese words, can be translated as "heart of things" or "feeling". When I contemplate what kokoro means to me, there is one person that has embodied the essence of that word-Shinan Carl Cestari. I first met Shinan approximately five years ago. He was a thin man in a long sleeve shirt with a wispy beard. He was not a physical imposing man. He spoke with intensity about martial arts, training methods and people that he had met through out his life. At that time, I did not realize what he was all about. I now know more about him and what he was trying to impress upon his students.
