“A spirit fully nourished”
「精神満腹」
— Yamaoka Tesshū (山岡鉄舟)
When the famed swordsman Yamaoka Tesshū was asked by Shimizu Jirochō,
“What is enlightenment?”
He replied simply: “Seishin Manpuku” - a spirit fully nourished.
This profound answer reminds us that spiritual fulfillment isn’t found in external achievement,
but in the quiet fullness of a heart at peace.
If we were to ask ourselves the same question:
“How can we fully nourish our own spirit?”
Each of us might offer a different answer.
At Flow & Form, we explore this question through breath, posture, and presence,
drawing on the deep roots of Japanese tradition and arts.
Core – Tanden【丹田】– Hara【肚】
Over the years, I’ve studied and practiced many Japanese modalities - spanning health, self-cultivation, martial arts, hand-healing, spiritual disciplines, and meditation.
Despite their outward differences, they all return to a shared center:
The cultivation of the Tanden - the Hara - the Core.
When I was thirteen, living in Japan, I encountered the work of three modern pioneers of Tanden-based practice:
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Hida Harumitsu (肥田春充)
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Okada Torajirō（岡田虎二郎）
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Fujita Reisai（藤田霊齊）
Each approached the Hara from a different angle, but all understood it as the foundation of vitality, clarity, and spiritual power.
I began my journey with Hidashiki Kyōkenjutsu (肥田式強健術) - a powerful physical discipline developed by Hida Harumitsu. I practiced and researched it intensely for five years, but eventually paused my training due to the difficulty of fully replicating its highly refined posture.
Years later, while exploring Shinshin Tōitsu-hō (心身統一法) by Nakamura Tempu (中村天風), I once again encountered the same challenge - and felt it again in my study of Reiki (霊気) and Reijutsu (霊術):
How can we access the Hara in a way that is grounded, sustainable, and embodied in everyday life?
That question led me to a teacher in the U.S. who was preserving Okadashiki Seiza-hō (岡田式静座法) - the quiet sitting method developed by Okada Torajirō.
The posture was profoundly centering - but again, difficult to fully embody in modern daily life.
Through continued research, I came across a rare book written by a former direct student of Okada Torajirō. After Okada’s passing, this student explored other systems and eventually integrated techniques from Fujita Reisai’s Chowadō Tanden Breathing Method (調和道丹田呼吸法) to support and refine his Seiza and Zen posture.
That discovery was pivotal for me.
I chose to formally study the Chowadō Tanden Breathing Method, and in doing so, discovered a clear, progressive path - a living system for cultivating the Hara that unites traditional depth, breathwork, and practical embodiment.
Chowadō Tanden Breathing is the first foundational course in Flow & Form.
It offers the internal stability, presence, and energetic clarity upon which all other practices are built.
Before we reach outward, we return inward - to breath, to stillness, to center.
What is Chowadō Tanden Breathing?
Chowadō Tanden Kokyū-hō (調和道丹田呼吸法)
“The Way of Harmony through Tanden Breathing.”
It’s a Japanese method that harmonizes body, breath, and mind to promote physical health, emotional balance, and spiritual clarity.
Through gentle movement and focused breathing, this practice supports:
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Better circulation
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Nervous system balance
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Deep relaxation and mental focus
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Greater vitality and inner stability
As an old Japanese saying reminds us:
“Breathing refines the organs, concentrates the mind, and cultivates the spirit - leading to connection with the universe (gods).”
The Role of Posture: Jyokyo-Kajitsu (上虚下実)
At the heart of Chowadō lies a core postural principle called Jyokyo-Kajitsu, meaning “Emptiness of the upper body and fullness of the lower body.”
This term was coined by the method’s founder, Fujita Reisai, to describe the ideal physical state that reflects a developed and stable Tanden. Today, this principle is recognized across many traditional Japanese arts.
Chowadō Tanden Breathing is a system that helps students build a foundation of correct posture through breath and movement, creating the stability needed to advance into deeper breathing practices.
Who Practices It Today?
Chowadō Tanden Breathing is practiced by a wide range of people including:
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Health and wellness seekers
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Zen practitioners and Japanese yogis
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Artists, actors, musicians, and singers
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Martial artists, bodyworkers, and energy healers
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Students of traditional Japanese culture
Whether you seek healing, clarity, or embodied awareness, Chowadō offers a practical and profound path - rooted in breath, and deepening from within.
Begin Your Journey with Chowadō - Coming soon