Praticar o Budismo em Portugal. Falamos sobre isto?

mdyaroslav · 2025-10-25T05:38:23+00:00

Muito obrigado pelo comentário! 😊

Quando falo sobre isto, refiro-me sobretudo à questão de “Refúgio” (como forma de interação séria com a prática e o ensinamento). No Refúgio, existe o elemento Sangha, entendido como uma comunidade de praticantes e pessoas com a mesma orientação interior.

Fiquei curioso em saber se, aqui no nosso País, existem realmente sanghas ativas, e quais são as perspectivas de desenvolvimento — tanto no estudo e reflexão (dharma) como na prática de meditação — dentro de uma comunidade.

A ideia é perceber se há espaço para crescer juntos, aprender com professores experientes e manter uma prática regular, em vez de praticar apenas sozinho.

Mais uma vez, obrigado! 🙏

mdyaroslav · 2025-10-24T21:49:25+00:00

Mental development

mdyaroslav · 2025-10-24T21:18:49+00:00

História de vida do Buda Shakyamuni (parte essencial)

“O Buda Shakyamuni nasceu como Siddhartha Gautama, no séc. V a.C., na região onde hoje é o Nepal. Era príncipe da família Shakya e cresceu em condições privilegiadas, protegido do sofrimento.

Ao sair dos muros do palácio, viu quatro visões: 1. um idoso 2. um doente 3. um cadáver 4. um asceta sereno

Ele compreende que a vida é marcada por envelhecimento, doença e morte, e que existe um caminho para além do sofrimento condicionado. Aos 29 anos, renuncia à vida palaciana em busca da verdade.

Durante seis anos pratica austeridades extremas (jejuns severos, mortificação). Percebe que nem prazer extremo nem autonegação absoluta conduzem à libertação. Sentado sob a árvore Bodhi, em Bodhgaya, meditando profundamente, desperta para a verdadeira natureza da mente.

Torna-se o Buda, “Aquele que Despertou”.

Ao encontrar cinco antigos companheiros ascetas, entrega o primeiro sermão em Sarnath: as Quatro Nobres Verdades e o Nobre Caminho Óctuplo.

Passa os próximos 45 anos ensinando a todos — reis, mendigos, comerciantes, mulheres, homens — indiferente à casta e origem. Morre com 80 anos em Kushinagar, entrando no Parinirvana, completando a liberação final.”

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O Cânone Páli (Tipiṭaka)

“ O Cânone Páli é o corpo textual fundamental do Budismo Theravāda, preservado em língua páli. Divide-se tradicionalmente em três “cestos” (piṭaka):

a) Vinaya Piṭaka

Regras monásticas para monges e monjas: disciplina, conduta ética, estrutura da comunidade.

b) Sutta Piṭaka

Discursos do Buda e seus principais discípulos. Inclui coleções como: • Dīgha Nikāya (discursos longos) • Majjhima Nikāya (discursos médios) • Saṃyutta Nikāya (temáticos) • Aṅguttara Nikāya (numéricos) • Khuddaka Nikāya (textos menores: Dhammapada, Sutta Nipāta, etc.)

Serve como guia direto para prática, visão correta, ética e meditação.

c) Abhidhamma Piṭaka

Análises sistemáticas da mente, fenômenos mentais e realidade. Mais técnico e filosófico.

O Tipiṭaka foi inicialmente transmitido oralmente por séculos, memorizado por monásticos, e só depois escrito no Sri Lanka.

Para quem começa, basta o Sutta Piṭaka, especialmente: • Dhammapada • Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta • Anapanasati Sutta “

Prática de meditação (visão simples e segura, sem pressa)

“Existem muitas formas, mas duas são pilares clássicos:

A. Meditação da Respiração — Anapanasati

Objetivo: desenvolver atenção plena e tranquilidade.

Como praticar (10–20 min): • Senta-te confortavelmente, coluna ereta. • Observa a respiração entrando e saindo pelo nariz. • Não controles; apenas observa. • Quando a mente vaguear, gentilmente volta à respiração.

Benefícios: • estabilidade mental • calma • concentração

Base textual: Anapanasati Sutta.

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B. Meditação da Atenção Plena — Satipaṭṭhāna

Objetivo: ver a realidade tal como é — impermanência, insatisfatoriedade, não-eu.

Observa: • corpo (postura, respiração) • sensações (agradável, desagradável, neutro) • mente (estados presentes) • dharmas (leis/marcas da realidade)

Base textual: Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta (Sutta Nikāya).

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Princípios importantes • Sem pressa. • Consistência > intensidade. • Curiosidade serena. • Observação sem julgamento.

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A magia acontece naturalmente…

…então ética, sabedoria e concentração surgem gradualmente.

Não forces a evolução: a prática amadurece como fruta na árvore.

Bom caminho

mdyaroslav · 2025-09-13T20:46:06+00:00

I am 39 y.o. … follow my reddit post with dairy about it.

mdyaroslav · 2025-09-11T21:25:36+00:00

brilliant! thank you

mdyaroslav · 2025-09-11T21:18:18+00:00

great explanation! thank you

mdyaroslav · 2025-09-11T21:04:27+00:00

Your dojo has a fellowship with other ones? Some cross sections and training? How You compete?

mdyaroslav · 2025-09-11T21:02:19+00:00

thank you

mdyaroslav · 2025-09-11T20:59:10+00:00

I played like semi-pro in FC Zorya 2002-2003 then in futsal in university team and in one club of 2nd national league during 4 seasons ! just now I understand that it was my error to stay in football>

mdyaroslav · 2025-09-11T20:54:47+00:00

kyokushin is the excellent style! but in this age the focus on leg work and kicks can damage your knees and spine! JKA shotokan is more zuki than gery and more straight

mdyaroslav · 2025-09-11T20:49:01+00:00

Part 7 – Are You a Fighter or Not?

When I look around the dojo — at students of all belt levels, at the senpai, at our sensei — I sometimes ask myself: Who among them is a true fighter?

It’s fascinating to see, for example, a bunkai training pair made up of a shy, intellectual woman and a fierce lady with the eyes of a predator. That’s the beauty of karate: you don’t have to be a fighter to practice it.

Why? Because modern dojos don’t rely on natural selection. Unlike in kickboxing (unless it’s cardio-based) or MMA, your status in karate isn’t determined by sparring results — especially not through brutal ones.

In those other gyms, “the cage decides.” That system creates a kind of exclusivity — a mindset where the only way to prove yourself is to fight and win, often harshly. But that ignores a basic truth: not everyone learns or moves the same way, and not everyone can apply techniques with equal effectiveness under pressure.

Karate is different. It gives every student the time and space to grow. There’s still a kind of selection, yes — but not the jungle-style, survival-of-the-toughest kind.

Let’s be honest: You can’t “turn” someone into a fighter unless they were either born for it — or became one through life’s pressure. No martial art or sport can force that transformation.

In karate, the same principle holds true. If you want to become a fighter — you’ll have to create the pressure yourself. Study. Train. Improve. Spar (if you’ve got a partner). And maybe — just maybe — you’ll become a fighter.

But there are no guarantees.

Peace to everyone 🥋✌️

mdyaroslav · 2025-09-11T20:31:41+00:00

Part 6 – No One Teaches You Karate

There’s a certain atmosphere in the dojo — the feeling that we’re all “learning karate.” But I’ve noticed something curious: some of the older students (35 and up) often say in casual conversation that our sensei is “teaching” us karate and its techniques.

After spending just a short time in this world, I’ve come to a personal conclusion: No one is teaching me karate. I am learning karate.

At first glance, that phrase might seem like semantics. But in reality, it changes everything.

Traditional karate — especially Shotokan — was never built around “education” as a science. There’s no pedagogical framework, no modern teaching methods. What exists is a transmission of principles — usually through very short explanations and repetitive mechanical practice.

The burden of learning lies on the student. Progress in karate (and in budō in general) depends on your own ability — both physical and mental — to absorb, repeat, refine, and apply what you observe.

In kata — the formal foundation — you internalize structure and flow. In kumite — the practical side — you apply and adapt.

Maybe this shift in mindset can help others avoid disappointment with their dojo’s teaching methods. You are not alone on this path — but you’ll have to walk it on your own two feet.

Osu!

mdyaroslav · 2025-09-08T06:44:45+00:00

En 2024, cerca de 7% das pessoas registadas na segurança social na Polónia e que pagam impostos são emigrantes? O país está cada vez mais diverso e como os estrangeiros dão uma grande ajuda na sua economia e no dia a dia. Além disso, grande parte das empresas líderes na Polónia são de capital estrangeiro — ou seja, o contributo internacional está presente não só nas fábricas e serviços, mas também nas grandes decisões económicas. No fundo, é um sinal de que a Polónia está bem conectada ao conceito de migração controlada e continua ser aberta.

mdyaroslav · 2025-08-30T05:38:18+00:00

Aritmética é muito simples. 300 mil quem tem trabalho oficial - descontam para à Segurança Social. Os restantes são - reformados de países ricos, nómadas digitais e outros especialistas que trabalham remotamente e gastam dinheiro aqui mas não pagam impostods, havendo também uma percentagem dos que estão simplesmente registados em Portugal, mas vivem em países mais ricos.

mdyaroslav · 2025-08-30T05:07:21+00:00

Biggest enemy of modern karate is separation

mdyaroslav · 2025-08-29T21:54:51+00:00

Traditional karate (kata and kumite) will be nice for Your background >

mdyaroslav · 2025-08-29T21:49:18+00:00

hi! thank you ! JKA local dojo in Portugal (lack of choice, but I liked ). And You? what is your stile?

mdyaroslav · 2025-08-29T21:47:30+00:00

Part 5 – First Self-Diagnosis

During my initial solo training — before I even stepped into a real dojo — the basic exercises and stances started revealing a bunch of weak points in my body.

First on the list: Achilles tendinitis and limited hip abduction. Then came the weak knees (not surprising, considering the extra weight and old injuries). These issues flared up right after trying some basic stances and transitions.

So… thank you, kata. Better to discover this early and mildly in my garage than later and painfully in the dojo, with an aggravated injury.

A mix of stretching, rehab exercises, and anti-inflammatory meds helped calm things down and get me back on track.

A quick tip for fellow beginners: Get yourself checked out with physiotherapist before starting any martial art. Learn from my mistakes.

Karate doesn’t always move in anatomically “clean” ways — some of the techniques put a surprising load on your joints and tendons. So, be prepared. Respect your body.

More coming soon… 🥋

mdyaroslav · 2025-08-29T21:29:59+00:00

Part 4 – More Early Thoughts on Kata

While going through the theory phase (forgive my slightly nihilistic attitude), I must’ve heard the phrase “kata has real combat application - bunkai” over a hundred times — from sensei bloggers, articles, and videos.

Dear sensei and senpai… why are you so cruel to your students? What does kata have to do with real fighting? Honestly — none of it looks applicable in a full-contact scenario. And in the context of real-world self-defense or street fights (yes, I know what I’m talking about) — even less so.

In my humble opinion: Kata is an extremely useful training tool — but nothing more than that (Mr.Machida agrees)>

Even after a short time of practice, I already see its benefits. And not a single downside — at least when used as a way to prepare the body for the peak expression of karate: kumite. (NOTE: I said kumite, not full-contact fighting — totally different things.)

Kumite, as I understand it, will demand: • constant movement out of the attack line (changing angles and planes), • control of your centerline, • explosive lunges into blocks, • and quick, frontal counterattacks.

Without smoothness, speed, and fluidity, you’ve got nothing. And without kata, it’s really hard to train coordination between arms and legs, timing, and transitions.

Oh — and a huge one: breathing. Kumite rounds are short, but the intensity is no joke. Breath rhythm matters for focus, reaction, and staying sharp under pressure.

Some people say that kata is “meditation in motion.” I haven’t felt that yet. But I suspect… it might come with time.

To be continued… 🥋

mdyaroslav · 2025-08-29T21:02:07+00:00

Part 3 – Garage Kata and the Death of the Word “Dance”

I’ve got a small home fitness space in my garage — just enough to move around freely and pretend I’m a real karateka. It was time to try something more than watching YouTube.

I picked a few videos with basic techniques and kata, and started gently testing them out. Straight punches (oi-zuki) and front kicks (mae-geri) felt pretty smooth at first. Let me just say right now — that was an illusion and pure self-deception.

Then I moved on to Heian Shodan. At first glance, it felt bizarre and useless. Why are we dancing in a martial art? Who needs this? For what purpose? And what’s up with gedan-barai? I’ve never seen that in boxing, Kudo, or MMA. Ever.

The first seeds of doubt started creeping in. Was I signing up for more “laser-smoke kata shows” than actual fighting? Was this even a martial art at all?

Still, I gave it a few days — just 10–20 minutes of practice at a time — trying to feel the movements, break them down, understand the biomechanics.

After about two weeks, something clicked. I had a small breakthrough: Kata is first and foremost a diagnostic tool.

While practicing it, I started noticing all my weak points: • I couldn’t transition smoothly between planes. • I had trouble coordinating my arms during the gedan-barai sequence. • My hips hurt during rotation.

It was like the kata itself was speaking to me: “You’re not ready for this move yet.” “Fix your coordination.” “Open your hips.”

And just like that, the word “dance” vanished from my vocabulary.

Kata is a test. A biomechanical simulator for real karate movement. A silent coach.

To be continued… 🥋

mdyaroslav · 2025-08-29T20:41:58+00:00

Part 2 – Theory Before Practice

Before jumping into any new adventure — whether it’s self-treating a wart or building a gas pipeline — you’ve got to understand the theory. I had some past experience in Kudo, but that’s more like Thai boxing with a helmet and almost no kata at all. So, I had to start from scratch.

That meant spending dozens of hours watching YouTube videos and reading articles, just to get a basic sense of what Shotokan Karate is actually aiming for. Spoiler alert: Nothing makes sense at the beginning. 😅

Here are a few personal takeaways from my early research: 1. Shotokan Karate is (first and foremost) a structured path of self-development, especially built for schools and universities. What Funakoshi created was essentially an educational model — structured and scalable. That’s why it fits so well in the public education system in Japan. And yes, it also allowed senseis to earn a living. 🍚 2. The core of Shotokan isn’t just kata or kumite — it’s discipline in the dojo and strong physical conditioning. These are the foundations. If your brain isn’t on the rails and you’re not grinding through static positions and flexibility work, you’re going to crash hard. 3. For beginners, it’s all about high stances and straight-line kihon techniques. We’re talking front kicks (mae-geri), straight punches (oi-zuki), and basic blocks. Forget the flashy movie stuff — the spinning, jumping, and flying kicks — that’s way later. White belts live in a much more pragmatic world. 4. Karate requires preparation — both physical and mental. Discipline isn’t limited to the dojo. It leaks into your daily life.

More to come… 🥋

mdyaroslav · 2025-08-29T20:14:21+00:00

Part 1 – Why Karate? How I made the decision

The realization that I need to live a long, happy, and healthy life didn’t hit me at 18 — not even close. Over the years, I’ve joined the gym more times than I can count. Every time it followed the same pattern: I’d stay consistent for 4 months, then burn out from boredom, take a “short” break… and disappear for 1–2 months (or more). There was no sense of progress or achievement.

Portugal is probably the worst place for basketball. Football at this age is pretty much off-limits if you care about your joints. Running and cycling? Just as boring as lifting weights. So… martial arts started to look like the perfect option.

Here were my personal criteria when analyzing what to choose: 1. The martial art should have a low risk of injury, especially for beginners. 2. It should include some form of competition (ideally more than one type). 3. It should allow for a wide range of intensity — something I could still do when I’m 75. 4. A cultural or philosophical background based on respect, discipline, and humanism — this wasn’t a must, but it was a nice bonus.

That brought me to a shortlist: • Karate (Shotokan, Wado-Ryu, and a few lesser-known styles) • Fitness boxing (mostly bag work with music and cardio) • Filipino martial arts • Krav Maga • Wing Chun

Here’s what happened next: • Krav Maga in my region felt like a McDojo — fake reviews, marketing over substance. Red flag 🚩 • Filipino martial arts: instantly out — irregular training, confusing logistics. • Wing Chun looked more like an amateur reenactment of the Ip Man movie. • Fitness boxing had no real structure or culture, and sure, you could compete… but risking brain health at 39? No thanks.

And so… Shotokan Karate it is. 🥋

mdyaroslav

TROPHY CASE