Last Updated on Wednesday, 24 November 2010 21:16 Thursday, 02 December 2004 08:34

Tensho is the third Kata of the nine Zen Do Kai Katas.

Tensho is inspired by a story from Bodhidharma, an ancient master, who one day was observing the force of nature. Winds were so powerful that day that a bird flying north could no longer cope with the buffeting of the storm into which it was flying. The bird suddenly altered its strategy and rather than exerting its absolute energy against the overpowering winds, it relaxed and went with the flow of the force. With this, the bird developed incredible speed and as it passed the master's house the feathers at the tip of its wings shattered the corner tiles of the roof. Sanchin (Yang) and Tensho (Yin) were spawned as the first forms of the martial arts. It is said that this story also spawned the Karate man and his practice of breaking tiles with his open hands.

Tensho is practiced with a conscious fluidity of circular movements which is accompanied by relaxed inward breathing. Sanchin and Tensho, although principally inverse, integrate to communicate the esoterics of Zen Do Kai and all martial arts systems.