Zanshin is a Japanese term for a certain state of mind (spirit) which a martial arts master needs to achieve during a fight. i.e. during combat or training. This state of mind is connected to de-ai ideas (starting an attack in due time) and ma-ai (correctly keeping at a positive distance). In other words, when we talk about Zanshin, we talk about physical, psychological and spiritual distance. A translation from Japanese would mean "residual mind" or "a mind that stays". The literal meaning of the words kanji zanshin would mean "the mind's leftovers" or "a mind without stay", which doesn't explain much.
So, we are talking about a state of mind where the martial arts master tries to develop a certain state of active surveillance confronted with potential or real danger. To clarify, the Zanshin state of mind signifies a perfect bond between body and mind in time and space.
When you are in Zanshin, you are in maximum concentration, but you are not focused on one point or object. Miyamoto Musashi once said: "Perception is strong, but the sight is weak. It is strategically important to see what is far away as if it was near as well as to have a distant view of what is nearby." (The Book of Five Rings)
Saotome Sensei tells us about Zanshin: "We must never lose focus; we mustn't lower our guard for a second. We must always be alert, aware of our training partner or our opponent in combat, aware of every movement around us, ready of what comes next, prepared for whatever unexpectedly comes from any direction. We should never turn our focus on the opponent; we mustn't let our mind separate from him...Zanshin is the future, but it is also now. The quality of our Zanshin is the quality of our aikido." (Aikido and the Harmony of Nature)
Zanshin precedes an attack or defense, it follows us during combat and stands beside us when the battle ends. In Zanshin we have a mind without worry, without wishes, fear or nervousness; it is a free mind which is focused entirely on combat and, thanks to anticipation, it is prepared for anything. Such a state of mind can be accomplished only by experienced martial arts masters – warriors. To clarify, a beginner or even an intermediate-levelled fighter cannot achieve the Zanshin state of mind. The reason behind this lies in the fact that this state of mind can only be accomplished by the most difficult way – with experience.
So, a beginner is preoccupied with thoughts about defeat or win during a fight. He fights his own fears. Fear from injury or fear from potential death. He is thinking about his surroundings, about light or dark, about the wind, various sounds that surround him, the spectators (observers), about the surface he is standing on, about his clothes or footwear and, of course, the technique he should apply during combat. Because of all this, he is unable to achieve the Zanshin state of mind. Old and experienced martial arts masters would say – too many thoughts.
An experienced fighter is focused solely on his opponent and the fight, his mind is still and relaxed. During the fight, his mind works without any unnecessary thoughts or fears, his reactions depend on the actions of his opponent. He acts instinctively and compulsively. One of the best definitions of the Zanshin state of mind was given by the well-known boxer Sugar Ray Robinson. In his own words, he said: "You don’t think. It’s all instinct. But if you stop to think, you’re gone."
Some martial arts masters sometimes confuse the terms of Fudoshin, Mushin and Zanshin states of mind. The reason is that, before the fighter – warrior achieves the Zanshin state of mind, he must achieve the Fudoshin (an unwavering will to win) and accomplish the Mushin state of mind (a state of mind without any thoughts, i.e. without unnecessary thoughts, a relaxed and calm state of mind focused on the fight). So, the Zanshin state of mind includes Fudoshin and Mushin within itself.