Science says it, personally I firmly believe that many times the solution is not in inventing something new but in returning to our origins. This is the case of the samurai, who although they are known for being the Japanese warriors that were governed by loyalty, justice, courage, and duty, also had physical customs that allowed them to maintain a state of physical health. This is the body etiquette Rei-ho, which was based on slow, controlled, and conscious movements.
What was a samurai custom became a tradition of Japanese culture. It was a team of researchers from Tohoku University who decided to measure the benefits of this cultural heritage in the sedentary and frantic lifestyle we experience today. Little by little, traditional postures in Japanese culture, such as sitting on the floor (seiza), have been lost, which has led, among other things, to sarcopenia, that is, the loss of strength and power in muscles.
Professor Ryoichi Nagatomi led an experiment in which he subjected half of the sample to the practice of Rei-ho. The results published in the Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine demonstrated that over a short period of time, leg strength increased considerably. In short, it was shown that strengthening leg muscles helps to experience healthier aging, allowing a person to perform everyday movements such as getting up from a chair, sitting down, or walking, without the need for assistance.
Japanese Samurai Culture
When we think of samurais, agile and unbeatable warriors come to mind. However, the reality is that they were a caste of elite Japanese warriors who prioritized loyalty, justice, courage, and duty. They served feudal lords and followed a code of honor called Bushido (the way of the warrior). Although their dominance ended in 1868, it is true that Japanese culture continues to preserve their legacy and values.
Rei-ho
One of the practices carried out by the samurai was the body etiquette called Rei-ho. It consisted of a discipline marked by slow, controlled, and conscious movements. The exercises represented the actions of sitting, standing, and walking, and it was integrated as a daily practice. The Tohoku University has sought to revive this practice, which has remained present in Japanese culture for many years, but has been lost due to the increasingly frantic and sedentary lifestyle.
Incorporating Rei-ho into our routine
When muscles lose their power and endurance, a condition known as sarcopenia occurs. This is not only due to the passage of time but also from stopping muscle exercises, as happened with Japanese culture when it stopped practicing seiza (sitting on the knees). Professor Ryoichi Nagatomi led the study aimed at measuring the incorporation of the practice of Rei-ho into current daily life. With a sample of 34 people, one half practiced the Rei-ho style of sitting down and getting up for 5 minutes, while the other half continued with their normal life.
What do the results say?
The results are indisputable: those who practiced Rei-ho experienced an increase in leg strength of 25.9%, while the group that did not practice it only improved by 2.5%. The study focused on knee extension strength, as it is necessary for performing everyday movements such as sitting and standing up from a chair, walking, or standing without assistance. Although the study had a quite small sample size, the results are believed to be quite encouraging. The team has even proposed that Rei-ho exercises be considered in public health programs as preventive measures for older adults, helping them achieve better independence and reduce the number of falls.