The beauty of a waterfall, like any other manifestation of the natural environment, should inspire admiration and respect as well as creating harmony and desire to reconnect to Mother Earth. The gift that you receive through the practice of Misogi, (well worth the cold water in different seasons) is a fortified constitution and immune system! You also get a more positive attitude in dealing with the stresses of everyday life.

    It was the 7th February 1998 when The master led a group of seven to practice Misogi in Sicily in the sea of Scopello Ryu Jin. It was not the first time that I have done a Misogi at the seaside but I remember the emotion this particular occasion raised in all of us.

         With the guidance of the Master we are happy to have found a cove near the nature reserve of "Zingaro". It is a place ready to hastily embrace you but also to strengthen your soul. For some years we have done exercises each time that the Master came over for to Sicily for our annual ceremonies or during the training. Then I got permission from The Master to lead the exercises. I must admit that it was not easy to start with I had to see myself from the outside as though I was looking into a mirror and to pull out all the accumulated rubbish:- pride, conceit, vanity, etc.. etc. also other things that I had seen in the eyes of those who walked near me watching me without speaking. With their help I laboriously began to change perspective and to learn something. Now we support each other. The path is long but step by step we have built something that is ours that we are happy with and reflects our identity.

     With the help of Salvino (who had also led the exercise every month except July and August) we are pleased to do Misogi at Scopello. New friends have join us and sometimes a few martial arts students from other parts of Italy. Normally we ask permission to exercise in conjunction with the monthly Misogi led by the Master in Rome. If I am there Salvino will lead Misogi in Sicily and vice versa. In this way those who could not get to Assisi or Zompo (other places where we practice Misogi) can practice. But if we are both in Rome we ask permission to do the exercise the Sunday before or the one after. I recount lots of stories that have happened while the Master was at Scopello namely phenomena such as concentric rainbows around the sun, threatening clouds that were gathering that suddenly retreated. But it is more important to emphasize that it’s thanks to his example and warmth that we are where we are on this path.

     Come and practice with us. Let the dusty deposits of life’s weariness be carried by the sea at Scopello and exit with renewed energy and strength given by Scopello Ryujin. Thanks Joseph Bajardi

     My name is Salvatore Pappalardo and I live in Palermo. I have followed Master Kurihara scince 1997 including practicing Misogi. Even today I still follow his teachings and when I can, along with other students, we meet to do Misogi in the Waterfall at Morino below the Velino Mountain in the province of Avezzano. Other places where you can do Misogi are the sea and lakes (on occasion we have done Misogi in these) .

I will try to explain what Misogi is. I have always imagined a jug of water left out on a window sill for a month. Think of all the elements to which it is exposed such as dust, mold, germs, evaporation, etc.., we would never drink this water after a month on the window sill but we would if the jug was cleaned and refilled with fresh water. During Misogi we are the jug and the water that fills it is our vital energy.

     In the modern world we often have days filled with anxiety, tension and stress that constantly drain our energy and impact on our physical and intellectual capabilities. This often manifests itself in the way we act towards our fellow man. The exercise of Misogi offers us the opportunity to harmonize with nature get rid of these tensions and then recharge ourselves with new energy. Armed with this we can live better lives and give to others.

     It’s really difficult to describe what you feel before, during and after Misogi. It’s often dependant on the moment and rather personal. I also don’t want to anticipate your feelings, so I would like to invite you to come and experience Misogi with us.

     My name is Marco Scala, I live in Portici, a charming town overlooking the bay of Naples and situated at the foot of Vesuvius. I am the Donin which in our discipline signifies that I am able to lead Misogi under the guidance of our Master Koshi Kurihara. The word "Misogi" literally means "purification." The person entering the waterfall purifies himself/herself by remaining under a jet of the waterfall for an undetermined period of time. Misogi can also be performed in pools, lakes or the sea.

     This cultural/spiritual practice using water as a key element has its origins in ancient Japanese culture. It was practiced by the Emperor at the beginning of each of the four seasons in order clear his heart and to lead his people to prosperity. For Martial art practitioners it was to attain a pure spirit and for ordinary people to achieve a healthy life.

     The practice of Misogi is not linked to any particular religion or spiritual/ philosophical school. It is just something that makes you feel good. The waterfall cleans you and recharges you with new energy, enthusiasm. It is accessible to all regardless of your place in lfe, creed, color, race, sex or age.

     In our group we do Misogi once a month all year round. The practice begins with a ceremony. The Master explained to us initially that this turns a simple bathing exercise into a true act of purification. During the ceremony we ask nature for permission (through the divinity of the individual place/setting) to enter the water. We also ask her greatness to welcome all and to accept our accumulated dust and dirt. It's only with humility of soul that man recognises that he is part and parcel of nature and that he unifies with her.

     As westerners we engage our rational minds to find explanations for the experience of Misogi. But the one I feel and which I offer as advice to anyone wishing to do Misogi is: we get together under the waterfall and then, before a hot meal and a glass of wine (preferably from Mariano’s vineyard) we talk! In fact, the practice of Misogi continues during our communal lunch (nahorai) and ends when all participants have reached their homes. Never loosing sight of the correct consideration of the event and attention to detail so that unpleasant things will not happen!

     The cold is King!. Master says when he sees our goose bumps and at times uncontrollable shivering. He says “you do not have to fight the cold, but see it as a phenomenon."

     It is just a word! I assure you that is easier said than done. While a nice plate of linguine wrapped in foil or pasta and beans may be viewed differently by people depending on whether they are full or not the cold is an objective phenomena! Many people judge just based on their exposure to cold.

     Objectivity is not shaped just by knowledge. The physiological effects of cold are manifold. When an organism is exposed to low temperatures the first effect is that there is a strong peripheral vasoconstriction caused by active contraction of the muscles of the vessel wall. Sometimes you can see a change in skin color that ranges from white, red and to blue. The peripheral muscular activity has as its main purpose the prevention of heat loss leading to increased blood flow to the internal organs with a consequent decrease in heart rate and increased stroke volume. Initially, the frequency increases in order to clear body which under stress secrete hormones (catecholamines, cortisol). These compensate for external temperature and bring about changes in the function of organs namely the heart, lungs, kidneys ( to decrease the pressure and increase the glomerular filtration rate which makes you want to pass water.

     If cold exposure is limited in time, as in our case, the phenomenon observed is that after active blood flow resulting from the relaxation of the musculature of the vessel wall. To meet the increased blood flow to the periphery and the consequent lowering of blood pressure you get an increased heart rate and a reduction in pressure and an increased breathing rate rate. Feeling slowly returns to normal and you get a natural sense of well being and hunger.

     The increased blood flow (development and opening of new capillaries) that results from the alternation of vasoconstriction and active vasodilation allows a greater supply of oxygen and nutrients to all parts of the body and a faster removal of toxic waste produced or ingested by 'body allowing a marked improvement in all functional and physiological activities of our body.

     This "Organic Gymnastics" has healthy effects on our body and increases our threshold of tolerance to cold and pain. It also activates the immune system by increasing resistance to disease and even although it is of short duration it fortifies us mentally.

     After Misogi we usually go out for a meal at the "Old Forge" run by Augustus in Civitella Roveto. We eat and drink well and have built up great relations with the manager of the restaurant Augustus, his wife Stephanie, his brothers, and all the guys in the kitchen and dining room plus Augustus’s mother and mother in law! Talking of which I remember a funny episode. At the beginning of our acquaintance the proprietor of the restaurant curious to see this group of weird, somewhat noisy, but always respectful bunch asked what possessed us to go to a place like the waterfall. "We do Misogi" the least inhibited replied!. I then tried to explain to the grandmother what Misogi was and she replied “what even the kids? Do it poor things, it's cold. ". Not loosing heart and drawing on my infinite Latin wisdom I asked the grandmother to recall her infancy in those wonderful Meta Mountains and reminded her that probably she did not have a bathroom or warm water. The grandmother looked confused for a moment then she looked at me and her eyes lit up, replying "You are right we did not have any water so we used to go and get it on foot , the snow from the fields. There was also no electricity. When she finished she realised that the small exposure to cold that our families experienced for a half an hour once a month was nothing like her own experinece day in and day out in the winter. Now every time that we see her we let her know the temperature of the water and whether there is snow on the ground. She hugs our children who she has seen grow up strong and in form.

     PS I invite anyone who wants to do Misogi to get together with a competent person. There are a number of people who advertise waterfall training and Misogi who are not true and respectful practitioners of this ancient art.

     I wish you all sincerely a great Misogi. 

 Naples, Marco Scala there Donin 15/03/2010