By James Hudson.

One thing I love about running is that it can be such a minimal sport. Bouncing down a trail, one foot after another, without any mechanical assistance, it’s so simple. This simplicity, this minimalism, is embodied by a Japanese piece of calligraphy called an Enso.

The Enso (the white circular symbol on the front of the Nutrition for Energy/UGOKU cap) is a minimalist symbol which represents quite a lot of different things, some of which I will explain in this blog. But first and foremost, it is a reminder of minimalism. Back in 2019 I launched a sports nutrition consultancy business and I wanted to have this symbol as the logo to remind me to work and live according to a minimalist philosophy. This doesn’t mean doing the bare minimum, it means focusing on less (the most important bits) so that I can do them well, achieving the biggest impact and the best results.

Another piece of symbolism hidden within the Enso is the manner of its painting. Have you ever held a paint brush or even a pen or pencil, and tried to create a circle in one stroke? If you have, you will be aware that getting it completely circular is really difficult. In Japanese culture when painting the Enso, the idea is that you only have one attempt, and this represents life in that you only have one go at it. After spiralling your brush on the page, whatever you are left with, you do not alter. It is uniquely yours. If your Enso is a little bit oval, or it doesn’t join up properly or maybe the paint splats or drips in a messy way, that is okay. The idea is that this teaches acceptance because however it looks, you should be happy with it, content.

I like to apply this philosophy to my runs. Sometimes everything goes right. Running feels like I am floating whilst breathing lightly and easily. Other runs feel laboured, harder than usual, like I’m running uphill when I’m actually navigating a flat section. When I get tough runs like this, I am still content and happy with them. I appreciate it is part of the process and it doesn’t have to be “perfect” for me to have enjoyed it or gained something from it. In fact, I probably learn more from the runs which don’t go so well, as they cue me to reflect on why they didn’t. The symbol of a circle means whole, or complete, which is why quite a lot of Ensos, including the one on this cap have a gap… it’s a broken circle, showing it is incomplete or imperfect. Part of the Enso’s symbolism is that there is beauty in imperfection.

After Nutrition for Energy and UGOKU decided to collaborate on making  a trail running cap we needed to design the background for the Enso. We took inspiration from the marathon monks of Mount Hiei, where legend holds that they ran 1000 marathons in 1000 days to help them reach enlightenment. Although I think some would say that running 100m for 100 days would be a better expression of minimalism, I don’t think that is the point. This monumental task is exceptionally minimal because it requires a singular focus for pretty much every hour of the day for 1000 days. The mountain scape on the front of the hat is a stylized painting of Mount Hiei to remind the wearer that with great determination and singular focus they can achieve anything they want. The combination with the Nutrition for Energy logo is to show that they should embrace their own unique and imperfect journey towards their goal.

If you are working towards a goal and feel your nutrition is holding your back, then book a find out more call with James the founder of Nutrition for Energy Ltd. Please only book if you are looking for long-term success.

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