About Chris Berki & Kanso Arts
Chris Berki, founder of Kanso Arts, has spent years immersed in the study of movement, awareness, and self-development. His journey has taken him across the world—from the deep jungles of the Amazon, where he worked with shamans and plant medicine to explore expanded states of consciousness, to silent meditation retreats and Zen teachings that refined his understanding of presence and simplicity.
He later traveled to the rugged mountains of Thailand, where he engaged in intensive martial arts training. Muay Chaiya, a defensive style of Muay Boran, emphasized balance, control, and structural integrity, while Muay Thai honed his striking precision and conditioning. Krabi-Krabong, the traditional Thai weapon-based art, further deepened his understanding of movement, coordination, and adaptability. These practices strengthened his body mechanics and reinforced the importance of discipline and flow in physical and mental development.
Through these combined experiences, Chris shaped Kanso Arts into a practice that integrates movement, meditation, and awareness—offering a structured yet fluid path to self-development and balance.
The Purpose Behind Kanso Arts:
Awareness as the Foundation – At its core, Kanso Arts is about developing awareness—of oneself, of movement, of thought patterns, and of the underlying forces that shape perception. By cultivating this awareness, we can overcome the barriers of attachment that lead to ignorance and suffering.
Experience Over Concept – Language is conceptual, but true understanding comes through direct experience. Kanso Arts emphasizes practice over theory, allowing students to engage with their own learning process through movement, observation, and self-reflection.
Becoming Both Student and Teacher – The goal is not to create dependence on an instructor but to provide a tool of reference for individual practice. Each person has the capacity to be both the student and the teacher, fostering self-reliance, patience, and compassion in their development.
The Essence of Minimalism in Kanso Arts
Simplicity is not a restriction—it is a return to the core. By stripping away the non-essential, we uncover the fundamental truths that guide movement, thought, and being. In Kanso Arts, this practice of reduction refines awareness, allowing us to see clearly and act with precision. From the core, all things emerge—balance, adaptability, and mastery. Through disciplined focus on the essentials, we cultivate a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world, aligning with the natural flow of existence.
A Path of Growth
Kanso Arts is built on the understanding that everything in life is a teacher. Every challenge, every moment, and every interaction is an opportunity to grow. Through practice, we:
Recognize and overcome states of conditioning shaped by upbringing, society, and culture.
Develop the ability to see beyond limitations imposed by external influences—even this program itself.
Learn to recognize balance and harmonize our relationship with ourselves and the world around us.
The Power of a Singular Practice
"Through the practice of one thing, we can understand ten thousand."
By committing to a single discipline—whether movement, meditation, or awareness practice—we create a structured lens through which we can see the limitless possibilities of self-mastery. Kanso Arts is not about rigid doctrine but about providing a framework for exploration. It is a guidepost for those seeking clarity, adaptability, and an authentic relationship with the present moment.
Kanso Arts is more than just a practice—it is a way of seeing, a way of being, and a way of moving through the world with intention, awareness, and balance.
Kanso Arts is not just a method of movement or meditation—it is a lens through which we refine our awareness, simplify our actions, and cultivate balance in all aspects of life. By removing the unnecessary and returning to the core, we develop clarity, resilience, and self-reliance. Whether through physical practice, mindful observation, or the study of fundamentals, Kanso Arts serves as a guide toward mastery of both body and mind.
