Mind, Technique, Body - Which Is More Important? --- Chief Instructor's Blog April 2024

 

In last month’s blog, I discussed the traditional Japanese learning process of mastery.  And while there is a learning process to mastery, there are also pillars of mastery that I have described in various blogs over the years: Mind (or Spirit), Technique, Body.  The Japanese phrase for this is Shin Gi Tai.  For each of these pillars there are several different aspects to each of them.

Shin – The Mind (or Spirit)

There are three main characteristics to this pillar.

One is being focused to the learning process itself.  This includes not wavering even when you are challenged in learning a particular technique or concept. Trying to learn faster or thinking you must learn faster can actually end up resulting in you taking longer to learn. 

A second aspect is training to have a strong mind that allows you to push through fears, physical limits, or anything else that might hold you back from learning.

Shin also refers to your consciousness and being aware of how you are performing the techniques (e.g., are you aware where your elbows are at all times).  It is also being aware of your body, its strength and limitations.

If we get caught up in just training the mind, though, we may have the mental fortitude but will lack the skill or physical capability.

With all this said, if you do not have a strong mind and unwavering desire to learn and to stick with the learning, then it is easy to stop.  So, of the three, I would say the Shin is the foundation to build the other two pillars on. 

Gi (The Technique)

There are three main attributes to this pillar as well.

Mastery of the technique refers to performing the techniques precisely, so they are most effective and efficient.  This is the skill aspect of the pillar.

Mastering the technique also refers to understanding of why the technique works.  This is the knowledge aspect of the pillar.

Gi also refers to adapting techniques to your body and making them work for you more effectively.  This is the experience aspect of the pillar.

 

Tai (Body)

There are two main aspects to this pillar.

One is the physical aspect and developing the endurance, physical balance, flexibility, power, agility of the body to perform the techniques.

The second is to integrate the movements with the technique so you are utilizing the entire body and not just focused on one piece of the body.

In the beginning we tend to focus on the technique over body and this is important since performing techniques with a lot of power, as an example, without the techniques being solid can lead to injuries. However, if we focus too much on the details of the techniques and not pushing the body, the techniques will never be truly effective or mastered.

While each of these pillars are important to master none are more important than the other.  Without all three, mastery cannot be obtained.  Some of us are drawn to one pillar over the other, or during our training we can get interested in one of these pillars over another and get hyper focused.  And it’s okay to focus on one over another for a brief period of time, but in the end, all three pillars are necessary to master a martial art and not one is not more important the other.

 

Regards,

Kelly

"A one-sided martial artist is a blind martial artist" ~ Unknown

The Three Stages of Mastery --- Chief Instructor's Blog March 2024

 

I came across a term I was not familiar with: Shu-Ha-Ri.  It is based on traditional learning process in Japanese culture of traditional arts including martial arts.  It describes the phases to mastery.

Shu is the foundational phase.  In martial arts this is where one learns all the foundation to be technically proficient.  It consists of learning all the techniques and details around those techniques exactly as taught.  This is a time to absorb and learn, repeat, and perform mechanically exactly what is being taught.  During this process you should be able to mimic exactly what is taught, every motion, every inch of a technique, have a mental model that can clarify each of those details and that continues to refine that mental model until know all the fine details.  One article I read stated, traditionally one would spend 3 to 5 years of training in this phase. In the modern world of training a couple of days a week, it is 5 to 10 years.  In this phase, it is mainly repetition of techniques, being mindful of how one is performing them and make the corrections one is told.  When one can start self-correcting, then one also knows one is progressing in this phase. The exercise to write down how to perform techniques and the hyung is a good exercise to support one in and through the Shu phase.

Ha is the understanding phase.  In the Ha phase, a student of martial arts learns and understand the application and principles of the techniques.  In this phase, one comes to understand how and why techniques work, how one technique relates to other techniques, and in what situations (when) the application of the technique is most effective. In this phase, one starts to learn all the variations of techniques and applications and not be stuck in one way. This is an exploration stage and one must be willing to try and see what works, work with multiple partners to gain deeper understanding of the why, how, and when techniques work.  In this phase, one will be able to determine what techniques are best for the individual and under what situations. One article I read stated, traditionally one would spend 5 to 15 years of training in this phase. In the modern world of training a couple of days a week, it is 10 to 20 years. 

Ri is the mastery phase.  In this phase you embody the principles and express them.  In this phase, one will be able to use any and all techniques as needed and react without thinking.  In this phase, one is in complete control of any situation physically, mentally and emotionally.  This phase can take a lifetime to master.

These phases are a journey.

There is a famous story about Yagyu Matajuro, who was a son of the famous Yagyu family of swordsmen in the 17th century feudal Japan. He was kicked out of the house for lack of talent and potential, and sought out instruction of the sword master Tsukahara Bokuden, with the hope of achieving mastery of the sword and regaining his family position. On their initial interview, Matajuro asked Tsukahara Bokuden, “How long will it take me to master the sword?” Bokuden replied, “Oh, about five years if you train very hard.” “If I train twice as hard, how long will it take?” inquired Matajuro. “In that case, ten years”, retorted Bokuden.

 

Regards,

Kelly

 

"Learning a technique is not the end in itself, it merely indicates where you need to start." Masaaki Hatsumi (1931-present), Togakure-ryū, a historical tradition of ninjutsu, grandmaster

How Can You Incorporate Practice in your Day to Day Life --- Chief Instructor's Blog February 2024

 

In my previous blog, I said you should practice every day.  You may think that is impossible or you do not have the time.

 

There are so many things you can do every day to incorporate your martial arts practice in your daily life, especially keeping in mind that martial arts, at its core, is a physical, mental, and energetic/spiritual practice.

Physical

Here are some examples of ways to incorporate practice the physical in your day-to-day life. 

• Practice cat stance while you are brushing teeth or in line at a store.  This does not mean have to be a deep formal cat stance, but the practicing principles of weight shifted onto one leg and little to no weight on the opposite leg.
• When moving heavy items, use horse stance and use your hips.
• Use a knife hand to push through a door or a front kick motion to push through a heavy door.
• Use a Spear hand or a knuckle punch to open boxes (at the seams).
• Sliding feet like attack stance if walking in a dark room (also lets you avoid tripping on things).
• If at the gym and running on the tread mill or riding the bike, you can practice upper body techniques (I actually do this sometimes when I am out hiking).
• Always walk grounded. Always be grounded. 

Mental

Here are some examples of ways to incorporate practicing the mental aspects in your day-to-day life.

• While watching TV shows or movies (or news clips or YouTube videos of altercations), analyze the situations on what they did well or what they could have done better.
• Instead of watching TV, mentally go through the basics, hyung, sparring.
• Instead of watching TV, mentally go through various scenarios of what you should do under what conditions (what if a family member or friend is with you? What if you are blocked in?  what if you are injured?
• Always be aware of your surroundings.  Situational awareness is the key to self-defense.

 Energetic/Spiritual

Here are some examples of ways to incorporate practicing the energetic/spiritual aspects in your day-to-day life.

• Practice deep long breathing in any physical activity you are doing (running, swimming, biking, hiking, yoga, etc.).
• Be conscious of your energy (and energy body) and consciously choose a form that is appropriate for the situation (e.g., direct or indirect; hard or soft; hot, warm, cold; normal, extended or collapsed, or combinations).

1. If needing to make a point at work or with family, you may choose direct or hard.
2. If you are trying to comfort someone or be sympathetic, you may choose warm and soft.
3. If at a crowded mall, you may choose to extend so people felt it and get out of your way.
4. If late for that meeting with executive leadership, you might choose collapsing your energy to slip in unnoticed.

The above are just examples. What have you come up with to practice every day?   If you have not, or if you have just been focused on one aspect of martial arts, I encourage you to come up with actions you can take to incorporate martial arts in every aspect of your day-to-day life.  Because in the end, the true essence of martials arts is not something you do, it is a lifestyle.

Regards,

Kelly

 

“Kung fu lives in everything we do. It lives in how we put on a jacket and how we take off a jacket. It lives in how we treat people. Everything is kung fu.” ~Mr. Han, played by Jackie Chan (1954-presnt, Hong Kong actor, filmmaker, martial artist, and stuntman) from the movie The Karate Kid (2011)

How Often Should You Practice? --- Chief Instructor's Blog January 2024

 

How often should you practice?  Answer:  Every day.  Yes, every day. 

Does that mean you need you need to go through the basics and hyung every day?  Will you lose your physical skills if you do not practice every day.  No, not necessarily.  

There are lots of studies out there on how long you can take a break before significantly losing or see a reduction in physical attributes.  Most studies are consistent in that you will lose significant physical attributes like strength and endurance if you take weeks or months off.

You may think I am talking out of both sides of my mouth, because I said you should practice every day.  Something keep in mind is that while you may not lose significant strength or endurance in weeks, there are many other attributes like balance, coordination, timing, reactions speed, etc. to consider.  Also, if you need to use your martial physical skills, most likely you will need to be ready in an instant.  This is not something that you will be able to do if you do not practice consistency.  So, unless injured or ill, I would suggest you include the physical practice every other day at a minimum. 

Also, remember martial arts is a way of life and it is not just about the physical.  The mental and spiritual side of the martial arts should definitely be part of your day-to-day life.

Gichin Funakoshi said it very well in his eleventh precept “Karate is like boiling water: without heat, it returns to its tepid state.” from his book, The Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate.  Master Funakoshi states: “Only in continual training will you be able to obtain, in mind and body, the fruits of the Way.”

And, if you also think about it, it actually takes less energy to keep water boiling once already boiling or already hot compared to starting from warm or cold water.  So, a little every day is easier to maintain then starting and stopping after days or weeks.

As we enter 2024, I encourage you to find a way to include some aspect of your training (physical, mental, spiritual) daily.

Regards,

Kelly

“Learning through practice is like pushing a cart up a hill: if you slack off, it will slip backwards.” ~ Japanese proverb