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
