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
