Consider what happens if your martial arts don’t work.
That is why we not only train hard with an aim for perfection in the
dojo, but also train in a specific way.
A template of sorts, which is especially important for new students to
the art. As a new student, one wants to lay not only a solid foundation, but
also learn the mechanics of the martial arts so as new and more advanced
movement lessons are given, the student can do them.
There is no limit to what you can do, so why limit yourself?
In the Japanese martial arts the concept of shu ha ri is a training
template for understanding all of the lessons, and when it is time to move to
the next level or layer of the lesson.
Let’s explore this temple, no skipping levels in your training.
Shu is the first phase of
the training, the foundation, the base. At this point you copy and perform the
martial arts movements exactly as you are shown them. No changes, no going off
script, no counters. Doing the movements thousands of time so they not only
become second nature, but they also become perfect.
Ha is the next step.
At this stage you start to experiment with change, adding and subtracting
movement, changing movement, exploring different scenarios based on the
foundation Shu movements.
Ha doesn’t mean making
stuff up and freelancing, it means using the base as a jumping off point, and
as an ending point.
The final step is Ri.
At this stage, you leave all the forms behind and just act. There is just
movement in the martial arts.
However, to get to that level, you have to progress through the first
two.
No skipping!
See you on the mat!