Perfection - addendum

We shall not drive for perfection. We shall drive for quality for quality does not equal perfection. Voltaire said, "The perfect is the enemy of the good, - but the gaol should always be to deliver knowledge of sufficient quality to bring value to its application. It is essential to maintain an appropriate level of quality."

If true then our goal in striving for perfection is actually striving for the highest quality of practice, training and application. Our philosophy regarding "perfection" is to use the goal of perfection not for perfections sake but rather for quality. After all if quality is sacrificed to achieve so-called perfection it results in a pretty form vs. a functional form.

Take kata competition in tournaments. They tend to lean toward perfection where form is graded for results. Form as to perfection from an artistic view, i.e. when visiting an art gallery we look to the form of the art, vs. a functional one in fighting applications. An ugly but high quality technique that works is far preferred over some ascetically pleasing technique formed for that purpose, yes?

So, maybe this analysis means we should rename that aspect of martial practice and training from "attaining perfection" to "creating quality." It seems the quality of something far out weighs any perfection since it may not mean functional quality vs. ascetically formed quality. Hm, makes sense?

The same can be said as to quality vs. quantity, yes? Consider that in todays industrial complex they call it "quality control" and not "perfection control."