Blog Article/Post Caveat (Read First Please: Click the Link)
Most karate-ka and martial artists are at least familiar with the phrase and concept of, “Shu-ha-ri.” If you are not then I recommend reading the book, “Shu Ha Ri: The Aikido Journey, by Cath Davies.” “Shu-ha-ri is a learning and development paradigm, a three-stage dual cyclical process with the third stage of ‘ri’ describing a state that may or may not be attained as a result of study carried out at shu and ha stages.”
Shu-ha-ri literally means embracing (performing it to exact specifications of the system, style and dojo) the kata, diverging (practicing) from the kata and discarding (living/forgetting/discarding/breaking the kata) the kata. Shu is about keeping the form, ha is breaking the form and ri is transcending the form. It appears in Japan that shu takes about 10-15 years and a grade of san-dan; ha takes about 15-25 years and a grade of go-dan then ri takes about 25 years+ and a grade of roku-dan - all minimal time.
Few reach such a lofty hight of living the kata, it is a optimal mastery performance standard that takes guts, integrity, humility, etc. to reach. It is that goal that a true karate-ka and martial artists strives to achieve, one that tasks and challenges us to our extreme. A form o shugyo that lasts a lifetime and tests us constantly, continuously and diligently.
Like life, it is about learning, understanding then letting go so the more creative mind can utilize the lessons in a way that means and achieves a lot. The creative mind that uses the flow zone to make it work without interference from our mind chatter.
Shu-ha-ri does not just apply to kata practice and training but to all facets and aspects of karate and martial arts training. Karate for instance, is often if properly done first performed to the strict edicts of the master or creator then as one achieves certain proficiency and master must move on to the ha levels to practice, practice and practice, etc., so that one day they can, hopefully, live karate thus breaking it apart from performance and practice into something living, breathing and of a creative nature so that it can be applied toward sport or combatives or a philosophical way or self-defense.
Then we get into the concept of, “Shin-gi-tai.” :-)
Bibliography (Click the link)
Davies, Cath. “Shu Ha Ri: The Aikido Journey: The Metamorphosis of Form.” Shoshin Press. Amazon Digital Services. 6 April 2014.
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