Blog Article/Post Caveat (Read First Please: Click the Link)
I use the term atomistic to give feeling and depth to what some would term, “Trivia.” The minuteness of knowledge is always a necessity until it becomes a hindrance. Every discipline known to humans requires a period of atomistic study, analysis, hypothesis and synthesis before it is stored and encoded, i.e., before we make those click-n-whirr tapes used by our lizard brains.
If you have no reference points, no knowledge and therefor no understanding about a subject or discipline then your brain, your minds - all three; the human, the monkey and the lizard - will have and find no reference points or triggers to click-n-whirr, run the proper tapes for the proper response and actions for the particular situation and moment - YOU FREEZE.
When I talk of martial arts I use things like, “Shu-ha-ri, Shin-gi-tai, and other terms where one uses a mind of no mind with my translation being to first fill the mind with the atomistic, a plethora of trivia based knowledge, then practice/study, practice/study, and practice/study until you reach both a mental and tactile/physical understanding so you can now empty your mind, no mind, so the underside of your mind, the lizard, can take control especially in the adrenal stress-conditions of reality.
Yes, karate and other martial disciplines is an on-going constant battle of learning the atomistic, synthesizing and encoding then forgetting the atomistic to, i.e., make room for more, set aside the old so the lizard can make use of it without distractions or delays and then let it become wholeheartedly holistic in nature.
Learn the basics, become the basics and then “FORGET” the basics. Yes, the meme used most often in karate circles or communities is to always practice the basics and whenever there is a question needing answers that are unanswered due to ignorance, etc., then you can always fall back on, “Hey, go practice your basics and one day you will realize the answer.” Yea, right, that goes over well with me and truthfully since I had a Sensei who also asked and found proper answers I didn’t have to suffer with that one too much.
Basics, like many other things karate, are misunderstood and lacking in proper understanding for they, like the fundamental principles; multiple methodologies; levels of forces, lack full and complete understanding as to their function and purpose for they are simply tools to learn about principles, methodologies, force levels and ways to apply the three effectively in the adrenal stress-conditions of self-defense.
Shu-ha-ri can help understand the concept for to understand shu-ha-ri you learn in an atomistic way that you first learn shu, then learn ha, and when finally learning ri you gain insight into how shu and ha are not distinctly separate but mutually connected and beneficial giving rise to how I explain the yin-yang concept and symbol. Ri is about mind-no-mind and losing the trivia for a more wholehearted holistic approach, understanding and application both mentally and physically creating that “Spirit” often spoken of in marital communities but sometimes understood in a limited way.
More often than not, going and remaining with the basics, the more physical manifestation without all the other necessities, leaves the practitioner practicing basics forever while never reaching and gaining the next level necessary to understand karate and martial disciplines.
In short, atomistic is critically necessary in the shu stages; atomistic loses its necessity in the ha stages; atomistic becomes a hindrance and obstacle if allowed to remain steadfast and dogmatic in holding to things like basics in the ri stages where the mind must be freed and allow the body and spirit to achieve its proper level much like the tide against the shore.
Bibliography (Click the link)
“In order for any life to matter, we all have to matter.” - Marcus Luttrell, Navy Seal (ret)
No comments:
Post a Comment