"Shu Ha Ri"
Summer Camp this year included some new faces along with many who has been here from the first camp. I find it interesting to see the progress and growth within the group, as well as the interaction. Training in a Japanese Sword Art is unlike going to pottery class. There is a process, and a reason for how the training is done. This brings me to the topic-
Kanji for Shu has two parts- rough translation would be house and law.
Kanji for Ha is breaking the stone
Kanji for Ri is a bird leaving
In the Shu stage, we are expected to perfectly imitate the movements as presented by Sensei. Kihon or basics must be ingrained into mental and physical memory. On the battlefield under pressure, one must be able to rely on basic skills. Isn't that the roots of our ryu? Soldiers needed to be able to fall back on basics, these skills decided whether they survived or died. Students must learn these basics. In the early stages the student does not know what he does not know. There should be no discussion or debate at the early stages of this level. This may not be the time to bring "personal style" or outside advice into your training. As "not socially correct" as this sounds, this is a time to listen, and just do as sensei says. Also a time to learn and grasp the kohai- sempai relationship concept and obligations. When we entered the dojo, was it not to learn a martial art in true form? How can one attempt to re-invent the art at this early stage, with so little knowledge of the significance of each little movement, or how in later training it may be crucial? You must trust that you have chosen your dojo wisely, respect the sensei, his lineage and of those before him, and the ryu. Hataya Sensei told us of how it may be that someone needs to cut kesa-kesa for 6 maybe 10 years before moving on. At this point, some will quit, while others will continue to train and grow. I believe that still in the Shu stage around shodan or nidan, we may be really ready to grasp the bunkai. As knowledge deepens, questions are increasingly more accepted. Now sensei or sempai can have a conversation with someone who at least has a clue. "when the student is ready the teacher will appear" Things begin to come together, and the student eventually begins to find his own way. With advice and coaching from sensei, we learn how to tell if interpretations of the movement are inconsistent with the foundations, or reduce its effectiveness. we come to understand why we were taught a certain way, and why some things should not be changed, why each small piece contributes to the whole.
I suppose this would transition into the Ha phase of our training. Still staying true, we can take the basics, and see how they bend and modify to different situations. Sensei has shown us some of this by showing how adaptations of kata or kumitachi will work in real engagement. We may learn how movements change at a higher level, but still conveying the basics for kohai. The more we advance, we see the importance of core basics. We see the subtle differences when we watch embu, and how each sensei represents kata. Each has broken free to interpret, but still stays true to form.
I can only imagine what the Ri stage of training would be. I suppose it would bring you to Mushin or "No-mind". Being able to act and react without thought. How must one train their mind and body to reach there? I only hope I can train for the years it may take to even get a glimpse of what it would be like.
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