“Shu Ha Ri”

A Japanese maxim  that can be described as Obedience, Separation, Divergence.

SHU- the strict attention to detail and prescribed tradition, protect the tradition.  Doing the kata just as it is taught to you.

HA- the mastery of that tradition. Having a full understanding of the kata, both mental and physical.

RI – freedom from rigid perfunctory  movement, an effortless or seemingly spontaneous performance unmarred by self-consciousness.  A state of perfection that is the goal.

This takes time, it isn’t something that happens right away, and there really isn’t a  time limit on any of these stages.   The kata should be both performed and experienced.     Power should be exuded,  focused and unleashed in a burst of fast potent techniques.

To be able to go from one move to another with out any lapses in movements, trying to keep the rhythm going,  never hurried but with speed is hard but with enough practice it will come.

Knowing the meaning and application of each move is what makes a strong kata,  as the student evolves they make the kata their own, as well as the meaning to the techniques

While I am using kata as an example, SHU HA RI  philosophy can and is used in all parts of the marital arts.   In sparring you go from learning the basic kick, punch. (shu), to being able to do any and all techniques (HA) to be able to react to any situation with the best techniques (RI).

When we think of SHU HA RI with a person,  the students learns all the techniques and how they are taught (SHU) after time they master the techniques(HA)  they go on to teach and pass the style to their students(RI)

This is the way Okinawa Karate was passed on.  I feel it is the right and the only way true karate should be pass on.

So just keep training and try not to worry if your in the right stage, it will happen when you are ready.

SEE YOU IN THE DOJO !!