SHU-HA-RI
This is a Japanese term directly meaning “Obey - Digress - Separate” , but (as I described in this post) within the context of Budo it more appropriately means “Follow the rules - Break the rules - Make the rules”, or also could be interpreted to mean “First learn - then detach - then transcend.”
Understanding SHU-HA-RI is understanding the process of mastery.
Today's post is about the first level 'SHU', the stages involved that lead towards the next level 'HA' and how to identify the characteristics of a practitioner in this level.
The Importance of SHU
SHU is by far the most important level. It sets up the foundations of all Budo.
Without going through the stages involved in this level, your Budo will be at least missing something vital and at most pointless and ineffectual.
Many practitioners underestimate the importance of SHU and think that it's ok to skip part or all of it, this never works very effectively.
SHU is easily categorised by having the exact techniques and strict rules to follow, in other words what we generally call "the Style".
In general, a person moves onto the next level (HA) when they begin to question these rules and attempt to understand the reasons for those rules.
A problem can arise when practitioners question the system and they start think that the system and rules aren't necessary. They even think that the system holds people back, so they mistakenly abandon the system/rules and teach beginners with the mindset and attitudes of 'HA', encouraging them to find their own way and not using structured forms. Bruce Lee is a good example of someone who has done this.
The mistake is assuming that the rules hold everyone back. Sticking to the rules only holds back those who have developed beyond the need for them.
Everyone (at the beginning) needs the rules and system in place in order to learn what Budo involves. How can you question the rules if you never learn what those rules are?
The Point is to STUDY & LEARN
It's a part of human nature to 'take the path of least resistance' so therefore be lazy and expect all of the answers will just come automatically.
In reality a practitioner in SHU should be putting effort into learning all the time. Learning is a difficult process and people tend to be naturally resistant to it.
A big step involved in SHU is overcoming this resistance to learning and become adept at open-mindedness with adsorbing new ideas, concepts and techniques.
A good student is practiced at analysing things, thinking things over and over. It becomes second nature to study something (a kata for example), rather than simply having superficial basic knowledge about it.
Stages of SHU
- Beginner - Knows nothing, the very beginning.
- Novice - Only has basic knowledge of the system.
- Intermediate - Has sound knowledge of most of the system.
- Advanced - Knows the whole system, some of it very well.
- Expert - Knows the entire system like the back of their hand (this is the equivalent to somewhere between Shodan and Yondan grade levels).
Once a student is an "expert" and they have sufficient knowledge and experience, they are ready for transition into the 'HA' level. This student is now in a position question their system and begin seeking their 'own way'.
12 signs that you are in (and therefore still need) SHU
Sometimes it can be difficult to judge ourselves in an unbiased way. So it's easy to think we might be at a different stage in our development than we actually are.
The most common misjudgement is believing you've moved on to HA when you're still in (and therefore still need) SHU.
Here's 12 signs of a person in SHU:
- Require an instructor - If you require someone to teach or coach you in order to develop and grow.
- - Still learning Kihon - If there are fundamental techniques that you still need to learn or correct.
- - Don't Know The Whole System - There are still Kata, exercises and patterns within the syllabus of your style that you are still yet to learn.
- - 'Punches' and 'kicks' - People in SHU commonly refer Karate a 'striking art'. With time and experience we realise that there is a lot more depth regarding the variety of technique applications (any idiot can just punch another person).
- - Strict Rules - The rules are there to ensure students learn correctly and build strong foundations. A person in SHU needs the rules and should follow them in order to not make silly avoidable mistakes. The rules are there as a framework to follow.
- - Require Embusen - Similar to the above point about rules. Kata is set up in a specific pattern (embusen) in order to make it easier to remember and also as a structured learning model for those particular techniques.
- - Putting Value In The Wong Place - The average person in the early years of their Budo career generally places value on the wrong things.
For example; Tournament medals, grade certificates, fancy belts, fancy uniforms, fancy training locations, looking good in front of others and trying to impress 'Sensei'.
- - Assuming SHU Is The Whole Journey - Many Budoka would look at the stages listed above (Beginner, Novice, Intermediate, Advanced and Expert) as the whole picture. They fail to realise that this is only the beginning and that HA & Ri make up the majority of the journey. These are the sort of people that quit after grading to black belt, unfortunately many of them will never develop beyond SHU.
- - Ignorance - Lack of knowledge in general. When there is still much to learn regarding the basic concepts.
This might seem obvious, but you'd be surprised how many Budoka consider themselves 'advanced' but are truly ignorant, even with basic concepts.
- - Optional Bunkai - Only a person in SHU isn't absolutely required to know the Bunkai.
The focus of certain stages within SHU quite often aren't centred around "how to make it work practically", they are more about building strength or learning fundamentals. This isn't the case in every other stage in HA and RI - True Budo is primarily about the Bunkai all the time.
- - Training or Practical? - Not knowing the distinction between techniques that are designed for a practical purpose and techniques that are designed just for training purposes. You see this when someone attempts to explain a practical application for something that is clearly just a training exercise.
- - Frustrations - Only a person in SHU should get frustrated with the journey.
Most of the time frustrations are born of the above mentioned ignorance. A person who still needs to learn the point of Budo training will make the common human mistake of placing blame on others and will act like they're journey is somehow unfair.
They get upset that 'Sensei' didn't grade them yet - they get upset because 'Sensei' graded someone else - they get upset because they haven't progressed at the rate they expected - they get upset because they're having trouble correcting certain technique - they get upset for not performing well in a tournament - they get upset because their own ignorance is causing them confusion (saying things like "why don't I know that yet?"). All of these frustrations are just immaturity and eventually, when we grow beyond the SHU level, we learn that these trivial concerns are silly and don't have much to do with the overall way of Budo.
12 signs that you're stuck in SHU
A person might have the knowledge and experience enough begin questioning things and move onto HA, but they choose not to. They seem to be stuck in SHU for some reason. Here's 12 signs that you are stuck in SHU and need to get past before you can truly move to the next level.
- Unable To Consider Anything Other Than The System - The belief that other styles and system are incorrect or wrong. Unwilling to be open-minded enough to seek other opinions or options.
- - Executing Known Kihon In Stages - As a beginner, many of the techniques are taught to us in separate stages so we ensure we're doing them correctly. A person stuck in SHU had be executing their kihon like this for years, they fail to stat making the techniques more natural and practical.
- - Short-term Mindset - Training for grades, tournament results and other superficial goals.
- - Sensei Is Always Right - Taking lessons from seniors as absolute truth. When someone is unwilling to be open-minded and seek other opinions or options, they tend to put too much importance on the words of just one person, they don't really think for themselves. "I do it like this because that's what Sensei told me to do, anything else must be wrong."
- - Questioning is taboo - A Person that is unwilling to move from SHU to HA has come to rely too much on their style and their Sensei. They don't want to know that what they do may not be 'the best style'. They don't want to face the fact the all systems have some inherent flaws and no instructor is perfect. They'd rather not think for themselves and possibly face that. So they're unwilling to question things. It get's the point where questioning things is seen as 'disrespectful' - this is of course stupid.
- - Animosity towards those who do Question - The sort of person who is unwilling to question things will also try to force this mindset on others (especially lower grades). As time goes on, a culture develops within the class (or even the whole club) of staying ignorant.
- - Missing the point of SHU - The point of SHU is to provide a foundation for your Budo. SHU is meant to set you up for the HA level. If you're not willing to move onto that level, many of the concepts within SHU have been misunderstood.
- - Etiquette and Traditions - The majority of traditions are part of the 'rules' of the system and therefore are required for SHU. Those who are stuck in SHU are the type of people that are unwilling to put any thought into the reasons for certain traditions.
- - Fear of (and a resistance to) Change - New ideas and new ways of looking at things are an essential part of the transition into 'HA'. A person who is unwilling to change their point of view is too reliant on the 'rules' and has trouble dealing with any changes or adaptations to things.
- - Fear of Responsibility - A key feature of SHU is that a student has a 'safety net' inherent in the system, they can rely on the system to follow and clearly see what is the right and wrong thing to do. Once moving beyond the SHU level a student doesn't have that 'safety net' to rely on, the clear defined rules become 'fuzzy'. They must take responsibility for their Budo. They have to start making their own decisions and find their own way. A person with no confidence in their own abilities will never take the responsibility for their Budo away from the system and will happily stay stuck in SHU.
- - Complacency - To be happy with their current level of ability and have no need to put any additional effort into further development. This is worse than simply staying within the SHU level, as it also doesn't actually work. You can't just stop developing and stay there if you don't put effort in, you'll go backwards. As Gichin Funakoshi says: "Karate is like boiling water, without heat, it returns to its tepid state."
- - Oversimplifying Bunkai - I mentioned above that those in SHU think of Karate as a 'striking art'. The person who oversimplifies bunkai is the extension of this mindset and is therefore stuck in SHU. This person only conceives one bunkai for any section of kata. They only think of simple parries and strikes. While we should be careful not to over-complicate the Bunkai, if your bunkai is unimaginative and unrealistic for real life applications it's simply useless. Watch this video and pay attention to both their distancing and the way the attacker uses very rigid attacks and basically gives himself over to be 'defended against'.
This is the first in a series of posts I'm doing regarding SHU-HA-RI. The next post will be all about the next level 'HA' and making your Budo your own.
So stay tuned.
Comment below to share any thoughts or opinions you might have. J
Thanks for reading.
Derm
ϾDerm
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