The mind and body are not meant to be trained, but to be mastered

Many people think that the mind and body are things to be "trained." However, this is half right and half wrong.

Stronger, faster, more patient. Adding what is missing, compensating for weaknesses, and pushing boundaries. Many people put effort into this direction, and they do achieve certain results. However, if you continue with that mindset, you will eventually hit a wall. This is because the mind and body are not simply "objects for performance improvement."

No matter how excellent a tool is, if you do not know how to use it, it will not perform to its full potential. Conversely, even if the performance is somewhat inferior, if you understand how to handle it, it will function sufficiently. The human mind and body are the same. Knowing how to use them is far more important than whether you have muscle strength or physical stamina. Nevertheless, many people try to improve performance before learning how to use them.

What is meant by "mastering" here is not just becoming technically capable of moving. It means accurately sensing your own state, identifying strain and waste, using only the necessary amount of force, and releasing unnecessary tension. In that sequence, a state where optimal movement naturally arises is achieved. This is not something created by thinking with your head, but something understood through the body.

In fact, in recent fields of exercise physiology and neuroscience, elements such as the functioning of the nervous system, coordination, and the integration of perception and movement are becoming more emphasized than muscle strength itself. Even with the same muscle strength, the output changes significantly depending on the timing, order, and degree to which it is used. In other words, strength is not a simple numerical value, but is determined by "integrated usage."

Even regarding the core, it was previously considered something to be "hardened," but now it is viewed as a hub for transmitting power and information throughout the body. It does not stabilize by being hardened; rather, by making it function appropriately, overall coordination is born. This, too, is a matter of usage rather than an object to be trained.

In the world of martial arts, this way of thinking has long been a premise. Instead of relying on force, one feels the center of gravity and continues to choose the optimal movement within the relationship with the opponent. In that process, rather than forcibly adding something, the emphasis is on stripping away unnecessary force and habits. As a result, even though it does not look like a lot of force is being used, the necessary effect is properly achieved. This is by no means a special talent, but the result of treating the body in the direction of "mastering" it.

The same applies to the mind. It is natural that trying to have a strong will or forcing yourself to be positive will not last. This is because the mind is also not structured in a way that it simply becomes stronger if you train it. What is important is to understand when it becomes disturbed and how it settles, and to become able to handle it appropriately. Do not suppress emotions, but discern their flow. Do not be swayed by thoughts, but keep a distance. The accumulation of such handling methods results in a stable state.

The mind and body are not objects that become infinitely stronger by training. Rather, the more strain and waste you accumulate, the easier it is to impair their original functions. That is why what is needed is not to "add" but to "align," and not to "make strong" but to "make usable."

If you feel that you are not able to exert your power as you would like, it may not be that you lack ability, but that your way of using it is not right. The mind and body already have sufficient functions. Standing on that premise, explore how to handle them so they work naturally. That is the path to truly improving yourself.

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