Reflecting on the Past #95 Keiko (Practice)

There is a term often used in the world of martial arts: Shuhari.

Shu teaches the importance of mastering the basics first in everything.
Ha refers to the application of those basics, meaning that application cannot exist without a foundation.
Ri means to develop into a unique form based on the basics and applications learned thus far.

This process of improvement is represented by the three characters Shu, Ha, and Ri.

What is common to each of these processes is the importance of keiko (practice).
In sports and similar activities, working toward a match is called 'renshu' (training).
However, in martial arts and traditional arts such as Kendo, Judo, Kyudo, flower arrangement, and tea ceremony, it is called 'keiko'.

Keiko means to reflect on the past.

The past refers to what has already happened, which corresponds to the Shu stage in Shuhari.
For example, your own past experiences are 'the past'.
Also, the teachings of those with more experience and excellence than yourself are 'the past'.

In other words, keiko is a place to look back at your 'past self' and 'present self', and a place to confirm what is lacking between your 'future self' and your 'present self'.
It is a place to learn in order to compensate for the parts that are lacking in your 'present self'.
For that purpose, you may receive instruction, or you may engage in 'mitori-keiko', which means learning by watching (stealing the technique).

Another aspect is to evaluate and verify your past self from a third-party perspective (dissociation) through self-reflection.
To 'reflect' (kaeru) is different from just thinking vaguely.
It means to think by comparing.

On that basis, are you able to thoroughly act on the 'Shu' part...
And, with that as a premise, are you conscious of the challenges and trying to be creative in applying them...
Being conscious of this, reflecting, and acting is what keiko is; it can never be called keiko if you just work hard without thinking.

Also, there are people who only worry and cannot take action.
Of course, failures due to reckless actions must be avoided.
However, if you cannot take action because you seek perfection, you will never be able to grow.
You might also miss opportunities for growth.
Here, it is also necessary to have the courage to form a hypothesis and start lean with a leap of faith.

In keiko, you will experience repeated failures where things do not go well.
However, even if it is a failure, if it is a accumulation of high-quality failures based on thought, it will certainly become the seeds of success.
Keiko is also a place where you can engage without fearing failure.

By increasing the experience of acting without fearing failure, 'thinking = worrying' should change into the true meaning of 'thinking = creative ingenuity'.
I believe that precisely because you worry, it is important to act and switch to a mindset of 'reflecting (thinking)'.

One thousand days of practice is training, ten thousand days of practice is refinement.
This is said to be a quote from the master swordsman Miyamoto Musashi.

With one thousand days of practice, you forge the basic techniques, and with ten thousand days of practice, you refine those techniques to a higher level.
In other words, there is no other way to make a technique completely your own than to diligently repeat practice every single day.
This is truly
Shuhari, and it also leads to continuity is power.