SHUHARI (Shu-Ha-Ri)

           Eventually within our school, every student is put on the spot during a test and asked to perform a Shuhari Kata.  A Shuhari Kata is a Kata which one makes up, off of the top of their head, utilizing various techniques that represent the depth and breath of their training.  Although I have done this on several occasions, I will never forget being asked to perform a Shuhari Kata during my black belt test.  This request made me much more nervous than performing the traditional Katas or even sparring or breaking.  Once I completed a very short and admittedly not very creative Kata, I was asked by Sa Bum Nim Bonnie Foley why I had utilized only basic techniques during my Kata.  I honestly replied that these basic techniques were all that came into my mind during this performance.  This experience was very humbling, especially after witnessing the many complex and beautiful Katas performed by other students being tested.  Through this experience, I have gained tremendous insights into the martial arts.  To understand what I have learned from this experience, it is necessary to understand the purpose and meaning behind a Shuhari Kata.  Shuhari is a Japanese word that is actually formed by the combination of three Japanese concepts Shu, Ha and Ri.  These represent the three stages of traditional training in the martial arts and are also applicable to learning other activities like the Chinese strategy game of Go or the traditional tea ceremony.  
 
            Shu is translated roughly as learning from tradition, or the protected stage of training.  It is the initial stage of martial arts training during which students are taught the basic forms and techniques.  In Tang Soo Do martial arts training, this stage is made up of learning the basic blocks, strikes and kicks, as well as attention to the details of Kata.  This stage of training is the most difficult for most martial artists because it is the stage where the basics are practiced over and over and over without an understanding of the big picture or the significance of the details emphasized when performing the techniques.  Chuck Norris, a Tang Soo Do stylist, described the process of learning the martial arts in the following manner.  "The first period of learning a martial art is like learning to dance, but without a partner and without music, just moving one foot at a time over and over in silence, without knowing why.  When you finally add the partner and the music, all those little moves suddenly make wonderful sense."  During this stage of training, the teacher - student relationship is similar to the parent - child relationship, in that the teacher protects the student from harm and guides their individual journeys step by step following tradition the way the masters of old intended the art to be taught.  During this stage, students are taught to perform basic techniques exactly the same without variation.  Master Kensho Furuya in his book, Kodo - Ancient Ways, uses the analogy of a bird developing within the safe confines of the shell of the egg to represent this stage of learning.  
 
            Ha means to break free from traditional training.  This stage represents the process of mastery of the basic techniques and it is during this stage that, with a firm understanding of the basic techniques, students begin to ask the important question of why.  During this stage, students begin the process of breaking free from tradition and begin to see and appreciate the bigger picture of what they are being taught.  Within The Center for Humane Living, this stage of training is best exemplified by learning to apply the basic techniques in free sparring and self defense like Krav Maga.  In this stage, students begin to deviate from the confines of the traditional approach to the martial arts and discover an infinite number of applications and insights into the traditional techniques.  During this stage, the student and teacher develop a more mature, deeper relationship through which both the student and the teacher learn together through personal experiences.  Now that students have the basic footwork and techniques down, they begin to "hear the music and appreciate the beauty of the art".  In the analogy of the developing bird, this stage is represented by the young chick breaking out of the "shell" of tradition.  During this stage of martial arts training, students often begin to teach the basics to a new generation of students.  
                                                                                                                                 
         Ri represents the final mature stage of the martial artist during which they are able to transcend and go beyond tradition because of their understanding and insight into the martial arts.  In Master Furuya's analogy, this stage is represented by the mature bird now leaving the nest.  This stage is different for every martial artist because we all have different insights into what we have learned.  Just as there is not one correct interpretation of a Zen story, there are infinite insights and applications for the martial arts within our lives in the physical, philosophical and spiritual aspects of the art.  In this stage, students utilize and teach the martial arts in new innovative ways due to the insights they have gained through their individual process of learning the martial arts.

        Finally, as I ponder the deep meaning of Shuhari and reflect upon my humble attempts of performing a Shuhari Kata, I realize that what Dr. Foley always says is true.  "None of us ever really becomes very good at the martial arts."  Although, he has honored me with the rank of black belt, I have yet to master any technique and I continue my daily struggle to gain an understanding and my own insights into the martial arts and its application into the way I live my life.  I would encourage you to keep this in mind as you continue your individual journey in the martial arts.

KAIZEN!!!! 

Respectfully,

  

Steven M. Erickson

Sensei.Erickson@KiInspiringThoughts.com

© Copyright 2009-11  Steven M. Erickson, MD 

All rights reserved.  Ki Inspiring Thoughts. 

The Center for Humane Living.

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