Regardless
to the particular ryuha, modern or classical I believe there to be four
stages of practice/development through Martial methods, they are gyo (training'
stage), shugyo (austere training' stage), jutsu ('art' stage) and the
do or michi, this stage signifies the state of 'artless art', this is
manifest in satori (self-realisation).
Below I have
expanded on these four areas, purely for your interest, just to find out
a little bit more about you so to speak.
This acts
as an introduction to the dojo (place for studying the way), the essence
of dojo can be found in sabi and wabi (naturalness and simplicity).
In experiencing gyo, the trainee learns that the budo techniques must
be practiced. He can, at this point, be considered ignorant. The trainee
must be humble and must exhibit nyunan-shi ('soft heartedness') and
a spiritual flexibility in their readiness to accept what their sensei
says. This aids in the removal of pride and ego.
Training
at the gyo level either makes or breaks the trainee. It is mentally
difficult, physically demanding and spiritually overwhelming. If this
is accepted by the trainee then they pass into the shugyo level.
This is
a time of 'technical shipwreck'. The budoka is overloaded with technical
problems, dilemmas and enlightened moments. It is at this stage that
the budoka learns that nobody is going to throw in a life jacket until
they begin to swim to save themselves. Then, when their educator gives
them advice they learn to practice without question, after all they
aspire to gain the technique of their master. This unquestioning attitude
towards training is absolutely essential to find michi.
All too
often the trainee finds himself making excuses for technical dilemmas.
He is far too conscious of 'I' in what he does; this is negative towards
their development. He is indulging in self deception (and here's me
thinking that kyojutsu tenkan ho was supposed to work with you against
your enemy not against ones self!) It must be learned that mistakes
are nothing to be ashamed of; it is here at this stage that it is not
just learned but understood. Etiquette is also practiced and understood
as part of the mental preparation for training, allowing the shugyoshi
to develop privately.
Technically
the budoka travels on the path by broadening their skills and acquiring
new ones. They now realise that technical difficulties can only be overcome
by continuous training.
By this
point the budoka has been spiritually awakened, and their motivation
is such that they will train, forever on the path to enlightenment,
it is now impossible for the trainee to quit.
At this
point the budoka has reached the jutsu stage of their development.
At the
beginning of the jutsu level the budoka feels weakness, flaws and an
unfinnishedness to their technique and they are overly aware of the
need to practice to close the gap between his present skill and that
of their educator. An awareness and dependence on mechanical movement
highlights this deficiency and slowly becomes less obvious as they develop
through this stage. Technical skills are becoming natural, although
the budoka feels powerless to improve. He has begun to experience truth
in action and is on the path to becoming a master of their own physical
actions. Although not yet a master of themselves.
The trainee
at this stage is concerned with the possible combative significance
of techniques rather than the idea that they are to be used for non
combative purposes with an artistic form. They try to anticipate in
thought what only experience can teach. Yet they continue to train,
pursuing michi.
Even in
mastery of self through the jutsu stage when there appears no more to
be learned, in a technical sense, the budoka needs to develop an inner
calm to further their maturity through budo.
Through
the jutsu stage the budoka possesses skill, no longer needing thought.
The practitioner can now be seen as a technical master. Technical mastery
is possessed; he does not yet fully control himself. Do, or michi is
still absent.
Not until
the 'artless art' has been found can the technical master gain mastery
of his art and themselves. This is the do, the Japanese equivalent to
Zen enlightenment, stage.
As mentioned
earlier michi is do, do is michi. I use the two terms interchangeably,
there is a reason for this, but I will not go into that right now.
The attainment
of do represents a self perfection in which old mechanics are exposed
of and restrictive thought (like 'I', 'I am doing', 'I suck') is lost.
It is a stage which can be characterised by mental poise, alertness
and spiritual and emotional control. At this stage physical technique
has been mastered, transcended and forgotten. The mind has been trained
to focus sharply and is now 'pure' through the removal and control of
ego.
This is
known as makoto (stainless mind) which will remain undisturbed. The
michi is also forgotten and the budoka is now a master of themselves,
they now represent 'truth in action'.
These qualities which were so prominent to the practice of both budo and
bujutsu appear to have been lost, I personally do not know where the blame
lies, but what I do know is that without these stages of development,
both being understood and taught at the core, the Martial Art will not
development.
I feel that
if these are not present within your practice, all you are doing then
is a sport, or some other form of physical exercise, so you may as well
join an aerobics' class. |
