Protect, Break, Leave by Michael J. Hacker
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Occasionally, one hears of the educational model
守破離 [shu-ha-ri] in the Japanese martial arts.
Since I've heard many "interesting" translations and explanations of
it over the years, I thought I'd toss my 2 yen into the collection
plate for good measure.
shu 守 - protect; obey
In the beginning stages of learning, you must pay strict attention to
what your teacher says and does. This is not the stage for
creativity and exploration; you should observe your teacher's movement
and listen to what he says, then copy his actions and words as exactly
as possible. Protect and obey.
As your teacher starts requiring you more and more to solve your own
problems and answer your own questions, you're likely getting close to
passing into the next stage.
Other occurrences of this character include:
- お守り [o-mamori] amulet; charm
- 子守 [ko-mori] babysit (lit: child-protect)
- 守弘 [mori-hiro] male name (i.e. the late
Saito Morihiro
sensei)
- 留守番電話
[ru-su-ban-den-wa]
telephone answering machine (lit: keep-protect-watch-electricity-talk)
ha破 - tear; break
In this phase of your journey, you not only retain the responsibility
for protecting the teachings handed down to you, but also the duty to
tear down and break apart everything you've learned. This is when you
start to explore possibilities that may not have been explicitly
addressed in the lessons you had received up to this point.
Through experimentation, test what you've learned and become the
instrument of your own growth.
Other occurrences of this character include:
- 道場破 [dōjō yaburi] dojo
busting (lit:
way-place-break)
- 破獄 [ha-goku] jailbreak (lit: break-prison)
- 型破 [kata-yaburi] unconventional (lit:
form-break)
ri 離 - separate, leave
In this, the final stage, you leave the nest. You no longer require a
teacher, because you are capable of being your own. You must continue
to reflect on the old teachings (see "keiko" in my March 2006
article). Transcend the 型 [kata - form, shape] while still
protecting it for future generations.
Continue to protect your inheritance. Continue to tear it apart.
Other occurrences of this character include:
- 離婚 [ri-kon] divorce (lit: separate-marriage)
- 長距離 [chō-kyo-ri] long-distance
(lit:
long-distance)
- 電離圏 [den-ri-ken] ionosphere (lit:
electricity-separate-sphere)
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Michael Hacker began his study of Aikidô in Japan in 1990, and
has been very fortunate to get his hands on many skillful teachers in
his short time on the tatami. His primary Budô influences are
Donald Moriyama, Amano Shigeko, Saito Morihiro, C.E. Clark, and Stan
Connor. He has also had limited exposure to Kôdôkan
Jûdô, Mugai-ryû Iai-Hyôdô,
Shôrin-ryû Kishaba-juku Karate, Hapkido, Tae Kwon Do, Tai
Chi, and various Chinese martial arts. Among his other loves are songwriting, his Chet
Atkins nylon-string, techno-geek stuff, his world famous Bad Budô
video collection, studying languages, and Swan (if he knows what's
good for him). Michael is a student at the Jiyushinkan in Tempe, Arizona.
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