| When trying to master anything, especially | | | | we take for granted. And... |
| subjects with the kind of depth that we're talking | | | | ...it should be the exact same with your Ninjutsu |
| about within the realm of Ninjutsu, it's important | | | | training. |
| to understand that "learning" something is not the | | | | You may have learned to take up a kamae - but |
| same thing as "knowing" that thing. | | | | you don't know your kamae until you can use it, |
| Confused? | | | | under pressure, without thinking about it. |
| I can understand why you might be. Beginning | | | | You might have been taught how to roll - but you |
| with the way we were raised in the Western | | | | don't know how to take ukemi until someone can |
| academic structure, where we were tested on | | | | grab you and push, shove, pull, or throw you in |
| "learning" and not necessarily "knowledge," we | | | | any direction they want, at full speed, and you |
| were lead to believe that learning was the goal, | | | | allow your body to adapt to their force, speed, |
| not the first step on the Path to wisdom. | | | | and timing - and roll where "they" are sending you! |
| Here is a brief description of each of the three | | | | You get the idea. |
| general states of "understanding" which leads to | | | | You can attend class and "learn" hundreds of |
| what we refer to as Mastery. | | | | techniques, skills, kata, etc., but you don't "know" |
| 1) Learning - This is the phase of the process | | | | them until you can communicate your knowledge |
| where we are exposed to new information about | | | | without having to stop and think about it, or "get |
| the topic. But, it is important to understand that | | | | ready," before you can do them. |
| learning something - that getting information - is | | | | But, this isn't it. Not if your goal is really Mastery. |
| not the same as really "knowing" that thing. | | | | It's not until you know more than what you |
| As a quick example to illustrate my point, I once | | | | know, with each of your learned techniques, that |
| learned how to say, "Hello. How are you?" in the | | | | you will have reached the final stage. And this is |
| Russian language. But... | | | | the stage of... |
| I don't know how to say, "Hello, How are you?" in | | | | 3) Wisdom - This is the level where you know |
| Russian. | | | | when a technique is right and appropriate for the |
| How is this possible? After all, I learned it, right? | | | | situation you're in. Not generally - but specifically. |
| I took the time to have someone teach me how | | | | This is the phase of your progress when you can |
| to say this simple phrase in another language - | | | | take the lessons learned with one technique, and |
| supposedly so I could communicate, at least at | | | | apply it in a completely different and unrelated |
| this level, with someone else who speaks Russian. | | | | situation - and that technique is exactly the right |
| What happened? | | | | thing for producing the results you needed. |
| Right. I didn't practice to integrate and retain the | | | | Although this is difficult to explain in words, here |
| information so that it was available for use | | | | are some examples of this concept as it relates |
| whenever I needed it. | | | | to your Ninja training:a) Punching, kicking, or |
| I didn't work to "know" how to say this simple, | | | | throwing a shuriken as you enter, exit, or in the |
| Russian, greeting. | | | | middle of a rollb) Using a "breakfall" to attack a |
| And this leads to... | | | | target on your opponent's bodyc) Employing a |
| 2) Knowledge - Knowledge occurs when we have | | | | so-called "sword kata" with a knife, hanbo |
| worked with the information long enough to "not | | | | ("half-staff"), or unarmedd) Striking with a bowing |
| have to think about it when we need it." We | | | | motione) etc. |
| know how to speak the English language. We | | | | Is it possible to "learn" these things. Sure. |
| don't have to stop and think about which words | | | | But, again, the question is not about whether you |
| to use, how to form proper syntax or sentence | | | | learned it or not. |
| structure, or anything else, before we open our | | | | The question is, and always will be... |
| mouths to communicate with someone else. | | | | Can you use it when you need it? And... |
| In fact, we don't think about it much at all. We | | | | Can you apply the lesson you learned, and |
| simply say what we want to say and the words | | | | knowledge you have, to be successful in more |
| are there. | | | | situations than you originally learned the technique |
| That's knowledge. | | | | for in the first place? |
| It's the same for tying your shoes, swimming, | | | | That's "wisdom." |
| walking, writing, or a thousand other things that | | | | That's Mastery! |