Comments on: Mimicry is Not the Path to Mastery http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/mimicry-is-not-the-path-to-mastery/ Martial arts for personal development Wed, 08 Feb 2012 07:51:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Lama Tantrapa http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/mimicry-is-not-the-path-to-mastery/#comment-5872 Lama Tantrapa Thu, 05 Jun 2008 04:14:14 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/mimicry-is-not-the-path-to-mastery/#comment-5872 Authenticity is the word that comes to my mind when discussing mastery. What is a student supposed to do in a class if not imitating the instructor? As long as the instructor is capable of igniting the sparks of curiosity and promoting experimentation, rather than mimicry, the student's task is to explore and experience as much as possible in regards to the topic of the class. For instance, my favorite living Aikido master is Koichi Tohei, who was the top disciple of O-sensei Ueshiba. Throughout his carer as an Aikido instructor and Hombu Dojo chief instructor at the time of O-sensei's passing away, he seemed dissatisfied with performing routines of waza - techniques. Unlike most other disciples and instructors of this art, he "wanted Aikido to focus on these principles, using practical exercises to both cultivate and test Ki in the daily Aikido practice," to quote the Wikipedia article about him. Similar approaches led many creative people to become authentic masters of their original styles of martial and many other arts. In the West, the most notable representative of such approach is probably Bruce Lee, who defied the norms of loyalty and adherence to the traditional arts to create his Jeet Kune Do. Never mind that most of his teachings and sayings are a compendium of Zen phrases and Confucian proverbial wisdom, he certainly was an embodiment of the methods he was researching and promoting. As in the case of numerous other pioneers, he paid the highest price for his bold exploits - his own life. Now, as to the question of investigation of universal law through the studies of martial arts, I believe that these arts allow to test in real time and convincingly prove or disprove one's ability to be in harmony with the "flow of things," or the Tao. Hence I currently concentrate on working mostly with those who wish to experience this sense of oneness and enjoy the effortless power it brings about, rather than try to beat their opponents by kicking and punching or hurt them by any means possible. The one who is "in the flow" does not need to be protective, for one can rely on the power much greater than one's personal power that nobody can withstand. The flow of things, the Tao, is irresistible and invincible. Identifying with it requires letting go of ego with all its superficial defenses and hangups. This approach to the arts may not for everyone, but for me it is the greatest game in the universe. Authenticity is the word that comes to my mind when discussing mastery. What is a student supposed to do in a class if not imitating the instructor? As long as the instructor is capable of igniting the sparks of curiosity and promoting experimentation, rather than mimicry, the student’s task is to explore and experience as much as possible in regards to the topic of the class.

For instance, my favorite living Aikido master is Koichi Tohei, who was the top disciple of O-sensei Ueshiba. Throughout his carer as an Aikido instructor and Hombu Dojo chief instructor at the time of O-sensei’s passing away, he seemed dissatisfied with performing routines of waza – techniques. Unlike most other disciples and instructors of this art, he “wanted Aikido to focus on these principles, using practical exercises to both cultivate and test Ki in the daily Aikido practice,” to quote the Wikipedia article about him.

Similar approaches led many creative people to become authentic masters of their original styles of martial and many other arts. In the West, the most notable representative of such approach is probably Bruce Lee, who defied the norms of loyalty and adherence to the traditional arts to create his Jeet Kune Do. Never mind that most of his teachings and sayings are a compendium of Zen phrases and Confucian proverbial wisdom, he certainly was an embodiment of the methods he was researching and promoting. As in the case of numerous other pioneers, he paid the highest price for his bold exploits – his own life.

Now, as to the question of investigation of universal law through the studies of martial arts, I believe that these arts allow to test in real time and convincingly prove or disprove one’s ability to be in harmony with the “flow of things,” or the Tao. Hence I currently concentrate on working mostly with those who wish to experience this sense of oneness and enjoy the effortless power it brings about, rather than try to beat their opponents by kicking and punching or hurt them by any means possible. The one who is “in the flow” does not need to be protective, for one can rely on the power much greater than one’s personal power that nobody can withstand. The flow of things, the Tao, is irresistible and invincible. Identifying with it requires letting go of ego with all its superficial defenses and hangups. This approach to the arts may not for everyone, but for me it is the greatest game in the universe.

]]> By: a buddhist carnival - 2nd edition http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/mimicry-is-not-the-path-to-mastery/#comment-5029 a buddhist carnival - 2nd edition Sat, 15 Dec 2007 23:39:42 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/mimicry-is-not-the-path-to-mastery/#comment-5029 [...] the signature element of qi dao as a qigong style is its emphasis on physicality, unadulterated by the choreography of strictly defined forms. just as jesus christ was no christian and shakyamuni was not a buddhist, lama tantrapa teaches that we should not expect to attain self-realization by staring at the ground and tracing another person’s footsteps. [...] [...] the signature element of qi dao as a qigong style is its emphasis on physicality, unadulterated by the choreography of strictly defined forms. just as jesus christ was no christian and shakyamuni was not a buddhist, lama tantrapa teaches that we should not expect to attain self-realization by staring at the ground and tracing another person’s footsteps. [...]

]]> By: Qi Dao – Tibetan Shamanic Qigong: Book Review http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/mimicry-is-not-the-path-to-mastery/#comment-4998 Qi Dao – Tibetan Shamanic Qigong: Book Review Mon, 10 Dec 2007 09:09:03 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/mimicry-is-not-the-path-to-mastery/#comment-4998 [...] The signature element of Qi Dao as a qigong style is its emphasis on physicality, unadulterated by the choreography of strictly defined forms. Just as Jesus Christ was no Christian and Shakyamuni was not a Buddhist, Lama Tantrapa teaches that we should not expect to attain self-realization by staring at the ground and tracing another person’s footsteps. [...] [...] The signature element of Qi Dao as a qigong style is its emphasis on physicality, unadulterated by the choreography of strictly defined forms. Just as Jesus Christ was no Christian and Shakyamuni was not a Buddhist, Lama Tantrapa teaches that we should not expect to attain self-realization by staring at the ground and tracing another person’s footsteps. [...]

]]> By: Replace Your Traditions With Best Practices http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/mimicry-is-not-the-path-to-mastery/#comment-4474 Replace Your Traditions With Best Practices Sat, 18 Aug 2007 23:00:49 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/mimicry-is-not-the-path-to-mastery/#comment-4474 [...] dojang or kwoon. When you celebrate tradition, you are really celebrating purposeless and corrupted imitation. It is neither a guarantee of fidelity nor of quality.  Following tradition is among the worst [...] [...] dojang or kwoon. When you celebrate tradition, you are really celebrating purposeless and corrupted imitation. It is neither a guarantee of fidelity nor of quality.  Following tradition is among the worst [...]

]]> By: Chris http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/mimicry-is-not-the-path-to-mastery/#comment-606 Chris Tue, 16 Jan 2007 07:40:20 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/mimicry-is-not-the-path-to-mastery/#comment-606 There is a strong relationship between spirituality and high-level martial arts, as you might surmise from the Ueshiba quote above. But even at the most basic level, martial arts are concerned with what we might politely term "reincarnation assistance". There is a strong relationship between spirituality and high-level martial arts, as you might surmise from the Ueshiba quote above. But even at the most basic level, martial arts are concerned with what we might politely term “reincarnation assistance”.

]]> By: Nneka http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/mimicry-is-not-the-path-to-mastery/#comment-596 Nneka Mon, 15 Jan 2007 05:35:02 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/mimicry-is-not-the-path-to-mastery/#comment-596 Great masters always tell their shining students that they will be greater than the master. I think that's because students who really immerse themselves in a teaching come to a greater understanding of it. It's like the master passes on the torch. Mimicry is needed to get the mechanics and technical aspect of it, but you have to come to your own understanding, have your own experience, have it seep into your being. No one can show you how to do it. BTW, I don't do martial arts, but I am deepening my understanding of Spirit. This has been my experience. In Spirit, Nneka Great masters always tell their shining students that they will be greater than the master. I think that’s because students who really immerse themselves in a teaching come to a greater understanding of it. It’s like the master passes on the torch.

Mimicry is needed to get the mechanics and technical aspect of it, but you have to come to your own understanding, have your own experience, have it seep into your being. No one can show you how to do it.

BTW, I don’t do martial arts, but I am deepening my understanding of Spirit. This has been my experience.

In Spirit,
Nneka

]]> By: Personal Development Carnival 01/14/07 - Spirituality Applied to Life - Balanced Life Center http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/mimicry-is-not-the-path-to-mastery/#comment-588 Personal Development Carnival 01/14/07 - Spirituality Applied to Life - Balanced Life Center Sun, 14 Jan 2007 06:57:25 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/mimicry-is-not-the-path-to-mastery/#comment-588 [...] Chris presents Mimicry is Not the Path to Mastery posted at Martial Development. [...] [...] Chris presents Mimicry is Not the Path to Mastery posted at Martial Development. [...]

]]> By: wujimon http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/mimicry-is-not-the-path-to-mastery/#comment-580 wujimon Fri, 12 Jan 2007 13:53:30 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/mimicry-is-not-the-path-to-mastery/#comment-580 This reminds me of the following quote by an unknown author: "The key to giving one’s life meaning is to take on something and master it! To go for less is poor. As someone once said, we should not seek to be like the masters of old, but to seek what they sought." Great thoughts on imitation leading to mediocrity! This reminds me of the following quote by an unknown author:

“The key to giving one’s life meaning is to take on something and master it! To go for less is poor.

As someone once said, we should not seek to be like the masters of old, but to seek what they sought.”

Great thoughts on imitation leading to mediocrity!

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