Quote:
Originally Posted by celticlonghouse
Keeping some continuity in the thread but also getting back on topic...
A good read is “modern day gunslinger”. It describes four levels of competency. Of course it’s in the context of handgun combat, but it could be applied to other aspects of our lives. It goes like this in order of least competent to most:
1-You’re bad and you don’t even know it.
2-you’re bad but at least you are aware.
3-you are good, but you have to deliberately concentrate on it.
4-you are good and you don’t even have to think about it.
|
I recall when I was getting shooting lessons, thinking
grip, stance, breathing, sight alignment and trigger control...squeeze bang.
A former kendo sensei had me teaching for a bit and I told kohai (less experienced students) that the three stages of development to me were physical, mental and then spiritual.
Physical was, how do I stand? How much pressure do I put into the grip? How hard to I swing? What is X technique?
Mental was, how do I maneuver for advantage? How much pressure do I put on the opponent's blade to control the center? How far ahead can I imagine a potential phrase of cuts and parries?
Spiritual was, how do I overcome my opponent's strengths with mine? (ki o korosu) How do I take advantage of his mental lapses? How do I preserve my energy longer than my opponent's.