Hi All,

I’ve just added a new video to YouTube on the Shuhari concept!

https://youtu.be/Kj2T7Td0vq8

While it may seem like an oxymoron, the traditional arts have always been evolving and changing. Indeed, to try to stifle that change is not only harmful, it’s also not traditional!

“Times change, the world changes, and obviously the martial arts must change too.” – Gichin Funakoshi

“Karate changes every few years. This change happens because a teacher will continue to learn and add his personality to the teachings. There is an old saying that likens karate to a pond. In order for the pond to live, it must have fresh water. It must have streams that feed and replenish the pond. Without fresh water the pond becomes stagnant and dies. If a martial arts teacher does not learn new ideas and new methods, then his karate will die. It will stagnate, become boring, and die of unnatural causes.” – Choshin Chibana

The process through which karate is supposed to evolve is called “Shuhari” and the term is made up of three chracters (守破離).

Shu: The meaning of this character is “to obey”. In martial arts, this stage would be the learning of the fundamentals. The student does not yet have enough knowledge or experience to be able to effectively deviate from the fundamentals and hence it is important that they strictly adhere to them. Essentially this stage is “learning by imitating”.

Ha: The meaning of “Ha” is “to diverge” or to “break away”. A martial artist at this stage will be working to find their own personal expression of the fundamentals introduced by the preceding stage. They will be working out what they feel is most effective and making corresponding changes to their training and teaching. Essentially this stage is “learning by innovating”.

Ri: The final character means “to leave” or “to go away”. At this stage the martial artist has moved away from the earlier stages of their martial art and – although what they now do can still trace its origins to their early training – it is now uniquely theirs. Essentially this stage is “learning by inventing”. The martial artist who has reached the “Ri” stage for a given method will encourage their students to copy their teachings (Shu) and the whole process begins again.

As I see it, one of the biggest problems facing karate today is the abandoning of the Shuhari process. I would suggest to you that in many cases “Shuhari” has been replaced with “Shu-Shu-Shu”, with any minor change being viewed as a form of heresy. This is not good for karate, it is not in-keeping with what the past masters themselves did, and it is not in line with traditional practises.

The video explains more and I hope that you enjoy it!

https://youtu.be/Kj2T7Td0vq8

All the best,

Iain

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UPCOMING SEMINARS:

Seminar in Eberschwang, Austria (6th to 8th of March):
https://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/events/seminar-eberschwang-austria

Seminar in Laatzen (nr Hannover), Germany (14th and 15th of March):
https://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/events/seminar-laatzen-nr-hannover-germany

Seminar in Keighley, Yorkshire (21st of March):
https://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/events/seminar-keighley-yorkshire

Seminar in Nesodden, Norway (28th and 29th of March):
https://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/events/seminar-nesodden-norway

Iain Abernethy and Christian Wedewardt in Bruhl, Germany (4th and 5th of April):
https://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/events/iain-abernethy-and-christian-wedewardt-bruhl-germany

Seminar in Eastbourne (18th of April):
https://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/events/seminar-eastbourne-0

Seminar in Waltham Cross (19th of April):
https://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/events/seminar-waltham-cross

Seminar in Switzerland (2nd and 3rd of May 2020):
https://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/events/seminar-switzerland

Seminar in Dresden, Germany (9th and 10th of May):
https://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/events/seminar-dresden-germany

Seminar in County Mayo, Ireland (22nd to the 24th of May):
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Seminar in Grays, Essex (31st of May):
https://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/events/seminar-grays-essex

Seminar in Bebra, Germany (13th and 14th of June):
https://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/events/seminar-bebra-germany

Seminar in Romsey, near Southampton (20th of June):
https://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/events/seminar-romsey-near-southampton

Seminar in Chesterfield (21st of June):
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Seminar in Stuttgart (27th and 28th of June):
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For details of events later in 2020 please see:
https://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/seminar-dates