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The Seed of Knowledge
External and Internal Developmental
Stages of Learning
by Eric Lamkin
The transmission of martial art knowledge
from teacher to student is an ancient and time-honored tradition. But
what happens to this wisdom when it reaches the ears of the student,
and how does it affect his life as a whole?
In this essay, we will examine the growth of wisdom both
externally. We will also discover how it acts as a unifying force for
Body, Mind, and Spirit. But, before we embark upon our study, Let's
examine the necessary foundation that is crucial to guarantee the proper
transmission and reception of knowledge.
Foundation - The Preparation
for Instruction
Before each class, the student must be prepared
both physically and mentally. For physical preparation, the student
arranges has schedule to ensure that each and every scheduled appointment
for class is met. Sporadic and inconsistent study is a quick trip to
a dead end. Lack of progress and frustration are characteristic of this
type of training (or lack of it). Only consistent and regular practice
will provide the necessary framework for development.
In addition to regular attendance, the student must also
arrive in a timely manner. Arriving early will provide the student with
the time necessary to physically ready himself (warm-up) and to begin
mental preparation (often through meditation).
The good student approaches his training (regardless of his rank
or skill) as if it were his first. That is, without prejudices or pre-conceived
notions. Even if the instructor is explaining a rudiment such as a block,
which the student may have learned years earlier, the good student drops all mental obstacles and
approaches the lesson with a "beginner's mind."
The knowledge your instructor imparts to you is likened
unto a seed, which once received, must be planted in fertile soil for
there to be growth. If the student has properly prepared himself physically
and mentally, he now has "fertile soil"; that is, a firm foundation upon which instruction
may begin.
The Reception of Wisdom
When the teacher gives instruction on a block,
for example; the student must reverently accept that knowledge and bury
it deep within himself. But, merely planting this "seed of knowledge" is not enough. It must be tended
to and cared for in order for there to be growth and the production
of "fruit". Let's follow the life-cycle of
one particular "Seed of Knowledge" ( a block) and examine the three
stages of External and Internal Development - Physical, Mental, and Spiritual.
Stages of Development
External and Internal
Physical
If you listen attentively to your instructor
and bury his wisdom deep within you, you enter the stage of External Physical Development. By listening to your instructor's explanation
of the block, you will know the proper position, its reference
to the self-centerline and so forth. But this external knowledge alone
is not enough.
This Seed of Knowledge must be "watered" through the perspiration of practice.
Eventually, through constant and mindful practice, the seed will take
root and begin to grow. Once this occurs, you enter the stage of Internal Physical Development.
At the Internal Physical Development stage, you do not have to consciously command
and place your arm in the proper position for the block. Your body instinctively
delivers the block in the correct manner.
Once you arrive at this stage, you will be in Physical Harmony with the block.
Mental
As you receive further instruction from your
teacher, you will learn how this block may be used, the circumstances
surrounding its use, and its effects on the opponent. this stage is
known as Internal Mental Development. But this knowledge will be of
no use unless it is put to practice with a training partner acting the
part of the attacker. Constant practice in this manner teaches timing,
body position, balance, and calmness while under fire. Eventually, you
will reach the stage of Internal Mental Development.
Internal Mental Development is characterized by the ability
to block an opponent's strike instinctively without hesitation or losing
the proper structure of the block. Once this is achieved, you are Physically and Mentally Harmonious with the block.
Spiritual
At this point in your training, you should
begin an individual study of the block. Test the block in a variety
of situations to discover its many uses. Occasionally, you may receive
a sudden burst of insight giving you a deeper understanding of the block.
At this point, you have reached the stage of External Spiritual Development.
Frequently, this "new knowledge" is already known
to others including your instructor and the many instructors before
him. But this should not discourage you! For it shows that you are on
the right course. Besides, the only true knowledge is self knowledge.
You can tell a person a thousand times that the paint is wet and he
still has to touch it! The knowledge gained from others are facts, the
knowledge gained from your own personal experiences and observations
leads to Truth.
The highest level of development is Internal Spiritual Development. This stage is characterized by
the application of the block or its concept into every avenue and facet
of your life. At this point, the Body, Mind and Spirit are in Harmonious Accord with the block.
Pruning
Once a plant has reached maturation, it must still be tended
to. It may need occasional pruning; most importantly, it must be kept
free of weeds. Likewise, once your piece of knowledge has reached full
development, the work does not stop. It demands constant attention or
it will fall into disrepair. A student once asked, "When does the
learning stop?", to which his instructor replied, "When you
die, then you begin again".
The Ultimate Aim
Gichin
Funakoshi, the Father of Karate, once said, "If one will master
a single block, he will master all of Karate-Do". Taking a single
bit of wisdom to the point where you can use it in all parts of your
life and to bring yourself in harmony in Body, Mind and Spirit is the
ultimate aim of the martial arts. If you can, as Gichin Funakoshi said,
accomplish this with a single block, imagine what awaits you when you
master all of the fundamentals
Now imagine what awaits
you when you master the art. Do this and you will master yourself.
You have been given
the seed. What will you do with it?
