(Approx 2 minute 20 second read)

I wrote the other day that one of my teachers – someone I respect deeply, not just for his karate but for how he lives – once told me, “Carry the tradition into the future”. After more than fifty years of training, he said it was time for me to find my own path – the Ri in Shu-ha-ri. His humbling words have stayed with me ever since.
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I thought I would share a little insight into the process of Shu-ha-ri.
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The Japanese concept of Shu-ha-ri (守破離) applies to the practice of learning, from beginner to a level of proficiency.
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Shu-ha-ri is a way to think about the levels of learning that you progress through as you gain knowledge through your practice. The idea is that, in order for a person to become proficient in something, they need to pass through three stages of progress.
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“Shu” (守): In Japanese, “Shu” literally means “to obey”, “keep intact” or “protect”. This is the beginning stage of learning, where you follow and mimic your instructors. You focus on doing the task without knowing or worrying about the “why”. You follow your instructor’s teachings, collecting and memorizing the information that is being presented to you. There are many practitioners and instructors who never move on from this stage.
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“Ha” (破): In Japanese, “Ha” literally means “to detach”, “let go” or “break away”. This intermediate stage is the point where you begin to think for yourself. You gain knowledge of the “why” and start integrating what you have learned into your practice. This can be hard for some people, because change – moving on from your instructor’s fundamentals – may seem very difficult. Many never make it past the Shu stage because of this.
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“Ri” (離): In Japanese, “Ri” literally means “to leave”, “go beyond” or “transcend”. The proficiency stage is a stage of continuation. You aren’t learning from your instructors anymore, but learning from your own experience and practice. You are able to adapt what you learn from your own experiences and circumstances. You finally make karate your own! You have followed the rules (Shu), broken the rules (Ha), now it is time to make the rules (Ri).
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When you believe you have reached this stage, it’s important to take some time to challenge your old ways of thinking and practicing – to make room for the new. Are you open to doing things differently? Looking at things a different way?
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To me, the idea of Shu-ha-ri provides thinking tools, a language, and a frame of reference to approach learning a new skill. When you are first learning something, a variety of ideas isn’t usually the most helpful place to start. Once you get the basics down, then you can move on to experimenting and looking to integrate new thoughts or ideas. Your experiments will lead you to new paths, and eventually you’ll move beyond the specific practices and evolve your own way of doing things.
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As my teacher said – carry the tradition into the future. Not by copying, but by living it fully and making it real for yourself.
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Reaching Ri isn’t the end of the journey – it’s the beginning of walking your own. That journey begins the moment you stop following and quietly start to lead – along a new path shaped by your own insight and experience.
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Even when you reach the top of the mountain, there’s always another to climb.
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Written by Adam Carter