(Approx 2 minute 5 second read)

We had a great class on Saturday. Those moments where a student has a lightbulb moment and says; “Oh, I get it now.”
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You can teach someone something, but quite often students have to ‘feel’ it for themselves, they have to experience it firsthand.
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Now, I also realize that there can be and are various degrees of interest in the martial arts, and that’s okay. If it’s only a “nice way to spend an evening” kind of casual hobby, great, good for you.
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But those lightbulb moments are fantastic. And those moments may make you look back on what you have been saying and doing, and you may feel like you have been wasting your time, only now getting it right after all this time.
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Satori (悟り) is a Japanese word that means ‘enlightenment’ or ‘awakening.’ It’s an important idea in Zen Buddhism and martial arts. Satori goes beyond ordinary knowledge; it’s about experiencing a profound understanding that transcends the usual separation between the person who knows and what is known.
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It’s very much like the state of sudden insight or deeper understanding, providing a glimpse into the true nature of what you are doing.
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Through repetitive practice of techniques, hopefully, it can deepen your understanding of each movement’s purpose. This process of continuous improvement and introspection can lead to moments of profound realization, the “aha” moment.
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The more you immerse yourself in movement, rather than single techniques, you can develop a heightened awareness of their nuances and discover an understanding of their underlying principles, again the “aha” moment.
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It’s often challenging to convey the essence of satori to younger students and practitioners. Many of the challenging comments on my articles come from those of a younger disposition, individuals with some experience who may believe they possess greater knowledge than their elders. I was young once too, believe it or not, so I do get it.
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But getting a message across, especially on social media where attention spans are short and videos or animations are preferred over the written word, can be difficult.
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A deeper understanding of what you are doing often comes simply with time. Satori then is a journey that comes with patience and dedicated practice.
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So, whether you are just beginning your journey or have been walking this path for years, embrace each moment of clarity, no matter how small. Celebrate the ‘aha’ moments, and understand that every step you take, every repetition, brings you closer to a more profound understanding of your art and yourself.
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Keep practicing, stay patient, and let every moment of insight help you realize you never stop learning.
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And to those who already know it all – well, congratulations on achieving enlightenment without the pesky need for experience. Clearly, the rest of us have been doing it wrong all along.
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AC
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Morihei Ueshiba quote from the book “The Art of Peace.”