Obedience - divergence - separation

Su (Obedience), means that a novice should correctly copy all techniques from his instructor, and train without reserve.

Ha (Divergence), means after a number years training when a student has attained a high degree of skill, he may begin to develop his own personal technique, provided that the basic techniques are not altered.

Ri (Separation), means that after many years when technique becomes natural and uninhibited, a student may break completely from Su and Ha and follow his own path.

However all this will take many years of hard training and may not be possible to accomplish at all in one lifetime. SU should not be understood as blind obedience similarly RI does not mean breaking from ones teacher merely for personal satisfaction. Loyalty is of paramount importance when studying the martial arts.

 

Think about the meaning of this old samurai maxim and try to apply it to your karate practice.