mastery  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reading these nine precepts, I can only think that the one thing missing is "Keep the right attitude, always."  With the right attitude, we can learn anything.

Zig Ziglar said, "Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude."  Furuya Sensei used to say,  "I'll take someone with a good attitude over someone athletically gifted every time." 

Physical skills can be learned by anyone.  After all, they teach sign language to monkeys so physical things like kicking, punching or joint locks are things that any physically capable person can learn to do.

A good attitude is something that cannot be taught.  It is something that can be learned, but not taught.  A good attitude is something that one has to want to learn.

Numbers one through nine are just techniques.  Having the right attitude enables us to get the most out of these techniques - it is the basis by which all else can be obtained.

How does one get the right attitude?  It is hard to say, but having the right attitude begins by being open and willing.  Openness implies that one is receptive and sincere with respect to the teacher and the art or to what is being taught.  Willingness implies that we are eager and ready to learn.  Now plug in the words open and willing to those nine statements and see just how powerful they become.

1) I am open and willing to value the process. 2) I have the openness and willingness to lose and see what it can teach me. 3) Being open and willing means that I will always have the beginners mind. 4) I have the openness and willingness to meet adversity. 5) I am open and willing to being present and engaged. 6) Staying open and willing allows me to shift from stress to recovery. 7) Being open and willing allows me to walk the middle road. 8) Having the attitude of being open and willing enables me forego fancy for fundamentals. 9) Being open and willing enables me to see the bigger picture.

Mastery is nothing more than become a better person with the right attitude.  Everything else is just monkeying around.