by Paul Budden
The idea of Shu–Ha–Ri is often explained in grand, philosophical terms, but for me it has always been a simple, practical way of understanding how we learn. It fits not just with kendo but with any long-term practice. My interpretation is straightforward:
Shu (守): Look, listen, and learn.
Follow the teacher’s guidance faithfully. Preserve the form without alteration.
Ha (破): Absorb and analyse.
Understand the underlying principles, explore variations, and begin to adapt what you have learned.
Ri (離): Natural application – expression and feeling.
Transcend the forms so that technique, understanding, and personal expression merge into natural, effortless movement.
It’s a process most of us go through without even realising it, and it repeats over and over throughout our training.
Shu – Look Listen and Learn
Shu is the stage where we simply watch, listen, and copy. Nothing complicated. You trust the teacher and the method, and you try to reproduce exactly what is shown. In kendo this means the footwork, the grip, the posture, the timing — everything done without trying to “improve” it or put your own spin on it.
It’s the time to build the fundamentals and to understand that technique settles into the body slowly, through repetition. There’s no need to question or adjust anything yet; you just practise and let the basic shape form properly. This stage teaches patience and discipline, and it gives you the foundation you’ll rely on later.
Ha – Absorb and Analyse
Once the basics are secure, you naturally begin to move into Ha. This is where you start to look beneath the surface of what you’ve been doing. You absorb what the teacher has given you, but you also begin to analyse it. You start to understand why certain things work.
You ask questions, you feel the difference between correct and incorrect movement, and you try small adjustments that make sense to you. This isn’t rebellion or ego — it’s simply the stage where experience and understanding come together. Your kendo begins to take on a shape that fits your body and your character while still respecting the original form.
Ri – Natural Application, Expression, and Feeling
Eventually, if you keep working and keep reflecting, you arrive at Ri. This is where the technique becomes natural. You’re no longer “trying” to do something — it simply comes out. The movement becomes an honest expression of your spirit and your understanding.
At this point, you aren’t concerned with form because the form is already inside you. You aren’t copying or analysing anymore; you’re expressing. It’s not dramatic or mystical — it’s simply the result of long, steady practice. Your kendo becomes your own without losing the connection to what you were taught.
A Continuing Cycle
Although Shu–Ha–Ri is often presented as a straight line, I’ve always seen it as a cycle. Every new technique, every correction from a teacher, every breakthrough sends you back to Shu again. You learn, you analyse, you express — and then you start over with the next challenge.
This cycle keeps practice alive. It prevents complacency and encourages reflection. It also reminds us that there’s no end point. We are always learning, always refining, always discovering new layers in the same techniques we’ve done for years.
Final Thoughts
My view of Shu–Ha–Ri is simple:
- Shu is learning from others.
- Ha is understanding for yourself.
- Ri is expressing naturally.
Further Definitions to add to the mix:
- Shu –守 (Obey/Protect):
Imitate the form precisely. Trust the instruction and internalise fundamentals without modification. - Ha –破 (Break/Detach):
Examine the principles, question, analyse, and begin to break away from rigid form as understanding deepens. - Ri –離 (Leave/Transcend):
Go beyond technique. Movements become intuitive, individual, and natural—an expression of one’s own character and experience.
Conclusion
It’s a progression that anyone can follow, and one that continues throughout a lifetime of training. Whether in kendo or anything else, it helps explain how we grow from copying, to understanding, to genuine expression.
Copyright © 2025 Paul Budden