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The Law of Threes – Part 2

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Form of the 3 Hearts

 

In The Law of Threes – Part 1, we discussed the 3 physical components of Alignment, Movement, and Breathing, which form the basis for technique in the Warrior Fitness Training System.  The next trinity of principles we will look at is the sanshin no kata, or Form of 3 Hearts.

The 3 hearts I am referring to here are body, mind, and spirit.  While the prior 3 components make up the internal physical expression of technique, these 3 represent a unified metaphysical approach to technique.  It is the integrated use of mind, body, and spirit which brings life to and actualizes the practice of Warrior Fitness.

The following is how I distinguish the 3 Hearts:

Mind – Intent, concentration and focus along with an understanding of the interrelationship of the exercises and how they integrate with and enhance the way we move in the world.

Body – Forging a strong body to carry us through the challenges we face.

Spirit – Pushing the edge to consistently increase resistance to failure.

When just one of the 3 hearts is absent or somehow out of balance, the technique itself becomes just a shallow, superficial representation of its true, powerful form.

body-mind-spirit

The techniques of both fitness and martial art must, by definition (at least the Warrior Fitness definition) engage the complete human being – body, mind, and spirit – to have the most lasting and transformative effect.  Without full commitment of the 3 Hearts not only is the technique itself a weak expression of its true power, but the person executing it, by default, does not receive the comprehensive benefit of the exercise.

“It is much better to deeply practice an exercise just 3-4 times while being fully engaged than to practice it 100 times without.” – Jon Haas

 

The Law of Threes – Part I

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In the following 3 (or more) part series I will begin to lay out the specific philosophies of training in the Warrior Fitness System.  In each segment we will examine a particular set of principles, all of which happen to come in groups of 3; thus the entire series together is named, “The Law of Threes”.  These principles are the beginning of how to teach and train technique within the Warrior Fitness System.

In additional upcoming articles, I will also begin to delineate the 3 Paths of Warrior Fitness Training, as well as the 4 Levels of Training Preparation.

Today though, let’s begin with…

The 3 Physical Components of Technique

Within the Warrior Fitness Training System, there are 3 main components which must be present in order to express the correct form for each physical technique.  These 3 components are:

  • Alignment – how the structure of the body is used for the maximum expression of stability, power and efficiency.
  • Movement – how the body moves itself, with a weight, or with weapons to express maximum mobility, power and efficiency.
  • Breathing – how the body breathes to unite movement and alignment to correctly express energy, power and efficiency.

“It is the breath that gives life to and actualizes the techniques” – Masaaki Hatsumi, Bujinkan Soke

Each of these 3 components must be taught correctly and integrated within the body of the trainee before they can be said to be executing the correct form of the technique.

The components of Alignment, Movement, and Breathing relate to both fitness and martial art techniques.  For example, skills like the kettlebell swing, bodyweight squat, or push-up in fitness, as well as martial techniques like throwing a punch, striking with a stick, or cutting with a sword.

No matter what particular outer expression of the technique takes, these 3 physical elements of Alignment, Movement, and Breathing must be united within the practitioner to create whole body power and maximum efficiency.  Only in this way can one be said to be doing the techniques of Warrior Fitness accurately.

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