What type of martial artist are you?
There is a famous Japanese children's poem about a fictional account of a Zen master asking the three most powerful warlords of the Sengoku or Warring States period (Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu) what they would do if a hototogisu or cuckoo didn't sing. It was a parable that illustrates the character of each of these three individual leaders.
Oda Nobunaga was known for his fierceness and cruelty and thus would answer, "If a bird doesn't sing, kill it."
Toyotomi Hideyoshi was the most cunning and would therefore coyly say, "If a bird doesn't sing, make it sing."
Tokugawa Ieyasu was the most diplomatic and patient so he would say, "If a bird doesn't sing, wait for it to sing."
The evolution of every martial artist is much like the philosophies of these famous Japanese Daimyos.
The beginner usually wants to "kill it", the intermediate person wants to "force it", while an expert is willing to "wait for it."
Which of these most resonates with you?
