The Fettered Mind of the Martial Arts Student

The Fettered Mind of the Martial Arts Student The Fettered Mind of
the Martial Arts Student

There are many examples in life of what a fettered mind is. In this brief post, I will give one example that commonly occurs with students.

When a beginning student properly executes a technique, it is often not repeated properly a second time. This is a sign of a fettered mind.

Whether by awareness of oneself’s accomplishment or stated by the teacher, the student’s mind stopping on that moment to reflect is what puts the student into the absence of enlightenment, defined as ignorance.

This is also true when reflecting on an improperly executed technique.  Regardless of the outcome, the student’s mind is fettered, and thus the repeated technique fails.

The outcome is not the cause of the next event.  The student’s ignorance or enlightenment determines the next outcome.

Through practice and repetition, the student must learn to not admire nor disapprove of one’s own outcome in order to become enlightened and effective.