Shu Ha Ri a Japanese martial art concept which describes the stages of learning to mastery. It is sometimes applied to other disciplines.

Shu (守): “Protect”, “obey”, be faithful to the teachings: It refers to the fundamentals, the basis of knowledge (techniques, history, philosophy) inherited from ancient traditions. The practitioner has to faithfully respect, obey, and protect these teachings. This way, the continuation and transmission of the tradition remains faithful and concrete, to be later transmitted and inherited by the next generations. Of course, from a starting point it refers to technical fundamentals, but it is vital to understand that these fundamentals must be carried out with sincerity and ethics.

Ha (破): “Detachment”, break the tradition, detachment from illusions. At this stage we can refer to the internalization process of the entire absorbed tradition, where the essence of what was experienced in training is interpreted with an internal look. The student is becoming detached from the “technical achievement”, and adapting in a constant process of training with the real and the false, both inside and outside the dojo.

Ri (離): “Let go”, “separate”, “transcend”. The essential is not in the techniques, the constant search is translated into natural movements; connecting within this universal nature the body, mind and spirit all in one, without clinging to forms or thoughts.