Becoming A True Ninja Master - The Difference Between Information, Knowledge & Wisdom

When trying to master anything, especially subjects with the kind of depth that we're

talking about within the realm of Ninjutsu, it's important to understand that "learning" something is not the same thing as "knowing" that thing.

Confused?

I can understand why you might be. Beginning with the way we were raised in the Western academic structure, where we were tested on "learning" and not necessarily "knowledge," we were lead to believe that learning was the goal, not the first step on the Path to wisdom.

Here is a brief description of each of the three general states of "understanding" which leads to what we refer to as Mastery.

1) Learning - This is the phase of the process where we are exposed to new information about the topic. But, it is important to understand that learning something - that getting information - is not the same as really "knowing" that thing.

As a quick example to illustrate my point, I once learned how to say, "Hello. How are you?" in the Russian language. But...

I don't know how to say, "Hello, How are you?" in Russian.

How is this possible? After all, I learned it, right?

I took the time to have someone teach me how to say this simple phrase in another language - supposedly so I could communicate, at least at this level, with someone else who speaks Russian.

What happened?

Right. I didn't practice to integrate and retain the information so that it was available for use whenever I needed it.

I didn't work to "know" how to say this simple, Russian, greeting.

And this leads to...

2) Knowledge - Knowledge occurs when we have worked with the information long enough to "not have to think about it when we need it." We know how to speak the English language. We don't have to stop and think about which words to use, how to form proper syntax or sentence structure, or anything else, before we open our mouths to communicate with someone else.

In fact, we don't think about it much at all. We simply say what we want to say and the words are there.

That's knowledge.

It's the same for tying your shoes, swimming, walking, writing, or a thousand other things that we take for granted. And...

...it should be the exact same with your Ninjutsu training.

You may have learned to take up a kamae - but you don't know your kamae until you can use it, under pressure, without thinking about it.

You might have been taught how to roll - but you don't know how to take ukemi until someone can grab you and push, shove, pull, or throw you in any direction they want, at full speed, and you allow your body to adapt to their force, speed, and timing - and roll where "they" are sending you!

You get the idea.

You can attend class and "learn" hundreds of techniques, skills, kata, etc., but you don't "know" them until you can communicate your knowledge without having to stop and think about it, or "get ready," before you can do them.

But, this isn't it. Not if your goal is really Mastery.

It's not until you know more than what you know, with each of your learned techniques, that you will have reached the final stage. And this is the stage of...

3) Wisdom - This is the level where you know when a technique is right and appropriate for the situation you're in. Not generally - but specifically.

This is the phase of your progress when you can take the lessons learned with one technique, and apply it in a completely different and unrelated situation - and that technique is exactly the right thing for producing the results you needed.

Although this is difficult to explain in words, here are some examples of this concept as it relates to your Ninja training:

a) Punching, kicking, or throwing a shuriken as you enter, exit, or in the middle of a roll

b) Using a "breakfall" to attack a target on your opponent's body

c) Employing a so-called "sword kata" with a knife, hanbo ("half-staff"), or unarmed

d) Striking with a bowing motion

e) etc.

Is it possible to "learn" these things. Sure.

But, again, the question is not about whether you learned it or not.

The question is, and always will be...

Can you use it when you need it? And...

Can you apply the lesson you learned, and knowledge you have, to be successful in more situations than you originally learned the technique for in the first place?

That's "wisdom."

That's Mastery!

by: Jeffrey Miller

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