The Starved Lion - The Predatory Mindset of the True Novice

In a world where people "collect" techniques like digital files, the idea of learning through necessity is a lost art.

The Novice: Learn and Hunt Like a Lion

​After 25 years in the martial arts, I’ve realized that the greatest barrier to mastery isn't a lack of information—it’s a lack of hunger.

​When most people approach a new technique, they do so with a "full stomach." They are comfortable, casual, and academic. But if you want to truly own a movement, you must change your perspective. You must approach the Sensei 先生 not as a student, but as a starved lion.

The Anatomy of the Hungry Learner

​When a lion hunts because it is starving, its entire biology changes. It becomes a machine of singular focus. This is exactly how we should approach the "acquisition" phase of a new technique.

• ​Necessity, Not Curiosity: A starved lion doesn't hunt for sport; it hunts to survive. When you are shown a technique, don't look at it as "something new to try." Look at it as the only tool that will save your life. This shift in pressure forces your brain to retain the details instantly.
• ​Eliminating the Noise: A predator doesn't care about the scenery; it only sees the prey. When learning, stop worrying about the "blah, blah, blah". Learn the history, the theory, the aesthetics and so on. Focus on the core mechanics that make the technique work. If it doesn't contribute to the "kill" (the successful application), discard it.
• ​The Single-Minded Pounce: Have you ever seen a student try a move halfway? That is a "full" lion. A starved lion commits every ounce of its being to the strike because it cannot afford to fail. In the dojo, this means practicing with a level of internal intensity that makes the technique part of your DNA.

Staying a "Novice" After 25 Years

​The paradox of martial arts is that the more you know, the harder it is to stay hungry. You become "fat" on your own experience.

​To "Learn and Hunt like a Lion" means returning to that state of desperation. It means looking at a basic white-belt strike and wanting to master it with the same ferocity as if it were the last meal you’d ever have.

​Don't just "learn" martial arts. Hunt the knowledge.

Those who are reading this, All the best for the hunt.

Peace and harmony,

Sensei Maharaj 😊 

The Kanji and The Waza

Learning the Kanji for a technique doesn't just give you a label; it provides a conceptual blueprint of how the movement should feel and function. In Japanese martial arts, names are rarely arbitrary. They often contain specific instructions regarding the mechanics, intent, or "spirit" of the move.

​Using an example of Tsuki (突き), let’s break down how the Kanji transforms your understanding of the technique.

​1. Visual Etymology: Beyond "Punching"

​If you only know the word "Tsuki" by sound, you might equate it simply with a Western "punch." However, the Kanji 突 (the core of the verb tsuku) tells a different story.

• ​The Components: The Kanji 突 is composed of two radicals:
  • ​穴 (ana): Meaning "hole" or "cave."
  • ​犬 (inu): Meaning "dog."
• ​The Imagery: It represents a dog suddenly rushing out of a hole.
• ​The Mechanical Insight: This provides a specific "flavor" to the technique. It’s not just a blunt strike; it is an abrupt, explosive thrust. It implies the technique starts from a hidden or "stored" position (the hole) and bursts forward with speed and directness.

2. Distinguishing Intent: Tsuki vs. Uchi

​Learning Kanji helps you categorize techniques by their mechanical nature rather than just their appearance.

Kanji often groups similar concepts together, which helps you categorize techniques in your mind.

• ​Piercing vs. Striking: By distinguishing 突き (Tsuki - thrust) from 打ち (Uchi - strike), you understand the tactical difference. An Uchi usually uses the snap of a joint (like the backfist), while a Tsuki uses the weight of the body behind a focused point.
• ​Expansion of Meaning: The same Kanji is used in Tsumizuki (a knee thrust) or Choku-zuki (straight punch). This tells you that despite using different limbs, the core mechanical principle—the driving, piercing force—remains identical.

By knowing the Kanji, you understand that a Tsuki should be executed with the intent of a spear (penetrating), whereas an Uchi (like Shuto-uchi) is executed with the intent of a blade or club (impact).

​3. Unlocking Compound Meanings

​Kanji allows you to "decode" complex techniques without needing a translation. When you see the Kanji in combinations, the technique's requirement becomes clear:

• ​直突き (Choku-zuki): 直 means "straight/direct." It tells you the path is the shortest distance between two points.
• ​逆突き (Gyaku-zuki): 逆 means "reverse/opposite." It tells you the power comes from the leg opposite to the striking hand.
• ​追い突き (Oi-zuki): 追 means "to chase/follow." It tells you the strike happens while moving forward to pursue the opponent.

​Summary of Benefits

• ​Muscle Memory via Visualization: Seeing the "dog rushing from a hole" (突) helps you visualize the explosive start needed for a punch.
• ​Correction of Form: If you know Tsuki means "thrust," you are less likely to "swing" your punch, as the Kanji reinforces the linear requirement.
• ​Historical Context: You begin to see the connection between empty-hand moves and weapon arts (e.g., Tsuki in Kendo is a literal throat stab with a sword).

​4. Overcoming Translation Limits

​English translations are often "best fits" that lose nuance. If a manual says "Strike the opponent," you might use any part of your hand. But if the Kanji used is Tsuki, you know immediately that you must use a penetrating, forward-driving motion.

​Learning the Kanji helps you "speak" the language of the technique's creators, ensuring that your practice aligns with the original pedagogical intent rather than a watered-down western interpretation.

Peace and harmony,

Sensei Maharaj 😊