Shingitai – 心技体 – The Heart of Our Art

In Daito-ryu, Shingitai is not just a slogan—it is the essence of what we study and embody.

Shin (心) – The mind and spirit: calm, intentional, sincere.

Gi (技) – The technique: subtle, refined, efficient.

Tai (体) – The body: structure, posture, responsiveness.

When these three elements are unified, the art becomes seamless. This is not merely about combative effectiveness—it is about personal transformation.

Inoue Yusuke, Menkyo Kaiden Shihan and successor to Horikawa Kodo Menkyo Kaiden Shihan, emphasized this principle in the title of every one of his writings. In the internal Kodokai newsletters, he titled his series of essays:
“Mind, Technique, and Body in the Northern Lands” (北辺の地に「心・技・体」), a poetic yet direct call to never lose sight of the foundation that underpins all true Daito-ryu. 

The phrase ‘Mind, Technique, and Body in the Northern Lands’ speaks to the profound truth that Daito-ryu Aiki-jujutsu was not only founded but deeply cultivated in the rugged northern frontier of Hokkaido—a land whose harsh climate and sincere people shaped the art’s discipline, character, and enduring spirit.


Daito-ryu is not just something we practice.
It is something we strive to embody.

心技体
A path of unity. A life of study. 
A tradition to honor.

Writing by Donald Q.


Shu–Ha–Ri (守破離) is a traditional Japanese learning framework that describes the natural evolution of mastery in martial arts, arts, and even life practice. It is not a rigid ladder but a living process, guiding the student from imitation to innovation.

Shu (守) — To Protect / Obey
Shu is the stage of faithful learning. The student follows the teacher’s forms, techniques, etiquette, and rhythms exactly as taught. There is no attempt to alter or personalize the art. This is not blind obedience, but deep respect: by repeating correct forms, the body absorbs structure, timing, posture, and spirit. In martial arts, Shu builds safety, discipline, and humility. The ego is quiet, and trust in the lineage is essential. Foundations are laid here, and skipping Shu weakens everything that follows.

Ha (破) — To Break / Detach
Ha begins when the student starts to understand why things work. The forms are no longer copied mechanically; they are tested, compared, and adapted. The practitioner may study other schools, feel variations, and adjust techniques according to context, body type, or situation. This “breaking” does not mean rejecting tradition, but freeing oneself from rigid dependence on it. Mistakes increase, but insight deepens. Ha is a phase of questioning, refinement, and conscious choice.

Ri (離) — To Separate / Transcend
Ri is the stage of natural expression. Technique flows without conscious effort, and form arises spontaneously from principle. The practitioner is no longer bound by styles, yet fully embodies them. Teaching becomes transmission rather than instruction. In Ri, the art is no longer something you do—it is something you are.

Shu–Ha–Ri reminds us that true mastery is a journey from form, through understanding, into freedom.