Sensei would say "I don't know what you call it. Steel ball, steel ball, steel ball".
(Newton's Cradle)
One of our students was the inspiration of sensei bringing up the subject of reaction force. Since then we have spent 6 years studying the subject of reaction force. Breaking it down to the many variations, varieties and applications to movement & technique.
Sensei often spoke of things he had seen in everyday life. This "thing" became an inspiration for subjects covered in class. Many people of different disciplines do this as well. With few and simple words sensei had the ability to cover many subjects deeply. He often taught "principles" which allowed the student to apply "this" to other subjects. You have memorized that 2 + 2 is/are 4. You have not memorized every combination of numbers to add. But whatever combinations you are faced with you can easily add any numbers through you knowledge of the principles of addition. Sensei also had the magical ability of teaching deep subjects without speaking (you just had to be there). Also, if you knew sensei well then you knew about "the look" he spoke volumes to you (which would take lots of time) in an instant without saying a word, just by giving you "the look". Oh and if you were really paying attention you would see him give others "the look". That was really fascinating. You saw how he molded students to their next level.
Oh! "Quantum Physics", rather "Counterintuitive". We have the treasure accumulated by sensei. It is our job to increase the wealth not to exhaust it and to dispense it wisely. We must preserve and we must move forward in unchartered waters as he did. We must realize that there is knowledge in front of us that we do not see (now). We must tap into the knowledge in front of us that we do not see. It will take us to the next step & then to the next.
Our intuitiveness is based on our life's experiences. It can be used wisely or not as we choose. It will reap a certain result based on the circumstances. If we want to get a better result we must change. We must work "Counter-intuitively" (only until it then becomes our new intuition).
The treasure we have, done correctly is like medicine. Done incorrectly can be like poison. We must be careful! The system we have must be understood throughly!
The first step in Heain Sho dan, to the beginner is "Counterintuitive". To step to the left, with the left leg and the left arm. This is totally "Counterintuitive" to the "Program of Movement" that everyone has at this point of time. At the very basic level one learns the move, at a higher level one learns the hidden treasure buried. With good guidance we can understand to learn what this move really represents. Instead of getting past the next "move" we can learn the next buried treasure (hidden in plain sight) hidden there as well.
Every step of the kata, every step of the kihon, every step of the basic kumite, treasure at out feet. Then on to the next kyu level, so on and so forth. Then we MUST come back (1, 2, 3, 10,15, 20 years later) with a more knowledgeable eye to see what we missed the first time, then over & over again.
The new sub focus we have added to the current curriculum deals with a certain facet of a subtly of reaction force. How engaging this action is "Counterintuitive" but with training we can work past this point and make great progress. We now see how students have difficulty in movement when this action is not engaged or the the timing of applying it is off, it is pure physics of movement.
We must recognize when we are a point of stoppage. We must see this as point of lack of understanding. We must often times work "Counter-intuitively". Similar to a white belt's point of blockage in thought and movement (kyo). We must freely but cautiously move in unchartered waters to go where no one has gone before.
Quantim Physics I know not yet. Counterintuitive is coming to light. It is another gem at our feet.
