ShugyōShugyō 修行 is the life-encompassing ascetic training and discipline aimed at personal transformation. More 修行 is a term used in the martial arts to describe life-encompassing ascetic training and discipline aimed at personal transformation. It implies discipline, physical and spiritual trial, and severe martial practice. It was historically used by samurai warriors or warrior monks in training and includes the ideas of travel, hardship, and deep endurance.
Historically, shugyōShugyō 修行 is the life-encompassing ascetic training and discipline aimed at personal transformation. More entailed:
- Life-encompassing training
- A path where practice becomes your existence
- A transformative journey often including traveling between schools to challenge other warriors
- Harsh physical and mental discipline
- Isolation and living with minimal comfort
One significant historical usage was that of the samurai who performed 武者修行 (musha shugyōShugyō 修行 is the life-encompassing ascetic training and discipline aimed at personal transformation. More), a warrior pilgrimage, where a swordsman traveled Japan to test and perfect his skill in life-threatening training.
| Term | Core Meaning | Focus | Level | Definition | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KeikoKeiko 稽古 means practice or training through the study and transmission of classical tradition; literally “to reflect on the past.” More 稽古 | Study of tradition | Lineage, transmission | Dojo level | Traditional practice through study of classical forms. | |
| RenshūRenshū 練習 is repetitive training and practice for technical improvement through refinement and repetition; the standard modern term for “practice.” More 練習 | Practice & repetition | Skill-building | Technical | Repetitive skill training. | |
| ShūrenShūren 修練 is training aimed at refining both skill and character through disciplined, self-cultivating practice. More 修練 | Self-cultivating refinement | Character | Inner-personal | Self-cultivating training aimed at refining character. | |
| TanrenTanren 鍛錬 is intensive martial training designed to forge and harden body and spirit, like tempering steel through repeated hammering. More 鍛錬 | Forging through hardship | Strength & spirit | Hard training | Harsh forging of body and spirit through difficulty. | |
| KufūKufū 工夫 is creative ingenuity in training; the application of personal insight and intelligent effort to refine technique. More 工夫 | Creative problem-solving | Intelligence | Tactical | Creative insight and applied ingenuity in practice. | |
| ShugyōShugyō 修行 is the life-encompassing ascetic training and discipline aimed at personal transformation. More 修行 | Life-encompassing discipline | Transformation | Life path | Life-long ascetic practice for transformation. |
