Seek the Way, Not the Win

“Work and sports have many things in common. In Japan, competition is traditionally individual, as in sumo wrestling, kendō swordsmanship, and judo. In fact, in Japan we do not “compete” in these activities but rather we “seek the way and study it” devotedly. This approach has its analogy in the work arena, where the art of the individual craftsman is highly valued.” — Ōno Taiichi, Toyota Production System (1978)

This means that a kendō duel does not have the goal of defeating an opponent. This duel is a way for you to assess how far you have come on your journey to kendō mastery. The result of such a duel is feedback you need to take your next step.

Failure is therefore your inability to see the gap in your own skills by focusing instead on the event that brought light to this gap.

You can only reach Mastery when Mastery is the goal, not the wins along the way, because let’s face it, each small win or loss is only a point: