Hitting the Target

This is an interesting film in which Tim Ferriss attempts to learn the Japanese hands-free, horse-riding, turnip-headed-arrow-firing discipline called Yabusame (流鏑馬). The only catch is that he wants to do it in five days.

The reason I have posted it is that I have found there are a lot of similarities between disciplines like this and the way I think about piano playing. Particularly comparing it to the archers' art of kyūdō (弓道 to you), although I do not know much about it I always thought that in both cases someone is trying to hit a target. So much is happening when you are aiming to hit the target that the only thing that matters is what you do to hit it. It doesn't matter what is happening around you, all you have to do is what you have always practised to do. It is simple - but it is not simple if you make it complicated.

Every time the audience is rustling or you know you are going to make a mistake, you are in the same position. You have practised, now do. Each attempt is the same. Same target, same arrow, no matter what the circumstances. Everything is calm inside and you already know the result.

Don't you think it's the same for any target you're aiming to reach?

I think that's why they say it's not important about hitting the target itself. It's inside, the battle. If you have not conquered the negative part that used to be within you, you have already missed. Then when there is no negative left, when there is only you (or us), you are free.

Aim strong my warriors!!