"Become like water" - The Gateway to Mastery
“You must be shapeless, formless, like water. When you pour water in a cup, it becomes the cup. When you pour water in a bottle, it becomes the bottle. When you pour water in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Water can drip and it can crash. Become like water my friend.”
A Commentary
I’ve long pondered the meaning behind Bruce Lee’s former passage. On one hand, it makes quite a bit of sense but it is also difficult to fully grasp and bring to action. One of the many reasons I love practicing kendo (a traditional Japanese martial art) is that it gave me a different lens to look through and dissect the passage. In this post, I wish to share my perspective on the concept of Mastery, how Bruce Lee’s passage applies to it, and how kendo helped me make the connection.
Disclaimer: I have not reached the stage in any of my pursuits that I would consider anywhere close to mastery. The examples I use are speculative, and are not meant to claim any competency.
The dictionary will tell you that mastery is “comprehensive knowledge or skill in a subject or accomplishment” (dictionary.com). Sure - a master will be knowledgeable in their craft , but what does mastery really mean? What makes someone a true master in things like chess, kendo, judo, or even sales? It is my belief that mastery is embodied in the number of layers that a person can either think through or remove themselves from, in a given subject.
Let’s use a few of the examples I list above. A rookie chess player thinks one or two moves ahead, while a master is living six to ten moves ahead. A rookie salesperson makes their customers feel sold to, while a master will make the conversation feel organic, natural, and plant the conclusion in their client’s mind. When you watch rookie kendo players fight, their swords are flying everywhere with sheer aggression. I fall under that category. When you watch two masters face each other, the fight looks slow to the untrained eye. They test each other, trying to claim the centre of the space between them - only striking at the perfect moment. When a rookie fights a master, even though the rookie could be more physically fit and a few decades younger, the master will completely dominate the match. As such, it has become clear to me that a key difference between a rookie and a master, is that a master is able to live more steps ahead in a way that seems effortless. One thing I think most of us would agree on is that an incredible amount of practice is necessary to achieve such mastery. It demands focus and repetition to the extent that it causes one’s brain to form new connections in ways that make the tasks feel second nature, if not subconscious.
So how does Bruce Lee’s quote connect to mastery? I think what he says is absolutely brilliant. A master engages in their subject exactly as he suggests - like water. A master’s mind is relaxed - often shapeless, and formless. A master is able to adjust to any scenario with the task at hand, with unwavering precision. In sales, a master steps in to a meeting with no expectations. He or she lets the customer feel in control, while expertly leading the conversation in a way that gets the customer to the final destination. In kendo, a master will take a step forward to pressure their opponent - without any preconcieved notion of what will happen next. They let their opponent react - which is where the opportunity to strike is formed. As such, the master’s opponent does exactly what the master wants them to - without any intention, just as a butterfly gets trapped in a spider’s web. And in Judo? There is no better way I can demonstrate it than with the following video:
In this video, the master embodies Bruce Lee’s quote. He is shapeless, formless, and unbeatable.