If I say to you, “ Men san in corpore sano ” (a sound mind in a sound body), everyone will agree that it's a quote that perfectly sums up an ideal of life . This quote has been adopted by a major sports shoe brand, whose name I won't mention, but which uses an acronym of the Latin expression “ Anima Sana In Corpore Sano ,” and not without reason (a sound mind in a sound body).
The key point is to highlight the importance of balance between vehicle and driver. The body must be in harmony with what our mind decides for it; we are what we choose to be .
Strength and perseverance, two powerful driving forces for achieving unwavering determination
Motivation cultivated every day
I often remember a phrase I heard during a judo training camp with Master Henri Courtine, a French judoka, 10th Dan and the highest-ranked in the world. During our training sessions, he would tell us never to give in to the first signs of fatigue or pain, adding that it was the mind that should be in charge, not the body . He would repeat this phrase: "The weaker the body, the more it commands; the stronger it is, the more it obeys."
He started from the premise that nowadays we reject and try to escape all forms of suffering , but unfortunately, all athletic and personal progress requires pushing our limits and therefore inevitably stepping outside our comfort zones. It's true that this seems obvious, but in reality, how many people push themselves mentally and athletically every day?
It's essential to find a balance between this drive for self-improvement and the resulting sense of well-being . Maintaining equilibrium is crucial for growth in all our important aspects, both physically and mentally. Knowing how to enjoy ourselves is a complex process. Dedicating time to what brings us pleasure is the foundation of our well-being , something many unfortunately neglect, even though the trend is towards satisfaction through physical activity. Furthermore, it allows us to learn to reward ourselves for our efforts. This shift towards the concept of " relaxation, " adopted by most, fosters self-confidence while improving self- esteem (all thanks to pleasure). It also opens us up to the creativity we need daily, and this is where combining business with pleasure truly comes into its own.
A rich learning experience, throughout our lives
I have two great passions in my life: sports , especially judo, and painting , and I've always found these two activities to be complementary . I think I started painting at the same time I began judo, which is to say, very early on. I was a competitor for over 20 years , and at the time, I was more concerned with my results than anything else. One of my teachers often told me that competition only represents 15% of a judoka's life, and that I would find the rest in spirituality , in sharing , and in teaching this art. For me, at that time, I was more focused on 100% competition.
Now, at 49, I wish I could have had that conversation with him again to tell him that I had understood the message he was trying to teach me and that I had been mistaken. Since then, I have been focusing on the true educational values that judo can offer, both through the activity itself and through the rich moral values that this activity and its practitioners share.
Shaping your personal development: a daily practice
Self-understanding through research
Above all, I wanted to share my vision and what I had learned so that as many people as possible could benefit from this wealth of knowledge and the experience of those who came before me. It was therefore quite natural that I began to do extensive research, and that's how I discovered other avenues.
The reason I'm telling you this is to explain that to discover what truly excites you and makes you happy , it's important to take stock of yourself and explore the deepest desires and pleasures buried within each of us. For many people in France, combat sports are an ideal choice due to their benefits. 1.8 million French people practice a combat sport, primarily French or Thai boxing, representing 50% of all club members. Personally, I've focused mainly on this concept of body and mind , but if you want to perform at your best, a third element is missing: technique . This naturally leads us to the three pillars of martial arts , which can be applied to any other sporting activity.
SHIN-GI-TAI, the pillars of a balanced well-being
This triune unity is called SHIN GI TAI , or more simply, mind , technique , and body . These three values must be constantly improved and in harmony . I speak of harmony because if one of these values becomes too imbalanced, the benefit of the practice would be diminished and its purpose would be lost.
It would be an oversimplification to say that Tai is linked only to pure physical strength. Here, the body we are talking about is the " trained body ," which encompasses not only muscle tone and power , but also speed , balance , and control of movement and posture. In judo, it is the " complex machine " capable of exploding in a movement as well as evading a force.
Gi is technique. Through the tireless repetition of movements, one eventually glimpses the richness and subtlety of exploiting the opportunity that presents itself at any given moment. It is the work of a technique more than the knowledge of a movement; it is not superficial, it is profound within the practitioner, and it teaches far more than a simple gesture. It allows one to understand the thought process behind it all: why this technique is executed in this way and not another, why one learns to master this movement in this way, etc.
Finally, the term Shin is more complex to grasp. This value represents, for the practitioner, the fighting spirit, both through sincerity in action and the courage to confront one's opponent; it is, among other things, determination and concentration during our engagement.
Harmony through practice
In my view, these three values are not as " dualistic " as we might imagine. These elements are constantly evolving: depending on the person's age and training methods , these pillars will progress like stages . Training sessions rich in effort will allow us to address weaknesses in one area and draw upon that experience to progress in all other areas. Simply put, the three elements are constantly in action and are interconnected by a link that strengthens with each training session, each exercise. It is said that when we perform an exercise several times, the same brain functions are activated during the execution of the movement. Therefore, it is through the mind that technique progresses!
Of course, we can imagine that one of our dominant "strengths" could compensate for the weaknesses of the other two. For example, an excess of physical "strength" could make a movement with mediocre technique almost high-quality, or a strong will could help to work on a physical weakness.
However, be aware that a problem can arise due to a lack of training or exercise. This can quickly lead to a breakdown of all three pillars and prevent access to certain levels of personal development . Progress may be blocked, and a feeling of discouragement may set in, but it's crucial not to give in and to persevere ! The secret lies in HARMONY .
As a side note, samurai were highly erudite and were expected to practice not only rigorous training, but also a fine art such as calligraphy, poetry, and painting, in order to balance an awakened mind with physical activity .
A final word...
It is therefore essential to strive to improve every aspect of oneself and to create a constant link between these three values. The goal is to deepen one's personal development and thus one's well-being through inner harmony . Some timeless caricatures are, however, inaccurate, such as the image of the strong, muscular athlete with no brains. This leads us to say that any structured activity allows for rapid progress, because the specialist (the teacher, coach, etc.) can more quickly identify these weaknesses in order to improve them and allow the participant to flourish , but above all, to experience pleasure and well-being .
Olivier BOUCHET, judo and jujitsu instructor, 6th Dan , two-time French champion. Sports coach.
