The Ishi Spiral: a four-phase discipline of personal self-governance. 1. Decide, choose and constrain. 2. Forge, practise deliberately. 3. Persist, endure friction. 4. Reflect, recalibrate. AHA (pronounced A-Hey): Adjust, Hold, Abort, at the centre.

The practice

The Ishi Spiral

A four-phase discipline of personal self-governance

More on Ishi and the Ishi Spiral is on Substack. Ishi on Substack

4 phases

  1. 01DecideIshiChoose and constrain
  2. 02ForgeShugyoPractise deliberately
  3. 03PersistGamanEndure friction
  4. 04ReflectHanseiRecalibrate

AHApronounced A-Hey

Set at Decide, while judgement is clear. Used in flight.

  • Adjust

    The Ishi stands. The practice changes.

  • Hold

    Hold the line. The Ishi stands and effort continues at the authorised load.

  • Abort

    The Ishi ends, before damage becomes structural. The Owner’s call, followed by a prompt Hansei.

No Pivot inside a live Ishi. Pivot belongs to the verdict at the horizon. AHA (pronounced A-Hey)

It is a spiral rather than a loop because each pass changes the person moving through it.

Ishi: The Discipline of Determined Intent
Three paperback copies of Ishi: The Discipline of Determined Intent by Gareth A Holebrook, foreword by L. David Marquet

IshiThe Discipline of Determined Intent