Physical changes 2
The Growth of Sensory Awareness
As a continuation from the previous discussion—just as training the body leads to development, neglect leads to deterioration.
This time, I’d like to share how a person’s body and senses changed through the act of carving wood.
I hope this will encourage those who are currently struggling with carving.
Mr. A – The Hands That Wouldn’t Move
Mr. A cut his fingers during nearly every lesson, using a chisel that he couldn’t properly control.
Clumsy by nature, every time he tried to carve, his hand would slip and the chisel would nick his fingers, often causing bleeding.
His fingers had degenerated. When he tried to move only his index finger, the middle, ring, and little fingers would move along with it. The same thing happened if he tried to move any of the other fingers individually—they simply wouldn't respond independently.
But then, about six months into his carving practice, the injuries began to decrease. A year later, he no longer cut his fingers at all. What had changed?
He had accepted his clumsiness and began training his fingers—even outside of class.
Mr. A cut his fingers during nearly every lesson, using a chisel that he couldn’t properly control.
Clumsy by nature, every time he tried to carve, his hand would slip and the chisel would nick his fingers, often causing bleeding.
His fingers had degenerated. When he tried to move only his index finger, the middle, ring, and little fingers would move along with it. The same thing happened if he tried to move any of the other fingers individually—they simply wouldn't respond independently.
But then, about six months into his carving practice, the injuries began to decrease. A year later, he no longer cut his fingers at all. What had changed?
He had accepted his clumsiness and began training his fingers—even outside of class.
He massaged them while walking or bathing, and practiced moving each finger separately. As they started responding more independently, the process became enjoyable. He even began using his non-dominant hand to eat with chopsticks or toss a ball, observing the changes in his body with curiosity and interest.
Now, Mr. A uses his chisel with ease. He achieved this simply by believing that the body can change over time—and acting on that belief.
Continuation from last time. If you train your body, it will develop, and if you do nothing, it will deteriorate.
This time, we will talk about the changes that occurred in a person's body while carving wood.
I hope this will be helpful for those who can't carve well right now.
Mr. B – The Eyes That Struggled to See
Mr. B had suffered from an eye condition since his teenage years. His vision was unstable, and he tired easily. His daily life was clearly different from that of others.
Because of this, he struggled with depth perception and had difficulty carving three-dimensional forms as he imagined them.
It’s possible that his condition contributed to this, but he didn’t let it stop him.
Determined to improve, he studied 3D forms from every angle, adjusting lighting, changing his viewpoint—doing whatever he could to better understand spatial relationships.
About a year after starting, something changed.
One day, while riding the train and watching the sunset, he noticed that the clouds looked incredibly three-dimensional. Another time, he observed a sparrow in flight, and he could clearly see the flapping of its wings in 3D—almost like watching a series of still frames come to life.
Now, Mr. B sees three-dimensional forms as they truly are. He can perceive distortions, balance, and subtle shifts in form with accuracy.
In Conclusion
These are real changes that happened to Mr. A and Mr. B.
And I can say this with confidence, because Mr. A and Mr. B… are both me.
What changed was not my talent, but my awareness and my body—shaped through persistent effort and belief. These kinds of transformations are not miracles. They are simply human potential, waiting to be awakened.