This Japanese Folk Tale shows that attaining balance is the root of becoming an expert...

One day a young samurai approached a revered teacher of swordsmanship and begged acceptance as a student.

"You must do everything I ask you without question." The teacher warned. The samurai agreed without hesitation.

"Hai." Said the teacher  "Go to the Dojo and walk along the edge of the Tatami by placing one foot in front of the other."

Perplexed the samurai did as he was told but after a week of this practise, he became impatient to pick up a sword. After the tenth day, he could take no more and angrily questioned the teacher when they would begin serious training.

"Very well." Said the teacher. "Tonight we will begin serious training."

That night under a full moon, the teacher took the Samurai up into the mountains until they came to a deep and narrow gorge. Spanning the gorge was a fallen tree.

"Here we begin training." Said the teacher. "Cross over the gorge."

"But the tree is too narrow." Said the samurai.

"It is much wider than the edge of a Tatami." Replied the teacher.

The Samurai jumped up on the fallen tree but as he began to step forward the dim moonlight and the sound of rushing water beneath him seemed to pull him off balance.

"I cannot cross." Said the Samurai.

"Well then, how can you expect to master the sword when haven't yet mastered walking?" Said the teacher.