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Mandala Chart Template
The 9×9 goal grid (also called a Mandalart, or the Ohtani chart): one core goal, 8 pillars that support it, and 8 actions for each pillar. Tap any square to fill it in. Runs entirely in your browser; nothing you type is sent anywhere.
Prefer paper? Blank PDF: A4 · US Letter. Or fill it in below and print your own.
Your 9×9 chart
Want a blank one to fill in by hand? Download the PDF: A4 or US Letter. Free to reuse with credit (CC BY 4.0). What is on the sheet and how to print it: A4 guide, US Letter guide.
To tick actions off as you go, open GoalTracker, press Restore at the top of the tracker and pick the .json file. Your goal comes in with each pillar as a subgoal and each action as a checkable microgoal.
Only have one goal and a few steps? The goal planning worksheet is quicker. Related: how to break down a big goal, the microgoals framework, a mandala chart for students planning exams.
Fill in your chart
2. Eight pillars and their actions
Pillars are the areas that would make the goal happen (for a race: endurance, speed, strength, nutrition, sleep, mindset, gear, schedule). Under each, write small actions you can actually do. 0/8 pillars, 0/64 actions filled.
Shohei Ohtani's goal chart
In high school, Shohei Ohtani filled in a 9×9 chart like this one. The goal in the centre was to be drafted in the first round by all 8 teams in Japan's professional league (NPB). Around it he put the 8 things that would get him there. Four were about pitching and four were about the person throwing:
| Pitching pillars | Character pillars |
|---|---|
| Body | Character |
| Control | Luck |
| Sharpness (pitch quality) | Mental |
| Speed: a 160 km/h fastball | |
| Pitch variety |
The best-known block is Luck. He did not leave luck to chance. He wrote down 8 everyday habits: greet people, pick up trash, clean his room, respect umpires, read books, be someone people cheer for, think positively, and look after his gear. None of them is about baseball. They are all things he could do today, which is the point of the chart: every cell on the outer ring should be an action, not a wish.
How to use Ohtani's chart for your own goal
- Make the centre measurable. “First-round pick by 8 teams” has a clear yes or no. “Get better at baseball” does not. The SMART goal generator helps you tighten it.
- Mix skill pillars with support pillars. Half of Ohtani's pillars were not technical. Sleep, habits and how you treat people usually belong on the ring too.
- Write actions small enough to do this week. “Pick up trash” works. “Be lucky” doesn't. If an action takes months, it is a pillar, not an action.
- Turn repeat actions into habits. Daily items like “read books” fit a habit tracker better than a one-off checklist.
- Track the rest. Download the .json above and every pillar becomes a subgoal in GoalTracker, with each action as a checkable microgoal.
The example above loads Ohtani's centre goal, his 8 pillars and the 8 Luck actions. His other 56 actions are left blank so you can write your own.
Mandala chart FAQ
What is a mandala chart?
A 9x9 grid with one core goal in the centre, 8 supporting pillars around it, and up to 8 actions under each pillar. It is often called the Ohtani chart, after the baseball player who used one in high school.
How do I fill one in?
Write your core goal in the centre square. Add 8 pillars, the areas that would make it happen. Then add up to 8 concrete actions under each pillar. Start with the pillars; the actions come easier after.
Is it free, and do I need an account?
It is free and needs no account. Everything runs in your browser.
Is my chart saved?
No. This page does not save what you type. Print it, download it as Markdown, or download the JSON file to track every pillar and action in GoalTracker before you leave.
Can I use it on a phone?
Yes. On a small screen the grid shows as nine blocks; tap a block to zoom in and edit its squares.
More: mandala chart examples, printable A4 and US Letter PDFs.