“Modern karate has been modified as a competitive sport. The spirit of karate has been somehow misinterpreted.” – Iken Tokashiki 10th dan Gōhaku Ryu . When people don’t understand something, they need to come up with an explanation, and most of the time that explanation does not make much sense, or at the very…
Tag: Philosophy
“Kata functions as the art of karate.”
“Kata functions as the art of karate.” – Patrick McCarthy 9th dan Koryu Uchinadi . . “In karate, the most important thing is kata. Into the kata of Karate are woven every manner of attack and defense technique. Therefore, kata must be practiced properly, with a good understanding of their ‘bunkai’ meaning. . There may…
“Karate makes true friends.”
“Karate makes true friends.” – Naka Tatsuya 7th dan Shotokan JKA . Too often some instructors ruin their legacy, and the legacy of others, due to their ego. They rely on their own ideas too much, avoid useful criticism, and can even bully their students into silence. Their self-centered attitudes and approaches create a stressful…
“It’s important to keep and pass on the traditions.”
“The word tradition is used in many areas of our life, and I believe it is an important thing, many things change and evolve in this world, but even in the midst of those changes it’s important to keep and pass on the traditions. That is why in Okinawa, traditional karate is practiced first….. I…
Never break a promise.
“….Karate men have to be careful of their behavior. Never break a promise. If we keep a promise to each other, we don’t need to make laws. Never make trouble with others. Be kind to others and be strict on yourselves.” ?? . Meitoku Yagi 10th dan Goju Ryu (1912-2003) . Meitoku Yagi (八木明徳 Yagi Meitoku,…
Karate is not for a rank, glory or for revenge. It is way of life.
“The most important thing about karate is basic training and communication. . Many young today will train extremely hard for a little while and then stop. This is not good. You must train little bit, but you must train often. Consistency is what creates a great martial artist, not brute strength. Karate is not…
The Way of the Warrior.
The 7-5-3 code is very much influenced by the Bushido codes of honor that dictated the Samurai, or Japanese warriors, way of life. Bushido is a code of conduct that emerged in Japan from the Samurai who spread their ideals throughout society. They drew inspiration from Confucianism, which is a relatively conservative philosophy and system…
Always do your best.
“ ‘Ishiki’ (意識) is very important. ‘Awareness – Take more attention and focus’. Without ‘Ishiki’: you wouldn’t realize what is happening here and there. By doing it you see and realize things happening. During everyday training with more attention and focus you will see and realize how your stance, form and technique are. Do not…
Great emphasis was placed on balancing physical and mental learning.
“During Matsumura’s generation, unlike today, great emphasis was placed on balancing physical and mental learning.” . Nagamine Shoshin (1907-1997), the founder of Matsubayashi-Ryu, published a book called “Tales of Okinawa’s Great Masters”. The quote above comes from that book, and highlights the importance of “Bun Bu Ryu Do” (roughly “Cultural and Martial Studies Together”) in…
Forging the exceptional, out of the ordinary.
“Recently I hear people saying that sports karate, competition karate, is the tradition of our time…. But if I may express my personal opinion, I’d like to ask ‘so then what is karate in Okinawa?’….. . It is an unbroken culture and tradition that our ancestors have carried through history. For hundreds of years especially…
Jiu-kumite should reflect the kata
“I don’t mean to suggest that I have a totally negative opinion about karate-do’s competitive element, it’s just that I feel that it is too shallow. Regardless of whether it is Okinawa, the Japanese mainland, or the world in general, jiu-kimite (free sparring) ignores the principles to which kata apply. Simply put, jiu-kumite should reflect…
To be a master you must be a great & humble student.
I have learned that you cannot teach someone who doesn’t want to learn or grow. Without that desire, there is no use in advising or coaching them, because it just won’t work. People reach a particular level of knowledge because their interests and motivations bring them to a point, but then they don’t want to…