What does "Do or Way" mean when attached to karate? Some feel it is a more meta-physical thing while others believe it a spiritual aspect so, which is it or are either of these two applicable?
Look at the word and character for a bit of clarity and of course change your upbringing, customs, and courtesies so you will actually have a reference point similar to those who first coined the term with martial systems at the time, place and belief systems of that person.
Ok, now, take a look today. Way is also referred to as a path, a road, a direction, a way of, care of, a street, an alley, a means, a moral principle, a route, etc. If one takes the meaning of the character then to follow the way of the empty hand means to practice it wholeheartedly.
Karate, traditionally and as originally intended, did not have some special philosophical spiritual meaning to its practice. It was assumed that the natural beliefs and morals of the people of Okinawa, i.e. as referenced by the way they interpreted the honorary title of "bushi," was a part of the person who happened to practice the Okinawan system of Tou-di.
This seems to me much like the practice of the formalities of the dojo. The dojo, in Japan, didn't require it because it as assumed a natural act in every day life that simply carried over into the dojo. We, Americans, assumed. I would extrapolate that into a reason simply stated, "We never took it beyond the dojo walls and studied the customs and courtesies and beliefs of the people of Japan and in the case of karate Okinawans.
Karate is karate, an empty handed system of fighting that has progressed into an economical sport oriented system of physical fitness that can be combative or a form of protection but depends on the intent of the practitioner and their ability to go outside the box currently taught.
If we assigned some spiritual meaning to the reference of the "Way or Do" that is ok. It should not be assumed that adding the suffix of ".Do" gives some special and possibly specific meaning to the practice of any martial system including the Okinawan system of karate.
Those who practice my system might find that even the inference provided by the ken-po goku-i is not even a way but simply a reference point to help us understand the Okinawan peoples even if it may take us to such ancient writings as the I Ching, Bubishi, and Tao-te-ching, etc.
What would be the most appropriate way to describe the core fundamental and traditional form of Okinawa empty hand? Charles Goodin provides that answer in his post, "No 'Do'," "In fact, it was more common for karate to be written as "karate jutsu (art or skill)."
Isshinryu, my system, more accurately as I try to practice is karate-jutsu with ken-po goku-i as a guide to the esoteric traits taught "separately" from the ancient classics of China.
Other quotes I liked in Goodin Sensei's post:
"Karate students should be aware of what they are learning, and that Karate instructors should be clear about what they are teaching."
I like this because it lets you know what is important. This lack of communications that provide accuracy in truth is critical to anyone taking up the martial arts.
"You will not become skilled at Karate by acting Japanese or Okinawan."
This one makes me laugh because so many actually feel that to be a karate-ka, a martial artist, one must use all those terms and etiquette's or reishiki. It might be fun but it ain't a part of it and it must be understood that one should practice their martial art according to their customs and courtesies. I am not saying that those who use the Japanese/Okinawan connection as wrong but it might work a whole lot better if they actually know and understand the Japanese and Okinawans. Even some Japanese born there don't really understand and know Japanese, or so I am told. ;-)
"You will only become skilled at Karate by training hard and for a long time."
You can become skilled in fighting and never spend one moment in a training facility for the fighting arts of Asia, i.e. Okinawan Karate. You can become skilled in a short time BUT to remain skilled in fighting, etc. means dedicating the time and effort to remain skilled. If you stop, you lose it.
No comments:
Post a Comment