Why a Way

Just today thinking of why the martial arts is thought of as a way it came to me that it is a parallel world within a world (micro-world) where facts of the practice of martial arts connect to life as a human. 

We are born, we struggle through our adolescence into young adult status. We continue to struggle through up to the adult stage where we begin to feel like we actually know things and understand life. We continue to struggle with adult things which are driven by what we lived and learned in those younger years till we reach real maturity. At a more mature stage we start to understand the meaning of life - don't this sound a bit like the way in martial arts?

Kyu levels are a bit like childhood and those funky teen years.

Lower dan levels are a lot like early, middle and late adult years.

High dan levels say beyond go-dan are a bit like those senior years where we truly mature, right?

Addressing the Art of Avoidance

I hope this post finds all of you well and in high spirits. It is just a wonderful day, isn't it? Ah-hm, this post regards the self-defense model, "avoidance." The article written by Wim Demeere at his blog is a very good one so I wanted to pass it along for a read if you are of a mind.

"Four Practical Tips to Avoid a Fight"

Enjoy and Have a Great Day!

Everyone

Anyone and everyone who finds or may find my posts anything other than my attempts to learn or they may have infringed on someone or something please comment and tell me what post and why. I will do my best to correct, I want this blog to be informative, entertaining and as accurate as possible with all gratitude and recognition due those who inspire me to write about a wonder and favorite subject for me - martial arts.

Denshi's Twenty for Martial Artists?????

There is a seminar or tournament or maybe both where an Isshinryu high graded karate-ka is going to teach what they are labeling "denshi's twenty for martial artist" that promotes a means to control and move an attacker from place to place as s supplement to the essence of karate or Isshinryu where the objective is to kick/punch to stop/destroy/maim an adversary (there words redacted a slight bit, not my words as I don't like to use words like destroy and/or maim, etc.).

It sounds a lot like the system called "Chin-na," a Chinese system of joint/pressure point manipulation, etc. or even the art of tuite but to this moment I had never heard of anything called "denshi's twenty." Anyone out there who travels by this post/blog can enlighten me it would be really cool.

I wondered at first if this was a Japanese/Okinawan word used to describe this persons favorite or what is perceived by him as the most effective, i.e. top twenty tuite/chin-na techniques. I looked up the word denshi and the meanings I ran across are:

Denshi [電子] which means electron; electronic; electronics; [電視] television.

Neither of these translations speaks to what is going on here unless the person intended it to mean a kind of shock to the body when these twenty techniques are applied. Some of the tuite/chin-na techniques could/can feel like a shocking electric type feeling of pain when applied but I may be stretching it a bit. Then again my theories or speculations may be way off on this one ergo why I ask for enlightenment from readers. Maybe it is used because of the stunned feeling you can experience here, i.e. similar to the stunned feeling when in receipt of a small electrical shock.

I quote, "The objective of kicking/punching is to stop/destroy/maim. The objective of Denshi’s 20 is to control and move an attacker from place to place."

Targeted Repetitions

Wim Demeere's blog provided a quote, i.e. targeted repetitions - with a specific purpose every single time. This has meaning to many of my previous postings. This is a means to describe how one must NOT just do repetitions with a mindless emptiness that often provides physical exercise but not much else but rather with an intent that trains and teaches one how to make it work in a conflict, a fight or in combat.

Just throwing hands out in front of you in a perfect form will not get you there. Targeted repetitions are those repetitive behaviors that encode within the brain not only the moves but the purposes of those moves and a visualization in great detail incorporating sight, sound and feel tend to encode the best. This prepares you for the next level where one uses a uke in a uke-tori model of training to encode things deeply and permanently. 

Like most things marital arts this is only to get one to think about these things. It is meant to provide a means by which you can actively learn and incorporate such activities to your benefit should you encounter a conflict or worse - predatory violence. It is putting what you learn into practice starting out with the first step - targeted repetitions or hyoteki kurikaeshi.

Passing a Legacy

"All that can truly exist with any hope of permanence is the legacy the master leaves behind in the generation of his students." - Dave Lowry, "Ittosai's Test: Part 1," http://fightingarts.com/reading/article.php?id=462

This is a great article by Mr. Lowry and I enthusiastically read it the minute I saw his name as author. His works are very informative. It made me think of the system I practice, the Okinawan style of Isshinryu, a branch of the Shorinryu family. I wonder what Tatsuo-san's legacy is and is it what he would have hoped for when he passed it on to both the Okinawan and Western practitioners. 

Are the successive generations of practitioners (students) actually living up to his intentions? I wonder because I find such disparity and division in the Isshinryu community. I wonder if this disparity and division is individual ego driven or actually the individualistic essence within all martial arts. The sides are separated by a thin diaphanous barrier. 

It is easy to see, hear and feel the differences and is Isshinryu actually holding on to the essence of Tatsuo-san's teachings, that is my question for this post/article. 

As mentioned in the article by Mr. Lowry, a master such as Tatsuo-san can only leave us with only so much evidence of his work and practice. This is especially true since the only written documentation he left us was a copy of the ken-po goku-i and the certificate of grade awarded to his departing students. This can extend back to historical knowledge since the Okinawan's did not document their history and especially the history of karate. Karate history from that part of Japan is then left to perceptions as each generation learns and carries forward the systems, styles and branches of karate-do.

If the Isshinryu system had actually been properly documented and if at the time, late fifties and early sixties, we had the various mediums we have today then this would in all likelihood not be an issue. But, we didn't and the essence of Isshinryu was left up to individuals who were and are influenced by the sport aspects and individual perceptions as governed by cultures, beliefs and environments, i.e. "the time, the culture and ethnic groups, the power relationships, the perceiving person, the sensory input modes, the perceptions of perceptions as to truth and accurate facts, and both the internal and external environments and now we add perception of movement; perception of body language which includes facial expressions, etc."

Tatsuo-san's legacy in my mind and my perception is in question. It may be lost and unrecoverable even with his aging early Okinawan students still passing along their interpretations and perceptions - often to the detriment of history and convoluted nature of communications. 

Lets take a look at the natural evolution of martial systems as dictated by Asian culture, the passing of the style or ryu to the eldest son. Lowry writes, "in many martial ryu, head-mastery was automatically conferred upon the eldest son of the school’s master. This conveniently narrowed the choice for the ryu’s successor. And if, as it sometimes happened, the son was not terribly impressive or skilled in his father’s art, the father would make certain to have a gathering of the school’s best exponents around his offspring. They served in one way or another as unofficial leaders and instructors, thus maintaining the school’s reputation.

Did this actually occur, that is also questionable. It is perceived that Tatsuo-san's eldest, who was often thought as even having a negative feeling toward karate, was not very proficient. It is said that he even avoided lessons as a youth and actually didn't start training in Isshinryu until his return from the University. His level or grade at the time of his fathers death would indicate he was not at the level warranting Ju-dan and that Tatsuo-san's seniors actually left Isshinryu due to a disparity between the eldest son and those seniors. All this is, of course, speculation since none of this was adequately documented and validated. This is the point, it has been and always will be a contention that is mere speculation. A fodder for kenban-bushi practices.

Isshinryu's reputation therefore has suffered greatly among Okinawan martial arts circles even with the level of respect Tatsuo-san earned when he was fully active in its teachings - long before the eldest son insisted he be made the master of Isshinryu. It is only recently that it had gained more respect and acceptance, as a branch of Shorinryu, and this is not due to the eldest son's efforts but another practitioner of Isshinryu. 

I then wonder, what is important - the technical or the metaphysical? The technical in that there is a tendency to dogmatically adhere to what is often incorrectly perceived as the way Tatsuo-san did it and wanted it practiced. The metaphysical in that there seems to be no "way or do" of Isshinryu since few seem to have a grasp on his intent, i.e. as indicated by the presentation of the ken-po goku-i. 

Is the technical adherence to exactness of what Tatsuo-san taught actually the essence he wanted us to practice and teach? Did he mean us to remain frozen in a form and function he taught or did he mean for us to come to understand through the study of the gokui that we were meant to take that initial physical technical form to a higher individual artistic and eclectic form more adaptable to actual fighting or combat?

We will never truly know and we will always and only be able to "speculate" as I do here in this post. It would have been great to have Tatsuo-san's system and culturally driven beliefs properly documented and recorded, i.e. written and filmed, for reference and future adherents to use as training supplements. But, alas, that is not to be so speculate but enjoy the way, the wholehearted way of the one heart/mind/spirit of karate-do that Tatsuo-san built.

The Chest Bump (tribal posturing)

This is what I theorize as an important issue with folks being on the receiving end of an elbow or other attack that knocks them out. In Win Demeere's recent blog posts he has one about Russian bouncers beating folks up where a couple of the scenes both combatants get to close and because the one taking the hit has his arms down by his side is unable to defend against the attack.

I believe this happens because of the monkey dance, those posturing we tend to do that take us through the stages until we actually take some action. Marc MacYoung on the No Nonsense Self-Defense web site calls this inter-tribal violence and intra-tribal violence. The flow is something like loud language exchange, getting closer, bumping chests and at some point finally doing a haymaker. 

It seems that when an individual gets into a conflict without the knowledge and proper realistic training tends to fall into this tribal mode so getting up close to them as a legitimate threat who has no fear of actually applying violence which the Russian bouncer film displays so well. 

This is why I would advocate a distance rule regardless of whether you feel it is a legitimate conflict vs. a posturing violence avoidance model. When you get up close and personal and don't have your defenses set properly then you too can be knocked out quickly and all your training is for naught.

If you live and train and practice proper kamae or proper posture and don't allow anyone, regardless, within striking range without automatically setting a defense model then this type of thing can be defended or avoided - mostly. 

Think awareness; think defense; think distance; think zones of kamae, etc. Knowledge is power, right? Applying knowledge is defensive, right? Knowledge is also avoidance, right?

War Face

Something you acquire through the processes of life and the practices/training in martial arts. It is a compilation of attitude, demeanor, body language, confidence, proficiency, humility, wisdom, gentlemanly behavior, lethality, honor, dignity, etc. It projects an aura of, "I mean you no harm yet you don't want to test me."

Call it a type of military bearing if you want an example. This face is not that face depicted in movies such as "Full Metal Jacket: Boot camp scenes" but rather something that sets off the spidey sense in a person saying, this guy is something to be conscious of and to avoid conflict with, etc. It is that something that is inherent in the sheepdog.

It is that something that is not taught but learned and earned in time but it is something that can be taught to bring into awareness and to connect it to the more metaphorical teachings of martial arts as one would achieve in studies of culture, beliefs and the ken-po goku-i as it relates to ancient classics and other sources. 

It is not a caricature but rather an underlying aura that surrounds a person and tends to extend farther than normal. I believe this is the reason why the ancient Japanese samurai used masks with their helmets and armor. I also suspect that is why the "Noh plays" have the masks as well that convey certain feelings and attitudes of the players for the audiences.

Flight or Fight Thing

This is in regards to the flight or fight model often discussed in martial arts or other civil type systems of defense. It is also discussed in combative models as well. 

First, flight or fight responses are instinctive in nature and are part and parcel to the "survival instincts" we naturally have as humans. It comes from those ancient days when we had to either run from a lion attack or defend ourselves when cornered by the lion, etc. We have not found in nature a need to evolve past this need and that is good since our new world is filled with far more dangerous stimuli and situations then in those ancient times. These times can be just as deadly even if the end result is not to be eaten by the lion. 

In this effort it is best to explain how the system works, our bodies and minds that is, as to the physical and chemical dumps we experience when confronted by danger, fear, etc. 

First view this youtube video, "Fight or Flight Response."

Then read the post at Gary at the Academy blog

Then there within that blog post is also a link to an article "Fear Control" by Geoff Thompson, i.e. quoted from his book "Dead or Alive: The Choice is Yours."

Addendum dtd September 18th 2012 9:29 a.m.

epinephrine: A hormone secreted by the adrenal glands, esp. in conditions of stress, increasing rates of blood circulation, breathing, and carbohydrate metabolism and preparing muscles for exertion

norepinephrine: A hormone that is released by the adrenal medulla and by the sympathetic nerves and functions as a neurotransmitter. It is also used as a drug to raise blood pressure; a catecholamine precursor of epinephrine that is secreted by the adrenal medulla and also released at synapses; A hormone produced in the adrenal medulla and secreted under stress; contributes to the "fight or flight" response; neurotransmitter and a hormone. It is released by the sympathetic nervous system onto the heart, blood vessels, and other organs and by the adrenal gland into the bloodstream as part of the fight-or-flight response; 

The flight or fight response is an instinct survival process of humans. It involves our senses, mostly sight but also auditory and tactile. The senses may be dominated by sight but the others contribute to the system. For this we will refer to sight, we see a dangerous situation so we have to process that visual stimuli in our brains. The brain will send a message to our nervous system, i.e. the nervous system is attached to our muscles which respond to the threat. 

Then the sympathetic nervous system will send a signal from the hypothalamus adrenal medulla that puts out adrenaline and epinephrine which floods the body. In actuality the epinephrine is what induces the breathing to increase, the heart beat to increase, the constriction or slowing of the digestive system and the vasodilatation of the muscles, vessels and there for increased blood flow of the body. The action part of this equation.

The muscles, etc. are flooded also by the energy flood, i.e. the liver will produce glycogen which then produces glucose - energy, that floods the bodies muscular system which is already in a heightened state  so the glucose will infuse the muscles with energy. 

Now, I may not have this as accurate as could be but this is a better understanding of how the body works/reacts to dangerous stimuli, situations or events. It is a matter of fear and anger control. Knowing how it works then finding the training and practice model that helps us control these models is a goal of martial arts. 

Old Man Bubishi

Hi All, Mark Cook Sensei has published his book the "Old Man Bubishi" and you can find information about this great effort at the following links:

"New from Prairie Martial Arts"

"Old Man Bubishi Trailer"

If you don't know about the "Old Man" series go here:

"The Daily Oldman"

I have not obtained my copy yet but from what I have seen and enjoyed on his sites and the trailer animated youtube presentation I can hardly wait if for no other reason then his art work, :-)

Judgement

By the time you read this post you will have experienced one of the poorest judgement calls any expert in the martial arts can make, i.e. put themselves directly in front of the crosshairs of the legal system - The Renzo Gracie Tweet Fiasco.

Read Wim DeMeere's Posts HERE and HERE and HERE 

If you practice, teach or use martial arts or any physical discipline and expect it to be your self-defense posture you really do have to accept consciously your "Judgement" capabilities. I wonder sometimes in self-defense how often the subject comes up and is discussed and taught and trained in such situations.

I am not here to post on what should you should not have occurred but rather to remind anyone who will listen that such things are important where "judgement" is critical in any self-defense situation. 

Just sayin ...... read also "Handen [判断]"

Perspective-n-Perceptions

I can make one quote, a short sentence, and every single human being will come away with some different perception as to what that quote means all according to the time in which the quote was written and the time in which it was read then the individual is governed by the time in which they live; the culture and cultural beliefs in which they were raised and live; any power relations involved; their perceptions; their sensory input modes; their perceptions of perceptions as to truth and accuracy; both their internal and external environments; their perceptions of movement; their perceptions of body language including facial expressions, voice tone and word intonations, etc. 

Therefore it has been proven in research that communications is not just a one statement evolution but an ongoing exchange of information until both parties fully and completely understand. 

There is not possible way that one can achieve full and complete understanding of any comment either spoken or written without an exchange that will go on for as long a period needed to achieve mutual understanding. 

What must transpire during the communications process is a mode of "listening" and "talking" that is not aggressive or of a nature that will promote emotional interferences which hinder the thinking and rational parts of our brains - emotions equal conflict in most cases and must be avoided to achieve good listening and communications.

Listening or reading especially must be taken with a grain. Often it is best to respond to written statements with questions to ascertain meaning or it turns into a possible flame war - not conducive to mutual understanding and positive communications. 

Listening is the hardest part of all when in a verbal exchange and even more difficult when in a written form such as blogs, forums and websites with emphasis on the flow of communications in the social media, i.e. facebook, twitter, etc.

I would express my regrets if I inadvertently forget to ask questions in lieu of just commenting my perceptions, idea's and beliefs. It is unintentional but the goal is good, solid and complete communications regardless of the medium. 

Thanks for Listening (or in this case reading). If you come away with feelings that are triggering a emotional response due to a perception that it is about you, STOP, break this down, ask some questions of a positive nature and I will do my best to  communicate a response or series of responses to get my meaning understood.

Learning - Teaching

I have contemplated my path for a good many years and have focused on it more these last ten only to discover two things of importance - learning-n-teaching. In my life reflection I noticed that these two things seem to dominate my life and the way or path I follow.

I can remember as far back as my early youthful days that I always spent time preparing, i.e. preparing meant learning, prior to taking on something new, i.e. a new discipline of life. When I decided I would become a Marine I know I spent a great deal of time and effort trying to prepare myself for the Marines before I became a Marine. 

As a Marine I noticed at every turn of my short career I found myself thrust into positions where I would "teach" other Marines. I found this to be the same in every aspect of my life before, during and since my time as a Marine. The only teaching position or discipline I was unable to attain was that of the greatest teacher of Marines - Drill Instructor. My only regret is I didn't pursue that more vigorously.  

As a Marine while stationed on Okinawa I was given an opportunity to teach once again in several disciplines of which one major teaching discipline being the martial arts - Isshinryu Karate. I did a great deal of pre-attending discovery and learning before that first experience in the dojo of Henry Sensei - First Sergeant W. D. Henry of Camp Hansen, 3rd FSSG Truck Company. 

Even today I find that most of my diligence and effort seems to be learning and then teaching and that seems dominant in my blogging and writing. I use this medium to pursue knowledge through continued learning then I incorporate and translate it into a form that is "teaching" what I know and understand. I have done this in the marital arts since 1976. 

Learning and teaching seem to be the essence of life for me and I enjoy it immensely. I sometimes think it is just my being opinionated but truly feel it is merely my ineptness in communications, of which I am diligently studying, learning and applying daily, that make me seem opinionated. 

Before my semi-retirement, i.e. my retirement from teaching in a dojo, I would always feel butterflies and anticipation when entering the dojo as I knew it was an opportunity for me to teach and thereby learn from those who attended. 

Everything else in my life revolves around my learning-teaching model and my work in life has excelled for me simply using the preparation, learning and teaching model. 

I was recently told in my job that I would be assisting a project in the capacity of QA testing engineer work. I immediately, almost with out thinking, started to pull together all my data on the testing of software and studied in depth before the first meeting and the result was immediate and gratifying - a very good start.

So, this will help explain why I do what I do and why I do it, what about you?

When the Brain Takes Over - autopilot

Ever have a moment when say performing kata with intent, visualization, etc. and suddenly you realize your outside that kata and doing a set from another kata or your just starting to perform another kata? If you do, what do you do at that point?

Once I watched a Ni-dan doing his kata when suddenly he stopped, turned and took a breath, turned back and said "pardon me" and then commenced to do the kata from the beginning again. It made me think those many years ago about when something doesn't work in a fight so you either stop or you try to restart that same technique again and then again and then again - stuck in a loop. In a nutshell you butt is in a fix and your in receipt of damage, not good.

I do understand that as a novice your goal is to learn the essence and context of a system but there comes a time when you must embrace things when the "brain takes over" and goes into autopilot - this is actually good in the later stages of learning and practicing.

Lets pick a level where this should begin. Assuming the sho-dan is a level that says you are actually now a dedicated student we should assume that you are still striving for perfection in the essence, principles and context of the system, in my case Isshinryu. As you travel through the path toward say san-dan your working to perfect and to encode things into memory.

Now, you have reached san-dan. Now is the true beginning of the path to mastery of the ability to "make it work" in a fight, combat and/or violent conflicts. When you do a kata as previously mentioned and run into a sudden difference that feels like it does not belong ..... go with it and see where it leads you. If it leads you to one or more other kata techniques, parts or combinations let it flow, accept it and let the brain or limbic lizard brain do its thing and let your thinking brain relax and be in the present moment like the smooth surface of a still water reflecting the sun's light off the moon and onto your mind/water/stillness. 

Don't say sorry or pardon me but let it flow and if it returns to the original kata then finish and feel like you made it work. Let the brain work toward autopilot so the lizard drives the action as appropriate to your mind's visualizations, intent and context - a fight, violence, self-defense. 

When the brain takes overs and sets on autopilot and your training and practice have been as close to reality as possible along with other training and practice models and methods you can pretty much deposit that check in your account for when you need it most - in self-defense, the street or when conflict comes a knockin on your door. 

You may even want to mix it up when doing kata. Stop following a strict enbusen, pattern and directions and let you mind shift into autopilot and do any or all of any combinations or single techniques from all your kata and your fighting drills into a new and unique kata as dictated by your visualization or better yet your two person practice of kata which is another solid practice where you have a group of say eight stand in a circle around you and work attacks and defenses in a random manner - no real speed but rather a speed that promotes random counters, etc. changing directions, seeing, hearing and feeling the body movements, contact, the techniques and see how in time your mind in autopilot will start to naturally choose appropriate responses.

Caveat: don't' get locked into any one particular set of techniques or patterns but allow true randomness. Also keep in mind it is more important to remain steadfast in the principles of martial systems when applying any technique, combination, etc. Also, make this your last line of defense in any conflict so you don't lose sight of first "avoidance," second "deescalation," and so on ..... enjoy and learn grasshopper ;-)

Those who are still following the kyu and first three levels of dansha, remain steadfast in the core context of the system. 

p.s. also, just because your moving to a different level of practice and training as a san-dan when you reach yo-dan, go-dan, roku-dan and above does not mean you leave behind that which you learned in the lower levels - remain steadfast and in practice with that aspect as well, add all of this on top of that foundation. You have to maintain your foundation even when it is finished, solid and secure for time tends to wear our a foundation if forgotten and not maintained. 

Principle vs. Context - An Important Distinction

"Every single martial art technique involves every principle in some form. "In some form" because a given principle can appear radically different as the context varies." - Stephen J. Pearlman, The Book of Martial Power''

This quote carries a great deal of meaning for me when I speak of laying a foundation of solid fundamental principles. Often, as is my experience with other systems, it is thought that the principles are the system or style which is not as accurate as I would like to convey. Context is specific to systems, styles or branches as they denote individual principles while the principles of martial systems are universal and are the essence of all techniques regardless of system, style or branch.

Each system, style or branch is an individual, i.e. as in the master who created them, expression of the principles of martial systems that individualizes the techniques that comprise the system, style or branch accordingly. This system, style or brach "context" is what validates the individual system, style or branch while the principles transcend such atomistic individual thinking and cover all martial systems comprehensively. 

Theoretically speaking according the Pearlman Sensei the mastery of the principles of the martial systems would amount ot master of all martial arts in a simplistic theory that mastery of the principles allows for an ease of understanding to a system, style or branch context, i.e. the differing techniques adhering to the fundamental principles of martial systems.

Pearlman states quite eloquently, "Principles constitute the language of martial arts."

Bibliography:

The Book of Martial Power

Stance Depth

It is my theory that stances as originally taught, i.e. circa early 1900's, were meant to be deeper for only this reasoning - they were meant to teach proper positioning, body alignments and structure along with strengthening the legs. It was never meant to be the actually fighting kamae one assumed as dependent on the attack and defense techniques. 

It can be observed in some historical footage of the Okinawan masters who used the deeper stances in training and practice to assume a more natural stance in a combative scenario. It may be, my theory remember, that the short duration of training the western military gained in Okinawa resulted in the belief that the stances as they were originally taught were the correct end-result in training stances. 

This same model also, I believe, led to the position and posture of assuming said stance before applying a technique - a stationary and momentarily held stance if this describes it adequately. The term "kamae" is meant to convey to the practitioner the impermanence or fleeting stance, i.e. where a stance if it is obtainable in a fight is only held for a micro-moment in the application of power regardless of the technique used. 

Stance depth like many aspects of the training and practice of martial principles is not necessarily the end-result one might assume or perceive in martial training of the west but rather a fundamental foundation which the practitioner uses to reach higher for the actual end-result - human natural position or stance.

I feel that Tatsuo-san used the more natural body movements, i.e. stances, etc., so that his disciples could get to the essence of the fighting system. I also feel he may have felt it more appropriate for the western military students since most if not all are in great physical conditioning already leaving the need out of deeper stances to build strength, etc.

Note: it is also very difficult to maintain unnatural body positions in the heat of an emotionally charged fight if for no other reason than the affects of the chemical flow of the body due to the stress, anger and fear induced adrenaline, etc.

Read also "Deep Stances"

Read also "Stance Effectiveness"

Read also "Stance Usage or Important Fundamental"

Read also "Shizen dachi"

Read also "Deep Stances, what is their true purpose?"

Read also "Why do some systems have lower stances?"

Favorite Quotes

Over the years I have read some amazing quotes written by some amazing persons. The trainee should read these from time to time as they train and then spend some considerable time reflecting on their meaning. You will find that over time your interpretation of the quotes may change, change is good.

I have other quotes at the head of many of my web pages which may be repeated here so please excuse the duplication. I have also tried to provide the source of the quote in the event one would want to go further. If I have provided a quote with no reference and you know it then I would appreciate it a good deal if you would write me with the quote and source reference (snow (dot) covered (dot) bamboo (at symbol) gmail (dot) com).

Many of these quotes come from my readings.

You will also see within these quotes contradictions. This does not invalidate the quote yet it should stimulate additional thought and practice.

---

"Karate comes down to skill, conditioning and character, not logos, patches, sayings, or writing on the belt (or all over the gi). Everything in Karate is inside you. If you can buy it -- that's not it." - Charles C. Goodin Sensei Hawaii Karate Museum and Karate Thoughts Blog

"Kata are not merely treated as fundamentals/basics put together in a pattern to be performed only with attention to outward form but are regarded as reference tools for learning fighting strategies." - OSLO BudoKan Karate Web Site

"Kata are not like trophies or medals. They have no value unless you understand them well." Charles C. Goodin Sensei

"...it is important not to tie kata to specific ranks. Instread, it is important to tie kata to specific skill sets, specific body mechanics, specific applications, etc." - Charles C. Goodin Sensei

"More than telling me your current rank, show me. Show me your rank both in and outside the dojo in your kindness, humility, humor, generosity, spirit, and knowledge. Are you kind to your kohai? Do you respect your senpai? More than a connection to my rank, I have a connection to my training, knowledge and relationships that are part of my Karate-do and Kobu-do experience." - Mario McKenna Sensei on Karate and Kobudo Blog

"Through the study of Kata, one will experience the true spirit of actual fighting, and comprehend the principles of technique." - Keiko Fukuda, Kudan, Judo (Oldest living woman judoka)

"More often than not, our greatest battles will be waged inside of us, and it is on this inner field of battle where we will confront the most formidable enemy of all, ourselves." - Kata and the Transmission of Knowledge in Traditional Martial Arts

"To some, the Greek martial arts may seem simple, but in combat,simplistic often means success." - Kata and the Transmission of Knowledge in Traditional Martial Arts

"Once you practice bunkai, you will see how the movements within a kata connect to each other, and how they connect to movements in other kata. Kata are useful tools, not sacred formula." - Charles Goodin "The Way of Bunkai"

"Karate should allow individuals to develop their own ethics, spirit, values, and integrity. Karate is an individual accomplishment rather than a public recognition of improvement." - Yukiyoshi Marutani

"Power or physical strength should be relegated to a secondary position and efforts should be made to gain experience in the control and employment of spirit or mind (ki), for when this is accomplished, the right application of strength will become spontaneous." - Harrison, E. J. The Fighting Spirit of Japan

"In the unity of knowledge and action imposed by self-discipline, a person can arrive at a level of self-understanding unattainable by any other means." - Donn F. Draeger, Classical Budo: The Martial Arts and Ways of Japan

"The concept of "do" implies harmony." "One way a person may harmonize themselves with nature is through their dedication to a "do" form. Such dedication means beginning with a high degree of physical activity, for no understanding of the "do", let alone mastery, is possible by any other means." - Donn F. Draeger, Classical Budo: The Martial Arts and Ways of Japan

"It should be understood that the budo were not created as forms of social amusement or sport, or as methods for the display of pure aesthetic artistry. They were intended to be austere disciplines that engage and train the mind directly, in serving one's daily life through a process of dedicated and protracted training. The classical budo are meant to be experienced, serving as a pattern of behavior for life and self." - Donn F. Draeger, Classical Budo: The Martial Arts and Ways of Japan

"What is known through short-term learning soon fades; that known by long-term learning is forever with the possessor." - Donn F. Draeger, Classical Budo: The Martial Arts and Ways of Japan

"Nothing can be taught by the instructor or learned by the trainee unless the trainee applies themselves with a desperate effort to the process of sei-shin tanren, "spiritual forging." What is given this effort by seishin (mind, spirit, soul), or "spiritual energy," is modulated by kokoro (mind, spirit, mentality), the "hot, sweat-bespattered core of man" that is the heart center of the creative power of the self." - Donn F. Draeger, Classical Budo: The Martial Arts and Ways of Japan

"The workings of the mind and the sincerity of the heart categorically determine progress in pursuing the do." - Donn F. Draeger, Classical Budo: The Martial Arts and Ways of Japan

"The fundamental concept of learning; self-activity contains the idea that the trainee must establish a readiness for training." - Donn F. Draeger, Classical Budo: The Martial Arts and Ways of Japan

"Shugyo, or 'austere training,' level. Training in gyo is the 'blood, sweat, and tears' training and either makes or breaks the trainee." - Donn F. Draeger, Classical Budo: The Martial Arts and Ways of Japan

"In shugyo, as in gyo, repetition is the core training method." - Donn F. Draeger, Classical Budo: The Martial Arts and Ways of Japan

"Kata becomes the expression of the trainee's mind and body." - Donn F. Draeger, Classical Budo: The Martial Arts and Ways of Japan

"The method of kata is always repetition, both mechanical and spiritual." - Donn F. Draeger, Classical Budo: The Martial Arts and Ways of Japan

"The dojo, a place of severe confrontation between oneself and one's self." - Donn F. Draeger, Classical Budo: The Martial Arts and Ways of Japan

"The 'pure' mind is makoto, the 'stainless mind,' which is undisturbed by external nonessentials." - Donn F. Draeger, Classical Budo: The Martial Arts and Ways of Japan

"Mastery itself is never transmitted from one person to another; it comes from within one's self." - Donn F. Draeger, Classical Budo: The Martial Arts and Ways of Japan

"Practice of a skill serves an ulterior purpose, the development of the self." - Donn F. Draeger, Classical Budo: The Martial Arts and Ways of Japan

"A trainee's mind: at first (gyo) they can only see the hand; later (shugyo) they see the finger; still later (jutsu) they see that finger pointing; and finally (do) they see what the finger is pointing at." - Donn F. Draeger, Classical Budo: The Martial Arts and Ways of Japan

"Meditation gives a chance for the vital 'loosening' of one's inner powers. It is a practice that builds hara, that patient, calm, and undisturbed coolness of mind essential to discipline. It is a catalyst to wisdom; wisdom is the function of meditation. Through meditation the trainee brings themselves to a new dimension in spiritual strength, literally a new frame of mind. The strength so gained is elastic and durable, for their frame of mind brings an inner awareness enabling them to respond to whatever situation may arise."

"The cultivation of the ability to act with complete moral integrity in everyday life; shin-ki-ryoku. Shin, or mind, enables the self to determine what is right and good from what is wrong and evil. Ki, or spirit, is the inner power by which one carries out that which is judged to be good and therefore right even at the risk of losing one's life. Ryoku, or energy, is the physical power through which one manifests and practices good and right." - Donn F. Draeger, Classical Budo: The Martial Arts and Ways of Japan

"The early stages of a trainee's development in karate they must always be careful to avoid reliance on physical strength, for such is an obstacle in the way of their progress toward the gaining of skill in technique. After the trainee has developed a creditable technique, however, then the use of power is acceptable and, in fact, absolutely necessary to their effectiveness in dealing with an adversary." - Donn F. Draeger, Classical Budo: The Martial Arts and Ways of Japan

"Classical budo teaches calmness and emotional stability." - Donn F. Draeger, Classical Budo: The Martial Arts and Ways of Japan

"Budo is not a trifling matter begun for fun or whim. And it is not to be engaged in for personal pleasure or social amusement." - Donn F. Draeger, Classical Budo: The Martial Arts and Ways of Japan

"It is patent that no sport can ever be a true classical do form; no classical do form can ever house a sport entity. The primary purpose of a sport form is the establishment of better records or championships, as well as the development of individual stars or champions." - Donn F. Draeger, Classical Budo: The Martial Arts and Ways of Japan

"To become a classical do a sport entity must drop all notions of competition and record breaking, of immediate results for championships, of garnering group prestige, and concentrate upon the individual's self-perfection as the end point of training." - Donn F. Draeger, Classical Budo: The Martial Arts and Ways of Japan

"It is not good to think that you are always wrong, but it is also not good to think that you are always right." -Kodo Ancient Ways

"If one really wishes to be master of an art, technical knowledge is not enough. One has to transcend technique so that the art becomes an "artless art" growing out of the Unconscious." - D.T. Suzuki

"Maintain the mind that releases the mind" - Chung-feng

"The training for defeating enemies is by way of many contests, fighting for survival, discovering the meaning of life and death, judging the strength of attacks and understanding the Way."

"Stategy is the craft of the warrior. There is no warrior in the world today who really understands the Way of strategy." - Musashi

"Do not conquer the world with force, for force only causes resistance. Thorns spring up when an army passes. Years of misery follow a great victory. Do only what needs to be done. Without using violence."

"He Who Knows Others Is Wise. He Who Knows Himself Is Enlightened." -Tao Te Ching

"To generate great power you must first totally relax and gather your strength, and then concentrate your mind and all your strength on hitting your target." - Joe Hyams

"The moon's reflection on the surface of the water moves incessantly. Yet the moon shines and goes no-where; it stays but it moves." - Taisen Deshimaru

"The foolish reject what they see, not what they think; the wise reject what they think, not what they see." - Huang Po

"If I am holding a cup of water and I ask you, "is the cup empty?" you will say "No, it is full of water." But if I pour out the water and I ask you again, you may say, "yes, it is empty." but, empty of what?....My cup is empty of water, but it is not empty of air. To be empty is to be empty of something." - unknown

"If we fail to cultivate our life, like a garden neglected, whatever happens, happens. " - Zen Saying from Rhinoceros Zen

"In Karate, the issue is how we change ourselves by understanding technique." - Chester Holubecki Sensei

"Let knowledge remain at the front of your head so as to keep your head low with humility and respect."

"Practice strengthens muscle and bone, improves the digestive organs, and regulates blood circulation."

"Oku myo zai ren shin: Deep reality exists in training the heart and mind" - Sakiyama

"In the unchanging, there is existence; in the unchanging, there is non-existence." - Lao Tzu

"performance imagery enhances progression if one visualizes engagement during training."

"Cultivation of your mind requires repetition over a long time as if you were forging metals."

"Karate-do is not only the acquisition of certain defensive skills but also the mastering of the arts of being a good and honest member of society." - Funakoshi

"It is the very mind itself that leads the mind astray; of the mind, do not be mindless." -Takuan Soho

"Delusion and the awakening - both can come and go slowly or suddenly. " - shen hui

"The mind must always be in the state of 'flowing', for when it stops anywhere that means that the flow is interrupted and it is this interruption that is injurious to the well-being of the mind." - Joe Hyams

"It is not good to think that you are always wrong, but it is also not good to think that you are always right." -Kodo Ancient Ways

"When you do not know the advantages and disadvantages of form, you will make mistakes. " - Issai Chozanshi

"Transform yourself according to your opponent" - Funakoshi

" Karate is an art. It must be regarded as such with its entirety of philosophical thought and development of the mind in harmony with the body." - Isao Obata

"The one life has not form and is empty by nature. If you become attached by any form, you should reject it. 
If you see an ego, a soul, a birth, or a death, reject them all." - Bodhidharma

"Do not let your opponent see your spirit" - Miyamoto Musashi

"To attain the way ... You must study fully ... And not deviate even a little from the way. " - Musashi

"The less effort, the faster and more powerful you will be." - Bruce Lee

"If you practise day and night your spirit will naturally broaden."

"True Zen means sitting quietly in the right posture. Zen means setting the mind at rest, concentrating intuition and reasoning together. Zen is not some special state, it is our normal condition, silent, peaceful, awake, without agitation." - Taisen Deshimaru

"Given enough time, any man may master the physical. With enough knowledge, any man may become wise. It is the true warrior who can master both....and surpass the result." --Tien T'ai

"A battle may take a minute, a year, a lifetime. Always do your best." - unknown

PRACTICE (again and again), PRACTICE ( till you get it right)
PRACTICE (till it becomes second nature), PRACTICE (over and over)
PRACTICE (1,000 times then practice more) and bunkai will come to you.

"To study the self is to forget the self. To forget the self is to understand all things." - Zen Master

"It is never easy or to late to start. " - Jeffrey M. Brooks

"Not everyone was meant to follow the warrior's way. Those that are will discover that in their own time." - Charles E. James, Sensei

"Conduct yourself humanly with persevering balance." - unknown

"What is the path? Everyday life is the path, he answered." - Zen Master Nan-sen

"The wisdom of strategy is different from other things. On other battlefield, even when you are hard-pressed, you should ceaselessly research the principles of strategy so that you can develop a steady spirit."

"When your opponent pushes hard, you must react softly. This will enable you to redirect the attacker's energy - effectively using their own power against themselves" - Kakie Training

"When we do zazen it's like fishing for the moon and tilling the clouds. The mind grows vast, everything becomes calm, and we become intimate with ourselves." -Master Taisen Deshimaru

"One's progress depends upon the intensity with which one devotes themselves to constant practice." - unknown

"With your spirit settled, accumulate practice day by day, and hour by hour."

"Nothing wears away hard, strong rocks as well as soft, weak water." - unknown

"Archery, fencing, spear fighting, all of the martial arts, tea ceremony, flower arranging…in all of these, correct breathing, correct balance, and correct stillness help to remake the individual. The basic aim is always the same: by tirelessly practicing a given skill, the student finally sheds the ego with its fears, worldly ambitions, and reliance on objective scrutiny - sheds it so completely that he becomes the instrument of a deeper power, from which mastery falls instinctively, without further effort on his part, like a ripe fruit." - Karlfried Graf Durckheim

"You must return to the dojo and next time you be careful not to touch the tiger's whiskers. " - Zen Saying

"A man who has attained mastery of an art reveals it in his every action." -Samurai maxim

"When we recognize the impermanence of all aspects of our lives we can begin to see that our happiness depends exclusively on doing right. " - Brooks

"Technical knowledge is not enough. One must transcend techniques so that the art becomes an artless art, growing out of the unconscious." - Daisetsu Suzuki

"Breathing is not just the physiological process of inhaling and exhaling. It is the conscious ordering of the breath so that it blends smoothly with the movement of the body and the flow of the spirit." - Onuma Hideharu with Dan and Jackie DeProspero

"In the void is virtue, and no evil. Wisdom has existence, principle has existence, the Way has existence, spirit is nothingness."

"Just as it is the clear mirror that reflects without distortion, or the quiet valley that echoes a sound, so must one who would study Karate-do purge himself of selfish and evil thoughts, for only with a clear mind and conscience can he understand that which he receives." - Master Funakoshi

"Karate is the art of virtuous men." - Funakoshi

"Unless the student and teacher enter a relationship, gradually, with knowledge, with a close observation of the other person over time, an informed, honest and deeply trusting connection between the two - the basis of effective practice - will not form. It takes both self-confidence and mutual respect every step of the way. " - Jeffrey M. Brooks

" Karate is like philosophy. Everybody has his own opinion. Who is right? Who is wrong? Nobody can say. Each and everyone must try to attain his/her goal and show that they have created something in their lifetimes." - Mitsusuke Harada

"You may train for a long, long time, but if you merely move your hands and feet and jump up and down like a puppet, learning karate is not very different from learning to dance. You will never have reached the heart of the matter; you will have failed to grasp the quintessence of karate-do." - Gichin Funakoshi

"In Karate training one must determine whether the interpretation of a movement is suitable for defense or for cultivating the body."

"When you seek it, you cannot find it." - Zen riddle

"performance imagery enhances progression if one visualizes engagement during practice." - Unknown

" To polish means to face yourself straight, to recognize your weaknesses, to eliminate them, and courageously step forward. This action, experience, and practice is the only way we can improve and free ourselves of our mental blocks..." - Tsutomu Ohshima

Adult black belt should mean, "You have earned your wings. Welcome to the sky." - unknown

"The no-mind not-thinks no-thoughts about no-things" - The Buddah

"If one is master of one thing and understands one thing well, one has at the same time, insight into and understanding of many things." - Vincent Van Gogh

"The one life has not form and is empty by nature. If you become attached by any form, you should reject it. 
If you see an ego, a soul, a birth, or a death, reject them all." - Bodhidharma

"When your practice of technique is mature, you control your ki and settle your spirit. " - Issai Chozanshi

"Toku wa shiru ni yorazu okono ni are: Virtue lies not in knowing but in doing." - Japanese Aphorism

"Opportunity is most important, and thinking can not create it. Only consciousness can seize upon the opportunity for action, the empty space in which one must act." - Suki

"When you do not know the advantages and disadvantages of form, you will make mistakes. " - Issai Chozanshi

"One thousand days to forge the spirit and ten thousand to polish it. " -Master Miyamoto Musashi

"Having a practice provides us with an ideal toward which to strive and against which we can measure our lives." - Rhinoceros Zen

"Without muddiness in the water of the mind, clear is the moon. Even the waves break upon it and are changed into light." - Dogen

"The dojo is a place of awakening, not a hall of competition. The dojo is to be used judiciously to cultivate abilities and to nurture them in their own time, as opposed to demanding progress in technique regardless of circumstance.
The dojo is a place to share respect for others, regardless of technical skill...

The relationship between student and teacher is complex, based deeply on trust, integrity, and honesty. As a teacher, my duty is to see that the student grows in ability, not because of pressure and competition but in spite of it. As a student, my responsibility is to give my fullest attention to those who would impart something of themselves to bring evolution and well-being to my existence." - Helen Michiyo Nakano Sensei Renshi and co-founder of the United States Naginata Federation

"Before enlightenment, I chopped wood and carried water; after enlightenment, I chopped wood and carried water." - Zen Saying

"The moon's reflection on the surface of the water moves incessantly. Yet the moon shines and goes no-where; it stays but it moves." Deshimaru

"True Zen means sitting quietly in the right posture. Zen means setting the mind at rest, concentrating intuition and reasoning together. Zen is not some special state, it is our normal condition, silent, peaceful, awake, without agitation." - Taisen Deshimaru

"Practice of budo provides a means of self-defense, cultivation of moral character, training of intellect, and applying the theory of combat across a spectrum of life to master a method for tackling things on your own." - Jigoro Kano Sensei

"A teacher can only transmit a technique or enlighten you to principle, but receiving the truth of the matter is something within yourself." - The Dispatch

"There may be no direct worldly profit from pursuing the Do arts of Japan, but it gives us an opportunity to gain insight into our very soul." - Wayne Muromoto

"Disciplined activity gives rise to a unity of thought and action, mind and body...action, more than words, was the way to self-perfection." - H. E. Davey

"The aim in copying the teacher's technique is not to make a flawless copy; rather, the goal is to discover the essential quality, contained inside a given lesson or particular technique, of all techniques. We copy and study a particular technique to lay hold of the universal principles that allow the technique to operate in the first place and that will at last empower us to rise above form to discover the formless." - H. E. Davey excerpt from Living the Japanese Arts and Ways

"Ware tada taru o shiru" "I do not know much. I only know that I am perfectly satisfied." - Zen saying

"Kata - Traditional, formal exercises designed to preserve and communicate the essential principles of an art." - H. E. Davey

"Keiko or practice; practice in the Do is not a matter of 'beginning a course' or 'taking a class.' Instead, students of the ways run through actions that they have repeated thousands of times in the past. Learning takes place but frequently on subconscious and intuitive levels." - H. E. Davey

"Fear, that which is manifested by the ego who focuses on the past and future. Overcome fear by becoming tuned to only the present; the now; this moment; nothing more; nothing less." - James

"Power over others is weakness disguised as strength. True power is within, and it is available to you now." - Eckhart Tolle

“Remain nonreactive and absolutely alert when confronted with challenging people or situations. Immediately accept the situation, be one with it, then out of alertness will come a response.” – Eckhart Tolle

"In actual fact, the teaching of the Martial Arts in its deepest sense is an initiation into the powers of mind and body." - Michel Random

"Once you practice bunkai, you will see how the movements within a kata connect to each other, and how they connect to movements in other kata. Kata are useful tools, not sacred formula." - Charles Goodin "The Way of Bunkai"

"I am not repeating a single technical movement merely to master a particular technique. Real mastery of karate requires self-mastery, and by perfecting my technique, I have a chance to perfect myself - If I approach karate in the right manner." - H. E. Davey

"It is preferable to practice a moderate amount on a continual basis than to practice a great deal from time to time." - H. E. Davey

"Karate should allow individuals to develop their own ethics, spirit, values, and integrity. Karate is an individual accomplishment rather than a public recognition of improvement." - Yukiyoshi Marutani

"...any activity can become meditation and function as a Way. In this sense, it is not so much what you do, but how you do it that is meaningful." - H. E. Davy

"Fear, that which is manifested by the ego who focuses on the past and future. Overcome fear by becoming tuned to only the present; the now; this moment; nothing more; nothing less." - c. e. james

"Spirit: as expressed by tradition, heritage, ideals, discipline, and other similar concepts which we manifest in our physical life." - Kushi

"The person that controls the distance and space in combat controls the entire encounter." - H. E. Davey

"The aim in copying the teacher's technique is not to make a flawless copy; rather, the goal is to discover the essential quality, contained inside a given lesson or particular technique, of all techniques. We copy and study a particular technique to lay hold of the universal principles that allow the technique to operate in the first place and that will at last empower us to rise above form to discover the formless." - H. E. Davey excerpt from Living the Japanese Arts and Ways

"Kata - Traditional, formal exercises designed to preserve and communicate the essential principles of an art." - H. E. Davey

"Keiko or practice; practice in the Do is not a matter of 'beginning a course' or 'taking a class.' Instead, students of the ways run through actions that they have repeated thousands of times in the past. Learning takes place but frequently on subconscious and intuitive levels." - H. E. Davey

"Emotional self-control is NOT the same as overcontrol, the stifling of all feeling and spontaneity....when such emotional suppression is chronic, it can impair thinking, hamper intellectual performance and interfere with smooth social interaction. By contrast, emotional competence implies we have a choice as to how we express our feelings." - Daniel Goleman

"Restraint offers a space between intention and action and the opportunity to protect others from actions or reactions that should exist only in your imagination." - Stephanie Dourick

"Fighting/Martial maturity begins with the awareness of and concern for the violence within. It begins with acceptance of one's power and skills and the ability to see the differences. It begins when we are cognizant of all the implications as a result of our power and skills." - c. e. james

The kenpo gokui is that one singular computer program statement, i.e. an if-else-then statement, that directs us toward the various answers provided by the Ultimate mainframe computer called the Tao or the Universe. - c. e. james 

What are your favorite quotes?

Regards,

Charles J.  

p.s. It has been a few years so these are not up to date except for one, the following:

If your monkey/tribal brain is working your human/thinking brain is not.
If you are feeling emotion, you are not thinking.  That part of your brain is turned off.
If it is about who did or said it and not what was said, you are in your tribal brain.
If you label anyone, it is a tactic to put that person in another tribe specifically so that you don't have to listen to the content.

People who disagree with you are rarely stupid.  If you cannot effectively, compassionately and convincingly argue the other side's point of view, you are the one in your tribal brain.  You are the stupid one.

- Rory Miller at Chiron Blog "Silly Season" http://chirontraining.blogspot.com/2012 ... eason.html

Miller's Law: "In order to understand what another person is saying, you must assume that it is true and try to imagine what it could be true of." - Dr. George Miller, Psychologist.