Karate is a Science - in essence .....

I have a quote that to my mind speaks directly to the essence of Okinawan karate-goshin-jutsu. It hits it in the one nutshell better than many I have read. It also alludes to the principles of martial systems as it applies to combatives. It goes as follows, "If you hit someone in a specific part of the body at a precise angle and with sufficient force there is a predictable response, giver or take some necessary variables." - unknown 

This quote can apply to a wider range of disciplines, from lifting wights to shooting a firearm at a target - paper or live. If you consider the roots of any combative system you begin to understand that although the mechanics don't change except for when humans change or evolve but that there are thousands of years of trail and error as well as the gathering of knowledge to support what has been passed down to modern man. 

To truly see the combatives one must separate it from sports or esoteric pursuits to understand that combat is a science. The esoteric pursuits are merely the yin  part of combatives yin-yang, yang being the science, where one achieves balance that to me means morality and other such things.

When one practices and trains the mind-state should include thoughts as indicated so as to achieve the absolute essence of combatives be it karate, hand-to-hand western martial disciplines or the European martial systems.