Blog Article/Post Caveat (Read First Please: Click the Link)
When I think of karate and the way some gravitate toward some sort of connection to its past, its heritage, I tend to think that we are becoming so enamored to the past we forget the future. Our generation is different from our past as those of a younger generation are different from us now. It seems like a normal evolution of human’s as each generation is born, grows, matures and then as I am now, ages.
Why wax such philosophical mindless meanderings, well it is about the young stepping up and into our shoes. One article today by a very venerable and honorable karate-ka says, “I have no problem with younger folk stepping up and leading the charge...after all, it's not like they're going to do anything new. My generation too thought they could return karate to it's 'rightful' place, and look at the mess we've made of things.”
I am going to nit-pik, not to be critical of what the author wrote because I tend to agree with him, so that I can address my personal thoughts and feelings toward certain idea’s that flipped up into my conscious after reading the quote. He is absolutely correct in his thoughts as to doing anything new even with a new generation taking the reins of karate-jutsu-do. It reminds me of the old meme that we tend toward repeating the past way too often to our detriment. Humans will want to remain steadfast in the comfort of their homes while doing a bit of redecoration to make it seem like a new and unique home when in truth underneath all the decor the walls, floors, and ceilings with windows and doors are all pretty much the same.
When you consider that a principled based physiokinetic driven set of moves to create techniques to combat conflict and violence do NOT change but the window dressing, i.e., styles and application of certain methods, etc., can make it seem like something new and unique - at least to that generation of discovery until one day in those winter years while studying the stuff they should have studied early on some how discover the truth. The truth being that regardless of how you fluff things up, decorate the home or create a garden with pretty flowers and plants that basically the house, its foundation, its walls, floors and ceilings, etc., are still the same old thing but with a new facelift you realize something special that you may even regret not discovering in those early years.
Those who came before me, those with whom I traveled the path along side of one another and those who are leading the way of a new generation of students now coming into their own with vigor, motivation and heart all thought they had discovered the true, traditional and classical way of karate and all worked to place it in its rightful state of being but in the winter years many now ask, “Is it truly the rightful place where karate began?” Not so much.
As humans we find our comfort zone, we live in it and in order to make it more exciting and to place our special mark on it we tend to make what we believe are significant changes that say, “I did this!” It is noble and righteous to work diligently toward making things right, that is our nature and yet the process is often flawed so as to remain in our comfort zones. In other words, we tend to make the same mistakes we did in the past repeating it all while trying to hide the fact under some new, seemingly and perceptively, decor.
Heritage is important if for no other reason then to learn about how it was done then, what mistakes were made, what changes for the better were implemented and how it was passed to the next generation. Here is where most stop, stay and become comfortable. Our heritage is important for that knowledge is what we need to analyze, tear it all apart and rebuild it, and then synthesize it into something relevant to the goals of the now, the current generation and toward their needs toward survival. It takes into consideration all that transpired from the past, compares it through analysis with the current state of humankind, and then creates new ways that will allow it to hold valid ways to make life better and to handle, for karate-ka, conflict and violence. It takes into consideration our times, our cultures, our beliefs and the state of our era, i.e., such as the agriculture era to the industrial era to the electronic internet data information era to achieve relevance in the now, not the past.
Here is where the true nature and essence of all disciplines becomes important, i.e., we strip away the decor and trappings of the past, find what is efficient and proficient to the current state of affairs and then we create new decor and trappings that make the true nature and essence work - principles, techniques and the ability to rapidly change as the moment of any given situation dictates.
What do I believe is the rightful place of karate today? It is an honest and dedicated attachment and connection to our heritage in karate while progressing toward the next generation of applicable and useful ways of our future and that means, “Change.” Embrace the past heritage of karate, mold and meld that with our current state and then lead the next generation in how to progress and evolve into the next and new rightful place where karate and other such disciplines can live, prosper and grow in tandem with the now, the present moment and the chaos of human existence.
Anyway, the old guys need to get a grip and realize that the young crave change and should lead them toward their destiny. Teach them that they are not entitled to anything and that everything is earned through hard work and the sweat of effort. Help them realize that change in inevitable but that change must be of substance, not just change for changes sake to fill personal egoistic needs. Help them realize that it is not time that makes things better but the efforts of each of them toward growth and evolution by efforts of dedication and due diligence. Remind them they can end up back at the beginning yet still effect changes relevant to that circular multi-dimensional evolutionary path. Make sure that they should not focus on understanding because like all things in nature, that changes constantly as each moment passes.
Let them know that what they feel to be new is not and to refocus on what has been and always will be yet allow them to develop that path with fun, dedication and the exploration of all things through analysis and synthesis, i.e., the cheng-ch’i process as taught in the modern art of war. Allow them to understand that there is no truth to grasp because like the universe that truth changes in each moment but help them to believe that the truth as fluid and chaotic as that is will still be a enlightened way of thinking, living, breathing and doing.
Let them embrace their enthusiasm in the very path they take and through the very discipline they have chosen. Remember to allow them the understanding that, “All bottles are good, they all serve a purpose”. Take our heritage and create a new heritage that our next generation can make for the generations to come simply because our modern way today will soon become the heritage of those future generations who will follow the path. The path has many branches and all are good don’t you feel it is so?
Bibliography (Click the link)
No comments:
Post a Comment