Okinawan Fighting Art "Ti": Goku-i-Do [極意道] (Goku-i-do Karate [極意道空手])

When you begin to feel like you are a tough guy, a warrior, a master of the martial arts or that you have lived a tough life, just take a moment and get some perspective with the following:

I've stopped knives that were coming to disembowel me

I've clawed for my gun while bullets ripped past me

I've dodged as someone tried to put an ax in my skull

I've fought screaming steel and left rubber on the road to avoid death

I've clawed broken glass out of my body after their opening attack failed

I've spit blood and body parts and broke strangle holds before gouging eyes

I've charged into fires, fought through blizzards and run from tornados

I've survived being hunted by gangs, killers and contract killers

The streets were my home, I hunted in the night and was hunted in turn

Please don't brag to me that you're a survivor because someone hit you. And don't tell me how 'tough' you are because of your training. As much as I've been through I know people who have survived much, much worse. - Marc MacYoung

WARNING, CAVEAT AND NOTE

The postings on this blog are my interpretation of readings, studies and experiences therefore errors and omissions are mine and mine alone. The content surrounding the extracts of books, see bibliography on this blog site, are also mine and mine alone therefore errors and omissions are also mine and mine alone and therefore why I highly recommended one read, study, research and fact find the material for clarity. My effort here is self-clarity toward a fuller understanding of the subject matter. See the bibliography for information on the books. Please make note that this article/post is my personal analysis of the subject and the information used was chosen or picked by me. It is not an analysis piece because it lacks complete and comprehensive research, it was not adequately and completely investigated and it is not balanced, i.e., it is my personal view without the views of others including subject experts, etc. Look at this as “Infotainment rather then expert research.” This is an opinion/editorial article/post meant to persuade the reader to think, decide and accept or reject my premise. It is an attempt to cause change or reinforce attitudes, beliefs and values as they apply to martial arts and/or self-defense. It is merely a commentary on the subject in the particular article presented.

Note: I will endevor to provide a bibliography and italicize any direct quotes from the materials I use for this blog. If there are mistakes, errors, and/or omissions, I take full responsibility for them as they are mine and mine alone. If you find any mistakes, errors, and/or omissions please comment and let me know along with the correct information and/or sources.

“What you are reading right now is a blog. It’s written and posted by me, because I want to. I get no financial remuneration for writing it. I don’t have to meet anyone’s criteria in order to post it. Not only I don’t have an employer or publisher, but I’m not even constrained by having to please an audience. If people won’t like it, they won’t read it, but I won’t lose anything by it. Provided I don’t break any laws (libel, incitement to violence, etc.), I can post whatever I want. This means that I can write openly and honestly, however controversial my opinions may be. It also means that I could write total bullshit; there is no quality control. I could be biased. I could be insane. I could be trolling. … not all sources are equivalent, and all sources have their pros and cons. These needs to be taken into account when evaluating information, and all information should be evaluated.” - God’s Bastard, Sourcing Sources (this applies to this and other blogs by me as well; if you follow the idea's, advice or information you are on your own, don't come crying to me, it is all on you do do the work to make sure it works for you!)

“You should prepare yourself to dedicate at least five or six years to your training and practice to understand the philosophy and physiokinetics of martial arts and karate so that you can understand the true spirit of everything and dedicate your mind, body and spirit to the discipline of the art.” - cejames (note: you are on your own, make sure you get expert hands-on guidance in all things martial and self-defense)

“All I say is by way of discourse, and nothing by way of advice. I should not speak so boldly if it were my due to be believed.” - Montaigne

I am not a leading authority on any one discipline that I write about and teach, it is my hope and wish that with all the subjects I have studied it provides me an advantage point that I offer in as clear and cohesive writings as possible in introducing the matters in my materials. I hope to serve as one who inspires direction in the practitioner so they can go on to discover greater teachers and professionals that will build on this fundamental foundation. Find the authorities and synthesize a wholehearted and holistic concept, perception and belief that will not drive your practices but rather inspire them to evolve, grow and prosper. My efforts are born of those who are more experienced and knowledgable than I. I hope you find that path! See the bibliography I provide for an initial list of experts, professionals and masters of the subjects.

Goku-i-Do [極意道] (Goku-i-do Karate [極意道空手])

Blog Article/Post Caveat (Read First Please: Click the Link)

The Secret Road of Karate or the Essential Points of the Way of Karate (I don’t like the word secret but it is used in the translations of the kanji). In this sense and due to my personal perceptions and beliefs I would use, “The Main Point of the Empty Hand Way.” The first character means, “conclusions; most; highly; extremely; conclusions; end; highest rank,” the second character means, “thought; heart; mind; idea,” the third character means, “teachings; moral; course; journey; road-way; street,” the fourth character means, “void; empty; sky; vacuum; vacant,” and the fifth character means, “hand.”

I kind of like this because, as I try to convey, as an individual who is and has been studying karate and martial disciplines I want my understanding and beliefs of the path I use for the moral and philosophical meaning and beliefs to actually guide my applications and experiences in karate and martial disciplines as they touch, guide and mentor my life, personally.

In the fundamental principles it is seldom, as is the study of both the ken-po goku-i and Goku-i-do Karate, we find a balance in “Theory, Physiokinetics, Technique, Philosophy; and with the study and practice that embraces its core essence, principle of self-defense and principle of chemical dumps” holds up and supports a morally socially acceptable survival driven study, practice, training and application of the disciplines.

Note: I don’t use or recommend using such terms in translation as secret or hidden, etc., because they invariably lead to misunderstanding, misconceptions and incorrect historical data.

So, all this then begs the question, “What are the essential points of karate from Okinawa?” That depends (a short terse meme often used by professionals especially in self-defense because such a chaotic fluid answer depends heavily on the person who asks and how they answer their own question from their efforts in following the way of the essential points of karate.

My Goku-i-do Karate:

A thorough understanding of the fundamental principles of karate.
A thorough understanding of the ken-po goku-i as it was gifted in its terse form to me by my Sensei.
A thorough understanding of its applications as to theory, physiokinetics, technique, philosophy, self-fense and the mind-state associated with mind-body-spirit connections especially under the chemical dump.
A thorough understanding of how the basics, kata, drills, kumite, etc., relate to the principles as they are also connected and applied to, “Multiple Defense Methodologies [actual tactics and attack methodologies of impacts, drives (pushes), pulls, twists, takedowns/throws and compression are best for stopping a threat (types of force applied such as spiraling, scissoring, carving, vibrating, and/or sheering forces.)]”
A thorough understanding of the importance of, “Distinctions”, as they relate to the way of karate, i.e., in the distinctions between its many manifestations such as sport, fighting, combatives, self-defense and the philosophical side called the, “Way (doah).”
A thorough understanding of the moral implications of any discipline such as karate toward its implementation into a way of life along with its applications in life such as in self-fense (a defensives/offensive methodology that remains steadfast within social conditions, standards, and both legal and law for the survival of the tribe, society and self.).
A thorough understanding and commitment to a type of modern bushido code, called by me for me “The Code,” that underlies my studies, practice, training and teaching of the discipline. Read about my code and Bushido HERE.
A thorough dedication to remaining within the acceptable, mine and societies, moral stand in all the myriad things that are or are near to karate and martial disciplines.
A thorough dedication to remaining open-minded to all concepts, hypothesis, theories, cultures, beliefs, perceptions and distinctions that are about the differences of martial disciplines even tho underneath they are all the same allowing for its continued growth while remaining steadfast, dedicated and a morally honorable attachment to the traditions and cultural origins of karate while allowing its natural and continued evolutionary growth and potential by the work of the individual practitioner.

This, to date, matches my rendition and interpretation of the base terse tome of karate called the ken-po goku-i, i.e., the original eight I was given with an added ninth to cover a fuller and complete goku-i without numbering and without discernible voids between each so that the entire goku-i is considered whole and wholeheartedly.

“A person's heart is the same as Heaven and Earth while the blood circulating is similar to the Sun and Moon yet the manner of drinking and spitting is either soft or hard while a person's unbalance is the same as a weight and the body should be able to change direction at any time as the time to strike is when the opportunity presents itself and both the eyes must see all sides as the ears must listen in all directions while the mind must grasp all the tactual data not seen on all sides and not heard in any direction.” - cejames, rendered from Tatsuo-san’s original.

“A person’s heart is the same as Heaven and Earth while circulatory system is similar to the cycles of the moon and sun yet the breathing methods are either hard or soft while one’s posture should allow one to advance, retreat, engage, and disengage as the body should be able to act in accordance with time and change so that one must enter a state of emptiness (mushin/zanshin) allowing the eyes must see all sides and the ears should listen in all directions while the mind must grasp all the tactual data not seen on all sides and not heard in any direction. - My rendition per translation from Andy Sloane Sensei.”

Note: Bookmark this page if you are interested to see if any more essential points are added. After all, there is no hard and fast rule that says one must remain attached to the original and without changes often necessary to keep it up to date and valid for the moment.

Bibliography (Click the link)

“In order for any life to matter, we all have to matter.” - Marcus Luttrell, Navy Seal (ret)