Budo (Martial and Karate) Spirit

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“It has become ingrained in many people—karate practitioners and the general public alike—that karate is some kind of mystical art.” - Dave Lowry, Spirit: How Important Is It?

“Japanese karate teachers, at a loss to explain in English how much of karate actually works, have further clouded the issue. You have to have strong spirit, they tell their students. The implications behind this state- ment are varied and can be extremely misleading.” - Dave Lowry, Spirit: How Important Is It?

That begs the question, “What is meant by implying you have and create spirit?” What is it when they tell you to develop strong body, mind and SPIRIT, what is spirit in this sense? 

Spirit is:

• Attitude, proper attitude defines who you are, how you train and whether you will be a martial artists and karate-ka. Having the correct or proper attitude to accomplish anything including martial arts and karate. 
• Proper attitude includes a form of trust and an acceptance of the rules, requirements and needs of training and practice laid down in the dojo. It means having the willingness, a part of your attitude, to do things the way as required in the dojo, by Sensei and Senpai, with a sincere belief that you will eventually understand.
• Martial spirit can only manifest when are taught, understand and experience and apply principles, methodologies and force levels, etc. of martial and karate disciplines. In short, spirit achieves a state of attitude and mind-state that comes from appropriate, efficient, and proficiency in the and through the instruction, teachings and mentoring provided in the dojo.
• Finally, as quoted from Lowry Sensei’s article on the subject, “Foster a strong spirit in all aspects of your life, including your attitude about karate, and then make sure you have a teacher who is worthy of directing it.”

Now, it must be understood that what I mention in the bulleted items above are merely fundamental idea’s as to what and how to create, enhance and develop martial spirit but rest assured there are other factors that make up spirit so another addition would be the willingness, desire and ability to see, think and feel things out through analysis and synthesis so you create your own spirit along with your body and mind. 

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