Being Divergent

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Divergence is about tending to be different or, better yet for karate and martial Self-fense, develop in different directions by adopting and using a variety of premises, especially unfamiliar premises, as bases for inference, and avoiding common limiting assumptions and distinction in making deductions during analysis, hypothesis and synthesis. 

In the beginning there is and was Ti (this article will use karate specifically with understanding it is not system or style specific), ti was the single indigenous system of civil empty handed self-defense, fighting and survival tool of the Okinawa origin. We learned and expanded Ti into the triad of village unarmed disciplines naming it by village name and classifying it from Ti to China Hand to finally, Empty Hand. In the process those who stood before us and those who stood on their shoulders, “Diverged,” from the heritage and teachings of the Ti that gave birth to karate or empty hand. 

Being divergent did not mean radical change in Ti but rather morphing it into individually driven culturally adherent changes to meet the needs of the times, the environment and needs of the individual. This gave birth to things like, “Goju, Shorin, Uechi Ryu.” 

As an example, one creative and masterful karate-ka of the early periods of karate acceptance and growth decided to diverge from the status quo yet adhering to the culture and heritage of Ti created through a process of synthesis, hypothesis and synthesis a new system or style and named it, “Isshinryu.” 

Divergence and adherence to the heritage and traditions both work with mutual benefit, i.e., the heritage and traditions speak to the more static teachings of basics, kata, kumite and other aspects of a style or system at the early stages (shu stage of shu-ha-ri). Then as master began those inspired divergent leaders and luminaries of the karate community began to diverge from the old allowing the new to spring up from a seed into the beginnings of new growth. 

They were different yet honorable and connected to the past traditions for it is the traditions of the past the build a foundation where the new have solid footing in which to stand, grow, age and give birth to the next generations of karate regardless of style or system. 

In karate most are stuck in the shu, the beginnings, adhering to what is never forgotten, never lost and solidly builds a new karate where anyone can readily see the underlying traditions, culture and beliefs of Ti’s forefathers, fathers and sons/daughters that built the community of today. 

The “Ha” of Shu-ha-ri is about embracing our natural tendency to diverge and create so it is as natural as breathing and growing from childhood to teen years and finally in the “ri” stage - adults of honor, humility and enlightened mastery of life, spirit and discipline. 

It is only necessary to remember that the Shu period is about creating and instilling a natural innate-like conditioned reflex ability that leads to mastery by first adhering to the rhythm, cadence, and patterns easily seen, perceived and distinguished through practice, training and applications/experiences. It is how we leave childhood and reach adulthood in karate. 

Where would modern karate be on Okinawa, the homeland and birthplace of karate, if those who lead the karate community had not the strength and intestinal fortitude to diverge from traditions status quo and allow for both the old and new to create new traditions and traditional karate? 

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