Legacy of Isshinryu

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A recent posting spoke of the legacy of Isshinryu as it regards to things like kata practice. Things like this lead to a huge conversation that often does not provide a real, relevant, answer - a bit frustrating. This inspired me to contemplate the legacy of Isshinryu. 

Legacy, defined, “something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past; the legacy of the ancient philosophers.” 

Hmmm, interesting that when defined it doesn’t exactly say what the something is and how to make use of it as the recipient. It speaks to me that the legacy as received is used by the recipient as they see fit, it is now theirs. The person who wrote about their definition and meaning of Tatsuo-san’s presented legacy said, “it is a systematic method of training that develops the end product of what folks in IR call Chinkuchi, coupled with the strategies and methods preserved in the kata , and understanding contained in the Kenpo gokui.”

On another road I see some interesting things worth commenting on but in essence this is what Tatsuo-san’s legacy is and means to that individual, a very good thing for he/she knows and understands and believes his/her Isshinryu, as left them by Tatsuo-san and their Sensei, means to them. I would assume that this is fluid and changes as they change, grow, and understand their practices of Isshinryu. 

My interpretation and understanding of Tatsuo-san’s legacy titled, “Isshinryu,” is as follows:

A method of study that transmits principled-methodologies of both philosophical and physical disciplines that transmit and teach one in the art called, “karate.” A fluid model that fosters, promotes and inspires a disciple toward self-awareness, understanding and proficiency that inspires continued training, practice and, most important, appropriate application of the philosophically-principled physical that provides first and foremost emotional maturity, physical health, fitness and an ability to apply it in the physical reality of life. 

It is not, and never was or has been, the intent to remain dogmatically tied to Tatsuo-san’s way at the time he taught and practiced his karate. To remain dogmatic does him a disservice and those, most, who do so are often the  most inexperienced of all. The truly experienced, one experienced professional stated, tend to be the least dogmatic in the studies, practices and applications. Also, “But, the majority (of karate-ka and martial artists) of the inexperienced/dogmatic are dogmatic because they have latched onto an identity that they know, on some level, is untested and they are defending a tribal identity.” 

I also see his legacy as his desire that each individual he has touched or influenced to seek out of their training to, “Maximize Gains,” over the obsession toward, “Minimizing Losses.” 

I feel I live up to his legacy, a legacy I define from the collective information on his way of karate-do in conjunction and connected to his lifestyle, his beliefs and is actions during his karate formative years. Tatsuo-san has earned my respect and desire and by my efforts, writings, philosophy and beliefs have done him and Isshinryu justice.

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