Please take a look at Articles on self-defense/conflict/violence for introductions to the references found in the bibliography page.

Please take a look at my bibliography if you do not see a proper reference to a post.

Please take a look at my Notable Quotes

Hey, Attention on Deck!

Hey, NOTHING here is PERSONAL, get over it - Teach Me and I will Learn!


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.

Engagement

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

When we leave our homes and pass through the gate at the front of our homes we are exposing ourselves to a ton of stimulus, i.e., we have given our permission to both engage and be engaged with all sorts of things and people. That is a huge responsibility because whenever we decide to engage others we also understand explicitly that repercussions are a given. It is a great responsibility to engage because the repercussions can be anything from a light bit of laughter shown in as humor in one's expression or it can be action resulting in grave harm or even death. 


This brings up rights, as a socially driven species we do have certain rights and we also have certain responsibilities involving rights when we engage said environment and others. For instance, when we engage others we are doing so with an understanding of others as to our relationships, i.e., they are a known entity or they are unknown. We must make adjustments accordingly with others as well as with both the environment and situation that is created in said engagements. That is a serious responsibility. 


Everything we say, do or imply has repercussions and we must accept that fact as a fact of life, i.e., a fact of social life because of our diversity as a human being. This is a complicated thing but one that must be understood to engage with others in a peaceful, complimentary and win-win situation and environment otherwise we have chaos and destruction (which we are seeing in today's social situation). 


In short, "There are rules of social engagement" we all have to adhere to in order to keep our society orderly, peaceful and harmonious - otherwise, "chaos and destruction rein down on all of us regardless." 


or reference and sources and professionals go here: Bibliography (Click the link)

Awareness - Bare Bones

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


As you already know there are several different ways or types of awareness with the main one for self-protection being such you can tell when all in normal and trigger your spidey sense when abnormal enters the arena. When abnormal hits you have to have several layers of understanding, knowledge and skills to trigger an appropriate and legal response to abnormal, i.e., a threat that may encompass aggression/violence. 


Principles of Awareness: those little snippets of data and experience that are stored in one's memories that the mind looks to in the creative development or retrieval of creative responses necessary to handle things. 


Principles of Awareness

  • knowledge (normal vs. abnormal).
  • understanding.
  • familiarity.
  • experiences.
  • training, practice and applicable methodologies (skills).
  • creativity.
  • continuous stress oriented adrenal conditioned experiences be it training or reality. 

There are those moments when you must achieve the ability to recognize, either subconsciously or consciously, that within an environment/situation what is normal vs. abnormal. Even when the old spidey sense tingles sending the hairs on the back of your neck to twitching you still have to have something stored in memory, knowledge through academia or experience or both, to compare to in order to trigger responses adequate, appropriate and legal to the situation/environment. Otherwise, you “freeze.” We don’t want that do we? 


For more in general on awareness go to: Awareness


For reference and sources and professionals go here: Bibliography (Click the link)


Why Twitter

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


When I decided to move from Facebook to another form of social media to send out philosophical-esque information on karate, martial arts and self-protection/defense it occurred to me that twitter may fit the bill. The main benefit so far is it mandates you post in so many characters and that forces, me as a writer if you will, one to be terse, exact and to communicate in the fewest words possible that actually convey a thought, idea or theory. It forces you to reduce the clutter of words. 


Another aspect I find of interest, you build that terse short thought, idea or theory, etc., much like the news media, newspapers, use to do long ago, i.e., the entire concept in the first paragraph and then the reader, if interested, can go on to read the rest of the article. In twitter, you can blog an entire article then write the tweet as the first descriptive information and finally put a link to the blog in it in case a person wants to read more. 


To me and my mind, you tweet to get attention and interest and then they can read more - IF THEY WANT TO - instead of today's news you get the headline then find out that to get the facts behind that headline you have to read the entire, long, boring article because today they stopped the first paragraph paraphrased comments on the headline. Does that make sense? 


Anyway, I find being forced to write short, terse, prose if you will a challenge, as you can see by this article/posting, to finesse and fine-tune my ability to write short, concise and terse comments, articles and posts. This is the first posting I am attempting to do just that. “Creative but terse philosophical meanderings of the mind if you will.” 


For reference and sources and professionals go here: Bibliography (Click the link)

Reality Check

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

Why do folks refuse to accept reality? Humans use denial as a coping mechanism and that can be both good and bad. Look at it as a means for the mind, brain, to allow one time to adjust to a situation. This applies as long as that situation does not involve violence then we have to train to trigger necessary methods for that type of issue.


When we use denial over a long haul then it can become dangerous. Denial is a construct in psychology that describes how we deal with reality constructs. This is called our defense mechanism. It is the way humans often defend against anxieties. When we experience a lot of anxiety and it is perceived as a threat, then we tend to create or develop strategies to protect ourselves and our sense of security and safety. 


The simplest form is to "simply deny" whatever we perceive as a threat even exists, i.e., "that is a hoax, it does not exist, OR THE MORE DANGEROUS, It cannot happen to me.“ Rationalization is not denial but a way to explain away or diminish the threat as the source of our anxiety. You may say that the threat exists but that "it can't happen to me" to minimize it. The less information on any given issue the greater the perceived threat, etc., so the trigger is greater to deny or to rationalize. Another reason why I advocate the more academic side of self-protection because creating a brain data-base, memories if you will, of information/facts about things like violence and aggression will provide you the data that will reduce the effects of rationalization and denial. 


Both denial and rationalization are considered to be maladaptive, meaning they don't help the individual adapt to the source of the threat. It can actually expose them to an even greater chance of whatever that threatening thing is. If the severity of the situation is high enough then the result could be grave harm or death. We don't want to bury our head in the sand by denying that it is happening. 


These constructs develop in children and are typically reinforced by parents or guardians. By about the age of 6 or 7, a child is able to make sense of what's fact and what's fiction, but in our culture, fiction is reinforced, often with parents and children. You know that there's a Santa Claus and an Easter Bunny. Some of that is part of development and it helps children with fantasy, and fantasy can be a good thing. But sometimes, we see it can become extreme. - Mark Whitmore/Eve Whitmore


When adults have been raised in an environment where unfounded beliefs were a part of their upbringing, they are much more likely to believe in conspiracy theories and hoaxes. They also tend to make decisions based on hunches and preconceived ideas and biases as opposed to using factual information. - Mark Whitmore/Eve Whitmore


Then we have to deal with "confirmation bias" where you create a bubble of others that believe as you do and then you all search out information that supports the groups beliefs. After all, reality is beliefs and what we believe is our reality. 


Once you and others begin to escalate the intensity of that information in stages they then more fully accept it and achieve control over it. Once that control is set and they feel safe and secure even actual factually based data cannot sway them from their beliefs no matter how true that info is. 


Herein lies the trouble with humans, we can be our own worst enemies because some of these beliefs and cultural/social influences born of these beliefs tend to exacerbate them causing us to refuse to learn about things like violence and aggression thus assuming our efforts will simply make them go away. But, they won’t because they are as much a part of human beings as the sun rising in the east and setting in the west. 


Learn as much as you can, exchange that learning with others, discuss them and test them out and then file them away in your minds data-base, memories, so that when, IF, you encounter the uncomfortable you can handle them appropriately to the benefit of yourself, others and society. 


This, and many other aspects and concepts, are critical to self-protection regardless of its source as we are seeing in today’s media. 


For reference and sources and professionals go here: Bibliography (Click the link)

Totality of Evidence

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

Take a look at each picture and tell me what it means to you. Don't look ahead, just do one picture at a time and jot down on note paper what you think it means. 


Picture one:











Picture two:











Picture three: 












Picture four: 














Picture five: 


Now, take a look at the whole picture that follows then tell yourself what it means. If you take just one part of any situation singularly and alone it could mean almost anything and depending on content, angles, and other perspectives involved it could convey something innocuous or it could be something critically important. The idea is that regardless of what part or parts you see, "YOU MUST HAVE the TOTALITY of information/evidence/facts to draw a proper conclusion as to what it means."


Whole picture (note: even this last whole picture does not provide ALL the information and facts although it is also a part of a much bigger picture, if you will, and that is why it is critical "TO HAVE TO ENTIRE STORY BEFORE YOU JUDGE AND DECIDE ON WHAT IT ALL MEANS!"


For reference and sources and professionals go here: Bibliography (Click the link)

FaceBook to Twitter/Blogger

FYI: i’m letting everyone know I have decommissioned the Facebook presence and going with my blog and Twitter. My twitter handle is: @Isshinkei, see you on Twitter.

Observation - To Observe

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


Have you ever heard the song of girl watching? I remember a song from the time as a teen that drove the male to watch girls, especially at our beach in Daytona, Florida. Now, as karate Sensei and senpai, have you really delved into the critical importance of watching or looking or “Seeing” in our environment?


Have you heard of the OODA loop or, “Boyd’s loop?” Yeah, I thought so and you already know how important the “observation” step to that loop is because if you are not watching, seeing - really seeing, then the rest of the loop means nothing in the scheme ok karate and self-protection. 


Take a look back, to see, in the historical archives of bloggers like Rory Miller and Marc MacYoung on the subject of observational skills used as a first warning ability to turn on, or to flip the switch, to a higher alert level of observation. 


We talk about being observant but seldom spend enough time on teaching how, why and especially “What” to perceive, look for and to orient higher levels of attention on to actually “Avoid” threats in our environment. 


The ultimate goal is observation so that we orient in advance on potential threats that provide adequate time for us to decide on “getting out of Dodge” as an appropriate, safe and advantageous method of handling potentially dangerous threats.


What do you think or how does this sound to you?


Note: It is interesting this thing called, “Serendipity” because this morning when watching a Netflix documentary on surveillance it inspired this article and then not moments later I get notified that Marc MacYoung’s book on “Multiple Attackers: Your Guide to Recognition, Avoidance, and Survival,” came out for Kindle on Amazon. Along with his great book on self-defense as well as the books by Rory Miller, there is no excuse for folks to not have a foundation studied and understood that our minds can reference if and when we start to enter into an environment that may, could and possibly become a group dynamic with violence. 


ADDENDUM:


Consider: direct vision, peripheral vision AND conscious sight, unconscious sight?

  • direct vision: what we see, or think we think we see, in a small area mostly in direct line of sight of our eyes. The interesting thing here is that the stimulus must be something we know about or have experienced or trained for. 
  • peripheral vision: that area outside the direct visual line of sight that many believe has a greater potential of being noticed. 
  • conscious sight: what one is viewing or seeing in thier sight that they are observing with conscious thought but this kind of sight means being on alert along with knowing and understanding what it is you are looking for.  
  • unconscious sight: this is almost exclusively the main concept of seeing that people instinctually have from nature that triggers the “freeze, flight or fight” response. It is that unconscious effort of seeing while not consciously focusing on what we see allowing instinct-like processes to trigger the FFF response so that we hone in our observation and orientation abilities. This requires a ton of learning, understanding, training and experiences both actual and creative. 

For reference and sources and professionals go here: Bibliography (Click the link)




Fighting Fair

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


Fighting is and always will be about survival! The concept of fair fighting came about sometime around 1867 and published for the first time by the British  Amateur Boxing Club. They were written by John Graham Chambers. The rules were and are as follows:


Marquis of Queensbury rules.


Rule 1—To be a fair stand-up boxing match in a 24-foot ring, or as near that size as practicable.

Rule 2—No wrestling or hugging allowed.

Rule 3—The rounds to be of three minutes’ duration, and one minute’s time between rounds.

Rule 4—If either man falls through weakness or otherwise, he must get up unassisted, 10 seconds to be allowed him to do so, the other man meanwhile to return to his corner, and when the fallen man is on his legs the round is to be resumed and continued until the three minutes have expired. If one man fails to come to the scratch in the 10 seconds allowed, it shall be in the power of the referee to give his award in favour of the other man.

Rule 5—A man hanging on the ropes in a helpless state, with his toes off the ground, shall be considered down.

Rule 6—No seconds or any other person to be allowed in the ring during the rounds.

Rule 7—Should the contest be stopped by any unavoidable interference, the referee to name the time and place as soon as possible for finishing the contest; so that the match must be won and lost, unless the backers of both men agree to draw the stakes.

Rule 8—The gloves to be fair-sized boxing gloves of the best quality and new.

Rule 9—Should a glove burst, or come off, it must be replaced to the referee’s satisfaction.

Rule 10—A man on one knee is considered down and if struck is entitled to the stakes.

Rule 11—No shoes or boots with springs allowed.

Rule 12—The contest in all other respects to be governed by revised rules of the London Prize Ring. 


As anyone can readily see, these are pretty much the same basic rules used in boxing today. As to the MMA, etc., sports events they use these with modifications to allow the martial arts skills to be used in relative safety and still promote a competitive spirit and to challenge us in a combative way without actual combat.


These are all sanctioned endeavors of society with safety used to help prevent grave harm and death often found in the proverbial wild of the predatory aspects of all societies. 


In short, outside sanctioned events there is NO fair fighting and NO rules out in the wild wild streets of modern mankind. Yet, society and its legal system will still impose rules, laws and requirements of self-defense “Laws” on those who participate in violence of the streets.


In short, “Out there, in the wild wild streets there are no rules Of violence except as governed by the rules of self-defense law.” Confused yet?


If you were attacked and you expect the Queensbury rules apply, you will be stunned when you end up in the ER because the predatory criminal element do not have rules other than what helps them win - both in the fight and legally if caught after.


For reference and sources and professionals go here: Bibliography (Click the link)

Martial Mental Fitness

If you have followed my thread on the mind you already know that movement is tied to the physical and mental so now we will delve into the mental fitness arena. 

It is critical we equally, balance, our minds, body and thus our spirit, we must purposely train and exercise our minds to have mental, psychological, fitness. 

We spend a good deal of time in the physical development and we must take the mental out of the assumption and into a conscious and purposeful. 

Skills of the mind are important to the skills of the body because the science and research has fully and completely validated and proven that the body, movement, feeds the mind and the mind through movement feeds the body. Appropriate mind-body skills builds and maintains one’s spirit. All the skills necessary to master karate.

If that is not enough for you just know that through this effort you “Live longer”  and that the skill and effort to achieve higher learning and to constantly challenge our minds, in and out of the dojo, gives us a longer life.

Mental exercises strengthen and renews Brian connections to keep our brains flexible and resilient. 

It is easy for us to develop routines and that is a good thing, but to keep our brains, our minds, flexible and capable we have to continue learning, practicing and experiencing “New Mental Tasks.”

Learn:
  1. To play a musical instrument,
  2. To dance,
  3. To repair various mechanical and technical devices,
  4. Learn to challenge remembering (memory skills),
  5. Challenge yourself to learn,
We need to constantly and consciously challenge our minds to learn new things!

Remember that it is not just through academia, but through experiences and thoughts and actions (movement) and emotion that are brains achieve the highest state of health, fitness and plasticity.

It is a way we strengthen our neural pathways through mental exercise. It is how we solve problems and issues creatively, how we are able think about new ways to create, morph and play in new ways that for the karate-ka results in masterful skills that are fluid in nature to change and things change.

What is great here is that those mental skills are fundamental; and you benefit whether it is focused on karate or on other endeavors, because the skills and benefits do not set on anything other than brain renewal and The minds fundamental skills, that work for any endeavor regardless.

Just remember, “Physical and mental action (movement) is fundamental to maintaining mental health.”









Persuasion - It Truly Matters

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

We, of the karate and self-protection persuasion, talk a lot about deescalation in self-defense but seldom is it obvious that we actually teach something of substance. In the following notes there will be lessons, remember my article, "The First Lesson?" that one can take to task in learning how to truly avoid violence and violent situations. 

First, it's about people and how people interact with one another. 


Note: Once you encounter where a persons tone or demeanor is perceived as critical - look for the discomfort in the situation - that person(s) are already in a "defensive position." They will feel a strong compelling urge to defend their position, there freedom to do what they want if you will. If you approach one with the same, you are going to fail. 


When you encounter people and situations of a critical highly stressful situations immediately set your tone of voice to a soothing process, i.e., when you speak use a tone and cadence that is of pitch that gently rises to asking questions of curiosity and falls to apply a feeling of calm reassurance. Above all, actively and truly listen to the person(s). To NOT put blame anywhere, especially on the person(s) and/or situation(s). 


Allow yourself to be perceived as vulnerable by flipping the problem on yourself and then admit your concerns to apply how you can overcome the problems. You can also actively listen to their perspective, draw them and that perspective out in the open - get them talking to you about it and then LISTEN. Show your understanding and appreciation for their plight. Remember, be and remain "non-confrontational" in sharing your thoughts on that something. 


Mirroring is a concept and trait of an active listener. Repeat in your own words back to them, lay it out in a non-threatening way so they can hear you reflect, mirror, back to them their feelings. You want to influence behavior, let that person make the decision to change then let them. You do this by remaining non-threatening and non-aggressive. Stay calm and patient and understanding and then acknowledge their points of view, ask them to consider thinking a little differently and believe you are doing the best that you can do. 


What matters most regarding the first lesson is that your mind, mind-set and mind-state must be such that one’s ego is suppressed so that one’s character dominates. Once we learn that then the greatest obstacle to our self-protection and self-preservation is gone and then we can truly focus on what matters such as the suggestions contained in my articles/posts. 


What follows is the article that inspired this process. 


https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/mask-etiquette-coronavirus-covid19-fbi-hostage-15416464.php


For reference and sources and professionals go here: Bibliography (Click the link)

The First Lesson

In Isshinryu, the very first thing they teach is the fist. How to form that perfect vertical fist. I often wonder now whether that was appropriate, and after forty-four years have decided that it is NOT the first lesson.

The very first lesson begins with learning how to quiet and focus the mind. You learn to let your emotions slough away, to seek a calm mind, to let patience rule, and to achieve balance to rein. If you enter the dojo without some degree of rational thought then maybe the dojo is not the place for you.

Making the isshinryu fist is mere salesmanship on its symbolism inherent only in that system as created by those who missed the true intent of its founder, at least to my beliefs.

Harnessing the mind is the only way to control and apply the very system that epitomizes the vanity of human violence. 

In today’s world teaching the fist lesson would be my true objective and those who would do otherwise do no one benefit.


Do I Need a Sensei?

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


The quick answer is, "Well, It depends..." and then the discussion begins. If you are new to karate then you really do want a qualified, dedicated and motivated sensei who understands the style or system past the mere learning of the physical. 


Everyone, until a certain point requires someone to walk the walk before them and when one reaches that point they can diverge from adhering to any one sensei except if it involves a vastly different style or system requiring one go back to the physical. The caveat herein is that if the student actually learns about the physical, kata and such, while learning about fundamental principles such as physiokinetic's then they can pretty much take on any style or system because principles like physiokinetic's are universal to all forms of martial disciplines and skills. 


One of the reasons in the last decade or so I converted from any particular style like Isshinryu and worked diligently to fully understand those underlying universal fundamental principles of all martial disciplines as well as any other form of combative skills. 


When you become an expert in such principles using any style of system to learn, practice and understand them deeply then the idea of sensei, style or system simply disappears unless the individual finds one that fits their personality and creates a social construct necessary and conducive to evolving appears like Isshinryu did for my in 1979 through friendship with Warner Dean Henry, my then First Sergeant. 


You must have a sensei to learn both the physical movements taught in kata and you must have a sensei to ingrain, imbed and make automatic methodologies based on strong applicable fundamental principles. After that, unless you plan on teaching (becoming a sensei yourself) then all you need is a connection to a network of like minded professionals who will exchange theories, idea's and experiences with you to vet and validate your current skills and level of application. 


If you wed yourself to any one person you will reach their limits except in those rare cases when the two of you branch out to encompass others to evolve, but you don't need them as sensei to senpai because you become a yin/yang pair who feeds one another through interactions and movement with others in the martial communities. 


Think about this, mull it over and consider how this can take you beyond the mood so you may reach for the starts. 


For reference and sources and professionals go here: Bibliography (Click the link)

Osu [押忍 (おっす)]

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


The particular terse term when translating the characters/ideograms into English you will get, "Hi!; Yo!; Hey man!; Hey dude!; greeting used between close male friends." Then there are other characters/ideograms as follows: 

  • Osu [押す]: to push; to press; to overwhelm; to overpower; to repress, etc.
  • su [おす]: male (animal).
  • su [推す]: to recommend; to endorse (e.g. a candidate); to nominate; to infer; to conclude; to conjecture; to surmise; to think something through; to ponder deeply.
  • su [おす]: to be. 

As you can see things get a bit muddled when you don’t know things and contexts and in the dojo that is important.


First and foremost if you practice the Okinawan karate remember that “Osu!” is non-existent in traditional Karate dojos of Okinawa. 


What follows are notes, excerpts and direct quotes from a recent Black Belt magazine article of this month, i.e., July/August 2020, in the “karate Way” article by Dave Lowry. You can read it on the newsstand now. 


Osu is a term that can mean, “yes or I understand or Hoorah,” It is often, in the dojo that use it, be a way to greet one’s dojo-mate. Most would agree that “osu” is a contraction of “Ohayo gozaimasu” meaning “Good Morning.” 


Where did it originate? It is believed to be a common greeting of University Athletes and it may have come from the Japanese Navy, early 20th century before WWII. 


What many must remember is that when Americans started to return to the States post Viet Nam and possibly post WWII, they came with a lot of missing parts and pieces simply because one only remained in Japan or Okinawa for a period spanning nine to thirteen months where many spent less time there and more time in Viet Nam, etc.


This resulted in a need, as new karate teachers at home, to fill in gaps and questions that naturally come up with us humans, especially Americans, who have an instinctual need for curiosity and whalla, we have “myths and stories to explain or add meaning to contexts and conventions that evolve without a true fact-check or research for cultural meaning of Japan/Okinawa. 


Myths like, “the black belt came about as a result of a white belt becoming discolored by sweat, dirt and blood.” Because most didn’t and still don’t know the actual basis for much of what they will learn, do, train and study in the dojo, they tend to create these explanations, i.e., they cannot admit ignorance so they simply make it up. 


Mr. Lowry suggests that one use cautions when it comes to Japanese language and cultural usage of Japanese terms as what is ok and acceptable in one dojo/place may be an insult in another. If your dojo uses it, continue as that is what your dojo does and if you visit or change dojo, styles or systems then wait it out till you learn the new rules of that dojo, style and system. this will prevent embarrassment or being strongly corrected to one’s embarrassment. 


Remember, “Osu” does not always apply in different circumstances. It has no deep or secret hidden meaning and don’t misinterpret an osu spoken by a Japanese karate sensei as proof solid that it is a legitimate dojo/karate/martial art term appropriate to the wider range of circumstances and interactions you will encounter during you life span as a karate-ka or martial artist. 


If it is used in your dojo, let it be in your dojo exclusively. Don’t use it on social media, visiting other dojo and martial artist and especially in any social gathering you may participate in because public use is just ignorance and possibly insulting to the others in your immediate space. If you have doubts, always ask BEFORE you go forward and do or use anything. 


For reference and sources and professionals go here: Bibliography (Click the link)

Isshinryu - First Generation Students of Tatsuo-san

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


In general, what is attained by being and being allowed the status or title of first generation student of Tatsuo Shimabuku, creator of Isshinryu karate? I asked that question on a Facebook site dedicated to Isshinryu and Tatsuo-san. 


Question: what does it mean to each of you to have the designation of first generation student? In other words, other than bragging rights, what is it that makes this distinction so special to those who hold it? 


So far, not one has responded and I have to wonder why because it may be that no one knows other than it may give them some feeling of status special much like being the first born son in a family. So, I still wait for a possible answer. Hundreds of Marines during that time passed thorugh the Honbu dojo and I wonder why their names are not listed because Tatsuo-san's popularity in the special services machine means many, many more attended than the list provided by one first generation student. 


Q: "what is the significance of being a first generation student of Shimabuku Tatsuo Sensei?" 

  1. Is it about the quality of the teachings?
  2. Does it mean the student is imbued with some special quality, knowledge or understanding of the teachings? 
  3. Does it imply they are special and received special attentive teaching of Tatsuo-san? 
  4. Does it imply some special connection to Tatsuo-san as if family rather than merely a student? 
  5. Does it mean the person has some special historical value as a practitioner of Isshinryu? 

Another question is in regard to this special group, first gen’s, as to whom decided the rules of membership and why those hundreds of Marines who took instruction over the many years of Tatsuo-san’s association through special services didn’t or don’t belong on that list. For instance, my Sensei a retired sgtmaj of Marines, who said once he spent a good deal of time training at the honbu dojo while Tatsuo-san sat and smoked while drinking tea many days is not on that list. 


Then I have to ask, as many state, Cisco actually did the majority of hands-on training of students while Tatsuo-san smoked and drank tea, why isn’t there a first-gen list with Cisco as the head since he is known to have been the main Isshinryu teacher/sensei of that time? Then there is also statements even from the first-gen’s that a lot of the practice and teaching was the person’s responsibility with assistance from their senpai, other Marines in the dojo. It just makes me wonder just how many actually had hands-on continuous instruction and training under tatsuo-san because my research, if accurate and factual, indicates that Tatsuo-san did a ton of observing while others did a ton of training, practice and teaching, i.e., senpai’s and Cisco. 


Update: I still have not seen, heard or read any responses to my questions on this special designation of first-generation student and what it conveys to that student and to those who envy that designation… One person did allude, by their questions in response to my questions, to pride but that seems incomplete because I have a ton of pride for learning and training with Henry sensei but not so much I vilify him or put him on this special pedestal of honor. Yet, for some unknown reason and don’t give me that crap “you had to be there to understand” as that is a cop out over answering the questions. 


Also, it has been posted - quals for first gen:


Qualifications for First Gen Student Status

  1. trained under Tatsuo-san for minimum six continuous months;
  2. graded and awarded brown belt;
  3. Attended between 1956 to 1971; 

Note: those who attended tatsuo-san’s American visits don’t qualify because of item one above and those who traveled to Okinawa to train also will not qualify unless the meet requirements above especially no. 1. 


First-gen reminds me of the label given to a type of pushup bar, the chinkuchi pushup bar and that really didn’t resonate with what I know about the concept of chinkuchi as applied to practical application of karate methodologies in self-protection. that is the joy of such philosophies, none of them are wrong per-say and they inspire us to push forward and evolve. Now, that is a good thing no matter what you call it.


For reference and sources and professionals go here: Bibliography (Click the link)

Marines - My Sensei - Pride

Mr. John Bartusevics asked me some wonderful questions in response to mine on the first generation honor he holds as a student of Tatsuo Sensei that inspired the article that follows.

I ave always had pride, confidence and character and I also lacked Roos and direction in applying those traits and that is why a TV program triggered a journey that would take me through all John’s questions and a bit more.

It was the Vietnam Nam era and I knew my draft day would soon come so I started to seek out a path that ensured my survival. One day I watched a Saturday matinee titled, @The D.I.” With Jack Webb. It was that moment I knew I wanted to be a Marine and I knew if any training would ensure my survival, the Marine’s were it.

Along the way and even earlier I stayed up late to watch a TV show called, “The Green Hornet,”where this character in a mask did some pretty neat skillful fighting stuff. I never knew that this guy would inspire more people than me to seek out Kung Fu.

In between those life changing events while walking along a street in Florida I hear these yells and loud noises so when I found the source and peered in I was amazed by these guys wearing white Panama’s, yelling kiai’s and destroying slabs of cement. It was a karate dojo run by Dave Collier Sensei and if I were not already hooked, his dojo brought me the world of karate. 

I also found boxing at a local Beach Street gum and Judo in my early days as a Marine at Camp LeJeune. I was also lucky to have served with a Marine whose Uncle was Ed Parker, a Hawaiian Marine who was proficient in karate. Add in a fellow Marine who was Samoan who liked to thump he at chow daily at work and I found myself immersed in karate with no name or style.

In 1979 as a Staff Sergeant I transferred to Camp Hansen Okinawa, truck company, third MarDiv where a day or so after I arrived reported in as my First Sergeant. He heard I was interested in finding a dojo so came to see me and asked if I would like to learn Okinawa Isshinryu.

I said, “Never heard of it First Sergeant,” and he did this wicked little D.I. smirk and informed me we would be starting a dojo at Hansen gym where no other martial arts could be found at that time, I.e., January 1979.

The reason Henry and I were right was because he became my Marine mentor that helped me smooth out some very, very rough edges that he saw, and informed me, were taking me down a dark road. His being my Sensei was just the frosting on the cake while becoming a tool I would use to put myself on the right road or path - Toa if you will.

Like I try to convey, everything I accomplished came from me and as fate would have it my journey exposed me to a few good men who would expose me to the tools I was missing that would set a solid foundation where I could set my character so it would build my home against all types of weather both foul and smooth sailing.

You see, this explains in part why I can’t fathom why the moniker of first gen and the placement of a man on a pedestal would be so important to those few that man trained directly for some and indirectly for others.

You see, just about anyone who had the tools to share would have done the job and the one’s who did have my undying gratitude but - pedestal, not so much because I instinctively understood that to accomplish something worthwhile would be up to me because all the tools in the world won’t help if I don’ have the right stuff.

Fate and luck and good character is what drove me and others merely contributed what I was seeking due to the fate of the path I walked.

Semper fi John, I found the Marines and they supplied that which I am proud I exploited in our favor - Marines and mine.

Henry was a Marine’s Marine who happened to know Isshinryu and happened to find me on the commandants  orders to Truck Company coinciding with my orders. We simply became friends in and out of the dojo.

Real Karate: What is It?

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


I am hearing and reading this in a variety of places these last few months or so and wonder what it means to those in the karate communities. Define "Real Karate?" 


Before I answer this for myself, I do understand what most mean when they say practical karate because when I think of practical I consider it to be the karate used in self-protection for self-defense. I also understand, generally, what they mean when they say, "traditional karate," because when I think of traditional karate I think of the culture and concept of the Okinawan folks who created, somewhat, and passed down their karate to us. 


That brings us back to what it really means to say, "real karate," because defining real makes it all problematic and often leaves it up to the mind of the reader and how they define real and that doesn't peg down the answer all that well. 


I also consider it to be a bit of misdirection in the effort to sell, convince and promote some sort of agenda of the user often in the arena of economics, or commercialism, or just plain on ego and money. I am getting ahead, lets try to define, "Real Karate." 


I admit freely that on initial reading I assumed they were trying to tie some aspect of karate to being a direct unchanged original teachings of karate of old Okinawa. It goes to show that our minds/brains work in mysterious and strange ways as to biases and cognizant dissonances and it takes a bit of effort to resist that and seek out true, factual and valid answers to ensure proper validation of things karate. 


Even in the below notes, a real dojo is called a "Dentou karate dojo or Real Karate Dojo." Dentou [伝統] translated into English as, "tradition; convention; training hall." 


Dentou Karate:

  1. members willing to train for decades to achieve standards equal to the past;
  2. grading will be organized from the top down, not bottom up;
  3. no bell curve concepts allowed; 
  4. grades must be standardized and not awarded as gifts or sold for profit;
  5. must not actively seek publication of achievements; 
  6. must be distinctly segregated from other forms of karate such as sport.

This is the published version in the article referenced in the notes below as the machi-karate dojo or the Dentou karate dojo. 


Real: Adjective. real, actual, and true mean agreeing with known facts. real is used when a thing is what it appears to be. This is a real diamond. actually means that someone or something does or did occur or exist.


It appears that defining real is much easier than traditional or practical karate because - karate is real, it is practiced all over the world and it is directly and indirectly from the origins of Okinawan karate even if modified over the decades by the many different cultural belief influences such as American or European, etc.


This is a perfect example of how such terminologies can inadvertently misdirect, especially the uninitiated, one to think it is more than what it really is and that can apply to traditional as well as practical. 


NOTES

---------------------------------

Machi Dojo [町道場] translated to English to mean, "karate school situated in a town; immediate neighborhood training hall." In the traditional origins of Okinawan karate dojo involved a sensei who taught students in the garden of their home or indoors if weather was bad resulting in one or two students receiving the entire attention of sensei so that sensei could tailor training and practice toward  the students physical abilities, natural skills, and temperaments. Machi dojo are an extension of the backyard dojo where a roof is added and a certain degree of management was implemented to handle a greater number of students. 


Juku Dojo [塾道場] karate dojo closed to the general public where membership was by invitation only from sensei or the recommendation of an existing student - exclusive membership. 


Reference Fighting Arts article "Machi Dojo: The Past and Future of Authentic Okinawan Karate," by CFA contributors. 


For reference and sources and professionals go here: Bibliography (Click the link)