Something IN for Something OUT - The Brain

To See, To Hear, To Listen Actively, To Observe, and to subject what they have seen, heard, and observed to analysis. To develop a method of reasoning and a method of scientific investigation. We should educate to think. The association and exchange of ideas. To study for the love of learning, wanting to know and understand.

Remember, for the brain to work, to get the most out of it, you have to have put something in it first! The paths to knowledge are many. Maybe that is why the Asian's call such endeavors the Way, the Path, the Road, etc. I have come to believe that education, the acquisition of knowledge, is of primary importance in life and more so in this physical practice that can be a brutal one of karate/karate-do.

I find that as I increase my level of knowledge that more clarity of life ensues. Each time I read something new or with a slightly different spin on it the mind just seems to flash this picture to me that inspires me to write and explore, etc. I can only stress that any practitioner who glosses over the basics and fundamentals is hurting no one but themselves and that returning to the foundation of the martial systems is crucial to moving forward.

This brings me back to my parallel blog, i.e. the one for the "ken-po goku-i" for to increase your knowledge base you have to be willing to actively "see, hear, feel, and focus awareness" on all the data and mine out the stuff that is true, accurate, and pertinent to you the individual. Forget whether it fits into the tribe, i.e. others validation, as that is not important to you. You can adjust and adhere to the tribes way and processes but still install the uniqueness of yourself in your knowledge and practice.

Remember, even if the tribe to which you want to belong disagrees with you does not make you wrong nor does it make you right. The rubber meets the road here by how open and aware you are to accept it all and then use it adequately to achieve self progress and then provide fluidity to achieve it with the group/tribe.

To much truth and information gets shoved to the side merely because one who perceives it as threatening their beliefs pushes it aside when in reality it may even cause a shift in thought more beneficial than one may imagine.

Thanks for listening (reading :-)!

Bushido: The Code of the Samurai Warrior ...

I remember once when visiting a dojo the Sensei reciting the code of bushido during warm-up exercises. It sounded good yet I had to wonder if it was just a recitation or were they actually actively listening to that code or were they simply doing it cause it sounded good. Reciting a quote is a nice trait but living the quote seems better.

I also remember over time hearing recitation of Go-rin-no-sho where the same questions popped up in my mind. In reflection I can say that in the case of the dojo I visited it was not apparent that the code or the teachings of Musashi were being followed. Not even in a small way but I still had to temper those thoughts of mine with, "Do I really know and understand?"

So, in time I kept reflecting and studying such codes, etc. similar to my study of what is the ken-po goku-i  so developed my own personal code to live by and to train/practice/instruct martial arts by, here it is:

The Code

Code One: Never strike first. Assume courtesy and respect with appropriate kindness in all your personal encounters. No actions taken are with out consequences for others. Anticipate what those consequences will be and act accordingly. How we choose to respond dictates the outcome. Make "avoidance" your primary  defensive act.
 
Code Two: Develop proper attitude in you daily life. Look inside yourself for ways to cope successfully with life's difficulties with out ignoring the outside world. Remain positive in every thought and with every deed. Think "Mindfulness Awareness."

Code Three: Pay Attention [active awareness]! When ever you encounter another you must "to attend to" or pay attention. Remain alert to the person, environment, and be diligent in attending to the appropriate changes necessary to create a positive outcome to the encounter. To pay attention is to demonstrate your expression to the other as a worthy person. Your acknowledgement of the person validates them and shows your desire to treat them as equals and establish them as worthwhile individuals.

Code Four: Keep vigilant [mindful awareness] in your encounters, actions, and/or deeds when with others to validate their existence, their importance in society, and their personal feelings.

Code Five: Always think the very best of others. Assume the best and act accordingly with out losing sight of positive awareness in case of a sudden change. Approach every encounter with others as if they are good, honest, and sensitive.

Code Six: Possibly one of the most important rules you can assume in life is to "Listen; actively listen." Listening or lack thereof is the most common reason for conflict. Listen to the words and feelings; focus on the person communicating; let silence be your primary means of action; let go of your past experiences and be in the present moment, be mindful; disregard all thoughts of the future and be in the present moment; concentrate on just listening before doing anything else; establish eye contact; let you body reflect the positive; let your voice, tone, and response be on the others comments, actions, body language, intent, and so on; don't rush to agree or disagree; simply show understanding.

Code Seven: Speak kindly - always - and never speak ill of others. Be the person others speak of as the one who never uttered an unkind word. Let that be your legacy. Always keep in your mind that you are speaking/interacting with a living, breathing, vulnerable human being; always remember the power of words. Remember:

* When we speak to anyone in a derogatory manner we hurt.

* It is a coward who resorts to the use of words or deeds to attack another.
* How we speak to others reflects on ourselves.
* If we are present when ill words are spoken we can leave, remain silent, say something positive, or openly communicate to the attacker as to what they are doing.

Code Eight: A fundamental rule of society; one that is relevant and important when ever one comes into contact with another; decent behavior is when we care enough not to make problems, ours or theirs, into either our or their problem. The way we treat others is always a reflection of our own self-worth. Respect is a corner stone of any one persons contact with another. Assume they deserve it and then give it whole heartily.

Code Nine: Care for others as if they were a guest in your home. Be hospitable to every one you meet or connect with even if only for the moment. Get to know others by listening and when you talk to them talk from the heart. Always be considerate of others, no excuses.
 
Code Ten: Refrain for taking action or speaking with out thinking twice. How you communicate can result in either a peaceful resolution or a combative one which can turn quickly into a physical altercation. Self-restraint means we ignore the ego and stay in the current moment with complete respect and regard for the opinions of others regardless of our assessments. The goal is to have an amicable meeting of the minds when two connect in today's society. Civility or lack thereof are major causes of anger, fear, and conflict.

Code Eleven: Don't try to shift responsibility or blame to others. Take complete responsibility for all of your actions be they verbal or physical. Your attitude and how you express it can be either acceptable to all or not. When not, then you have conflict. Conflict does not benefit anyone.

Code Twelve: Develop the courage necessary to be brave. Bravery and courage does not mean jumping into any confrontation with the desire to win at all costs. It takes one who has courage to avoid conflicts, to find alternatives to doing battle. To create relationships that end in proper balance for all concerned is the epitome of bravery and courage. Anyone can take up arms and do battle yet only the very bravest; those with the most courage; are able to overcome the ego within and to achieve peace and tranquility within and in society.

Code Thirteen: Create goodwill among those who you come in contact by providing the type of influence that creates camaraderie; a societal connection of benefit for all. Be a benevolent guide to your fellow man; influence them to influence themselves; become someone who creates a desire in others to become a better person and a complete part of the society in which we all live.
 
Code Fourteen: Conduct yourself with the highest morality and personal values necessary to influence others to follow the path of civility; kindness to others. To provide others with good example of morals, proper conduct, and the type of courtesy that leaves a favorable impression is a great achievement.

Code Fifteen: To conduct one's life with ideals of both truth and honesty is the highest achievement of a bushi warrior or a solid citizen of society.

Code Sixteen: Loyalty to self, loyalty to the group, loyalty to society is a hallmark of a true citizen who contributes to the betterment of society. This is not blind but with a true heart in creating a bond among each of us that transcends the ego and creates a feeling of belonging and benefits all.

Code Seventeen: Make it your goal to achieve within yourself humility, respect, righteousness, trust, loyalty, will, endurance, perseverance, patience, and courage as your standards in living. At least make a commitment to "Try" every day for your entire life.

Code Eighteen: Make it a personal goal to look within yourself with truth and honesty with the outcome of acknowledgement as to your own foibles; to make it your life's measure to achieve dominance over such foibles; to never allow them to lead you astray from the noble path you have chosen; to never allow them to create disharmony among others; make this a most important trait of your personality and try to achieve the goals of the code daily, moment by moment. Make this your presence as a personal present to yourself.

Code Nineteen: Remember tolerance at all costs. Lack of tolerance is unfair to others and opens the door to discontent, anger, and conflict. Put yourself in another's position as if what you say or do effects you and act/adjust accordingly. To remember that everyone is a person; a human being; vulnerable; sensitive and no different than ourselves before you speak or act is important; do it.

Code Twenty: Keep your balance. Study, train, and practice to achieve balance or In-yo (Yin-yang). Create the one by achieving balance. The ability to achieve balance is a cornerstone of a serene life. Balance in mind and body. To achieve emotional balance leads to life's balance and allows us to follow the way through our code reflecting on others, on society, for all our benefit.

The goal of the code is not to dictate to others our own personal perspective of what is acceptable or not to an individual or society. It is a personal code for the individual thus is provided in as a generic form as possible to fit everyone. It is a simple guide that assists others in creating a personal life to live that is conducive to creating a society that is humble and serene.

Remember "Giri" or that which is hardest to bear. It is a personal obligation that no one can require of you but you yourself. If you don't feel it then you don't have it. No one will take you to task for not assuming the obligation. No one will come down on you. You must decide for yourself that this is the path you desire most and then stick to it under all circumstances, to the end of this life. Giri, assume it or not. Your choice, choose wisely.

The Brain and All the Hoopla about Monkey and Lizard Stuff

Chiron Blog by Rory Miller provided a term I had not heard before, Triune Brain. In that light as I tend to do I did some searching on the subject that led me to a site I believe would be beneficial to all readers as it leads you to all the complexities of the brain functions that can either help or hinder our ability to apply karate or any system to self defense/protection, etc.

The site I found the most helpful in my continued understanding of how we work in society is: http://thebrain.mcgill.ca/flash/index_i.html 

It has layers much like Marc MacYoung's web site "No Nonsense Self Defense" so take your time and go through the main topics then click links to continue the journey to more knowledge.

One main point I have derived so far confirms what others with more experience than I tell us about self defense. In a nutshell it is best to enhance our instincts provided by mother nature to achieve a good solid defensive ability. If I have got it right that means "avoidance" is still the 90% rule. Taking those natural abilities that have worked so well for centuries and give it some enhancements that build on it will serve most folks better than simply learning a few techniques and then assuming they will work when needed. News flash folks, us normal folks will not apply these waza but simply fall back on the flight or fight response. Actually, freeze and face the threat then either totally freeze or run like hell or something like this, read the pages and come to your own conclusions.

What I found to be important to this site is it validated the teachings of what I have "seen and heard." It also provides some insights as to how you can enhance your training and practice so you can program how your brain constructs things and hopefully puts it into action when required.

Sparring vs. Fighting

Sparring is a mutually beneficial tool used by two persons who have established a relationship of trust where both teach/learn how to apply karate techniques derived from waza basics, kata bunkai, and ippon-kumite/drills (san-bon-kumite, etc. too).

Some refer to this in sparring as a tori-uke relationship. One gives, one takes and then they switch roles with the purpose of applying correctly martial techniques until they can be instantly applied in varying situations due to varying stimuli with no set pattern or rules. It is one of trust so that both persons as the speed and power are elevated to higher levels remains mutually beneficial with little or no injuries. The goal is to achieve a level of proficiency where it can be applied in the most realistic manner possible closest to what may be encountered in a street confrontation, physical.

This assumes that the first 90% of self protection/defense is trained in avoidance, etc. so when the 1% becomes reality the person or persons can "act" appropriately.

Fighting is not a mutually beneficial act/tool. It is singularly meant to achieve some dominance of victory of damage to another human being. There is no trust for if there were then it would not be a fight. There are several levels of physical encounters from a school yard scuffle to a all out full blown predatory attack with the sole goal of hurting you fast so they can achieve some nefarious goal such as tribal status or simply stealing your valuables.

Fighting is violence. Fighting is illegal. Fighting involves getting hurt by both participants unless it is predatory and the attacker gets you down and out so you cannot respond. Fighting has additional far reaching effects beyond the physical damage. There is psychological for the participants. There is legal issues both parties will deal with as to criminal and civil actions by the courts. There are psychological effects that all persons related to the participants that are damaging such as to family dealing with hospital bills, rehab to get past the damages, lost work, lost income, and so on ... you can see that fighting leads to a lot more than simply winning or losing.

Sparring is something that is acceptable to those parties who participate and has no goal of simple violence or dominance of others if done correctly and if taught correctly. It is a tool to achieve proficiency in actual karate techniques. It is controlled.

Fighting is something that is NOT accepted by society and those parties who participate even if willing are breaking the law for the goal is to hurt another human being, to dominate others for some unknown reason and is not taught in normal society except in a sport aspect such as boxing.

Sparring vs. Fighting can have a vague line separating the two dependent on training and practice with the instruction, good or not good, of the Sensei of the dojo. Sometimes a form of fighting is taught in lieu of the nature of trust and benefit of both parties by one or the other leaving behind the rules and spirit of sparring to gratify their own need to be stronger and dominant which is just another form of less than adequate self-esteem which in turn feeds the ego and so on. Sensei must make sure that sparring, i.e. tori-n-uke relations of trust, are never violated.

It would be assumed, traditionally, that a dojo is a tribe that has mutual goals and comes to achieve a relationship that is conducive to survival of the dojo along with a trust pact that remains morally upright, etc. It should be something that promotes the growth of the groups potential not only in the world of martial technique but also the spirit of life itself.

Such descriptions as valor, benevolence, truth - honesty, loyalty, rectitude, humility, respect, courage, patience, endurance, and will. These more esoterically driven goals must be an intricate part of training, practice and instruction to take karate past its brutal possibilities to a more martial system.

Physical Fitness and Karate Training

I occasionally give thought to this aspect of karate/karate-do. I have even gone so far as to write a post on this subject regarding physical fitness as to Sensei, Deshi, etc. but tend to delete them when I read them over before publishing to my blog site.

Often if asked directly I would say that one must be physically fit before they take karate-do or any martial system. It is most likely why I don't teach today. Most of my time in the dojo, before providing instruction and when instructing, was with military systems where most if not all were physically fit before attending and remained that way "outside" the dojo so we could focus on training and practice.

This is a difficult one if you want to run a dojo that at least breaks even if not a profit. I do know that many are successful in this while still remaining faithful to the core of their systems. Yet ...

It seems to me that most who sign up for martial arts are looking more for a means to get in shape with a system that provides more excitement than normal gym memberships. Although a lot of gyms have come up with some pretty cool ways to get in shape other than those I was exposed to as a youth, i.e. weights, free type, running, and of course high school gym classes, etc.

This next statement is made simply as an example of my dilemma when writing about this stuff as to physical fitness, it regards appearances. It may be because I have a skewed view on what it means to look physically fit, i.e. like you can actually do it and that your example is one that others would emulate/follow.

It is like that question I always pose to fellow sport fans, i.e. football. I see coaches and staff on the field leading football teams yet I also see large guts and apparent lack of physical fit persons and that view is not a person who is fit but large, the appearance and such is very evident, they are not fit. Yet, in these instances they are the experts and they are paid large sums of money because they provide teams that win and win big.

In karate, for me, when I visit a dojo I first look at the dojo itself. It reflects who runs it and its appearance and workings project to me a type of person either I would go to for training or not. Particulars are not important for we all haver our own idea's, etc. I also will look at the Sensei and his/her senior practitioners for a preview of their ways in the dojo. Then I would observe to "see" and "hear" how they act and project during a training session.

I can tell you that often I don't get past the dojo but sometimes realizing that not every one can have a dojo but must share it comes down to the Sensei and their methods and way while teaching. I can sometimes view one or two sessions and then come back sporadically to get a feel. But I am digressing so back to the point.

If I see a Sensei that I perceive as not physically fit then I am out of there. I don't judge for me simply if one is a large person they are not fit. I have been a Marine, ten years, and physically fit all my life. I am lucky to have good genes so I can remain, somewhat, slim in appearance. It is not this. You can see in the skin, facial appearances, the way they walk, their movement, etc. regardless of actual appearance to see if they are fit.

If they are not and then I see practitioners who are not or if they are then I am wondering about the disparity between the dojo Sensei and them. I have an example. I have a lot of my systems leading practitioners who created DVD's and/or VCR tapes of their teachings. Of all that I collected I have "one" that literally floored me when I viewed it the first time.

This person was respected so this is not to disparage him in any way YET when I viewed the demo's it was very apparent he should not have made the video's. His appearance and performance was deplorable. He even had one leading practitioner step in and do one kata, Kusanku no te, because there is no way in hell he could drop down to the ground and then twist, spin, up-n-down into the same position at a 180 degree turn, etc. I lost all respect for him when at one time I had a lot.

One caveat here, I don't know if he had some medical thing that caused him issues but truthfully his appearance was one of excess but then again giving a bit of doubt it might have been medical, you never know with out all the facts. Regardless, even if it was medical it should have said, "don't do the video's personally but endorse the seniors to do it for you" in lieu of going out there and projecting the system in less light than it deserved.

The second part of this is practitioners who come into it to get in shape vs. being in shape to attend. To me, karate/karate-do or any martial system, is not meant to be a physical fitness class, i.e. like karate-size (you know, like jazzer-size) classes. I have witnessed some sessions that spent so much time trying to get the participants in shape to participate in the rigors of training that training fell to the wayside.

Ok, off the soap box, who the fu^% am I to criticize this? I am merely providing a view and opinion. If I were actually out there trying to run a dojo outside the military establishment then I might find myself running karate-size classes too. I suspect if it meant food on the table ... yet, I guess that is why I have a day job and practice/train/instruct freely when I can. I just cannot bring myself to do it any other way and I guess that is my burden to bear.

Karate, martial systems, are NOT physical fitness CLASSES! They are meant to be "budo" type systems. If you want to get in shape then go to the gym and sign up for jazzer-size classes. You can get the camaraderie, the club experience, the social benefits, etc. and you don't have to sign up for expensive martial arts classes.

Oh, one last thing, yes, I hear how hard it is to find time to do both, karate and physical fitness, but guess what ... not excuses for if you want it you find time. You work out the logistics. You find the time and do it and if you find you cannot then guess what, your physical fitness and/or martial arts is not very high on your priority and maybe you should stick with the gym and the jazzer-size classes.

If I were to open a dojo right now I would spend the next six months pushing myself to the limits to be more fit than my practitioners/students and I would do what is necessary OUTSIDE the dojo to remain there till I stopped instructing. Lead by example and those who want physical fitness will find they don't really want my karate training.

A Self Defense Model - Just an Idea ...

Yes, I am not an expert on self defense yet I do want to learn more and in doing so came up with a synopsis of a "self-defense model" from reading some more on the No Nonsense Self Defense site by Marc MacYoung. Take it with a grain and see if this works for you if you wish to use it as a basic or introduction to self defense practice.

Self Defense Model

- Common Sense: use common sense to recognize and know the behaviors that will put you into conflict; use common sense and know the moral and ethical issues involved with the use of force.
- Diplomacy: can this event be resolved with other means than the physical. Can  you talk, negotiate or trick you way out of it?
- Strategy: if all else fails do you know when and where to hit to end it quickly and effectively? Is it justifiable use of force?
- Tactical: do you instruct as to the physical application of hitting powerfully and effectively.

Does your training program instruct/address the higher level skills necessary to avoid-deescalate-consider-manners-awareness, etc.?

Questions to pose to participants in self defense training:

1. Do you instruct participants as to what is violence?
2. Do you instruct participants as to what are the medical/mental ramifications to violent acts?
3. Do you instruct participants as to what are the legal ramifications to violence?
4. Do you instruct participants so they can recognize environmental and human conditions that indicate violence or possible violence?
5. Do you instruct participants so they can recognize the stages that lead to actual physical violence-altercations-fighting-predatory violence, etc.?
6. Do you instruct participants as to the definition of self defense?
7. Do you instruct participants as to the legal definition and requirements of self defense?
8. Do you instruct participants so they know and can apply "people skills?"
9. Do you instruct participants as to a life style self analysis regarding their possible exposure to violence, violent environments, etc.?
10. Do you instruct your participants that physical applications of self defense should be the absolute last resort?
11. Do you instruct your participants that the physical end of self defense is also the most unreliable of responses?
12. Does instruction focus more on the "options" that would prevent you from ending up in any violent situation that would require physical responses?
13. Do you instruct on those behaviors, the participants behaviors, that lead to violence, i.e. will result in your escalating it vs. deescalating it?
14. Do you instruct on the difference between self defense and fighting?
15. Do you instruct that it is not a matter of winning or losing but two persons who will both be arrested and if you are the winner you will be arrested?
16. Do you instruct the participants that involvement in any violence will have life long effects, both physical but mostly psychological?
17. Do you instruct the participants that in reality "most people" cannot apply effective self defense techniques in a crises?
18. Do you instruct the participants that the adrenaline dump caused in a crises can only be overcome through specific and ongoing training, it is not a matter of take a few classes and then assume it will work when needed?
19. Do you instruct the participants in the ability to communicate correctly regarding self defense with police and defending your actions in a court of law?
20. Do you instruct the participants in their responsibility for their words/actions, i.e. see manners, etc.?
21. Do you instruct the participants or at least introduce participants to the concepts of the behaviors that "lead up to" violence?
22. Do you instruct the participants as to where they can continue their research into the concepts of behaviors leading to violence? laws? psychological ramifications, etc.?
23. Do you instruct the participants that research, education, analysis, and seeking legal/expert advice/instruction, etc. is an ongoing process much like education, i.e. it is continuous for life?
24. Do you instruct the participants that is is their responsibility to seek legal advice as to Self defense before taking a self-defense program or before completing said program? Is this a requirement/prerequisite to the programs attendance/completion?
25. Do you instruct the participants as the difference between "lethal" vs. "non-lethal" force?
26. Do you instruct the participants that when prosecution occurs that "YOU BEAR the BURDON of PROOF!"
27. Do you instruct the participants that all things being correct, etc. that you as a participant in a self defense scenario can still be taken into civil court for further legal actions from your opponent?
28. Do you instruct the participants to research the self-defense laws in your state, i.e. state level, county level, city level, etc.?
29. Do you instruct the participants that they should either have an attorney on retainer or at the very least the number and name of a good attorney you can call, preferably one who specializes in criminal law or even better self-defense law?
30. Do you instruct the participants to research criminal jury instructions for their state in addition to seeking legal advice as to self-defense law?
31.  ???

As I see the way experts view self defense training is the curriculum should consist of about 90% higher level skills that will avoid violence, that 9% will deal with possible violence through verbal deescalation and finally the last 1% on the physical as a last resort. This 90-9-1 model would indicate that the program has a good understanding of self-defense and its legal and moral applications.

I  see it like this, if they cannot answer your questions and if they don't have a program that fits in the 90-9-1 model for self-defense programs then you can bet with confidence that the program is a profit oriented one because the physical is the easiest part to promote and teach in a limited time, i.e. cost-benefit of teaching/instructing the largest amount of paying customers in the shortest amount of time. Think turn-a-round.

Marc MacYoung's articles on self defense provided all the above and has links that could be critical to understanding self-defense applications. He provides one link I recently read that provided one quote I feel is important to know yet by itself should only cause you to seek out more information and expert/legal advice before you apply for a program or try to use what the program taught you regarding self-defense.

"Whatever the situation, you are expected to use force only as a last resort - that is, only when the circumstances preclude all other options." - Brandon Otto; www.useofforce.us

Read it again and again, read his site again and again for both should turn on a light for this topic. You CANNOT do enough to learn as much as you can about violence, force, fighting, and/or self-defense BEFORE you find yourself facing arrest, prosecution, and the life long effects of actions you take/took.

FINAL CAVEAT/FIRST STEP TO SD TRNG: "If in doubt, the laws themselves through the eyes of your lawyer are the surest source."

Bibilography:
MacYoung, Marc. No Nonsense Self Defense: http://www.nononsenseselfdefense.com/
MacYoung, Marc and Miller, Rory. Conflict Communications: http://www.conflictcommunications.com/index.htm
Otto, Frandon. Use of Force: http://www.useofforce.us/

Note: Any mistakes, omissions, etc. on this post are mine alone, please let me know so I can make corrections.

Mindful Practice of Martial Systems

I have alluded to practice of karate in mindfulness meditation practice to the internal mind-body in developing attentive and active awareness capability or creation of same in a trait. Now I would like to make an attempt to translate mindfulness into actual practice.

We will assume that anyone and everyone has a deep and thorough knowledge, understanding, and ability in basics/fundamentals of their respective system of practice be in karate, aikido, kendo, or calligraphy. All provide a means to develop the mind-body relationship, etc.

How many find themselves performing basic upper and lower techniques in a forward/backward/reverse line mindlessly so they get maximum effect of physical effort? Mindful practice of the basic waza, in Isshinryu systems that equates to upper and lower body basic hand/foot techniques, is performed with active mental intent. If you were practicing the basic straight or reverse punch you would want to actively think, visualize, etc. the foot moving forward in a crescent manner with an imaginary opponent so that leg/foot sweeps in and dislodges the forward leg of the opponent. The appropriate hand/arm/fist comes up to center line and places at the solar plexus while the mind sees it, the target, the imaginary opponent and then imagines it hitting target and penetrating to that vertical axis line at the center of the body. Active mindful practice of the basic straight/reverse punch with intent, etc.

If you are working kata are you mindfully present for each and every step, technique, imaginary opponent, counter techniques appropriate to the kata bunkai, basic, so it can be applied with present moment mindful practice?

If you find yourself going through the motions because you "think" you have to do it that way for it to work instinctively then I suggest a reevaluation of practice in general. This basic fundamental is necessary BEFORE you practice the tori-n-uke relationship/practice.

I am not advocating you stop the ROTE practice for the physical benefits yet if it remains primary and exclusive you will find yourself dropping into the sport set combinations of current day sparring. Use it for what it can be beneficial for in that context but to make it work in real fighting scenarios you must mindfully practice at all times.

Your mindful practice is what gives substance to karate/karate-do. It is the substance that translates meaningful and reality based practice into combative self protection methods that can and do work.

Scanning: More than for danger ...

I have posted on this as to the awareness one might want to train for and practice so they can "avoid" bad situations and encounters. Awareness is something a karate-ka or anyone desiring to avoid physical altercations, attacks, etc. but what I would pose to you now is that this type of awareness works both ways.

I ride the BART train to and from work. Although relatively safe it is prudent that a person remain aware of their surroundings. Not to be on high alert but to be mindful of your surroundings so if something unique or unusual occurs you can notice it and if necessary avoid it. Your early warning system, i.e. EWS.

Now, as I said I ride BART and am mindful of my surroundings but in such a manner that anything our of the ordinary or unusual triggers my focus. It works for bad situations and for good. Today, I was being mindful of things and scanning the train car, the door and the platform when I noticed the woman who sat two seats down and across from me suddenly started to pat her pockets, front, back, and looked in her purse. I noticed, I immediately looked at her seat and also caught notice of her ticket packet sitting there. I jumped up as she turned to return to the train in hopes of beating the conductors door closing which can be pretty quick. I went over, grabbed her ticket pack and just as the doors started to close stuck my hand out, she grabbed her ticket pack and smiled while my hand got in ahead of the door closing, totally cool.

Acts like this can also be a result of your training in being aware; focusing on what happens in your vicinity; remaining present and mindful of all that goes on in your world. With proper training and practice you will start to notice things normally you don't. You will start to see things that normally would be missed. Most important you will, if you trained, practiced, and attained the knowledge, see those things that will trigger your intuition so you can "act" and "avoid" but also "act" and "help" even in the more innocuous ways.

Another point that may have occurred to you, your scanning; your focus; your awareness training and practice can also be utilized for a more personal benefit. This is more for the guys here, but if you were doing this also regarding your significant other; paying attentive mindfulness of them and so on you may see and notice things that will be beneficial to that relationship, yes? No? Maybe?

You Never Know

Just a note, you truly never know where you will find some fact that is relevant to what ever it is you are doing, etc. Today, reading a sort of biography I came across a reference to karate and kung-fu.

"Karate and kung fu, incidentally, were relatively unknown in this country before World War II and the Korean War. At that time many G.I.'s learned something of the martial arts and brought them home. ... Unfortunately many of the Oriental masters kept their secrets to themselves or for special students, and if one died, his knowledge might be lost forever." - Louis L'Amour, Education of a Wandering Man.

Go figure, cool tho! Mr. L'Amour was big on education and reading, reading, reading so just goes to show there is tons of data out there if you work hard and diligently seeking it.

Sports Model

The "Kowakan" blog spoke of the idea Americans have toward "traveling and studying karate-do in Japan." It seems that Americans, generalization where I do know this is not literally a blanket toward all practitioners, tend to think that to really be good at karate-do you have to study under Asian masters in Japan, i.e. truthfully for karate it would be more accurate to say Okinawa."

Personally, for my view only, there are few in the entire world capable of and knowledgeable/proficient enough to teach/instruct martial combat forms of karate. I not only include Japan but Okinawa, the birth place of karate. I firmly believe except in rare cases the combative aspects of karate were removed long, long ago when in the late 1800's and early 1900's the karate aficionados pushed hard to put it, the watered down version, into public schools. I further believe due to the demand for the competitive aspects it was also, around that same time span, converted to "the sports model" of karate.

I would go a bit further to say that the "Do or Way" of a martial system was incorporated in the late 1950's and on to fill in for the lack of substance many military took with them after the short duration of practice and training received during, mostly, a single tour of duty on Okinawa and/or Japan.

I don't mean to denigrate/degrade what we have today for it serves a purpose. After all, all bottles are good for they all serve a purpose so the sport model does just that but the fog rolls in as to what people believe vs. what is reality, etc.

I would then surmise that in America the karate world is comprised almost exclusively of the sports model of training and practice. Lets use the 90-9-1 model, i.e. 90% are of the sports model, 9% are of the "club" model, and 1% are actual budo modeled dojo.


Note: I really like this model analogy percent thing, really helps express things.

Bibliography:
McKenna, Mario Sensei. Kowakan Blog Post, "So you want to move to Japan." http://www.kowakan.com/?p=1015

Instruct/Practice Self Defense? Read this site!

Mr. Brandon Otto's Use of Force site at www.useofforce.us ... awesome information!

Internal Mindfulness Awareness

"You must let the mindfulness awareness fill you and reveal to you the truth in your own life. You must let them be laid bare, exposed for what they are, and confronted. they will be harsh, some of them. They will be difficult to face. We are creatures who constantly reinvent ourselves and our lives in order to survive the mistakes we have made and the failings we have exposed." - Terry Brooks

A person of good character, of morals, of balanced values, of integrity, and of honor is what we all aspire to as karate-ka. It is a brutal system of fighting that must be tempered with such qualities in order to use it for good, the benefit of self and others. So goes the underlying belief of martial systems. The holder of such knowledge stands upon the edge of a sharp sword, say a katana. On one side is the inherent good of humans and on the other the possible evil of man.

In order to achieve these aspirations one must first look to themselves, within, the true person within each of us. This may be the most difficult cultivation a karate-ka, a person, can accomplish for to do this means a person has to leave any comfort zones and open to both the good and the not so good of human nature.

As we can see in the quote, a person who practices mindfulness, the active awareness of the mind-body, must expose who and what they are and get past the facade we all build for survival sake. Survival in the world of man and the survival in the psychological emotional world.

Look at it as a mental training process that helps one to build upon the character they already posses, to take it to a level few can reach. It may be that the time for this practice has not been reached, it may mean years of practice and training to understand and know when you can actually "see" and "hear" all that resides within us.

Label them, remove the stories attached, let them be felt and know that the emotions triggered in the process are transient, they will go away, all things go away and the cycles are Yin-n-Yang, never ending and character building.

When I read, "We are creatures who constantly reinvent ourselves and our lives in order to survive the mistakes we have made and the failings we have exposed," I find that I too have my comfort zones and when they are exposed, directly or inadvertently, I am amazed at the emotional adrenaline dump crossing the monkey brain shuffle with anxieties, etc., they cause me even today.

Through this process I have identified those survival instincts I created as a youngster to survive that are no longer valid for today's world and my age now. You get caught in these habitual reactions to stimuli that if you are actively aware of them and their effects on the body you realize that this is something you can shed, be rid of, expose for what it is and make it go away. It works, its hard, but, it works!

We are all the same, fundamentally, and that reflects in nature so we can see it and then internalize it. The emotions cycle through our lives much the same as the Earth, Sun, and Moon cycle in and out of our immediate perceptions. Those laid bare habits and truths of ourselves can be either difficult or hard on us or they are easy or soft on our psyches.

If we ignore them they can unbalance our lives to where the negative effects turn our minds and bodies into hurtful, painful and sometimes disease infected. We must find these internal habits, traits, emotions, and such so that our lives, mind-body, achieve equilibrium, balance is the key, to control both sides of the emotional ride so it remains relatively smooth.

Our bodies have the great ability to change. The type of change be it beneficial or detrimental is up to us and we can take some semblance of control to achieve health and well being. We can achieve change of direction through the mind-body present moment mindfulness.

The time a karate-ka must seek this training of the mind-body in dependent on when the opportunity presents itself to each unique individual for it may not be now yet it may suddenly light the candle as they progress. We as Sensei can set the signpost but they must read and decide to follow it.

It is also a means to develop a personal ability to see and hear those things both obvious and those not easily perceived, hidden, waiting deep inside to rise and disrupt or benefit. To be totally aware of them is a way to allow them less control over our lives.

You may now be saying to yourself what the "*&^%" does this have to do with karate/karate-do. Application of any fighting system efficiently and correctly and proficiently requires the person have the correctness to use if for the benefit of self, others, and society. To know your inner self completely and with out shadows, curtains, and buried stuff allows for clarity of action with complete ability to apply it properly and within the expectations of our tribes, society.

Ode to the Ken-po Goku-i

A person's heart likened to the glow of the heavens as they shine upon the earth.
Blood flows along the path lit by the glow of crescent moon seeking the illuminate of sun soon rising.

The manner of man living hard lives made easy from effort of self.
Maintaining the balance of nature same as earth's rocks on the plain solidly adhered to Earth.

Bodies watched from mindful awareness.
Finding time to achieve its internal best.

Eyes seeing all that is there, that is not.
Hearing the heart beat, feeling the flow of energy, expanding within to without.

Enlightened active awareness universally exposed to those seeking the path.
It merely waits for a seeker, a sage, a person of desire.

Judging the Systems

When we read or manage the hear the stories about the masters, factual stories and not the dramatized stuff, we have a natural tendency to assess them by our standards of the current day in lieu of actually trying to "see" them from their time and standards and customs of that time. This could be why so much has gone missing in today martial systems.

In one splinter group of Isshinryu they strongly pursue, and suggest others do the same, knowledge of Okinawan history, customs, courtesies, and beliefs so we might understand those Masters who provided us the systems we practice today. 

No one can  relate to those days well enough to achieve "filling in the holes" of the systems practiced today. I spend time researching and studying what I hope is materials from their time and their views and their customs yet have to be careful because I know there are flaws in the process.

When we judge anything, today or yesterdays, we will naturally rely on what we know as to our experiences and knowledge yet to actually understand the times of the materials may require additional research, reading, materials on those persons, i.e. in the case of karate-do the Okinawans. Sadly there is little written of any notable validated historical facts. It is mostly word of mouth conjecture which also is influenced by the translators and educators.

Even today's Okinawan masters are influenced in this way. Although the best and brightest Masters of Okinawan martial systems have the knowledge of Okinawan Karate it is still subjective [there is always the danger of making a subjective judgment].

Education: Instruction of Karate-do

I am reading a book that was recommended by another person in their book, Marc MacYoung, and that book is like a bit of a biography of sorts for an author most at least know by the name, Louis L'Amour. The book, "Education of a Wandering Man." I am barely three pages into it and have read two quotes that speak to me.

One quote is now on my blog pages and you can read it above. The second, "Education should provide the tools for a widening and deepening of life, for increased appreciation of all one sees or experiences. It should equip a person to live life well, to understand what is happening about him, for to live life well one must live with awareness. ...  education should: provide students with the tools for learning, acquaint them with methods of study and research, methods of pursuing an idea. ... "

I am getting at the point that even in the small practice of karate-do, any martial system for that matter, is like this where the foundation of learning is set long before one joins a dojo and a Sensei must be able to perceive that level of educational awareness so they can gear instruction of the individual accordingly.

Sensei and Deshi [instructor and practitioner] should both find a foundation built on the standards proposed so eloquently by Mr. L'Amour to allow us to take our instruction and learning upon our own shoulders.

We as practitioners shall not rely on Sensei to learn but to merely provide us signposts in guiding us along the path. We as instructors shall always remember that it is our duty and honor to set signposts in the path followed so those who might follow can see and hear how to proceed in their own way and in relation to their needs and abilities.

I feel that Mr. L'Amour's first quote at the top of this blog says it for me that his idea provided me the slant I could provide relating this to our practice and training so that makes him a true friend to me for to inspire me is the kind of gift that is priceless, such a value way beyond rank, trophies, money, fame, etc.

Me, I read, lots and lots. I barely remember my start with books yet I can remember early on my desire to read, read, read. I will say that today many of my accomplishments began with research and reading [ voraciously reading ], but the caveat was it has to works; when you take the reading to reality, you make it work in life. It can be directly or indirectly.

This amounts to what I see karate-do is meant to do. Educate the practitioner so they have the basics and fundamentals then apply them in life so you can gain true eduction/knowledge of the personal type.

Ippon Kumite: Training Tool

My Sincerest Thanks: Inspired by the post written by Sue C., appreciate the idea Sue!

Ippon literally means "one point." Then it is connected to other Japanese terms to provide greater meaning, i.e.

Ippon-ken: one-fist, Ippon-kowashi-no-waza: one technique to destroy, Ippon-nukite: one figher spear hand, and then finally Ippon-kumite which means to me a "one point sparring" process or technique.

To me ippon-kumite is just a level or step in the process to train a practitioner to apply a karate technique, not sport fighting, against another pre-defined technique. Both parties are restricted to either applying or countering one set of applicable techniques. This is a drill format training tool. Since ippon kumite in my system of instruction does not occur until all the fundamentals are ingrained and at least "one" kata is thoroughly covered one does not do kumite of any kind.

In my system of instruction the drills or ippon-kumite level is derived from the kata bunkai (see next for my view/definition of bunkai). This is not always true in other dojo to include other dojo that teach the same system as I do. Some actually have separate ippon-kumite, or drills, that are created from fighting techniques. These fighting techniques are those best used for tournament/sparring/competitive/sport derived applications. I believe Tatsuo Sensei as well as most of the Americans who brought it to the United States developed.

When you consider the short duration and the predominance of promotions that came from Tatsuo for their participation and achievements in "contests" which are tournament/sport oriented you see why they split from kata bunkai to a separate and unique form of instruction and practice.

Ippon-kumite is merely a tool that introduces the practitioners to fighting techniques and helps develop and train in the gross or broad strokes so proper form, stance, posture, weight transfer, power generation, etc. can be taught, trained, practiced and applied in a relatively reality based trainable fighting system.

Too many karate-ka who were exposed to the shortened versions of this tool ended up dropping the kata bunkai for sport fighting techniques and combinations that would get points quickly and achieve recognition and promotions for the trophies won, etc.

In my system of instruction I have tried to keep the kata bunkai, the foundation of techniques for the system as I see and believe it to be, tied to the actual fighting training tools that provide the foundation to applying true karate techniques to fighting, i.e. defensive applications in a combative non-regulated non-sport oriented endeavor.

Once a practitioner achieves a level of proficiency in ippon-kumite then they will move to san-bon-kumite, gohon-kumite, shiai-kumite and finally jiyu-kumite with levels and graduations of levels in and between each of these kumite/drills. The idea is not to find patterns and habits but to achieve a level of proficiency with an end result of each individual taking it beyond the drill/pattern/form level into a unique level where the person can achieve results spontaneously and according to such things as range, application of proper technique, power, and so on. Since fighting is fluid, chaotic and dangerous one must have a foundation that can be morphed and connected and molded on the fly which is extremely difficult. Ergo, why drills with combo's for sport are so quick and more easily achieved, no real effort.

Ippon-kumite at the base level is slow and deliberate enough with mutually beneficial relationships between uke-n-=tori that allows one to "see," "hear," and "feel" how it all works and connects so the brain/mind can learn and file it for retrieval when needed later, etc. Each kumite/drill adds, changes, and increases the level of difficulty. It is not set it stone either.

Each of these can be moved up in intensity as well as a more chaotic application. If you have a variety of one-step sparring techniques after learning them in order and correctly you can start to mix and match, set the drills and follow them, with a final application where tori-n-uke are free to pick and choose what they wish to apply in a one-step fashion to achieve spontaneity of a sort.

A common mistake made when practicing ippon-kumite is the tendency to remain movement in one path only, the path forward and the path backward. It must be practiced this way as a basic, an introduction to ippon-kumite, yet to achieve proficiency one must remember that there are many directions. In the ken-po goku-i it is taught that the body should be able to change direction at any time. This is true and we have many directions with only eight primary to start with and lets not forget that we also must move out of a more linear fashion and include circular movement.

This model goes to the other forms of kumite, i.e. sanbon-kumite, etc. Pay attention to your clear and exclusion zones as well. What I mean by this is that many tend to start ippon-kumite in a set stance, at a range that is within attack distance, i.e. exclusion zone, but to truly use this tool to its fullest you should always begin ippon-kumite outside of range then as the uke moves into range you as tori "move." That movement starts forward or backward yet as you progress it must take on a direction related to the techniques being practiced.

Lastly, as a reminder, all this cannot occur correctly nor be adequately assimilated into the instinctual part of the mind unless the practitioner has thoroughly learned and achieved proficiency in the fundamentals for it is the fundamentals that support the system.

Attitude vs. Cockiness

When I think of attitude I think of a mindset and that mindset affects our bodies, i.e. the type of body language we project every moment in our lives. It will translate to the type of body language that projects your internal attitude in your face and in the bodies pose.

Just think of the military. They train military to assume a positive and strong body position/pose that projects strength and depending on the service training it can project the type of attitude and body language that instills fear into the enemy. Military start with the position of attention. Stand up straight so the body looks bigger and stronger, i.e. posturing in a monkey dance conflict where one puffs up the chest, etc. Put the hands and thumb along the pants seam, head erect, spine rigid, etc. etc. you get it right.

Then think of marching and the unit marches in unison, i.e. team development. Ever hear a Marine Silent Drill team, the sound of the weapons hitting the deck and the hands slapping in unison as if one hand, one weapon, etc. The sound in combat of a team of military can be daunting. Just picture in your mind ancient greek/roman soldiers with fierce facial features, shields up, spears facing toward you, the singular and very thunderous thud of the phalanx stepping toward you step-by-step; fearsome and daunting.

In a much less aggressive pose a person can project a type of attitude that says to others, "I am not a victim, pick someone else," where nefarious folks will seek out someone easier to rob or fight. How you look at someone in the street, how your body assumes a posture/pose, all of it can promote the type of defense that says, find another victim dude!

How many times have you watched someone enter a room and immediately feel like they are strong and capable and you know almost instinctively you don't mess with this person? You will see, if you attain the knowledge, etc., that they have a certain attitude expressed in mannerisms, body pose, posture, and the way they move. Much like a dancer, most people can see in their movement they are dancers, watch one and see what I mean.

Karate or any martial system if fundamentals are taught adequately and completely will provide you those traits. Much like military training and practice but less intense will achieve those results. The big point here is that although the martial systems will teach this you have to have the stuff to back it up if you are challenged, i.e. a person either cannot see your attitude of leave me alone and find another victim and approaches you where avoidance, deescalation, manners, etc. don't turn the tide away from physical altercation so your mental intent must be correct in what you practice and how you apply that practice and training.

It comes down to attitude with backup and just plain ole misguided cocky ego driven pride. Both will project attitude but only one will truly give you the tools to avoid, etc. physical altercations be it self defense or just plain ole fighting.

It should be noted that attitude be it one of strength and confidence or that cocky prideful ego driven monkey a person can either avoid trouble or draw that trouble to them like a magnet. Even in a verbal altercation what you say, now you say it and how that might "diss" the other persons personal or tribal system can get you clobbered or leave it in a amicable and mutually beneficial way.

Look at it one more way, cocky is when someone is entering a dangerous environment/situation and simply says, "I am a professional MMA fighter and this is nothing to me," and then continues as if the world should fear them or we can look at it another way, proper attitude of strength and confidence where you may be entering a dangerous environment/situation and simply say, "Uh oh, better turn around and get the flock out of here."

Remember that one of true strength and confidence does not allow themselves to "have to prove it" and moves on while the ego-pride-cocky one does what they do cause they lack self awareness and strength and confidence in themselves. Remember ...

Keep Active Awareness "Frosty!"

Ever notice the first time you see a really cool car and suddenly you see them all over the place when before you never gave them a second look? Yea, like the "Smart" car, now every time one reaches my perception I exclaim, "There goes a smarty car, cool!' Can you tell I like those new cars but to the point Charles.

In karate, because most karate-ka do not live or experience danger zones all that much, one must continually re-start their awareness of their space or environment. It makes it frosty so you don't let important knowledge and the resulting instinctual warning system, EWS or Early Warning System, that tells you to turn around and go the other way to "avoid" danger or dangerous situations.

It is called training and even those who work and live the life of a sheep dog, metaphor from a book, you have to remind your mind/brain of those indicators that tell you to run, don't walk.

I call this "keeping it frosty" but direct it to awareness. You can also say that is what you need to do for training and practice to be effective as well but the first line of defense is EWS.

Physical Injury vs. Ego-prideful Injury

I was once told or I read somewhere if you cannot take a picture of it, it ain't a defendable position if you hurt the other guy. What I am saying is that I understand and believe that if your ego or pride are hurt and you clock the guy, your attacking him and fighting so you are going to jail.

Even the monkey dance, fighting in school yards, etc., usually the fight escalates due to some prideful damaging remark or someone's ego overrunning their logic but guess what? It cannot be photographed so it ain't truly a damage or an attack that would stand up in court.

Me, I identify my emotion if possible. By identifying it and then saying, can I take a picture of it? Can it or does it result is hospital time and doctors bills? If I can say no to these and readily identify it as emotion, pride or ego then I live with it and move on cause if I clean someones clock for some non-photographic injury I are in trouble.

It is a good way to deescalate yourself first so you can deescalate the other guy. Identify when your emotions, pride and ego are involved. Get some space between it and your actions and then let it go, the emotions-pride-ego, and work on that deescalation to avoid physical altercation which can be photographed if you let it happen. The photo will be the mug shot for the prosecutor when he/she charges you BOTH.

Remember being "dissed" does not remain disfiguring and I will bet that if you are mature it won't really cause you the type of damage that will affect your life drastically. Ok, maybe your feelings might be hurt but who gives a shit.

California Reasonable Person: Ca Objective Standard in Self Defense

CAVEAT: "I am not a lawyer or attorney or a judge or a prosecutor or  a police person so this is just my thoughts and mine alone."

Often I am reading or hearing about how one can use karate for self defense so I did a bit of research where I came across "Objective Standard" which calls for the Jury to be instructed to view the occurrence in question through the eyes of the "ordinary man." In other words, jurors must compare the defendant's acts with the acts of a hypothetical "reasonable person" under the same or similar circumstances.

A reasonable person objective is to denote a hypothetical person in society who exercises average care, skill, and judgment in conduct, etc. It represents a standard which a jury will use, as instructed by the court, to measure the conduct of an individual to determine if self defense is applicable.

I am not a lawyer or attorney or a judge or a prosecutor or  a police person so this is just my thoughts and mine alone. I believe that if you are a karate-ka of any experience that a reasonable person will not view you or your actions in the same light as a normal person with no apparent skills of fighting or combat or defensive nature.

This is what California would use if they feel you warrant prosecution and I suspect that in most cases if they didn't feel it you would not be facing it and they believe their chances of conviction are pretty darn good.

I can envision how they will use MMA clips and other common ads on karate and martial systems to promote the brutality resulting from its practice and use. I feel that the normal and reasonable person would see it much like the movies depictions as violent and brutal and intended for combative stuff and not self defense.

I guess it is just lucky that 90% of us will never have to encounter violence, use karate to defend ourselves and then find we stepped across the line between defense and confrontational/aggressive/fighting.

I recently commented on karate being a self defense art where I tried to convey that it is not taught today as a self defense form but rather a "fighting" form or system. The title self defense in most cases is more a feel good about what your doing that is violent and brutal and call it self defense cause you ain't never going to have to use it in real life so why bother with semantics, etc.

I failed to express that is most dojo I have witnessed, participated in, etc. the Sensei promotes a very aggressive response vs. teaching the appropriate response  that reaches a "must stop now" point to remain within the definition of self defense in the local in which you live.

I taught karate. I taught what I believed at the time was self defense or self defense techniques. I had no clue what real violence was or how one would defend against it and violent persons. I understand although not consciously that what I taught was combative and fighting but self defense, NOT. I thank God that no one I taught had to actually use it for defense cause I suspect they would have ended up in jail along side the other person.

A reasonable person definition will also be different for each jury, each juror and each case in court. I suspect because of the ambiquety of the law that there is no one definitive definition that will suffice. In the end, each time, it comes down to the unique aspect and experience of the juror and hopefully they are not of a nature where any violence to them is "wrong" for that might put someone in a position where they were defending but suffered a rendering of guilty because the reasonable person on the jury says, "no excuses, you hurt that person unreasonably."

I suspect prosecutors count on that aspect to get convictions which are politically a good thing for them, at a cost they can live with yet ... you ... not sure about that one.