part0008

From the moment a prospective student walks into a karate (or commonly referred to as karate-do ( 空手道 ) by traditionalist) dojo ( 道場 ) , he or she will witness the crisp snapping sound coming from the do-gi ( 道着 ) as students execute powerful techniques with their arms and legs. The instructor paces the floor and commands the class to have more “Budo ( 武道 ) spirit” and be fearless like a samurai warrior. All the students respond by grunting out loud, “Ousu ( 押忍 ) ” and proceed to spar with their partners as if the other person had committed a nefarious crime against them. When the class ends, all the students line up then kneel in an orderly manner, reminiscent of a military school. As sweat pours down profusely drenching their do-gi ( 道着 ) , the students are commanded to remain calm and meditate. The loud cries of “kiai ( 気合 ) ” and the violent rage that was displayed earlier had now turned into a moment of quiet solitude. For many of the students, the feeling after the end of class is one of exuberance, especially after having totally exhausted their energy on the dojo floor. This is the dichotomy of learning traditional karate that is supposed to assuage the practitioner from stress by learning how to fight.

For the inquisitive layman, it may pique their curiosity as to what would compel people to train in such a seemingly violent manner and feel sanguine afterwards. But in general, the majority of the public these days would think, why would anyone, subject themselves to such an arduous training, for the sake of exercise or self-defense? Certainly, there are easier ways to exercise and enjoy doing it, like yoga, biking, dancing, or any other types of recreational activity with no contact. And if you wanted to defend yourself, it would be much simpler to learn how to shoot a gun instead of having to train for years.

It is indeed difficult for anyone who has not experienced karate to understand the reasons why anyone would subject themselves to such grueling sessions. The misconceptions about karate has led neophytes to stray from the art, believing it to be either too violent or potentially harmful to their own bodies. The depth of understanding is lacking not only amongst the general public, but also with the modern practitioners as to the full benefits of karate training. The intrinsic values of practicing karate, i.e. self-discipline, self-confidence, self-defense, etc. is known even to those who have never trained. But the values instilled in the practitioner, after years of training goes beyond the obvious and resides within the depths of truly understanding the art.

Modern karate, which has become competition centric, has only displayed a shallow view of karate and fails in educating the students about the benefit of training for life. The impending introduction of karate into the Olympics in Japan by 2020, conceivable could further dilute the traditional values of the art. As karate-ka become more consumed with training for competition, the original ideals of the movements are no longer understood and randomly discarded. More disconcerting than the technical issues is the lack of development in the moral values of the practitioner. The significance of educating the karate-ka about the budo ( 武道 ) aspect of the art is vital towards benefiting the practitioner beyond the finite competition time line.

Countless number of books have been written on the subject of karate, ranging in topics from technical, philosophical, spiritual, historical, to a myriad of related subject matters. Many karate experts have even written entertaining accounts of their training with valuable insights into what it takes to become a master in this art. All these books certainly have merit with no doubt a positive spin on karate as an art that benefits the practitioner. However, the underlying philosophy, culture and tradition associated with the art, which can be applied in one’s daily life is lacking in modern training. The dissonance being displayed by various karate organizations reaffirms the lack of understanding and application of the philosophical aspect of the art. Emphasis is placed more on technical proficiency rather than actual human character development.

As martial artists, techniques and proper responses are refined on a regular basis, in preparation for that unexpected attack from unknown assailants. Different self-defense application scenarios and sparring drills are repeated numerous times in class. Chances are the majority of the practitioners will never have to use these self-defense skills against anyone in their lifetime. And if by some unfortunate circumstance, should physical response become the last course of action, such encounters are rare in comparison to the multitude of confrontational fights we face on a regular basis. Think about the number of times you had to resort to physically fighting someone at work, at school, at home, or even out in public. Unless you are in a war zone, hopefully the encounters are exceedingly rare. Now think about the number of times you had to confront someone to resolve an issue, an argument, or verbal dispute between neighbors, co-workers, strangers, or even friends. While learning how to defend against attackers is essential to the study of karate, if the focus is solely on perfecting the physical techniques, we have missed the true essence of the art. Many karate students fall victim to the one-dimensional training and either ignore or misunderstand the significance of learning karate to improve the individual as a whole and gain essential knowledge.

The type of knowledge karate-ka obtains is not limited to only physical skills but also intellectual. “Knowledge is Power,” is often quoted to imply the obtainment of information gives one power. While the accumulation of knowledge can lead to possession of power, it can be argued that without having the ability to apply the knowledge there is no power. Albert Einstein conceived the theory of E=mc2 , but it was not until Robert Oppenheimer and his team developed a device based on this mathematical equation that this knowledge about energy became the most powerful weapon known to mankind. Ironically, the power of the atomic bomb brought about both mass destruction and peace.

Karate students also possess power in their techniques, which can be used to harm others or bring about a peaceful resolution without use of violence. The technical knowledge that karate-ka possesses is the ability to effectively disable, maim, or even kill someone. Karate-ka’s technical knowledge and skill could be perceived as being used for derisive purpose, rather than for self-protection, if there is no balance in understanding of the philosophical meanings behind the art. Thus, it is important to be guided by a sensei who understands technical prowess and the moral implications of the use of karate for the betterment of oneself and society. Since the sensei is the ultimate authority in the karate dojo, his or her directions are followed implicitly by the students. If such knowledge is not applied properly, the power the students and instructors possess can have a negative image on the art. Hence, the importance of perfecting the character of its participants toward something that is constructive and beneficial to not only the students and instructors, but also anyone that the karate-ka interacts with.

One of the most virtuous traits to be gained by practicing karate is promoted as – perfecting one’s character. In fact one of the famous precepts in karate is a saying from Funakoshi Gichin (considered by many to be the Founder of modern Karate-do), “The ultimate aim of karate-do ( 空手道 ) lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of character in its participants.” But how and whether this virtuous trait can be achieved is not always clear to even senior students in the art. The expectation is that after years of austere training, the karate-ka’s character suddenly improves, as if by osmosis, which does not always occur. With emphasis on repetition and strong spirit, it is easy for students to gravitate towards seeking perfection of technique, and not necessarily perfection of character. As a result, some karate-ka, even senior level, do not always display the desired character that the forefathers of karate-do ( 空手道 ) initially intended.

Character building is not unique only to karate or martial arts. Youth at various school levels are encouraged to participate in sports activities, such as football, basketball, soccer, track and field, etc., specifically for those reasons, to better themselves and improve their character. Although not always openly publicized, sports activities also involve training the body and mind. So, what then differentiates karate’s value as an art from mainstream sports activities? Is the art so esoteric that only the few seasoned practitioners can appreciate the beauty of the art beyond the obvious? If karate is practiced strictly for the sake of competition, then there is no difference between karate and any other sports.

Sports in general has finality for the participant with the maximum physical potential being reached at a much earlier stage in life. What sets karate apart from sports is the long-term pursuit of maximizing one’s potential; mentally, physically, and spiritually. But more importantly it is about the application of the art in life.

The perception of karate-do should not be limited only to the observation of repetitive training and the display of karate-ka attempting to throw punches and kicks against each other. Understanding the correlation between what transpires in the dojo to developing an individual of good character is essential for preserving the purity of karate as an art to be practiced as a way of life. Of course, one cannot possibly gain true insight into the art by simply reading books, but if it serves the purpose of initiating a better understanding, it would have succeeded in leading the prospective and existing students towards the right path of discovery. Ultimately true appreciation and understanding comes from the act of doing, not just by seeing or hearing, as noted by this sage Chinese proverb.

It is my hope that after reading this book, the public will have a better appreciation for the art of karate-do from a broader perspective, rather than just about self-defense and competition. And for the veteran students of the art to realize that karate-do is not a one-dimensional art focusing strictly on refining techniques, but the importance of wanting to shape one’s character through training that will enrich their lives. For those teaching the art, it is essential that the proper message is conveyed in order to proliferate good students for the betterment of society. But in order to do so requires teaching students about the true value of karate-do beyond techniques, which consists of the philosophy, culture, and tradition associated with the art, and how they can be applied in one’s daily life.