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Short History
In
Okinawa, a miraculous and mysterious martial art has come down to us from
the past. It is said that one who masters its techniques can defend himself
readily without resort to weapons and can perform remarkable feats: the
breaking of several thick boards with his fist or ceiling panels of a room
with a kick. With his shuto ("sword hand") he can kill a bull with a single
stroke; he can pierce the flank of a horse with his open hand; he can cross
a room grasping the beams of the ceiling with his fingers, crush a green
bamboo stalk with his bare hand, shear a hemp rope with a twist, or gouge
soft rock with his hands.
Some
consider these aspects of this miraculous and mysterious martial art to be
the essence of Karate-do. But such feats are a small part of karate, playing
a role analogous to the straw-cutting test of kendo [Japanese fencing], and
it is erroneous to think that there is no more to Karate-do than this. In
fact, true Karate-do places weight upon spiritual rather than physical
matters, as we shall discuss. True Karate-do is this: that in daily life,
one's mind and body be trained and developed in a spirit of humility; and
that in critical times, one be devoted utterly to the cause of justice.
KARA AND KARA
Karate-do
is a martial art peculiar to Okinawa in its origins. Although it has in the
past tended to be confused with Chinese boxing because of the use of the
Chinese "Kara" character in its earlier name, in fact for the past thousand
years, the study and practice of masters and experts, through which it was
nurtured and perfected and formed into the unified martial art that it is
today, took place in Okinawa. It is, therefore, not a distortion to
represent it as an Okinawan martial art.
One may ask why the
Chinese "Kara" character has been retained for so long. As I discuss in the
section "The Development of Karate-do," I believe that at the time the
influence of Chinese culture was at its peak in Japan, many experts in the
martial arts traveled to China to practice Chinese boxing. With their new
knowledge, they altered the existing martial art, called Okinawa-te, weeding
out its bad points and adding good points to it, thus working it into an
elegant art. It may be speculated that they considered "Kara" (with the
Chinese character) an appropriate new name. Since, even in contemporary
Japan, there are many people who are impressed by anything that is foreign,
it is not difficult to imagine the high regard for anything Chinese that
prevailed during that period in Okinawa. Even at the time of the present
writer's youth, lack of a full set of Chinese furniture and furnishings in
one's home was a serious impediment to the social influence of any leading
family. With this background, the reason for the choice of the Chinese
"Kara" character, meaning "Chinese," as a simple case of exoticism is
apparent.
Following tradition,
the writer has in the past continued to use the Chinese character. However,
because of the frequent confusion with Chinese boxing, and the fact that the
Okinawan martial art may now be considered a Japanese martial art, it is
inappropriate, and in a sense degrading, to continue use of the old "Kara"
in the name. For this reason, in spite of many protests, we have abandoned
the use of it to replace it with the new character KARA.
THE
MEANING OF KARA
The first connotation of
Kara indicates that karate is a technique that permits one to defend himself
with his bare hands and fists without weapons.
Second, just as it is the
clear mirror that reflects without distortion, or the quiet valley that
echoes a sound, so must one who would study Karate-do purge himself of
selfish and evil thoughts, for only with a clear mind and conscience can he
understand that which he receives. This is another meaning of the element
Kara in Karate-do.
Next, he who would
study Karate-do must always strive to be inwardly humble and outwardly
gentle. However, once he has decided to stand up for the cause of justice,
then he must have the courage expressed in the saying, "Even if it must be
ten million foes, I go!" Thus, he is like the green bamboo stalk: hollow
(Kara) inside, straight, and with knots, that is, unselfish, gentle, and
moderate. This meaning is also contained in the element Kara of Karate-do.
Finally, in a
fundamental way, the form of the universe is emptiness (Kara), and, thus,
emptiness is form itself. There are many kinds of martial arts, judo, kendo,
sojitsu ("spear techniques"), bojitsu ("stick techniques"), and others, but
at a fundamental level all these arts rest on the same basis as Karate-do.
It is no exaggeration to say that the original sense of Karate-do is at one
with the basis of all martial arts. Form is emptiness, emptiness is form
itself. The Kara of Karate-do has this meaning.
MUSHIN
"No Mind."
The state of being that allows freedom and
flexibility to react and adapt to a given situation
Shotokan katas come from two different schools of karate,
Shorin-ryu and Shorei-ryu.
Shorin-ryu katas: (speed katas)
characterized by rapid movements and are light and quick.
Katas include all Tekki katas plus Jutte, Hangetsu and Jion.
Shorei-ryu katas: (power katas)
emphasize physical strength, power and forcefulness. Katas
include all Heian and Bassai katas, and Empi.
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