My personal "Interpretive" Lens!
"One thing has always been true: That book ... or ... that person who can give me an idea or a new slant on an old idea is my friend." - Louis L'Amour
"Read not to contradict and confute; nor to believe and take for granted; nor to find talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider..." - Francis Bacon
"What is true today may be reevaluated as false not long after. Judgements are frequently based upon a set of "temporary" circumstances surrounding them. Conflicting ideologies can exist simultaneously. Antagonistic dualities are complementary aspects of a unified whole: are seen as mutually dependent mirror images of each other." - Nahum Stiskin
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.
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.
Kenpo Gokui
A person's heart is the same as Heaven and Earth while the blood circulating is similar to the Sun and Moon yet the manner of drinking and spitting is either soft or hard while a person's unbalance is the same as a weight and the body should be able to change direction at any time as the time to strike is when the opportunity presents itself and both the eyes must see all sides as the ears must listen in all directions while the mind must grasp all the tactile, olfactory and gustation data not seen on all sides and not heard in any direction
All Bottles are Truly Good
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The Tao of Gokui - three
Resistance
The Tao of Gokui - two
The Tao of Gokui - one
Tao-te-ching | Kenpo Gokui | The Way...
Present Moment
Forrest Gump
Mind Manipulation
The Thrid Eye or Second Sight
The blood circulating is the same as the moon and the sun.
The alternating phases of light and darkness, as symbolized by the sun and the moon, give this earth its life. Without darkness plants could not survive. Without light plants could not survive. With both, there is life. Man is the same. Without evil, man could not exist. Without goodness, man could not exist. With both, man is who he is. It is therefore dictated that light and darkness are in the blood as well as in the sky and it is that balance between the two which gives man life.
Now as to my point of view on this interpretation:
Whether the phases of light and dark in providing life to earth and its inhabitants that can be true for sunlight does effect life, i.e. sunlight gives us vitamin D, etc. Plants also require the sun to grow and flurish, etc.
As to man not existing with out evil I do have my doubts about this for I firmly believe that we all can survive just fine with out that yet when you look at the Universe there are always opposites, i.e. light/dark | high/low | good/bad | and so on...so if there is good then there has to be bad but the degree does not have to be extreme.
Now, as far as light and darkness in the blood well that one I have to take umbrage with because tho the cycles of the blood in our bodies can be likened to the cycles of the sun and moon metaphorically in reality it does not wash, i.e. light and darkness in the blood.
There is no light and dark in the sky but there is the cycles of the earth in relation to the sun and moon where depending on the rotation it can be either light or dark in the same place and lets not get into artificial light which we can get from the sun's reflection off the moon.
Anyway, I liked this take and wanted to present it here for your own analysis, etc.
Oh yea, lets not forget this interpretations reference to "symbolized" as that opens the door even wider as to your interpretation.
Have fun!
Bibliography:
Kingwood Karate School - Isshinryu (body - mind - spirit)
Oh yea, as for me I firmly believe that if humanity were focused on remaining in the present moment that we would be in balance thus removing good and bad because we would find our balance between both so humanity would be neither good or evil...
Feed the Tao
The Correct Way
There is not an "absolute" correct way, there is not one true correct style of any martial or fighting art.
No matter who you are or what style you practice; you are and it is not the one true way but just one more "bottle" in a huge collection of "bottles". "All bottles are good!" - Shimabuku Tatsuo Sensei.
Let us not "close" our minds to the infinite possibilities by categorizing life into silo's with thoughts of which is correct, which is the true one, or which is what ever but "open" our minds to all possibilities. Let that take us to the level of being "open" to all the possibilities of life.
Go beyond the mere physical, go beyond the mere mental, and expand yourself to embrace the infinite of the Universe! (try anyway :-)
Success
A maxim to live by in life and through the study of others as found through the teachings of Tatsuo Sensei and by the interpretation of the kenpo gokui. To study our connectiveness with others is a tome of the gokui and one that Tatsuo Sensei would speak of often in conversations.
Tatsuo Sensei felt it important that one study the customs of others to learn about them and their lives so we may communicate effectively. How we do this is important!
The practice and study of Reigi/Reishiki is one singular form within the singular form of the Way of the Fighting Arts that has much to teach in this regard.
We must practice and live the Way with our whole heart. We train the mind so that the "ki" circulates with out barriers and restrictive blockages caused by the effects of such as fear and stress. Only through this type of practice may we teach our minds and bodies to do this as indicated in the gokui, if you study it seriously.
Our success as Martial/Fighting Artists who follow the Way of the Empty Hand find that how we treat ourselves and others determines our overall success. Success with others as well as success in balance our minds and bodies for optimal health and well being or to reach nirvana.
How we deal with ourselves and others is determinate in whether we strike first with our fist or strike first with courtesy and kind consideration for others. Is this not the epitome of following the "Way"? Is this not finding the value in others through learning about them vs. just being an island on the sea of the Universe.
If we just go to a "class" for the sole purpose of getting exercise and having fun with others with out taking on the responsibility of actually learning about ourselves as well as others who may practice with us are we not neglecting the "Way" and does that not make this kind of practice nothing more than dancing?
Consider this with heartfelt seriousness. Reigi/Reishiki is based on respect, restraint, and responsibility...to practice diligently leads to a person who has thoughtfulness, effective self-expression and communication, and a wider range of benign responses leading to tranquility and peace.
Validate others by our acts of kindness!
Violence
When it is all said and done if violence is the result then we have failed ourselves and humanity. We have soiled what is right, correct, and just in the Universe. We have fallen from the path.
When we resort to violence we are lost and the only ending is more violence. Is it not the goal or path of following the Way of the Empty Hand (or any other art form) to "NOT FIGHT" yet we seem to focus on the act of domination of others through its practice and use.
To dominate by violence is an absolute last resort and should be the farthest thing in our minds, in our practice, in our training, and in our lives.
I believe that the human condition, in the beginning, required we be a violent species as the jungle was a place of violence yet not indiscriminate and with out purpose, i.e. food and preservation of the human race.
Today, we should have evolved beyond the need to become violent or to dominate one another. If we truly place ourselves in the present moment we don't have time for it.
Yet, we continue to practice and train for the strictly physical aspects of the martial/fighting arts with focus on dominance and violence. Just watch the tele!
If I were to dream the dream then I would never see violence in word, deep, action, or in society, ever. We would have the ability to discuss and arrive at mutual consensus as to everything that would cause the remotest possibility of conflict, dominance, etc.
Am I a dreamer? I dream I am a butterfly who thinks he is a human and I flutter about always in the present moment. So I am a dreamer!
"The epitome of a true martial/fighting artist is achieving the level of ability to cause the greatest of harm yet making the conscious decision to never be the instrument of harm!" - c. e. james
Connections, Careful Now!
So many ways connect us to what we know and understand. Lack of same begets the type of difficulties that are the reasons we have "martial arts" or "fighting arts".
I can extrapolate almost anything from the gokui for it is a matter of loosely connecting such things in our physical world to the not so physical. It can sound plausible! It can read like it has meaning and connects go the gokui as well as any other aspect of the "arts".
The true question, "is it real or memorex?" Is the string that connects strong enough to bind one thing to another? We should ask ourselves this type of question or questions to help us differentiate between the "true way" from the "fictional way".
Is this the reason why so many Isshinryu practitioners hold on so tightly to their perceptions as passed to them by Sensei? Are my mindless meanderings a true connection to the meaning of the Way and gokui?
Always question yourself! Always question others! Always question what you hear, read, see, smell, taste, and touch for it may or may not be real.
Are you a butterfly dreaming you are a person or are you a person who is dreaming you are a butterfly?
Resistance
The gokui speaks of balance in all things, it speaks of the sun, moon, heaven, and earth with possibilities when they are teaching us about cycles, rhythm, balance, spirit, and so on.
I find in my studies that to "resist" the natural flow of life opens us to many not so pleasant things ranging from mental and physical ill health to attracting "bad things" in life. I also find that when I am in balance of mind, body, and spirit with connectivity to the "Tao" that my mental, physical, and spiritual being is balanced and through that profound emanation of positive energies attract like energy resulting in a better life experience.
Although the gokui references the more esoteric views of such things as life balance it does provide one who is ready and open to experience the true nature of the Universe in a myriad of ways. This is one of many paths to forging the spirit through the experiences of the mind and body. This creates the "one" and to allow ourselves to let go and rid ourselves of resistance opens us to greater experiences in life.
The ties that bind us to resistance are partly connected to the "past" and "future" thoughts while distracting us from the joy of the present moment. Our "ego's" strap us down and tell us that we must resist this since the past and future are told to us as our identities when our true identity is one of the moment experienced with out restraint by past, future, or the ego's continuous chatter of what it "thinks" is best for us.
Reality is the moment we experience "NOW", not yesterday and most assuredly NOT tomorrow.
Perspective
one's "point of view", the choice of a context for opinions, beliefs and experiences.
What we subject ourselves to with influences of varying sources and degrees with a solid dose of the power of suggestion. It is related to our life experiences with emphasis on importance from slightly to life changing.
It is something we come to from how we individuals "look" at something. Look meaning visual with interpretation due to our cognitive perceptions. It is "our" own "point of view". It deals with what the individual wants, needs, and/or feels.
In order to "get" someone to do something you need to appeal to that persons point of view to surmount obstacles that perspective influences created in that persons life. This will include something like, "What is in it for that person".
Apparently humanity or "Man" requires something in return or what is "good" for that person in order to adjust or modify that persons perspective on anything in life. We motivate by coming from a particular perspective that will meet or exceed a persons perspective.
Being able to see the other person's point of view is one of Henry Fords advice towards being successful in business. "If there is any one secret of success, it lies in the ability to get the other person's point of view and see things from that person's angle as well as from your own".
All this to convey the importance of the "gokui" in practice as well as life for it alludes to such human perspectives of the individual to enlighten or illuminate is such a way that the individual readily accepts and assimilates some "thing" into their lives.
The gokui is vague in many ways as well as fluid in its influences on the individual as to perceptions and perspectives. Failure to open the mind, body, and spirit to such concepts as the gokui can mean stagnation, being stuck in a "rut", or remaining distant from the moment thus being stuck in a perspective that is completely influences by the "ego" of the past or future with no ability to remain present or in the moment.
One must use the gokui as a means to turn the "eye" of the universe into one's soul which is through that persons perception which can be a fluid as the gokui when growth is allowed. To choose to allow fluidity of perceptions leading to fluidity of perspective which is a way to codify your experiences, to form a particular belief that is also fluid.
One studies the gokui to understand the reality of the moment and no where else can we create this type of ability than through the study of the singular form that is understood as the "way".
The gokui is that singular tool that trains the mind in a singular purpose to achieve continuity that connects it with the strings of energy that is the now or the present; a present moment that is in the now as is the Universe, Sun, Moon, Earth, and humanity (which encompasses all things both animate and inanimate).
Don't let the ego strap your perspective into a brick wall where you continually pound your head but a diaphanous curtain that can be seen through, penetrated, and then re-hung at the next level of life.
Remember that humans are distinct and separate while remaining connected and to allow fluidity in perspective also allows for unrestrained connective-ness to all.
"Attitude"
The "attitude" of a practitioner can mean the difference between learning or just fighting. Attitude means more than that.
Taking an attitude in:
- keeping an open mind for every lesson of life.
- practicing with heart and honesty.
- taking a deeper view of life's lessons.
To have proper attitude takes a good deal of discipline. Attitude is the doorway to life's education and our singular practice of the "Way" provides us the vehicle to follow that road. Proper attitude constitutes:
1. Modesty in all things.
2. Truth and justice in honest practice.
3. Depth of life.
Our mind leads our bodies and spirit so we shall practice to control the mind so the body will follow. The mind shall be:
1. thankful and appreciative.
2. reflective and contemplative.
3. modest and moral.
4. indebtedness and obligation.
5. adaptive and willing.
6. open and receptive.
7. devoted and helpful.
8. dedicated and continuous.
9. diligent and humble.
10. calm and serene.
11. vital and energetic.
12. kind and considerate.
The balance between the mental, the physical and the spiritual is extremely important in making the person a quality person. One of right attitude; one of right beliefs, right feelings, right values, and right disposition. We can become properly balanced through the practice of the fighting arts with proper attitude!
A persons "heart" can be any character one decides upon in their life with sole responsibility to that person. We strive in our practice to achieve a level of "heart" that reflects the type of personality and character that is balanced between good and evil creating a vibration that brings both into balance much like the connections and cycles of the sun and moon which provide balance to "earth" and "humanity".
By creating a character of good, positive, harmonious, moral, and balanced provides us with the ability to blend with our world and society or others with the ability to send the right energies that attract and change other energies into one with the Universe.
Character
Good or evil; positive or negative; in-yo; yang or yin; center and harmony; the true "character" of the soul; spiritual vs. true; the different level of understanding of Tao...
If the True Character dominates, one will not initiate any confrontation or kill because it is all good and no evil. What one will do is to seek a solution so that both will live in peace if there is any difference or enmity. If the Spiritual Character dominates, one may take revenge and do evil or even kill.
If the Materialistic Character dominates, one will initiate confrontation and may act like an animal not knowing what is right or what is wrong. The human conscience is lost and has no direction of love and brotherhood in this world.
Do ya think...
A Marine once said to me, "Marines train hard so they don't have to fight!"
Do you feel that if we truly lived up to the "Way" of the empty hand that we would find that we don't have to fight and that our lives would "repel" the energy vibrations that attract conflict like iron to a magnet?
Hmmmmm, interesting!
The Need for Validation
Apparently the human species has this inherent need to be validated. We seek validation for a job well done, that we are attractive, we are valued by those we see as our betters, and we want to be wanted by others. Some require very little validation while others require a good deal of validation to feel good about themselves or ourselves.
Why do we require validation from others who we feel is the authority on the particular such as the fighting arts where rank is viewed as a form of validation along with who presented you with that rank or level. We seem to need confirmation from authoritative (or what is perceived as authoritative) sources before we find comfort in our level of proficiency and this goes to many other "things" in life.
Validation apparently originates in our childhood and it may be from a lack of attention or the resulting feeling of not being valued by those we perceive as important authority figures, i.e. parents, etc. We tend to seek to quench that thirst as we grow up.
When you study the list of personal experiences that indicate the need for validation you understand it a bit more such as a feeling of uncomfortable around others, trying to do to much for others while ignoring yourself, etc.
In the end seeking validation from other sources and persons other than "yourself" will always leave you unsatisfied thus always seeking it; a vicious circle. Only you can satisfy your own need for validation!
Ok, now you see that our view of rank in the fighting arts may just be an extension of our own personal need to find validation in what we practice. It is merely a venue for our ego's to satisfy the inherent need and the fighting arts colored belts along with the need to have a particular organization and/or person see us as something we should already see within ourselves.
Here is how we as fighting art practitioners can utilize the singular practice of an art such as Isshinryu Karate-jutsu-do to not only take control of ourselves through the suppression of the ego's influences by training and practicing until we have a level of self-esteem that tells us that we are satisfied with ourselves, that we are good, moral, and decent; that we see ourselves as proficient in all we do especially through the "Way" of the fighting arts.
Only by centering ourselves from within do we achieve the abilities inherent in the practice of the "Way" that allow us to control the ego; to remain ever present; to remain always in the moment; and to choose the moment when we shall deal with everyday life matters.
This is the ultimate goal of training in the fighting arts; in the "Way of the Empty Hand"; and any other way or art form.
THOUGHTS---------->>>
Humans have many needs that are generally met by other humans - like needs for connection, reassurance, love/warmth, intimacy, acceptance, companionship, meaning, inspiration, challenge. If you're alive, you need other people - that’s just part of being human. The great part is, other people need you too!
Where this drops a bit is the degree of need for others especially in regards to validation which in this instance is attached, like so many other things, to our own self-esteem. We are social animals so to speak so we do need a degree of contact with others. This is so true if you believe that we are all connected in this universe by strings of energy, i.e. my string theory.
Where that need becomes an issue with each of us is when the degree of need becomes something that causes us to seek it out like an obsession resulting is a loss of balance within. The loss of balance be it in the mind or as the body follows the mind it also has adverse effects on the body resulting is stress and the physical issues that causes.
We need to find balance within or we never find balance without or outside in the world. If our needs are in the extreme and not balanced then we suffer the results so we must find balance.
This is where that singular practice can achieve that balance. We open our minds in the training hall to allow our ego's to lie in stasis so our minds can "see" reality. We then are receptive to our own faults and try to bring them into the realm of perfection (understanding that the trip is the true goal for perfection is imperfection). If we achieve this in our art form it will naturally have positive influences on our minds and in every day life. We achieve balance in life through the practice of the singular form of fighting art.
In the end our self worth does not depend on others nor does it depend on any type of rating, ranking, or perception of another. Learn from authoritative sources so you can grow within and then let your self provide all the self-esteem you already possess.
Money and All its Trappings
Let me begin this post by saying there are many, many dojo out there that change fee's for the privilege of guidance in the art of karate-do. Although I have never charged a dime for my efforts in training/practice with others it is not a bad thing.
What changes it are ego's and the almighty dollar or plain old "greed." This is a world that runs on money.
It is so prevalent in the arts that many fork over the money regardless of the facts about any one dojo, style, or organization such as associations. It may fall under that recent post of mine on, "The Power of Suggestion."
After all we are raised by a commercial society that worships the dollar. It just goes to show that to make money brings about happiness and contentment ( NOT! ). We do sometimes believe this to be so.
Ok, this site is on the kenpo gokui and the concepts that Tatsuo Sensei conveyed in his teachings. Don't get me wrong for Tatsuo Sensei made a good living on the Marine contracts with Special Services. He worked his demonstrations and asked his Marine students to assist in getting and retaining those contracts so his motivation, at least in part, were commercial.
Regardless he did speak of the kenpo gokui and the other religious influences used to create Isshinryu so he was not totally consumed by money and its power over everything. Now as to his first born son that is a different matter.
The IWKA is about money. I can't help but believe this simply because of my own personal experiences with Kichiro Sensei, the IWKA through him, and the IWKA here in the States. Every time I inquired about something or other the first words I would here is, "It will cost about this or that much to do that."
I once decided after many years to get some perceived authoritative body to validate my level or dan grade. When I asked the IWKA about certifying my rank, at the time Go-dan, they said they would not recognize Go-dan but would allow me to be a Sho-dan at such-n-such a fee and that they would expedite the rank up to Go-dan by going through each level for such-n-such a fee.
I was even told that if I could get all my dojo practitioners to join they would allow a small reduction in the fees which equated to little over about five percent. Not much incentive to me. They led me to believe that if I did that, paid my fee's, and attended all IWKA functions be they seminars, tournaments, etc that I would be a high ranking IWKA member in a few short years.
The thing that baffles me the most is that most of the IWKA Sensei/dojo teach Isshinryu one way while during visits by Kichiro Sensei for seminars and/or tournaments they would change the way they practiced to suit him until he left then revert back to the way they originally do things but still send him money so he can issue a piece of paper and get free trips to the states. Go figure!
Is this the spirit of karate-do? Is this the spirit of Tatsuo Sensei? Is this the spirit of the kenpo gokui? Is this the "Way" of karate-do?