Phew, a really touch subject especially since a good deal of the practitioners of a martial/fighting art are commercial in one form or another thus rely on incoming funds to stay open.
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?
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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