Arrogance

"...overbearing pride evidenced by a superior manner toward inferiors..."

"The act or habit of arrogating, or making undue claims in an overbearing manner; that species of pride which consists in exorbitant claims of rank, dignity, estimation, or power, or which exalts the worth or importance of the person to an undue degree; proud contempt of others; lordliness; haughtiness; self-assumption; presumption. Closely related to the act of arrogating."

How does this apply to either kara-te-justu-do and/or kenpo gokui. Let me provide a quote from Tatsuo Sensei, "When humans are arrogant there will always be fights."

I will be the first one to speak up on this, "When I began training to fight it was just that, so I could fight and kick a$$!" Growing up I was picked on a lot...(heard this one before have we)...so I began to take on those particulars that would allow me to avoid being the object of someone else's lack of self-esteem.

I began with body building. I developed size and strength that put me physically above almost everyone in High School. Then I took up boxing. I also took up judo and finally took up various forms of empty hand with a final choice of "Isshinryu" on Okinawa.

I kept on using that as my excuse until I reached a point where I no longer desired to just have the ability to "kick a$$". I liked karate so what was I to do and that is where I finally opened my mind to all the real possibilities of the "Way" through a singular form of practice.

Anyway, back to arrogance. We can see that many of us chose to take up the exotic art of karate because of our need to dominate and receive recognition of any kind by rank, power, and our own idea of self-worth and/or importance. In the end we were trying to either dominate others into seeing us as all powerful or intimidating for the same reasons. Some of us wanted to achieve warrior-hood but there was always an underlying theme of arrogance, etc.

Is this the only and ultimate reason for learning and practicing such things? In my last thought I find that my final goals in my practice were twofold. One is to be a better person and contribute to humanity in one form or another and second to become a "true warrior". One who when left no other choice can fight for his/her fellow humans, society, and the Universe itself. For everything that is good about us.

We shall make the sacrifices necessary for the whole, the one, humanity, nature. This encompasses a lot and it is a difficult path to follow. If nothing else you should be able to say, "I am trying!"

Tatsuo Sensei did teach Marines for the combative and sportive aspects yet for those who chose to remain longer he introduced the gokui of Isshinryu with the hopes that we would transcend the arrogant manner of achieving dominance over others for the mere accoutrements of ranking, belt colors, trophies, and the accolades of others merely to inflate and stroke our ego's.

Shall we try?