Isshinryu on Wiki and more ...

ISSHIN-RYU: "It is primarily a USA style of karate taught to American service men stationed on the island and extensively practiced in the United States. The Okinawans refer to it as “GI karate” which is a derogatory term, meaning that only a American GI who doesn't know better would practice it." 
From ~ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isshin-ry%C5%AB



"He who knows does not speak; he who speaks does not know." ~ Lao Tzu

This was read on one of my yahoo groups of which I am a guest member and grateful for as it has provided me the greatest advancement in Isshinryu I could possible acquire, academically and in practice/training.

The above quote is not all of what was said because in the remaining body the comments were unproductive. What I mean is that they expounded on THEM not knowing or accepting other factual information as to the true essence of Isshinryu and Bushi Tatsuo Shimabuku Isshinryu.

My recent studies have helped me to "see" some things that I apparently took for granted until now and that understanding lead to my responding to the yahoo group posting as follows:

Generally speaking, very general, as long as there are "groups" or "factions" where the perception is "us vs them" then change will never come. Why, because as hunter-warriors, i.e. that instinct the nature provided long ago for survival where we use to be in "tribes or groups if you will" where we protect our group as warriors it is instinctive that all those outside our group or tribe are "them" which is perceived at a subconscious level as not us so less than us we will always "not accept them" and thus never "change them" so we stay at this point with no progress.

Only when we all accept that we are all an "US" in Isshinryu and accept all of "US" into the group or tribe called Bushi Tatsuo Shimabuku Sensei Isshinryu Karate-do will change occur.

EVEN WHEN THE ONE GROUP IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT, ACCURATE, FACTUAL, AND TRUE TO THE SPIRIT OF ISSHINRYU and the others perceive them as OUTSIDE their own group they WILL NOT ACCEPT it even when their logic and mind say "THAT IS TRUTH."

To make the change we have to first accept everyone into the group. Once a member where they all "accept that we are in the US group" then change comes for it is then acceptable to the one's previously OUTSIDE the US GROUP.

We must not just educate ourselves in Isshinryu, Okinnawa, Okinawans, and so forth but the world. In understanding the world we must understand the self and the self goes much farther than merely our current existance but also that which we take for granted. Much like walking, we do it naturally and instinctively so we don't consciously think about it until it is taken away, say in an accident, then suddenly it becomes something more...

Don't take this as any kind of attack, which your "monkey brain (ego)" may do instinctively, are you getting angry right now then the monkey brain is in charge taking you on the monkey dance floor, and if you are getting angry do you truly know why and don't say it is because I said this or that because that is also the monkey taking charge leading you on its path to anger, frustration, etc. [why I know this is because it is so].

If this article makes you angry then we are still speaking of THEM vs. US instead of trying to embrace them into the US group where we can make changes.

This is so because since I have had the privilige of being a guest of this group I have heard time and again the frustrations of all parties that these "THEM" are wrong and this and that which in the end DOES NOT PROMOTE CHANGE.

Maybe it is time for one US group/tribe to stop the cycle of frustration and be the instrument of change and the only way that will change is if we stop looking at them as "THEM vs. US" and try to find a way to make all who practice Isshinryu no matter what form, i.e. all bottles are good, come together into one tribe so all of US can see the truth.

I would not have the knowledge of Isshinryu I have now if not for the fact that as a Marine I was allowed to be a "guest" of this group. Just being a member with access to the archives has enlightened me far and above anything I was getting anywhere else so I am really AWARE of this tribe/groups potential. My deepest wish is to get others, THEM, to accept what is and if I get one more person to "see" and "hear" about Isshinryu as Bushi Tatsuo Sensei intended then I have reached success.

If things remain unchanged then it will always be this tribe vs. THEM tribes and no advancement or understanding will be achieved.

Or, so says I anyway, take it for what it is, neither an attack or submission but love of the Isshinryu style.

Last, ?????? Sensei said one thing that seems to have been overlooked, ANYONE CAN CHANGE WIKI, so is someone on this list who is knowledgeable making a change to the wiki list? It does say that if you have information that is pertinent to that entry you can MAKE A CHANGE TO IT!

The comment was stated as follows on the posting:

"The greatest problem of Isshinry-ryu is … " where in my opinion keeps Isshinryu remaining stagnate. This type of dance simply enables the others to stand up and with an indignant attitude tell the other group they are full of shit. Neither is gaining ground in getting all the various groups/tribes/factions together as one "US" tribe vs. THEM tribes. Such a shame.

Then I ask myself the question, am I helping? I suspect not but then again this feels good to me getting my frustrations in print to get it out of me. I keep hearing all the "whining" about they don't do this or don't know this and meanwhile never taking a stance in finding out the "Why" of not accepting anything from other groups.

It is simple, we look at our special group as OUR group which means those not in OUR group are not "US" and thus "THEM" so less than US so in order to get THEM to accept our word we must accept THEM into US.

Ok, done with the frustration, back to learning and practicing.