Other Kenpo or Kempo

The Kempo Hakku was a favourite poem of Miyagi Chojun Sensei. It was an article from the ancient Chinese text, the Bubishi. Miyagi Sensei named his method of Ti, Goju-Ryu, from the third line of this poem.

1. Jinshin wa tenchi ni onaji. -The mind is one with heaven and earth.
2. Ketsumyaku wa nichigetsu ni nitari. -The circulatory rhythm of the body is similar to the cycle of
the sun and the moon.
3. Ho wa goju wo tondo su. -The way of inhaling and exhaling is both hard and soft.
4. Mi wa toki ni shitagai hen ni ozu. -Act in accordance with time and change.
5. Te wa ku ni ai sunawachi hairu. -Techniques will occur in the absence of conscious thought.
6. Shintai wa hakarite riho su. -The feet must advance and retreat, separate and meet.
7. Me wa shiho wo miru wa yosu. -The eyes do not miss even the slightest change.
8. Mimi wa yoku happo wo kiku. -The ears listen well in all directions

Source: "Ryusyokai: Okinawa Karate Dojo UK Web Site"

I sometimes find other references to the Bubishi or Goju Ryu keno or kempo gokui or hakku which are comparable. I find the various interpretations of interest. Although different they end up having the same meaning so when one provides their own interpretations and connections they will in all likelihood apply.

In the end I believe it is the individuals interpretations of the Chinese characters, pictograms if you will, because as most of you have witnessed/read on my past postings those same characters can be interpreted in many different ways depending on the usage and intentions of the author.

I am putting the Isshinryu version of the ken-po goku-i here for comparison.

1. Hito no kokoro wa, ten to chi to onaji desu. "A person's heart is the same as heaven and earth."
2. Ketsueki ga junkan taiyō to tsuki ni nite i masu. "The blood circulating is similar to the sun and moon."
3. Manā inryō (suu) to tsuba o haku (iki o haki) to onaji desu. Kore wa, dochira mo hādo matawa sofuto. "The manner of drinking and spitting is either soft or hard."
4. Hito no anbaransu no jūryō to onaji desu. "A person's unbalance is the same as a weight."
5. Karada wa itsu demo, hōkō o henkō suru koto ga deki masu. "The body should be able to change direction at any time."
6. Jikan ga utsu toki ni kikai ga jibun jishin o teiji sa re masu. "The time to strike iw when the opportunity presents itself."
7. Me wa subete no sokumen o sanshō shite kudasai suru hitsuyō ga ari masu. "The eyes must see all sides."
8. Mimi wa subete no hōkō ni mimi o katamukeru hitsuyō ga ari masu. "The ears must listen in all directions."

As can be readily seen the differences are not dissimilar, interesting how so many unique individuals see those characters.