Fundamental Learning/Teaching

All of us adhere to the ken-po goku-i, the emphasis on "eyes" and "ears" as to "seeing" and "hearing." We tend to extrapolate meaning of the ken-po goku-i to that which is physical in relation to karate but it extends to guide us in understanding the "three fundamental concepts" of learning and teaching.

How do we learn? By what we "see," "hear," and "do." Information is processed by what we see; what we hear; and how we put that into an action or "doing" or to take the character for the "Way" as in following a path or road, etc.

Each of us has a lifestyle and personality traits that can provide us a means of discovery. Discovery in what it takes to bring about knowledge, understanding, and proficiency depending on how we "see," "hear," and "do."

The eyes must see all sides. We initially take this to mean actually "seeing" all around us spatially. We look and actively see left, right, forward, behind us, then in many variations such as up and down, and degrees between such  things as left-to-front, etc. We also must be able to "see" all sides of how events transpire both our own and any other person involved. The ability to "see" from the perspective of others teaches us and can guide us to avoiding conflicts and so on. When we teach we try to "see" all sides of how a person in receipt of our efforts learns. Whether they learn by doing, by the discussions, by combinations of perception and application. This ken-po goku-i provides us lessons to learn and teach far beyond the mere physical manifestations.

All I have said to "seeing" also applies to "hearing." We can hear what goes on spatially but to hear actively what a person is saying to us leads to understanding and understanding allows us to choose a means to mutual benefits thus avoiding conflicts. If we also hear the other voice, spoken and unspoken meanings, we can achieve a level of perception of the individual that translates into the ability to teach and they to learn.

The ken-po goku-i was meant to be more than simply how to apply karate to conflict. It can lead us to achieving more with ourselves and with others. It can lead us to see and hear and then do what is called teaching and learning; apply that to life!