Another aspect that brings to mind the seventh sentence of the ken-po goju-i is the question I would ask practitioners, "Do you actively see in all directions?" Ok, this is a bit out of what you might think cause I have been talking of this outside the box labeled, "Literal." It deals again with awareness, active awareness.
When you are scanning your environment are you focused on what you see in that narrow blinder vision, i.e. what you see directly? Marc MacYoung calls this "one-point focusing." Take a moment in your next training or practice session, watch Sensei and then tell me what you see out on your peripheral?
Normally we pretty much ignore anything that leaves this narrow, say twenty degree spread span, but that peripheral area, over twenty and up to 180 degree spread. Yet, I bet if you were actually fighting on the street that area might be a bit more important. Regardless of whether your fighting or not the ability to avoid relies on what you "see" and "hear" as you move through any area/environment, yes?
When the ken-po goku-i says in all directions don't limit that to what you see in the one-point focus but train yourself and then practice it diligently to perceive what is in your peripheral. If you do it right it will signal your brain if some dangerous issue comes up so you can adjust. It can be like walking to a car in a lot that is somewhat dark at night and your peripheral "sees" something hinkey so you turn and then proceed to avoid and escape to safety.
What Mr. MacYoung seems to be saying don't forget to train your ability to "see" and "be aware of" what crops up as to your entire vision span.
Now, about hearing, the same applies. You should be training yourself to actively "hear" in all directions as well and that would work well with seeing all sides cause if you hear it, don't see it in your peripheral then guess it is coming up fast from the rear.
Now, lets take it one step further. You are scanning but you are really aware so you know that this also means you have to turn your head from side to side so you can register all 360 degrees. Just like driving a car into an intersection. You scan left and right so your full vision and hearing can perceive any danger like that other nut on his cell looking down at his laptop screaming through a red light, oh gosh, maybe I should stop now ;-)
One more thing, if your opponent is closing your eyes are on his then your peripheral will pick up those movements on him that may tell you, Uh Oh, attack coming on, MOVE.
Bibliography:
MacYoung, Marc. "Violence, Blunders, and Fractured Jaws: Advanced Awareness Techniques and Street Etiquette." Paladin Press. Boulder, Colorado. 1992.
All Bottles are Truly Good
Body Movement
I wanted to touch base on the fifth line of the ken-po goku-i in that we train/practice to have our bodies change directions at any time. What may get stuck in some minds is the "sport driven" aspect of movement, i.e. forward and directly backward in a straight line. I am going to once again venture into that land I am not expert in and that is street conflicts.
We humans if not informed of other stuff tend to lock on to such things and it remains until a light comes on and says, "Oh yea, cool!" You know that "Oh shit moment." In many dojo sparring and fighting and self defense training remains in the dark ages of sport driven body movement.
When I say change direction at any time I mean all dimensions, i.e. forward, on angle forward, on angle backward, in a circular back or forth or both movement, etc. I like to spiral sometimes so when someone actually moves and enter my clear zone I move in a particular direction say right and then do a spiral move as I close in to attack (not self defense here ;-).
I know of several interpretations of the ken-po goku-i but then tend to stay within that locked up view of moving, sport-driven. Another point I would like you to consider is that the reason the goku-i was provided in such a short, terse, way was to promote self-analysis, perception and open the door to our minds ability to "create," or to "see." Ops, here I go again with "seeing."
So, add that to the possibilities of the ken-po goku-i, yea! There is always something to see, always something to learn. In line four a person's unbalance being the same as a weight try the lack of knowledge and ability to make things work; to see outside the box is light a huge weight causing your balance to kilter out and drag your progress down to oblivion ... why people quit?
We humans if not informed of other stuff tend to lock on to such things and it remains until a light comes on and says, "Oh yea, cool!" You know that "Oh shit moment." In many dojo sparring and fighting and self defense training remains in the dark ages of sport driven body movement.
When I say change direction at any time I mean all dimensions, i.e. forward, on angle forward, on angle backward, in a circular back or forth or both movement, etc. I like to spiral sometimes so when someone actually moves and enter my clear zone I move in a particular direction say right and then do a spiral move as I close in to attack (not self defense here ;-).
I know of several interpretations of the ken-po goku-i but then tend to stay within that locked up view of moving, sport-driven. Another point I would like you to consider is that the reason the goku-i was provided in such a short, terse, way was to promote self-analysis, perception and open the door to our minds ability to "create," or to "see." Ops, here I go again with "seeing."
So, add that to the possibilities of the ken-po goku-i, yea! There is always something to see, always something to learn. In line four a person's unbalance being the same as a weight try the lack of knowledge and ability to make things work; to see outside the box is light a huge weight causing your balance to kilter out and drag your progress down to oblivion ... why people quit?
Focus In, then, Focus Out
More of my studies and practice indicate, to me, that before we can truly participate in society or the Universe we must first "know" that Universe within us as each individual. To much of what we have within us influences how we interact with the Universe and if we are not sure of what we are within then we will not be beneficial and productive to those the stand outside of our personal Universe.
How can we instruct others in anything be it the physical, mental or spiritual as related to the ken-po goku-i, the ancient classics such as the I Ching and other tomes of knowledge like "Fully Present," "The Now," and "Becoming a Complete Martial Artist." These are but a few too!
It should be a primary goal of an instructor or anyone intent on being involved in life that they disentangle their thoughts from reality for we do influence our thoughts with our past experiences and such so we should take it all in and discover through our internal awareness as to what is correct. In the case of karate what is morally correct and societally acceptable behavior even in fighting, conflict, combat, etc.
Read the quote again, I personally do not want now or have never wanted to become what others thought I should become but rather what I feel I should become and I cannot or have not done otherwise in my life. I got caught up in external validation which is just a way to excuse myself from myself which if you think of it provides me the perfect excuse when what others decide goes wrong I can then blame them when in reality regardless it is and always will be my decision and my fault when it goes wrong. More importantly, keep this foremost in your mind, when things go right I can be satisfied that I did right, by me, myself, and I and that projects onto others who enter my sphere of influence. If both of us are alike in this concept then we are mutually influencing to our benefit.
As a fledgling novice regard internal focus as a personal fundamental. As a fledgling associate instructor also focus inward to find truth and knowledge then when you become an instructor you will have already discovered "most" of the things you will transmit to others and it will be right.
To Practice Mindfulness ...
"We think we know something one day only to discover that what we thought we knew was not quite right. We constantly wake up to knowledge, shifting from ignorance to awareness. What we are conscious of changes constantly."
Bibliography:
Smalley, Susan L. PhD. Winston, Diana. "Fully Present: The Science, Art, and Practice of Mindfulness." Da Capo Press. Philadelphia. 2010.
Mindfulness, a valuable tool ...
Once we achieve this level of self awareness we can then by our actions and interactions effect the minds, mindfulness, etc. with the Universe. We "see" now that the intent of the ken-po goku-i reflects more than seeing in all directions literally to a more metaphysical view of all the Universe. Take this like science fiction, or string theory if you will, the ability to see beyond the literal and into the multi-dimensional Universes there to "see" and "hear" if we are actively aware.
Simply, karate/karate-do can be a tool as well that helps us achieve the awareness and focus that mindfulness uses to see and hear all that we are and can be; karate and other difficult and rigorous activities thus provide all you can achieve and develop physically with note that we see and hear that the mind is following the body while the body follows the mind.
Is not one of the reasons we practice the way, to achieve enlightenment. Is enlightenment at least in part wisdom. Is wisdom also enlightenment of ourselves which will reflect in our actions and thoughts as we connect, strings, with other life in the Universe.
Mind:Ephemeral:Yin - Body:Physical:Yang
The mind or mental processes are ephemeral. The gray matter that makes up our brains are physical while the thoughts and emotions we experience that are from the brain/mind are short-lived. Ephemeral is Yin; Physical is Yang; one is fleeting from moment to moment while the other resides permanently in the present moment.
What is it that gets us humans, more males then females, into a lot of trouble, emotions, the monkey brain driving the train. If we are not aware of our emotions, how they affect us and our bodies, then they tend to control us once triggered. To become aware of emotions; to label the emotions; to stop stories from being attached to while remaining aware of how they feel is the beginnings of controlling our emotions - to an extent.
All our emotions have the potential to drive the bus causing us any number of issues, both positive and negative emotions. In karate we train to shackle the monkey so we can balance intuition with reason. Reason means access to the things we train and practice while intuition, unencumbered by emotional effects, etc., can allow a mindful use of proper tactics to avoid, deescalate, etc. in a conflict/altercation. When the mind is clouded by our emotional monkey driving the bus it cuts the circuit that connects reason and intuition, it freezes or slows to a crawl leaving you unresponsive in the altercation, verbal or otherwise.
Stories and emotions are attached to things, this gives fuel to the bus and tells the monkey to do its dance leaving us subject to its whims. When we train the body and leave the mind to its own resources we get chaos but if we are aware/mindful of our bodies and minds with all there luggage we can control how we respond, i.e. with the monkey in charge or with reason and intuition - your choice, always is; always has been. Ease of implementation - practice, practice, practice ...
I find that the ken-po goku-i touches in all eight tomes both the physical and mental. A person's heart is physical yet making a reference the Heaven and Earth as the ancient Chinese did it becomes mental or of a more spiritual nature which is not physical.
Blood is a physical yet circulating and it similarity once again is not physical but an analogy that means both physical and mental/spiritual.
The body is physical but the performance of changing its direction comes from the mind and the minds perception of stimuli in the physical world which causes us to choose, a mental activity, to change a direction which is a physical manifestation of the choice the mind made, mental.
Time is both physical and mental, it exists when referenced say on a watch yet is truly a mental perception in the mind like our ability to project into the past or contemplate the future but more importantly remaining in the present moment which really stops dealing with time for time has not relevance in present moment mindfulness.
The eyes see all sides where one type of "eyes" is the physical eye that sees stimuli and transmits those signals to the mind which then translates through the minds knowledge and experiences, both not of physical nature, into some thought where actions of the mind are mined and again non-physically transmitted to the part of the brain that will trigger the physical manifestations, i.e. what is instinctual and/or trained/practiced.
The ears may be physical yet all they do are non-physical. The more you allow the mind, Yin, to function and work the more you can transmit/translate that into actions which your body, Yang, take in life. It can be living every day or it can be the actions taken in a physical confrontation, physical:Yang, and finally the act of avoidance, Yin:a choice, into moving away from the danger zone, physical:Yang, to safety.
Duality, Yang-n-Yin, and the ken-po goku-i do teach us something if we are willing to "see" and "hear" more than what we may be comfortable with ... ?
What is it that gets us humans, more males then females, into a lot of trouble, emotions, the monkey brain driving the train. If we are not aware of our emotions, how they affect us and our bodies, then they tend to control us once triggered. To become aware of emotions; to label the emotions; to stop stories from being attached to while remaining aware of how they feel is the beginnings of controlling our emotions - to an extent.
All our emotions have the potential to drive the bus causing us any number of issues, both positive and negative emotions. In karate we train to shackle the monkey so we can balance intuition with reason. Reason means access to the things we train and practice while intuition, unencumbered by emotional effects, etc., can allow a mindful use of proper tactics to avoid, deescalate, etc. in a conflict/altercation. When the mind is clouded by our emotional monkey driving the bus it cuts the circuit that connects reason and intuition, it freezes or slows to a crawl leaving you unresponsive in the altercation, verbal or otherwise.
Stories and emotions are attached to things, this gives fuel to the bus and tells the monkey to do its dance leaving us subject to its whims. When we train the body and leave the mind to its own resources we get chaos but if we are aware/mindful of our bodies and minds with all there luggage we can control how we respond, i.e. with the monkey in charge or with reason and intuition - your choice, always is; always has been. Ease of implementation - practice, practice, practice ...
I find that the ken-po goku-i touches in all eight tomes both the physical and mental. A person's heart is physical yet making a reference the Heaven and Earth as the ancient Chinese did it becomes mental or of a more spiritual nature which is not physical.
Blood is a physical yet circulating and it similarity once again is not physical but an analogy that means both physical and mental/spiritual.
The body is physical but the performance of changing its direction comes from the mind and the minds perception of stimuli in the physical world which causes us to choose, a mental activity, to change a direction which is a physical manifestation of the choice the mind made, mental.
Time is both physical and mental, it exists when referenced say on a watch yet is truly a mental perception in the mind like our ability to project into the past or contemplate the future but more importantly remaining in the present moment which really stops dealing with time for time has not relevance in present moment mindfulness.
The eyes see all sides where one type of "eyes" is the physical eye that sees stimuli and transmits those signals to the mind which then translates through the minds knowledge and experiences, both not of physical nature, into some thought where actions of the mind are mined and again non-physically transmitted to the part of the brain that will trigger the physical manifestations, i.e. what is instinctual and/or trained/practiced.
The ears may be physical yet all they do are non-physical. The more you allow the mind, Yin, to function and work the more you can transmit/translate that into actions which your body, Yang, take in life. It can be living every day or it can be the actions taken in a physical confrontation, physical:Yang, and finally the act of avoidance, Yin:a choice, into moving away from the danger zone, physical:Yang, to safety.
Duality, Yang-n-Yin, and the ken-po goku-i do teach us something if we are willing to "see" and "hear" more than what we may be comfortable with ... ?
Awareness
We feel our feet as they move and reach into the next stance with proper positioning, alignment, posture, etc. Our awareness means our minds are trained to focus on this in training so our minds will instinctively "feel it" if something is not right. Lets say your fighting. You move into a specific stance so a particular technique can be executed to not get hit and stop the fight. Your body moves, you feel it move, you sense it going further than you wanted due to external circumstances so it will tell your mind to do one of two things, either not execute that technique and start moving into a new one with all its parts or try to adjust so you can get that technique executed, NOT the second part for sure. If you don't have all the ducks lined up for a particular technique you don't use it, it loses its effectiveness.
This is why awareness goes beyond the obvious and into the realm of feeling and sensing what your body is doing and where it is going at all times. It is one component that is critical to making all the components of power and force work as you would intend. Range and how you get to it; weight transfer into momentum for power, etc.; no wasted movement to include an patching or adjusting to make it work; timing and placement so it all comes together as one in the right direction and the right time; and finally adding in those acceleration techniques to boost power and force.
This is all geared to your awareness of all those concepts and components through awareness of body movement and all it entails so you can "sense" or "see" with the minds eye and "feel" where your body is, was, is going, etc.
Let me extend this post to the ken-po goku-i, parts that reference the ability to '''see" and "hear" in all directions is more than just north, south, east, west, etc. but in all metaphysical/metaphorical/spiritual/conceptual directions and more. Its references to hard and soft, feel it and apply it appropriately, body changing directions is not only turning and such but changing the way your body moves and assumes poses/postures where awareness tells you to see and feel and sense these actions of the body.
The time to strike is not just applying a punch or kick but timing awareness so that all components of your system come into that "one" instant that applies what your goals, tactics, and strategies use to not get hit and stop the attack.
Another lesson to me on NOT assuming that what I see is all I can see for seeing goes beyond the obvious as well as hearing is more active than just having sound reach and ring the ear drum, it is an awareness of what is being heard beyond initial impressions and allowing our ability to see, hear, sense, go beyond the first layer.
Breathing Mindfulness
Breath is an index of health and well-being. In Chinese medicine, Chi, is a measure of life force of the body, is assessed through examination of pulse (heart, blood, and circulation) and breathe.
The premise I propose is that connectivity is in all of the universe - nature. That to achieve a connection to all of the Universe it starts with breathing. A mindful breathing that results in present moment mind, no past and no future thoughts but simply present moment, now, mindfulness of the breathing process.
If we are able to practice this daily and in present moments through out the day we promote health and well being of the spirit-mind-body that translates to a greater ability to remain present moment focus and awareness that will serve us in all situations.
The mind-no-mind premise is actually a present moment mind. No allowed distractions with full focus and awareness in the now, this exact moment as it moves from moment to moment so that everything is seen and heard and felt as the moments move through the present. A moment does not become until it is present, the moment just in front of the present nor the moment just leaving the present is to be allowed space in that moment. Its shadow, its effect when in the present moment is the only thought that is like a shadow of the present yet it also instantly changes and leaves as each moment becomes present.
The mind and thus the body and by mind-body the spirit is present, focused, and aware that has the intensity to create affects that respond. This is mind-no-mind which is present moment mindfulness which is like the Tao-te-ching that cannot be adequately described in words but must be achieved in present moment actions. Its understanding and belief comes from the individual who has practiced it diligently and with present moment mindfulness.
A most difficult concept, idea, belief, etc. that can be obtained in spirit yet not held or seen or heard or felt. It is a state of being, a state of spiritual awareness of awareness.
Note: If your photo-graphic please let me know, don't know where it came from but want to give credit.
Bullying
Do we, as Sensei, have a responsibility to instruct young adults in this subject? I cannot say with any experience or certainty that it is something we should do in martial systems instruction but maybe we should be contemplating it as Sensei.
I would be considering it in the strongest terms if I had a dojo that instructed young adults, i.e. young persons in grade and/or junior high school. This is grade five up to 12.
What is it that we could do as Sensei?
Should we do this?
Is it something we should provide in our fundamentals of any martial system?
Is this a step beyond our responsibility and should this be on the shoulders of the parents only?
If you do or do not address this in instructing young adults would you be either liable or not liable if that person used what you taught to cause grave injury to another young person?I am sure many school systems today are fighting with themselves over this subject. I would suggest, theory only with no data to back it up, that Sensei of all martial systems who instruct persons under the age of 18 (legal age in the state where you instruct) should be giving this a great deal of thought.
I personally do not know the answers. If a karate-ka actually applied a powerful punch or strike to another child's head and it resulted in unconsciousness and hospitalization I would be devastated. With power comes responsibility! Do young adults really have the experience and knowledge to assume that responsibility?
All questions we Sensei should ask ourselves. Have you asked yourself these and other related questions? Take a moment, do a search on youtube for bullying, view what you see and consider the question(s), please!
Awareness-Mindfulness-Now-Present Moment
Awareness is being mindful. Mindful is an inclination to be aware or having awareness. It is a certain vigilance in observing what one experiences. To have "Mindful Awareness" one is to be aware of awareness. This implies that one is aware of self and has a capacity to reflect.
This is our way of explaining the awareness one must use to remain in a state of "avoidance" in the martial system of karate. This also speaks of the "Way or Do" of bu-do, karate-do, etc.
To achieve a level of proficiency in karate-do one must have equilibrium in awareness. The one spoken of here of the self and then that of what you experience. This experience is not limited to conflict of fighting yet it must be taught and practiced by individuals so they remain aware of all the present moment experiences that may or may not include any form of conflict.
Remain aware of the self to control our actions and reactions as we experience life and what it offers us at each and every unique moment, not past or future but the now of the moment as fleeting as it is or may be.
The practice of any budo promotes this type of mental training yet it seems as if that is focused solely on the fighting art or martial system being taught and practiced. It becomes clear as one progresses that it is merely a singular form of practice that can and does open the connections to all of what we are capable.
To parry a strike or punch in reality is no different than parrying a verbal assault. We do this parry by not allowing the verbal assault to reach our emotional monkey thus keeping it reined in or shackled so our logical side can act or react appropriately.
Once one opens the mind to all that is present and allow it to lead us and guide our travels we connect to the tribe, the group, society, our world, nature and the Universe and all the energies that propel us from this exact moment into the next and so on.
Ah, you say, what has this to do with the ken-po goku-i? Awareness, mindfulness, the self, etc. are all referenced within the goku-i.
Awareness of our bodies, the energies that circulate like the sun and moon. Our bodies weight for weight transfer to build energy and power in movement, i.e. body is like a weight where we use our bodies weight as it moves to build momentum which is the bases for power.
Seeing and Hearing is tantamount to both seeing and hearing our environment to perceive all things in the present moment both benign and not. Seeing and hearing within ourselves those weaknesses to build a better person.
To see or hear in all directions means in the environment as well as in ourselves, others, and society. Unlimited and when present and mindful you see and hear things most others take for granted.
The body changing direction not only to movement, another stone in the power chain, but movement within the self that promotes the way.
See, there are connections in all that we do, hear, see, say, feel and perceive: Awareness, mindful of awareness, aware of awareness for each present moment. The now of our existence for the now is always now.
Heaven and Earth as representative of all the Universe with all its present moments of life giving energy that we are able to perceive and tap into if we remain mindful; aware of awareness; awareness of the Universe's primordial energy that permeates all.
This is our way of explaining the awareness one must use to remain in a state of "avoidance" in the martial system of karate. This also speaks of the "Way or Do" of bu-do, karate-do, etc.
To achieve a level of proficiency in karate-do one must have equilibrium in awareness. The one spoken of here of the self and then that of what you experience. This experience is not limited to conflict of fighting yet it must be taught and practiced by individuals so they remain aware of all the present moment experiences that may or may not include any form of conflict.
Remain aware of the self to control our actions and reactions as we experience life and what it offers us at each and every unique moment, not past or future but the now of the moment as fleeting as it is or may be.
The practice of any budo promotes this type of mental training yet it seems as if that is focused solely on the fighting art or martial system being taught and practiced. It becomes clear as one progresses that it is merely a singular form of practice that can and does open the connections to all of what we are capable.
To parry a strike or punch in reality is no different than parrying a verbal assault. We do this parry by not allowing the verbal assault to reach our emotional monkey thus keeping it reined in or shackled so our logical side can act or react appropriately.
Once one opens the mind to all that is present and allow it to lead us and guide our travels we connect to the tribe, the group, society, our world, nature and the Universe and all the energies that propel us from this exact moment into the next and so on.
Ah, you say, what has this to do with the ken-po goku-i? Awareness, mindfulness, the self, etc. are all referenced within the goku-i.
Awareness of our bodies, the energies that circulate like the sun and moon. Our bodies weight for weight transfer to build energy and power in movement, i.e. body is like a weight where we use our bodies weight as it moves to build momentum which is the bases for power.
Seeing and Hearing is tantamount to both seeing and hearing our environment to perceive all things in the present moment both benign and not. Seeing and hearing within ourselves those weaknesses to build a better person.
To see or hear in all directions means in the environment as well as in ourselves, others, and society. Unlimited and when present and mindful you see and hear things most others take for granted.
The body changing direction not only to movement, another stone in the power chain, but movement within the self that promotes the way.
See, there are connections in all that we do, hear, see, say, feel and perceive: Awareness, mindful of awareness, aware of awareness for each present moment. The now of our existence for the now is always now.
Heaven and Earth as representative of all the Universe with all its present moments of life giving energy that we are able to perceive and tap into if we remain mindful; aware of awareness; awareness of the Universe's primordial energy that permeates all.
8 Ken-po Goku-i & 8 Trigrams
Is there a relationship or connection between the two? Did the ken-po goku-i, will call it gokui for brevity purposes only, actually come to be from the study of the trigrams and the I Ching, i.e. Hexagram's and so forth?
Lets see what is most obvious first. There is a reference to the Earth. There is a reference to the Sun. There is references to both the eyes and the heart. There is a reference to the moon and there is a reference to Heaven.
One trigram has hips and buttocks which relate to changing directions, balance, and both hard and soft depending on its use. Another trigram refers to the abdomen or the seat of power with our interpretation as the center of the body. This is the spot we tend to refer to as the starting point of movement or the central axis both vertical and horizontal that relates to a persons balance and weight.
Another trigram refers to hands, spine, and small bones. After all, isn't karate about the empty hands? Doesn't the spine connect the center axis to all parts of the body that when aligned properly provide power to the body and thus the application of techniques?
All eight trigrams make some reference to the elements, family relations, a body part and a group that relates to nature, i.e. east, west, north, south, etc.
When we talk of our practice we talk about balance or equilibrium and for the trigrams the number eight represents perfect balance. So, eight goku-i and eight trigrams equals balance. The body references in trigrams depending on its line arrangement can indicate positive and negative issues of that body part or area so striving for balance promotes health and well being much like striving for balance in martial practice promotes ability and confidence, etc.
All the trigrams represent nature and the Universe while the goku-i also references the Universe with direct and indirect connections to the person, the body, the mind and the spirit. Person and body being one, the mind is the next and the spirit third for the trilogy of life, i.e. spirit, mind, and body with no particular order asked or required.
Also notice that the spirit-mind-body are the trilogy correspond to the three lines of all eight trigrams. The example I use is heaven-man-earth with heaven at the top; spirit-body-mind with spirit related to Heaven, body related to man and the mind related to Earth. Man receives the benefits of Heaven and Earth, i.e. that person's heart being the same, i.e. heart of the body, for a balanced or healthy body that comes from the spirit being in balance with Heaven and the mind being steady and strong as is the Earth resulting in a strong body.
Also when sorted in a particular order there is now a matrix of three x three resulting in the eight trigrams. The eight goku-i relate the same way and when put in the order of three by three form a matrix for the various martial systems and relate to all systems. All bottles are good, they all serve a purpose. All eight goku-i are good, they all serve a purpose. All eight trigrams are good, they all serve a purpose. Connections ...
The trigrams are further governed by the elements; wood, fire, earth, metal, water; and they lead to the twelve hexagrams, primary hexagrams, of the I Ching. How far the rabbit hole goes is up to the practitioner and how far they wish to take their studies. Like anything done in martial practice the extent, depth, and breadth is totally up to the person practicing the discipline, any discipline regardless of its being martial or something else.
Out attitudes of the mind must be governed much like the mechanics of the martial systems. Martial systems have specific natural fundamental requirements that must be taught, learned, practiced and followed for it to work much like the inferences from the I Ching, the Trigrams, and the Ken-po Goku-i that assist us in the practice of the physical so that we apply them in a positive and beneficial way to ourselves, our tribes and our society.
Tom Sanders, in the Isshinryu system, has provided a great deal of material on his studies as to connecting the art of the empty hand to the goku-i to the trigrams or Tai Chi, I Ching, etc. I can say that it applies to his studies and practice yet what he provides may influence other individuals in how they approach their practice and training.
Bibliography:
http://www.168fengshui.com/Articles/8_trigrams.htm
http://www.goldenelixir.com/taoism/table_bagua.html
Lets see what is most obvious first. There is a reference to the Earth. There is a reference to the Sun. There is references to both the eyes and the heart. There is a reference to the moon and there is a reference to Heaven.
One trigram has hips and buttocks which relate to changing directions, balance, and both hard and soft depending on its use. Another trigram refers to the abdomen or the seat of power with our interpretation as the center of the body. This is the spot we tend to refer to as the starting point of movement or the central axis both vertical and horizontal that relates to a persons balance and weight.
Another trigram refers to hands, spine, and small bones. After all, isn't karate about the empty hands? Doesn't the spine connect the center axis to all parts of the body that when aligned properly provide power to the body and thus the application of techniques?
All eight trigrams make some reference to the elements, family relations, a body part and a group that relates to nature, i.e. east, west, north, south, etc.
When we talk of our practice we talk about balance or equilibrium and for the trigrams the number eight represents perfect balance. So, eight goku-i and eight trigrams equals balance. The body references in trigrams depending on its line arrangement can indicate positive and negative issues of that body part or area so striving for balance promotes health and well being much like striving for balance in martial practice promotes ability and confidence, etc.
All the trigrams represent nature and the Universe while the goku-i also references the Universe with direct and indirect connections to the person, the body, the mind and the spirit. Person and body being one, the mind is the next and the spirit third for the trilogy of life, i.e. spirit, mind, and body with no particular order asked or required.
Also notice that the spirit-mind-body are the trilogy correspond to the three lines of all eight trigrams. The example I use is heaven-man-earth with heaven at the top; spirit-body-mind with spirit related to Heaven, body related to man and the mind related to Earth. Man receives the benefits of Heaven and Earth, i.e. that person's heart being the same, i.e. heart of the body, for a balanced or healthy body that comes from the spirit being in balance with Heaven and the mind being steady and strong as is the Earth resulting in a strong body.
Also when sorted in a particular order there is now a matrix of three x three resulting in the eight trigrams. The eight goku-i relate the same way and when put in the order of three by three form a matrix for the various martial systems and relate to all systems. All bottles are good, they all serve a purpose. All eight goku-i are good, they all serve a purpose. All eight trigrams are good, they all serve a purpose. Connections ...
The trigrams are further governed by the elements; wood, fire, earth, metal, water; and they lead to the twelve hexagrams, primary hexagrams, of the I Ching. How far the rabbit hole goes is up to the practitioner and how far they wish to take their studies. Like anything done in martial practice the extent, depth, and breadth is totally up to the person practicing the discipline, any discipline regardless of its being martial or something else.
Out attitudes of the mind must be governed much like the mechanics of the martial systems. Martial systems have specific natural fundamental requirements that must be taught, learned, practiced and followed for it to work much like the inferences from the I Ching, the Trigrams, and the Ken-po Goku-i that assist us in the practice of the physical so that we apply them in a positive and beneficial way to ourselves, our tribes and our society.
Tom Sanders, in the Isshinryu system, has provided a great deal of material on his studies as to connecting the art of the empty hand to the goku-i to the trigrams or Tai Chi, I Ching, etc. I can say that it applies to his studies and practice yet what he provides may influence other individuals in how they approach their practice and training.
Bibliography:
http://www.168fengshui.com/Articles/8_trigrams.htm
http://www.goldenelixir.com/taoism/table_bagua.html
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