Ken-po Goku-i tome seven and eight - seeing and hearing

To give another idea as to why we see these to particular "sensory modes" used in this philosophical reference you need to read the following quote:

"In America today there is an overwhelming emphasis on ear and eye sensory modes. All educational and mass media mechanisms are limited to those two modes, so that those who preference is eye or ear (and especially eye) have an advantage truly impossible to overcome. Except for a smaller number of people all language processing in our culture is done through the sensory mechanisms of eye and ear." - Dr. Suzette Haden Elgin, Ph.D Author of "More on the Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense."

This is to my mind a profound quote/statement. It rings many bells as to why these two senses dominate the martial arts. I believe wholeheartedly that this goes farther back than modern communications. The first moment of communications be they the grunts and gestures of ancient humans to today's ability to communicate in one form or another where eyes and ears dominate.

Consider teaching or instructing practitioners of martial arts. If a practitioner has a dominant sensory mode of seeing they can have an advantage over hearing and without exception touch. Since martial arts like karate involve moving the body the sense of touch, with restrictions, can aid a person who is identified as touch dominant to learn quickly. I can extrapolate from this that Sensei who have not identified this aspect of teaching can find their participants being less that could be. Imagine you know this tidbit of information and use it to ensure that all your practitioners get the most out of your guidance, knowledge and experience.

In most the left brain processes information that comes in patterned chunks of information one after the other. This is like numbering and the letters of the alphabet. The left side attends to those parts and pieces while the right side "wholes" not formed in logical patterns. The left is mostly in favor of the eye and ear senses while the right side touch. The other senses beyond sight, sound and touch are nonexistent for this lesson, i.e. taste, etc.

I quote, "The effect of our concentration on training the left brain and letting the right founder about without help means that we educate and foster a dominant sense mode of eye and ear, neglecting the other touch dominant sense mode. If you have a practitioner who suddenly becomes frustrated with your efforts you might try to discover if their sense mode is touch vs. the dominant seeing and hearing.

When discovering methods to pass along all that knowledge, skill and enthusiasm for your system remember that although the eye and ear dominant in communications, i.e. teaching, you may discover that touch can benefit your efforts. In the greatest of all scenario's a Sensei who can incorporate seeing, hearing and touching to train and practice may benefit the participants greatly and thus the dojo. The skill then can be to determine the dominant sense and emphasize instruction individually to achieve greater results - skill, knowledge, and proficiency.

Once again give attention, thought and discovery to the meaning of, "The eyes must see all sides. The ears must listen in all directions."

Bibliography:
Elgin, Suzette Haden, Ph.D. "More on the Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense." Prentice Hall. New Jersey. 1983.

Letting Go

We receive instruction. We have no reasoning to believe what we are taught is real, accurate, and truthful. When we establish a relationship in the dojo, Sensei and Deshi, Sempai and Kohai and fellow dojo participants it builds a bond, tribal oriented bond. We become a family that tends to stick together - group protection.

Our associations create a bond, a culture, dojo customs. We come to have certain beliefs about the system, the dojo and the Sensei. This is all a good thing. It is instinctive and natural. We gravitate toward like minds and like activities. Much like the natural survival instincts of history we collect together and form a group that bonds and protects and socializes. We survive together even if we no longer fear lions and tigers and bears.

We, the group, must be careful that our customs, traditions and beliefs don't become mired in dogmatic doctrine with a rigidity that removes any chance of flexibility and change. We must be mindful that all things change and that change is a good thing. If it were not then we would not have the great Tai Chi, the I Ching and the Tao Te Ching - among others.

If we allow our group to become so rigid then we lose site of balance as taught by the Ancients - Nature. It is like the sky above, the earth below and all of the living things - in the moment, present, and moving through time.

That which nature and the ancients teach is nothing is made of stone. All things are headed somewhere. We live in the moment and the moment is a continuous changing moving moment - moment by moment. To achieve balance we accept the moment, the movement, the change. Change means allowing that what we know and knew are not permanent. We must allow our customs, traditions and beliefs to live, breath, and grow - change.

Accept the changes, gain balance and believe - believe in change. Sometimes you just have to let go!

Red-Blue | Yang-Yin | In-Yo | Heat-Cold

The great tai chi symbol originally was red and white. It occurred to me that there may be more interpretations to the symbol not covered in my previous postings. We see in today's symbol the colors black and white. I discovered that long ago when first created there were no dye's for black and of course white is usually a byproduct of creating paper or bamboo where no color could be interpreted later as white. I would suggest that if dye's were available for blue it might have been the opposite to the red.

I can only speculate that we see the common black-white as an interpretation of dark and light or the night sky vs. the sun's daylight. All of these to my mind work and have a sense of truth.

I have come to understand that if the red and blue has been used we could then use the forging of a Japanese sword, the Katana, as representative of the forging we as martial artist must endure to create a balance enlightened person.

The color red represents fire and heat. Fire and heat are used to heat the metals of the soon to be blade of the katana. If we were to allow that to occur and then stop with out consideration for the entire process the sword would actually be brittle. If we heat it then simply dip it once in the cool blue water then it will cool rapidly and once again if not considered as a whole process leave a brittle blade. It is a repetitive process of hot/red and cool/blue to work the metal until it reaches that stage where it adheres to a strength that allows it to endure battle yet flexibility that prevents it from breaking. It allows just enough of a combination in forging to create one of the finest blades known to man.

Red is also representative of anger. Anger if not cooled and tempered will create a brittle mind and body easily defeated in all crises. Using a cool mind represented by blue which is related to cool, peaceful and a comfort we can temper the minds anger from red to blue until we reach a mind and body that remain present and balanced.

Is this a viable hypothesis?

Customs, Traditions, Cultures and Beliefs

Customs: accepted or habitual practice; a specific practice of long standing; Frequent repetition of the same act; way of acting common to many; ordinary manner; habitual practice; usage; method of doing or living; a specific practice of long standing, etc.

Traditions: A long-established custom or belief that has been passed on in this way; An artistic or literary method or style established by an artist, writer, or movement, and subsequently followed by others; an inherited pattern of thought or action; a specific practice of long standing, etc.

Culture: The arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively; The attitudes and behavior characteristic of a particular social group; The customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or other social group; the tastes in art and manners that are favored by a social group; acculturation: all the knowledge and values shared by a society, etc.

Beliefs: An acceptance that a statement is true or that something exists; Something one accepts as true or real; a firmly held opinion or conviction; Trust, faith, or confidence in someone or something; impression: a vague idea in which some confidence is placed; any cognitive content held as true, etc.

I have been informed that Shimabuku Tatsuo Sensei spoke to a few American's who seemed to have an interest in continuing his system of practice of the intent to learn more about the Okinawan customs, traditions and beliefs. We know that he spoke of these things as he presented those first few the silk certificates that included a rank/level pronouncement and the ken-po goku-i. Some attempted to get a greater explanation of his intentions - alas, none were forthcoming so reliance on second and third had testimonials are used.

I have no way to know for sure if this was intentional on Tatsuo Sensei's part of just a huge chasm between the cultures of Okinawa and America. It is known that humans create a world through the perceptive filters created by environment, culture, customs, traditions and beliefs of family and the society to which the family is a member. Experience as we travel through life adds, supplements, modifies our perceptive filters thus changing the world we create by our mind. Those filters provide us the knowledge and experience to either take the red pill or the blue pill.

Our own customs, traditions, culture and beliefs drive us and it can be difficult to observe and learn of other customs, traditions, cultures and beliefs if any of the data causes stress as it may or may not relate to our own - cognizant dissonance occurs and creates cause and affect to the perceptive filters of our mind.

The greatest challenge to the transmission of a system such as Okinawa Karate, i.e. Tatsuo's interpretation of karate in Isshinryu, is that our preceptive filters tend to cause changes thus changing the traditional beliefs of the original system into something unique to the individual, the individuals family and the individuals tribe/society where they reside. Classical training takes precedence when a practitioner works diligently to remain as true as humans can to the original intent, training, customs, traditions, culture and beliefs of the creator - such as Tatsuo Sensei and Okinawan Isshinryu.

This becomes a conundrum to the practitioner of the systems of karate or other martial systems.  It is believed that once a human intervenes in an experiment that experiment is thus tainted unintentionally. That unintentional intrusion that causes a distinct effect to the experiment taints any chance of an unbiased result.

As today's practitioners take on the mantel of Isshinryu and martial arts generally they influence that practice intentionally and unintentionally. I believe that a true practitioner of a martial art cannot avoid this shift due to the personal perceptive filters created over our life time.

The most difficult aspect of my practice of a martial system is learning to see past some of my filters with a mind that this also is tainted by those same filters. This is a truth that colors our world where clarity over rose colored shadows can lead and mislead. This is my belief in the disparities encountered between various Isshinryu houses. They all have a distinct blueprint that manufactured that home or dojo. Changes are not impossible, merely difficult if approached from a path foreign to the belief system of that dojo.

It is my hope that I can inspire a very small view that transcends the view currently held in each dojo of Isshinryu. To inspire a change. A change that benefits the system and promotes the core belief of its founder to learn of his customs, traditions, culture and beliefs which will promote a better understanding of all customs, traditions, cultures, and beliefs - all of them.

Let me close this post by saying that I understand a bit more why Tatsuo Sensei asked his American practitioners to embrace this study. It does seem to enrich the practice and the system itself overall. It also promotes my personal belief that taking this intent places its importance within those fundamental principles of all martial systems. It fits to how we interact with other tribes, other societies, and other nations.

Buddhism and Martial Arts

Historically speaking and to give due regard to the practice of all martial arts one should study the history of the arts. In my case that means Okinawan origins with extensive influences by China and later Japan pre-1900's and early 1900's.

When a person speaks about Buddhism they tend to direct thoughts of Japanese origins. This is true to a small extent. The martial artists must realize that the Buddhist influences originate from China and China's Buddhism originates from India. It can be a bit daunting when you study the traditions of a system such as martial arts with specifics for me in karate of Okinawa.

To better understand what was in the minds of those who created the systems we practice today it is important to study their traditions, beliefs and customs. A huge custom and belief for all is Buddhism - in one form or another.

I wish to take a look at some fundamentals of Buddhism to see how they connect to my practice of Okinawan Karate-jutsu-do and to understand what Shimabuku Tatsuo Sensei meant by asking his American practitioners to study Okinawan's and their customs, courtesies and beliefs.

For me there is a bit of groundwork I want to express to set the stage for this post. I try to understand that humans fashion narratives/stories to express our self-understanding and to contribute to a structure of meaning for life. When we fashion/create these narratives/stories I understand them to be a form that provides me information of varying degrees as to the way I see the world and interpret my experience within the world.

I will often utilize various mythological symbols or narrative motifs from any surrounding data and then adjust-change-transform the meaning in some new and creative way - this is normal for any human mind to my current understanding.

I also make a note as to karma, karma being that "action" which is a moral belief of cause and effect which is then bases solely upon my actions.

Buddhism has what is referred to in some sects as the four noble truths. When you actually see the context of those truths they do relate to other beliefs and customs used in classical traditions of martial practice. They are:

1 - the truth of suffering.
2 - the truth of the arising of suffering.
3 - the truth of cessation of suffering.
4 - the truth of the path that leads to the cessation of suffering.

Taking the systems within the Ancient Chinese Classics, which are influential in both Okinawa and Japan systems, there is the great Tai Chi which fundamentally are the reference to Yang-Yin. Life is suffering. Take a moment to understand that our greatest lessons usually come from those things that cause suffering - look at it as stress from anger, fear, etc.

To begin to practice karate-jutsu-do you must know the "truth" of what is is and what it provides. To take just a small part of it results in incomplete knowledge, understanding and proficiency in use of its applicable principles and resulting techniques. In a nutshell to not understand the truth behind the practice will result in "suffering." Think personal damage, legal ramifications, and those medical resulting for use of karate-jutsu without the moral compass of such teachings.

Truth arises in karate practice if you fail to assimilate, study and apply the principles, etc. The goal is to stop the suffering by learning to apply karate-jutsu-do and avoid violent encounters, etc. that always result is suffering.

When we fully understand the truth of suffering and what causes it then we can truly take the path, or way, that results in our ability to stop that suffering. Take it to mean knowing the truth of fighting and violence whereby your practice achieves a level of proficiency where you can avoid it. On those rare occasions when confronted by crises you then apply the practices and principles that allow you to not use physical means to resolve the crises. Avoidance, deescalation, etc.

Lets say all the worst occurs then if you apply karate-jutsu properly you are able to keep the damage to the absolute minimum for you and your threat. Even now we can apply the third truth.

As spoken of in many martial arts narratives/stories the true master achieves enlightenment which is the truth of the path that leads to cessation of suffering. His or her mere presence defects threats and crises where they no longer need to apply the arts.

The four truths as to Buddhism provide a means for humans to become "Buddha Like" where there efforts within achieve ability to spread the truths and the learnings to others as society service. This sometimes referred to as a living "nirvana."

As we continue to view the fundamentals of Buddhism the four truths are expanded by the study and achievement of the eight-fold path. When you see how the break down of that path unfolds to Buddhist practices you will see a correlation to such things as Bushido.

The eight-fold path:

Right Understanding; Right Thought which equates to "Wisdom."
Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood which equates to "Morality."
Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration which equates to "Mental Discipline."

Can you start to see how it connects and cause-effects the practices of both Okinawan and Japanese martial arts?

It is understood that study of each is necessary to learn. It is understood that they are all developed and applied simultaneously. This is similar to the study of the fundamental principles of marital systems, you do them separately and apply them simultaneously. These eight-fold dimensions of practice are broken down into the "threefold learning." Once again numerology appears with the number "3."

In Buddhist practice of the truths and paths one must also develop proper morality through regulation of your speech (verbal, written, etc. communications - gentle art of verbal self-defense), your behavior, and your work. This means controlling your words or actions that may cause suffering for others. It is believed you also avoid occupations that cause harm to others such as arms dealing, etc.

Buddhism, like martial arts, asserts that there is a mental challenge required to achieve the various levels. A mental discipline that transforms the mind and thus the body.

Buddhism uses "meditation" a a means to transform your mind so that when dealing with the world you are able to act, think, and respond wisely and compassionately. This is promoted in those practices of avoidance, deescalation and so forth.

Buddhism is a philosophy of the mind. It is a guide to the layperson to allow them to select a path for life. It provides us the ability to see and hear that the world is not just a battleground between good and evil. It is a means for a person to transform the consciousness and follow a way so you can truly possess reality of the world.

It provides guidance, as we find in martial systems, to understand and control - somewhat - our intent: both conscious and unconscious intent. This then controls the actions that result not allowing the actions to simply act. It promotes, like in marital training, a moral behavior, think etiquette, etc., that creates a dependence to both mind and action - a mind-body connection.

The world we live in is a product of our minds. Everything in our world is altered  by our mind - our conscious perceptions. Everything we sense is filtered through our consciousness and that can either distort it or recognize the truth in it by the experience.

Buddhist meditation, the moving meditation of martial practice, techniques were created and developed to teach humans to "see" the world and to wake us up to the interdependent and non-dualistic nature of reality.

An important principle of Buddhist practices, martial practices that result in a dogmatic adherence to that practice, teaches us that this conditioned "attachment" is a delusional reality that prevents us from breaking away from it. Meditation, martial practice, must therefor promote breaking away from the attachment to allow true understanding and the ability to see and hear reality and truth.

Buddhism is practiced within the realm of discipline and practice. Karate-jutsu-do is practiced within the realm of discipline and practice, practice, practice. In marital arts a  person learns discipline and control of the mind. It can result in removal of the filters that distort our perceptions and reprogram the mind so that perceptions of reality are real and reflect the way the world is and not necessarily those of our narrative/story.

Buddhism increases the power of perception and the mind. Martial arts increases the power of perception and the mind. Since our only access to reality is by way of our minds the martial practice trains the mind to see and hear and sense truth of reality. Buddhism and Martial Arts both achieve this.

To understand the classical traditions, beliefs and customs that made the martial arts what they are you would need to understand those traditions  that influenced their creation. To understand such as Buddhism and its cousins Zen, etc. you would seek out the knowledge then understanding from their studies. This provides the balance needed to truly learn, practice and teach authentic classical traditions of the martial arts world.

Something to Consider?

Falling Down the Rabbit Hole

If we as martial artist take that leap into the rabbit hole we are acknowledging failurs, loss of power and control or a failure toward casutiousness. As we fall we get a feeling of flying providing a real sense of independence. It denotes we are regaining real control by the process of falling into the rabbit hole. We also sense a feeling of freedome and release that relate to attaining a transcendant state.

The hole itself represents a start of a change or transformation. It also represents our deepest most transcendent wisdom or information about our unconscious. It is seeing into our depths, what does this reveal.

We could also accept the well to represent our deep seated unconscious information about our wisdom. It can mean our effort to look deep down into the depth of ourselves to see what we can reveal.

In the Matrix trilogy they used another symbol that is merely a vertical shaft vs. a horizontal one, i..e cave vs. well, where the cave is about our inner most or hidden issues. Those we covered up unconsciously to feel good about ourselves and to alleviate pain and suffering. We enter the rabbit hole or cave to see just what we can find, what we keep hidden and to find out where discovery leads.

Wells, rabbit holes, caves, etc. are all under ground. Underground symbolizes that hidden side of self. It is that shadow that lies in the depths of experience. It is that otherworld, that matrix, - the mystical world beyond the veil of reality. It is our soul where reside our spirits. It represents who we are and where that comes from as to our past.

The rabbit hole symbolizes a hallway as well. Another vertical well or tunnel. Entering into and following the path of a tunnel that our unconscious creates can open our innermost memories and feelings. This is especially important to those that we bury deep to hide away and from. It can also symbolize a re-birth or resurrection. It also shows you the doorways leading off the hallway that can be various apsects of you and inform you that they connect to one another. That connection is important so you realize that those connections that are hidden still affect those that are not dragging one or the other back into the depths of the unconscious reflecting stresses and their effects.

The corridor is no mans land, a place between conscious and unconscious where being stuck/trapped is unsatisfactory to life and health and well-being. It leads to some end and that ending is determinant on your awareness of this corridor, this well, the cave, the rabbit hole. Just how deep, long or wide remains within your control.

It is apparent that the opposite of this is the rabbit hole can also mean a regression, tuning inward, to escape from threats, problems, boredom and those stories that hurt, cause pain, and create effects that are not good for the mind and body.

The opposite also shows the symbols of the rabbit hole, etc. as a pit or void. It means a place of emptiness. A place where feelings are trapped. We face the void only to understand that means falling into it. We fall into the nothing, but with the potential to increase awareness with a effect of transformation beyond our imaginations. This is the power of change. The power of self-liberation.

Often in martial arts we refer to becoming a state of awareness like a mirror that reflects truth and understanding. It represents our looking inward to seek enlightenment. It can symbolize self-image. It can represent our identity - both good and bad. It means looking, seeing, into the unconscious to see exactly who we are and to reveal all that we hide from ourselves. The confusion can be informing. It can still provide information to show you you.

The opening to the well, corridor, cave, etc. can be an entrance, opening, or a door. It can be a symbol to new experiences as well as a passing from one state of self to another. The new self being a new realization of self. Doors are something you can or not open. It can open you to other people and ideas. This is an entrance to a new life. The walking through a door is a transit into another space - a transition. How we transit to another space is like walking, crawling, falling, riding, running, flying or jumping. Walking can symbolize/signify a confident entrance to the unconscious; falling can mean out-of-control or accidental or a chaotic quality to the transit. You need to ask yourself as this stage: where, how, or what are you transitioning toward?

This is what we do when we take on a martial practice. This is what must be accomplished to balance out the body and mind. This singular endeavor can insert the key into the door that lets you see just how far the corridor goes, how deep the well, the rabbit hole and just how deep and wide the cave.

Thank You

A few years ago I began seeking more. I felt a need to know about SD and fighting beyond my then current level. It provided me many discoveries. Discoveries about my training, practice and me. The me part has recently become more discovery than I intended. It is something I needed and did not know I needed.

I have discovered some not very nice traits. If not for the teachings of many I would not have discovered those things  and that would be depressing and most unfortunate.

I want to say thank you to a few folks. I won't provide names. I don't wish to forget or overlook any one person - not nice of me. I want to say thank you to those folks for putting themselves out there. Those efforts provided me the awareness that will result in my growth as a person. I want to say thank you to the authors, web sites, blog posters, article authors, teachers/mentors/instructors and those references they provided that led to this recent epiphany. I would not and could not have discovered the needs and traits without that effort - thank you.

The road before me is going to be the most difficult road I have ever encountered in my life of fifty-seven years. The only regret, I was not aware or astute enough to see what was needed at a much younger age. It is truly never to late.

So, with out more I say to all of you, "thank you."

GAVSD (Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defence)

I have posted recently on this particular self-defense written by Dr. Elgin, PhD. and want to clarify something. It may seem as if I am promoting this a the ultimate art of self-defense. I am simply excited by the possibilities this type of knowledge can achieve in crises handling. It is relevant and a tool like any other tool that provides benefits when used properly. I just happen to feel it is a fundamental tool in avoiding conflicts.

I have all the GAVSD books. I have read almost all of them first time around. I know I will read them again and again. I also will actively follow her recommendations to improve my communications. That improvement will also provide me more knowledge to improve my self-protection method of avoidance. It has already in my personal and professional life.

My enthusiastic postings are my efforts to inspire readers to read her books. To decide on the value for themselves. If you enjoy my posts that is frosting on the cake for me.

Ego Driven Blog?

Sometimes when I write and post I consider the reasons. I ask myself if I am doing this to feed my ego. It is difficult to really tell. I tell myself it is a good model to learn and pass along thoughts and idea's on my practice and training. I tell myself that I write in a manner that leaves ego and pride out of it - I ask, "Am I successful?"

My efforts to see what is down the rabbit hole sometimes seems truthful. Sometimes it seems not. I discovered using the word seem can be deceptive. Can this mean I am just discovering its true meaning therefore provides the opportunity to reflect once again and discover the truth vs. a self-deception?

Can I be honest with myself now and say, "My efforts to see what is down the rabbit hole is truthful. Sometimes it is not."? At this particular moment I can say, yes. I can also say that this requires self-honest evaluation on a consistent basis. It is easy to fall back into those habits that developed digging the rabbit hole deeper.

Something to consider ... what we say and do and write ... is it filled with presuppositions that provide hidden self-talk that the unconscious mind recognizes with out more conscious awareness resulting in a deeper and darker rabbit hole?

In an honest effort I will say I believe that my blog(s) are a teaching tool for me and a means to express to others my ideas and thoughts for comment and feedback of a beneficial way - to learn and create light in my rabbit hole. Is there a presupposition  that is within this statement nullifying it?

My wife uses a Sufism, "Is it kind, is it true, is it necessary?" Can this be used for posting as well? All three or two or one of them? How would you accomplish this?

The Rabbit Hole

To achieve awareness first recognize that the rabbit hole is yours and your standing over it. Look down the rabbit hole and you may see nothing but darkness that runs deep. This is a good thing - self-awareness of the rabbit hole.

To know just how deep the rabbit hole goes you must get some light to see past the darkness. This is an internal event. It is a self-crises that must be overcome to light the rabbit hole.

To send light down the rabbit hole to see just how far it goes is to become aware of those things within us that are not allowing the truth to be present and in our consciousness. To see just how far the rabbit hole goes you must choose to take the red pill or the blue pill. As always, your choice.

To become aware, take the red pill to open the mind and become aware of the rabbit hole. Many tend to take the blue pill. It is a painful process to light up the rabbit hole, look into it - like looking into your soul - and then taking that first step into the rabbit hole.

I have taken the red pill. It is a hard path and I still am not sure where the rabbit hole will take me. I have discovered that the hole although dark and deep still provides growth and serenity to my life as I encounter each thing and change it to a more positive thing - a most difficult task.

The practice of karate-jutsu-do in tandem with the ken-po goku-i was my red pill. During my journey down the rabbit hole each level in my training, practice and studies has created a greater light intensity showing me the way. The rabbit hole is deep. The light removes doubt and fear and frustrations so I can truly see beyond the many stories covering my self.

I don't say this to express that this is the way. It is just my way and my philosophy. I have taken the red pill, I remain in wonderland and I am finding out just how deep the rabbit hole is. If I had taken the blue pill I would still be blissfully living in the matrix believing everything the matrix wanted me to believe regardless and in direct opposition to truth.

Unlike Cypher, I would not desire to return to the matrix and be plugged back in for the benefits I have experienced next the pain of discovery and change is far greater.

Jutsu-Do

Recently I read the article, "Jutsu vs. Do," by Iain Abernethy Sensei. Outstanding article read here first if you so wish.

Abernethy Sensei does an excellent job explaining his perceptions and understanding of the two terms as applied to the practice of martial systems. I agree with his assessments. I also believe it explains an aspect taught in Chinese Classics that all life deals with a duality of Yang-Yin.

To me, karate is both jutsu and do, much like Sensei articulates in his post. To me, it is the duality of karate training and practice. To practice and maintain the traditions of Okinawan karate both sides of that coin must balance to achieve a level of proficiency leading to enlightenment - both physical and psychological.

The ken-po goku-i, the bubishi, the I Ching, and the Tao Te Ching bring many lessons with a theme of duality in balance. To meld jutsu and do, dojo and society, internal self and external person, etc. Everything connects and this is one lesson of many in karate-jutsu-do.

The naming of a system should exemplify the systems principles. To provide a limiting title creates confusion and misunderstandings. Take the title/name "karate." Depending on who is hearing the term, title, name you get many differing explanations/interpretations of just what that means. Until you clear that air you cannot truly understand its true meaning in practice and training.

So much in training is missing due to misunderstandings through ambiguities such as this. It may seem frivolous yet it does have an affect. You may ask, "Why bother?" Use verbal self-defense skills as the example. If you cannot determine meaning and then articulate a response how can you deescalate and/or avoid the common crisis/conflict that results when things go bad. Verbal communications are known to be the impetus of most conflicts.

Read his article. Consider what it means to you and then decide. It is your practice and training. It is your goals and accomplishments in this that matter. If it provides balance then it is good.

One

The great Tai Chi. The one that became Yang-Yin. Then became the trigrams then hexagrams. The one. The one of karate. The one in life, that one thing that brings meaning to all things. Isshinryu or "one" heart method/way/technique, etc.

Neo, the one, the one who will free the mind. Through our practice of the one heart we can learn to free our mind. Neo is an anagram for one, just look for it.

To grow in spirit practice with one in mind, the one being you, yourself, you within your mind and body. Learn to break the one into the two and find them in balance through your practice and training.

Use the full and complete training of kata. Not many but just one kata.

One kata, not many. Many is fine once you learn the one. Learning one kata has come to mean learning the movement. The movement must be clean, crisp, and most of all pretty. I mean pretty like the performance in floor exercises in gymnastics or up on the rings or even the horse or beam. This takes great skill. In kata it means something is missing.

Learn one kata means to truly learn it to its fullest depth and breadth. Often I have posted that to learn one kata means you learn all kata. To spend time and effort on one will teach you what you need to then learn other kata in a shorter time period. Why? Because you know the depth and breadth of one kata. That one kata encompasses those principles that transcend kata versions as well as systems and styles be they hard, soft or a combination thereof.

Often the idea of many kata as many black belts for many systems or styles has become the goal, the marker of a master. Too bad, so much is missed because of this misconception of proficiency and ability. To score 9.8's and 9.7's for kata performance has taken precedence over kata to self protection, combat, fighting, or what ever is required for the moments scenario. Too bad ...

Spending all your time on many kata leaves no time to learn karate. Yes, you can do the form in its most rudimentary level - can you apply it randomly yet with direct application to the appropriate threat? Too bad ...

To learn one kata with all the fundamental principals of martial systems then learning what violence is and achieving the ability to recognize it and act accordingly overcoming all its adversities is a real challenge, does your kata do that? Too bad ...

If I had to lay claim to just one thing in all my years of practice it would be with pride I would say I learned one kata completely, thoroughly, deeply and to its greatest breadth much like gazing at the heavens and seeing no end or limitations. I would say I learned one kata this way and made it work.

When you have learned your first kata moves and your Sensei says your ready to begin the next, STOP, respectfully ask to learn all there is to learn on that one kata first - you have all the time in the world to add to your kata with meaning and purpose toward karate's meaning and purpose. Wouldn't that be great?

If your the offspring of the traditional, post 1900's implementation to schools on Okinawa and Japan, form of learning it is not too late. Stop, choose the one kata that speaks to you as the unique individual you are and then seek the knowledge to learn and practice "just one kata" to completion. You will enrich your training and practice and thus achieve greater understanding of all those other rudimentary kata. Sounds good to me ...

Seeing, Hearing, and Feeling

The ken-po goku-i speaks directly to the two terse references to seeing and hearing. We can go on-n-on on those two. It appears another very important sense to use and understand for karate-do through this reference is "feeling."

Iain Abernethy Sensei speaks about the use of two hands in kata bunkai. The use of the hands where while one strikes the other is feeling the body movement as well as deflecting, etc. to supplement the striking hand. Note: there is more to this. Recommend viewing his video's for more.

The ability to feel the movement of the threat gives you additional sensing information to properly act. It tells you they are moving, in what direction, and then by its message provides you the actions necessary to exploit that movement.

In addition a karate-ka must not rely only on seeing or hearing or feeling. It should be a combination of all of them. Sometimes hearing a noise, looking to identify and classify may not be enough. A lot of times when attacked from the rear or blind side all you get is the ability to feel an aggressive touch. Once you feel it you have to act, to move, and to apply actions that will keep you from damage.

Feeling may be implied in the ken-po goku-i. It is not directly referenced, obvious to the reader. You can get an inference to feeling if you know to recognize the ken-po goku-i though symbolism and the Isshinryu-no-Megami. The time to strike is symbolized by the open and closed hands of the goddess so you can kind of extrapolate that this includes feeling with the hands. Going outside the box would add that feeling the others hands, i.e. open being representative of non-aggressive touch vs. closed hand representative of an aggressive touch or strike or joint manipulation and so on.

You can also use symbolism of the darkness represented in the goddess to mean one must use touch and thus how that touch feels something with interpretation as to that objects intent be it aggressive or not. We must use our hands and touch and feeling through the touch sense to determine obstacles and threats in darkness of all kinds.

Symbolism and its teachings, something to consider.

Thanks to Iain Sensei for this lesson on two hands and feel/touch, etc. Sometimes the obvious remains hidden until someone turns on a light. Light on! I also must mention that Rory Miller expresses the importance of touch or feeling to fighting, etc. in his book Facing Violence. Mr. Miller also speaks of smell as well which is unusual - how many teaching SD speak of touch and smell?

The Matrix is Real

We live in a matrix of our own doing every single day. Recent viewing of the matrix with story notes stimulated this thought. It can seem real yet some distant instinctual ghost of a thought says this is something more or different although seemingly real. This can be the stories we tell ourselves to make life comfortable - our comfort matrix of our mind.

We each experience life. Each of us will interpret those particular experiences and assume it represents reality. This is true to each individual due to their particular believe system which when compared to other systems becomes a divergent belief system that each of us possesses - The Matrix. Our belief system can be wrong and therefore our reality is not what we think it is - our matrix, the matrix.

If true then our reality is to be questioned in order to discover what exists behind our self induced illusions - our stories of comfort.

To be free from the matrix of our own design we shall have to accept the truth of the world which is the only path to true enlightenment. We have to achieve an ability to get past the matrix or the true nature of the human mind and karate-do is a means to develop a mind-body ability to reach enlightenment - unplugging from our matrix.

No where else can I determine such direct confrontation of the matrix than by the mind-body practice of karate-do. No where else can I determine such rapid emphasis on the reality than when a technique or mind fails to perceive the reality of such endeavors, i.e. protection in fighting and/or combat, speaks by way of pain. Pain is a good teacher.

To achieve the "way" one must come to some state where the uneasy peace karate-do presents achieves a balance of both Yin-n-Yang, i.e. the rational and irrational of the matrix. Understanding first and foremost that our minds are a matrix - of a sort - that produces both reality and stories is paramount to escaping the matrix. Accepting that we can control our mind thus the matrix is to build and strengthen our will and creativity. It is our natural ability of free will utilization and our innate creativity that allows is to unplug. Sometimes the comfort of the matrix keeps us chained to such things as rigidity and dogmatic doctrine that limits our enlightenment.

Don't' allow the matrix to dictate to you what enlightenment is ... allow your mind to be free, freeing the mind from the matrix of our own making. After all, the matrix we deal with although influenced externally is still ours and we can change it - free will, creativity, due diligence, and believing in oneself are the key to following any path where the way of the empty hand is the first gate to open allowing access to the second and third gates.

Free your mind; free your body; achieve free will; build on creativity and all through the singular, the one, practice of karate-do [any do will do the same].

Bibliography:
Young, Mark. An Interpretation of the Philosophy of the Matrix Trilogy. 2003 - 2011. The Matrix 101. Date of Access: 2 Aug 2011 http://www.thematrix101.com/contrib/myoung_aitptm.php