I have come across a quote by Nahum Stiskin that I adjusted slightly as it represented to me an ideology of meaning for karate. The adjustment I made is small, here it is: "Karate (all martial systems) is the effort to regulate the movement of the body in such a way as to increase its inner harmony and composure. The cleansing of the heart involves (through practice of Martial system and study of ken-po goku-i) separation of oneself from a disorderly mental life and attempt to understand the meaning of existence in order to obtain inner peace and a sense of well-being."
Yin-yang as to the body speaks to the ebb and flow of the blood and chi or energy. As you progress in knowledge of the ancient classics you find all things of the heavens and of the Earth depend and exist on the yin-yang principle. It is the essence of all things. We see this in our breathing, i.e. breath in is yin while breath out is yang with varying degrees of yin and yang dependent on the breathing technique.
Harmony and composure of the human body is achieved through mastery of the bodies balance of yin and yang. The body moves constantly form state to state, i.e. a softness and hardness that is also yin and yang.
Read the goku-i (ken-po goku-i) to understand how the connections, the threads of the cosmos, create a holistic wholehearted way of life that is represented in the microcosmic world we call the dojo.
Points to ponder .....
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