WANT-N-NEED

It is very easy to "choose" things you want yet it is one of the most difficult things you do when you "choose" to do things you "need" to do. There needs to be a balance of both what you want and what you need to have harmony of self. Sometimes you have to forgo "wants" to achieve something that requires you do something you "need" to do that is sometimes unpleasant and difficult.

Practice, long and hard and diligent and continuous and relevant, is something you "need" to do in order to be proficient. I am talking about that practice of martial arts toward combative defense of self, family, and others. Not sport, not martial exercise but those fundamental principles that build the basis of the entire martial system. None of these are glorified, fun (sometimes they actually are fun in a funny sort of way), or awe-inspiring. They provide you what you "need" for your system to be effective and not what you "want" as in trophies, accolades, rank, etc.

You may want to be "constantly stimulated" but what you need may end up being "monotonous and repetitive." We all have choices and they are always ours and ours alone. You can choose to get what you want and bypass what you need but what you get will be less than what you may really want. Something worth having is worth paying a price and that price may be doing what you "need" vs. what you "want" yet you may find that taking on what you "need" even if not what you "want" will end up giving you something you may have not actually realized that you "wanted!"

Note: Is this why so many tend to seek out the short way to something vs. taking the time and effort to actually realize it with wants and needs achieved together. Quick fixes, quick ways to get in shape, quick ways to do this or that when it actually "needs" to be a slow and long process to achieve what is wanted.

Belief or How I Should Have Address the CFA Article

When I first read the article I almost assumed that it was true. One reason is I believed one of the sources to be accurate and factual. I also assumed that because it came out in a periodical that I respected as a good source on traditional/classical martial arts it must be accurate in its content. These are all because I "believed" certain things only to find out that my beliefs and assumptions, although good, were in this case not accurate.

I was thrilled to see an article on the system/branch of karate I love to practice and train at. I was thrilled that one of the supposed sources was someone I respected and admired for the efforts this person has and is going to for the art of Isshinryu and out of respect for Tatsuo-san. But once again those beliefs, as they often do, influenced my mind into initially accepting something that was not true.

Belief is a very strong part of human nature. It is belief that drives us, protects us and helps us to survive and evolve. When a belief becomes something written in stone then we have the danger of stagnation, misunderstandings and conflict. This is especially true when one fails to make adjustments to a belief as time passes, evolution progresses and environment, etc. require we change. This has happened in today's Isshinryu. 

One such belief has become so ingrained in one individual that it has resulted in lies, misunderstandings and misconceptions that are hurtful and wrong not to forget inaccurate and incorrect. This one individual has allowed their own beliefs and other such mundane issues as power and control to reduce their maturity to a level of a monkey driven child who does not know any better and cause actions and accusations toward others that is uncalled for and unnecessary and hurtful to the evolution and growth of Isshinryu. 

We encounter many things in life that will challenge our beliefs. When challenged our nature is instinctually to resist and refute even when it is necessary, correct, accurate and validated but that is simply to urge us to question critically the new information in an unbiased way so we can perceive and possibly accept it making for new and improved beliefs. 

Shamefully this is not happening in the case of the CFA Isshinryu article in the recent issue. This is shameful and a shame that it caused such a uproar among our brethren in Isshinryu. It is a shame and disappointment that we have failed as karate-ka, Isshinryu'ist and simple human beings to allow it to frustrate, infuriate and push us into childish and immature actions that are hurtful and out and out mean spirited. 

I am shamed I allowed myself to get drawn into the bitter battle that is not needed, not necessary and absolutely the most unproductive things possible. It does more to harm both persons and Isshinryu than promote solidarity and symbiosis in the light of camaraderie and social cohesion of all practitioners.  

In lieu of a brotherhood of Isshinryu practitioners we are simply dividing and concurring an idea, a belief and a system inspired by a true luminary named Tatsuo Shimabuku Sensei. At this particular moment in time I believe that Tatsuo-san is rolling over in pain and anguish at our actions and deeds today. 

I am truly disappointed we all have failed to overcome the dogma of one belief when belief is a living thing that must grow and prosper as the human body grows and prospers as it ages. It is a sad, sad day that we have stooped to back biting childish behaviors and all I can say is "stop it," "grow up," and "let us all get along as karate-ka and simple human beings!"

Speaking Up - Correction

It has come to my attention that I made an egregious error in my posting of information in the previous "Speaking Up I & II posts here." I misquoted and posted without permission. This is unforgivable and I have no excuses. 

In a nutshell I can only say that Andy Sloane has spent his efforts working on behalf of Isshinryu with the highest of honor and dedication. He is a solid, outstanding and dedicated Isshinryu practitioner who has received the type of attention that can only come from those who have missed the entire way of karate and missed being honorable men and women. He does not deserve the attacks he has endured since the article in CFA came out. 

He had nothing to do with the content as it was published and is trying diligently with honor and honesty to make sure folks know that this is on CFA and the editors entirely and completely. 

Nuff said, my sincerest apologies to Andy Sloane. I admire and respect his work and efforts and ask for his forgiveness in my transgression. 

As to Advincula, it is just bad, bad, bad.

As to Sensei Chester Moyle, I also must submit my deepest apologies for the mistake I made and for the  resulting effects it had. I do hope that he will also allow for my incorrect and egregious error. 

Questions?

Click for larger version

The Eight Fold Path and Ken-po Goku-i

I have encountered over the years references to the "eight fold path of zen buddhism" as it stands against or along side the gokui. I have studied this eight fold path and found that no where does the path relate to the gokui. 

The eight fold path: 1. Right Understanding; 2. Right thoughts; 3. Right Speech; 4. Right Action; 5. Right Livelihood; 6. Right Effort; 7. Right Mindfulness; and 8. Right Concentration. I have also taken a view of a few of the translations or meanings of these eight and cannot find any connection and that is saying something from my perception as one can often, mostly, find some tenuous thread that may connect one to the other.

Lets take a look at the gokui as written by Tatsuo-san, i.e. a English written form that most validate as in his own writing.

1. The person heart is same as heaven and earth.

2. The blood circulating is almost same as the moon and sun.

3. The manner of drinking and spitting is either hard or soft.

4. The persons unbalance is the same as a weight.

5. The body should be able to change motion at any time.

6. Action to hit, is when the opportunity presents its self.

7. The eye must see every way.

8. The ear must listen in all directions.

This particular silk page was signed "Isshinryu Karatedo" with Tatsuo-san's ink wood chop and underneath it is signed, "Instructor, Shimabuku Tatsuo."

Now, looking a the eight gokui and the eight fold path I am unable to perceive, see, or observe any real relations. I have studied the gokui for over thirty five years and the eight fold path, on and off, over the last ten years and still cannot contribute either to the other. 

Let me introduce "one" interpretation of the first path, i.e. Right Understanding. Right understanding is the knowledge of the Four Noble Truths. In other words, it is the understanding of oneself as one really is. Now the gokui, i.e. The person heart is same as heaven and earth. Now, I am fairly intelligent but I see no real relationship between the two. Truth, which is something one can relate in an indirect form to the overall theme of the gokui but as to the four noble truths I cannot make a solid connection. 

The note attached to the first path, right understanding, says "The keynote of Buddhism is this Right Understanding. Buddhism, as such, is based on knowledge and not on unreasonable belief." Granted my interpretations may be completely off and irrelevant but I also associated it to the intent in practice of Isshinryu by Tatsuo-san along with his connections to the ancient classics, i.e. the I Ching, Chinese astrological charts and his understanding of sumuchi or fortune telling using all these sources. 

This post is incomplete as to a full analysis as I don't intend to bore the reader. If one decides to reach further understanding, or knowledge in this case which does relate to the first interpretation of the first path, they can research the eight fold path and the gokui. My interpretation is almost ready for release. I plan on making it an eBook and am considering releasing it as a freebie. 

In my final analysis the only true connections I can find are indirect, i.e. there are eight of both the path and the gokui. I have since found that actually the gokui is not actually eight different koan's but rather one long koan for the martial arts, i.e. Okinawan Ti or Karate. I have even added, as can be read above on this blog site, one additional line to cover the often ignored and/or forgotten reference to the tactile aspects of the human condition. 

"A person's heart is the same as Heaven and Earth while the blood circulating is similar to the Sun and Moon yet the manner of drinking and spitting is either soft or hard while a person's unbalance is the same as a weight and the body should be able to change direction at any time as the time to strike is when the opportunity presents itself and both the eyes must see all sides as the ears must listen in all directions while the mind must grasp all the tactual data not seen on all sides and not heard in any direction."

Sumuchi Tatsuo-san

When I wrote my eBook on the Ken-po Goku-i I chose to use the Chinese Classics as a base to promote my philosophy. This included the I-Ching, Tao Te Ching, etc. I am adding the following as further reasoning for my theory and publication.


I decided to find out what the kanji on the left means to validate the information that Tatsuo-san was a sumuchi or fortune-teller. The larger characters actually translate to "Unsei handan" which uses the characters/ideograms dipicted, i.e. [運勢判断], which match the photo. These characters translate as follows:

Unsei handan [運勢判断] The characters/ideograms mean "fortune-telling." The first character means, "carry; luck; destiny; fate; lot; transport; progress; advance," the second character means, "forces; energy; military strength," the third character means, "judgement; signature; stamp; seal," the fourth character means, "severance; decline; refuse; apologize; warn; dismiss; prohibit; decision; judgement; cutting."

The items to note specifically is the overall meaning of the characters/ideograms, i.e. fortune telling." Now, as to those three characters/ideograms underneath the larger ones I find hard to discern for translation. I can make some assumptions and guesses that the first character is [神] which means "kami." Kami with this character/ideogram means, "god; deity; divinity; spirit." The second character may be light [火] which means fire; flame; blaze. This could be interpreted along with the other character/ideograms as light. Now we have godly light if we or I am correct. Finally, the character I feel most likely matches the last character on the left is [堂] which means, "temple; shrine; hall; public chamber and can be a prefix for magnificent.

So, I added all three together in the order of top to bottom, now left to right, to see what comes up [神火堂]. The three together don't provide a translation as a whole but rather the three separate as already translated. When I use other translators I find the only one that actually gives some hint is a Chinese translation, i.e. meaning Shenchou Church.

All in all I would accept the translation of "Kami (god or spirit), fire for light or light and finally hall to god of light hall might suit that translation.

In the end I believe that the terms or phrase used, i.e. Unsei Handan without the shinkodo might be more accurate. I believe since the smaller characters were placed that way they were meant to be separate, i.e. Shin kodo [神] Kado [火堂] which means kamikado, if I have it right. Knowing how kanji and Japanese go in reality I may be right on then again most likely off a bit.

Regardless, the left pillar does validate and confirm that Tatsuo Shimabuku advertised his ability as a fortune teller and that his home could be considered a god hall of light. Do you feel the same, i.e. the validation and my translation?

The right pillar needs verification as to translation but it is perceived to mean "Isshinryu Karate Dojo, Shihan Shimabuku Tatsuo." I will attempt to translate the larger kanji but the smaller may be more difficult since they are so small and enlarging tends to blur the characters/ideograms.

p.s. the I Ching symbol, no. 16, is supposed to be Tatsuo-san's birth hexagram.

Bad Martial Arts

moon [月]; sun [日]

The cycles of the moon and sun represent "rest" and "action." This means one who practices must find balance by knowing when to practice and when to rest. Rest and practice drive one another and proficiency is generated in this process, and benefits are generated through this process. The means of rest and activity generate equilibrium in the physical allowing generation of "Chi" which powers the spirit and benefits the mind so the body receives its benefits.