Ken-po Goku-i: September 2016

The Number 3: Numerology Anyone

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In my articles, postings but I like the term article more, I write about all sorts of things from my personal theories, to the physical aspects through principles, sometimes techniques as they apply to methodologies and force levels as well as philosophy, etc. Directly related to karate, the Asian connection if you will, I have noticed a lot of groupings in, “Three’s.”

Shin-gi-tai (Shin; Gi: Tai).
Shu-ha-ri (Shu; Ha; Ri).
Shoshin, Zanshin, Mushin.
Awareness, Intention and Intent.
Kihon, Kata, Kumite.
Heaven, Earth, Humanity.
Body, Mind, Spirit.
Serenity, Tranquility, Humility.
Kata in sections of three.
Morality, Civility, Honor.
Humanity, Justice, Courtesy.
Intent, Restraint, Action.

and so on where the stages of karate and martial disciplines seem to be governed by numerology, particularly the number three, along with other ancient cultural beliefs directly implemented from their society into the study, practice and application of martial disciplines.

Consider this, in the sciences of modern times mathematics are involved in explaining everything in nature and the universe. The code of the Internet is made up of 1’s and 0’s. Since it is often associated with astrology and horoscopes along with ancient studies of the I Ching that utilizes numbers within the selection by throwing a certain number of yarrow sticks or … wait for it, “Three coins.” Look at how we naturally use numbers to list items, to create bulleted items of knowledge that would trigger in-depth thinking, understanding and define those into greater detail. The list is endless and it associates numbers with everything.

Note: obvious traits of the 3 are in the creative field. A powerful need to express feelings, ideas and visions of the imagination; For the 3 to become a well-rounded, balanced and happy person, it must learn discipline; Another unique quality of the 3 is its tendency to be "lucky," or rather, to be in the right place at the right time. This may be connected to its innate sense of rhythm; timing can be measured in seconds or in years, by the beating of a heart or by the movement of the stars. It is all only a matter of scale, either way, the 3 seems to be in tune with the cyclical nature of our surroundings; etc.!

Chinese Culture: The number 3 (三, Pinyin: sān, jyutping: saam1) sounds similar to the character for "birth" (生, Pinyin: shēng, jyutping: saang1), and is considered a lucky number.[citation needed] The number 3 is significant since there are three important stages in a man’s life (birth, marriage and death).

Universally: The universal meaning of three probably relates to man, woman and child—the fulfillment of birth and productivity. As a symbol of fulfillment, three often occurs in fairy tales as the number of tests to be passed or riddles to be solved; Three is a sacred number in most religions. The Ancient Egyptians had a powerful trinity of gods as did the Ancient Greeks and Romans. Hindus worship a trinity known as the Trimurti ("three forms"). Christians believe in a Holy Trinity. In Islam three symbolizes the human soul. To Pythagoras three symbolized perfect harmony, being the sum of unity (one) and diversity (two).

Japanese Culture: there are also numbers that are considered unlucky in Japan. The number four is considered to be unlucky because the word for four is shi (四/し) closely resembles the word for death shi (死/し). Likewise, the word for nine ku (九/く) sounds similar to the word for pain and suffering ku (苦/く). This is why gifts should never be presented in fours, but rather in sets of three or five; To prevent three years of misfortune, those entering their unlucky years will get purified at a temple or shrine; Japan also has special numbers which stand for good luck and bad luck. Lucky Number…8 (Hachi) and 7(Nana) “8” is written as “八” in Kanji. 八 is considered “末広がり(Suehirogari)” from its shape which widens toward the end. Suehirogari is to become more and more prosperous as time goes. Lucky “7” comes from Western culture, and Japanese also likes to choose 7 in any occasion. Unlucky Number…4(yon/shi), 9 (kyu, ku) “4” is pronounced “yon” or “shi” which is used differently depending on things. Especially, the sound “Shi” has the same pronunciation with “死” which means die, so people are in the habit of not using “4” in hospitals and congratulations occasions. “9” is pronounced “kyu” or “ku” which is used differently depending on things. The sound “ku” has the same pronunciation with “苦” which means pain or suffering. So, “49 (yonjûkyu/shijûku)” is a super unlucky number because it means “die with pain”; 3 Treasures – truth/courage/compassion, also the three jewels; From the Buddhist tradition, comes “The Triple Gem” or “The Three Jewels [The Mirror – symbol of truth and wisdom; The Jewel symbol of compassion; The Sword – symbol of strength and courage],” which is the Buddha (the enlightened one), the Dhamma (the teachings), and the Sangha (the community of followers).

More: Body/mind/spirit, which encompasses the physical, mental, and spiritual makeup of a human being; there are 3 primary colors with which it is possible to obtain all the colors; three types of universe: matter, astral (mental or soul) and spirit; three phases of the moon; past/present/future; Taoist: Great Triad: Heaven/Human/Earth.

Science: Three dimensions; We see the number three in many important, fundamental places on the subatomic level and on the cosmic level; there are three main types of stable particles: the proton, the neutron, and the electron. These are the three building blocks of atoms. All solid matter consists of atoms built entirely from these three particles; How many quarks are there in a proton? Exactly three. How many quarks are there in a neutron? Exactly three; there are three dimensions of space: height, width, and depth. There are three main types of matter: gaseous, liquid, and solid. There are three main types of massive objects: planets, stars, and galaxies; there are also three types of natural laws: the laws of physics, the laws of chemistry, and the laws of biology; the number 1836 has in its digits exactly three multiples of the number three: 18, 3, and 6. In fact, when we look at this ratio to seven decimal places, we find that it has six consecutive multiples of the number three; etc.

Ken-po Goku-i: Human (Person), Heaven and Earth; Sun, Moon and blood; Hard, soft, spit; advance, engage and disengage; Body, time and change; Hand, empty, void; Eyes, see, perception; Ears, ability and perceptions. balance, unbalance and gravity.

Goku-i-Do [極意道] (Goku-i-do Karate [極意道空手]) The Way of the essential point of karate.

Blog Article/Post Caveat (Read First Please: Click the Link)

The Secret Road of Karate or the Essential Points of the Way of Karate (I don’t like the word secret but it is used in the translations of the kanji). In this sense and due to my personal perceptions and beliefs I would use, “The Main Point of the Empty Hand Way.” The first character means, “conclusions; most; highly; extremely; conclusions; end; highest rank,” the second character means, “thought; heart; mind; idea,” the third character means, “teachings; moral; course; journey; road-way; street,” the fourth character means, “void; empty; sky; vacuum; vacant,” and the fifth character means, “hand.”

I kind of like this because, as I try to convey, as an individual who is and has been studying karate and martial disciplines I want my understanding and beliefs of the path I use for the moral and philosophical meaning and beliefs to actually guide my applications and experiences in karate and martial disciplines as they touch, guide and mentor my life, personally.

In the fundamental principles it is seldom, as is the study of both the ken-po goku-i and Goku-i-do Karate, we find a balance in “Theory, Physiokinetics, Technique, Philosophy; and with the study and practice that embraces its core essence, principle of self-defense and principle of chemical dumps” holds up and supports a morally socially acceptable survival driven study, practice, training and application of the disciplines.

Note: I don’t use or recommend using such terms in translation as secret or hidden, etc., because they invariably lead to misunderstanding, misconceptions and incorrect historical data.

So, all this then begs the question, “What are the essential points of karate from Okinawa?” That depends (a short terse meme often used by professionals especially in self-defense because such a chaotic fluid answer depends heavily on the person who asks and how they answer their own question from their efforts in following the way of the essential points of karate.

My Goku-i-do Karate:

A thorough understanding of the fundamental principles of karate.
A thorough understanding of the ken-po goku-i as it was gifted in its terse form to me by my Sensei.
A thorough understanding of its applications as to theory, physiokinetics, technique, philosophy, self-fense and the mind-state associated with mind-body-spirit connections especially under the chemical dump.
A thorough understanding of how the basics, kata, drills, kumite, etc., relate to the principles as they are also connected and applied to, “Multiple Defense Methodologies [actual tactics and attack methodologies of impacts, drives (pushes), pulls, twists, takedowns/throws and compression are best for stopping a threat (types of force applied such as spiraling, scissoring, carving, vibrating, and/or sheering forces.)]”
A thorough understanding of the importance of, “Distinctions”, as they relate to the way of karate, i.e., in the distinctions between its many manifestations such as sport, fighting, combatives, self-defense and the philosophical side called the, “Way (doah).”
A thorough understanding of the moral implications of any discipline such as karate toward its implementation into a way of life along with its applications in life such as in self-fense (a defensives/offensive methodology that remains steadfast within social conditions, standards, and both legal and law for the survival of the tribe, society and self.).
A thorough understanding and commitment to a type of modern bushido code, called by me for me “The Code,” that underlies my studies, practice, training and teaching of the discipline. Read about my code and Bushido HERE.
A thorough dedication to remaining within the acceptable, mine and societies, moral stand in all the myriad things that are or are near to karate and martial disciplines.
A thorough dedication to remaining open-minded to all concepts, hypothesis, theories, cultures, beliefs, perceptions and distinctions that are about the differences of martial disciplines even tho underneath they are all the same allowing for its continued growth while remaining steadfast, dedicated and a morally honorable attachment to the traditions and cultural origins of karate while allowing its natural and continued evolutionary growth and potential by the work of the individual practitioner.

This, to date, matches my rendition and interpretation of the base terse tome of karate called the ken-po goku-i, i.e., the original eight I was given with an added ninth to cover a fuller and complete goku-i without numbering and without discernible voids between each so that the entire goku-i is considered whole and wholeheartedly.

“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.” - cejames, rendered from Tatsuo-san’s original.

“A person’s heart is the same as Heaven and Earth while circulatory system is similar to the cycles of the moon and sun yet the breathing methods are either hard or soft while one’s posture should allow one to advance, retreat, engage, and disengage as the body should be able to act in accordance with time and change so that one must enter a state of emptiness (mushin/zanshin) allowing the eyes must see all sides and the ears should listen in all directions while the mind must grasp all the tactual data not seen on all sides and not heard in any direction. - My rendition per translation from Andy Sloane Sensei.”

Note: Bookmark this page if you are interested to see if any more essential points are added. After all, there is no hard and fast rule that says one must remain attached to the original and without changes often necessary to keep it up to date and valid for the moment.

Bibliography (Click the link)

“In order for any life to matter, we all have to matter.” - Marcus Luttrell, Navy Seal (ret)

It’s NOT Personal

Blog Article/Post Caveat (Read First Please: Click the Link)

I write, a lot, and I am honored to have people view, read and comment on what I write. I find topics in a variety of ways such as other blog articles where some part triggers something in my mind and I write about it. Sometimes, folks will perceive this as being critical of the source material but I want to ensure everyone who reads this blog, “It is NOT Personal!”

As a fledgling author I write and I love to write. My goals in writing is to learn, build knowledge and create ever greater understanding of those things to which I write about. In Boyd’s OODA it is understood, by me, that a process of analysis and synthesis is an ongoing process that helps to meet goals such as mine. I try to do that a lot but being human, I sometimes mistakenly write in a way that seems and may be perceived as “Personal” to the reader.

One thing I have tried to add at the end of each article is to express, at a minimum, a form of acknowledgement to the person, blog and/or article that inspired the one I write, wrote and posted. It may seem that because I ‘tip my hat or ritsu-rei’ to that person, etc., that the article must be a critique of the other source and author - sometimes it is true, but mostly it “IS NOT PERSONAL!”

I am saying this here and now because, similar to Colonel Boyd when addressing seniors at his lectures, I want to ensure that the person on the receiving end understands that it is not personal and that everything I write is about “ME” and my learning process along with allowing others to be exposed because one of the most critical aspects of learning, studying and coming to an understanding is through the exchange of communications with others who have something positive to contribute. This occurs, if done properly, on the dojo floor, in the classroom, at seminars and thorugh exchanges in blogs, video’s, books and other media (through comments and reviews, etc.). You cannot achieve understanding in just your own mind because it just doesn’t work.

Humans have survived and become the animal at the top of the food chain, so to speak, because over the centuries a few have used such strategies and tactics in learning thus building our societies and species into what it is today. If not for this we all would still be hunting with rocks and sticks, running from predators and gathering food on the Serengeti plains of a thousand years ago or so.

If I got something wrong, if you feel it needs correction or if you just think I am full of shit, comment constructively because it is how I learn, change and grow - change is critical but only change that involves many, not a few and especially not just the ‘one’.

Thanks!

Bibliography (Click the link)

“In order for any life to matter, we all have to matter.” - Marcus Luttrell, Navy Seal (ret)