Age Old Dilemma

Getting youth to gain from the wisdom of elders. A question that has caused concern and consternation  since man became first aware or self-aware of the self. I find this question in my winter years of life and practice of a martial system. It concerns me now because I give due consideration to what I could have been if I has only taken the time and the effort to learn then as a youth what I am learning and know now as an elder.

Elder in the sense of a martial system who has practiced and trained for approximately thirty-six years. Three plus decades and I tended, except for the last decade, to spend an exorbitant amount of time on the more physical aspects. 

I found ten years ago the secret to life. The secret to all that entails living a good life. The secret is not really a secret but obvious if you look, see and then truly see it - balance. Yin-Yang or In-Yo. That which is symbolized by the great Tai Chi symbol of the Yin-n-Yang. 

It can be expressed by the term "hindsight." It is often late in life we understand a situation or event of our lives that it could have gone far better only if ..... hindsight would be better served if youth could gain from it as told by elders. Sensei are elders too in many cases - not all and not alot, just a few. When I say Sensei I mean one that has gained such insight so that his or her hindsight can benefit those under their guidance. Say around the winter years with a modicum of experience, knowledge and understanding (thirty years or more) of what it is they are trying to improve both for themselves and those who look to them as one who has come before. 

Youth all to often, I am guilty of this as well, tend to discard things of importance for that something that often is fleeting. Speed and gratification are necessary in the balance yet are not the end-all of all things. It is a shame that sometimes the perceived boring and not cool things are necessary to give more balance or depth and breadth to those things that do, in time, give gratification, knowledge and meaning. 

Simply waxing philosophical today :-)

Eight Circles Kenpo Gokui ??????

Recently in my continuous research on this esoteric aspect of martial systems with specificity toward Okinawan Karate I came across a symbol that has not come up in the past ten years. I have asked as to its origins and until I receive a response I thought I would ask readers if they have encountered this symbol at any time during their training, practice and research.

Sorry for the lack of size, if you click it the size will not be clearer.

Ever seen this and if you have can you provide me the source as to when, where, how, why and whom it was conceived of, by and for?

Heaviness

This principle as explained in the Book of Martial Power by Steven J. Pearlman can be connected to the ken-po goku-i tenants, i.e. with specificity to, "A person's unbalance is the same as a weight."

Our inability to properly make use of our bodies anatomical structure in nature means we misuse our weight and cannot apply our weight to our techniques. It means that we are ineffective in martial applications, which can be a loss of heaviness properly applied resulting in our unbalanced body and weight. To achieve balance in our body regarding the bodies mass and weight we cannot apply momentum to techniques and we lose things like proper structure and posture where the triangles become skewed resulting in an imbalance of weight or heaviness and this results in our attacker, if his line is longer, having the ability to apply his heaviness to unbalance ours and we lose the battle.

Our bodies must maintain the principles so that our angles, i.e. alignments, structures, axis's both major and minor, vertical and horizontal axis control, centerline, triangle guard, posture, proper breathing, etc. all reduce our bodies heaviness for applying technique which results in our being defeated.

If our heaviness is reduced in this manner the reactions of our applications are turned inward so that those same applications against our attacker are lessened allowing the attackers heaviness to overcome the technique and turn it back inward resulting in heaviness unbalancing our bodies and so forth.

I quote, "Heaviness typically refers to sudden manifestations of weight that manifest our heaviness faster than the opponent can compensate.' It must be remembered that our weight never changes but how heaviness is applied does change accordingly to how it is maintained regarding heaviness balance.

As indicated in the ken-po goku-i inference to yin-n-yang or changing opposites to balance and back all the martial principles work in either a yin or yang form with mixtures that result in efficient and effective martial power.

Another form of this heaviness is our mental state. If fear or anger gain momentum then that becomes a heavy psychological weight that can unbalance and make fall our physical selves.

The overwhelming burden, weight, of those negative emotions releases a form of chemical and electrical energies that are detrimental to our ability to implement physical actions. Therefore, our weight can be heavy mentally causing an imbalance within the mind that results in a fall as if a heavy weight succumbs to gravity. 

PDF Books Available

Greetings and Salutations All: I have worked toward compiling two small pdf books as an exercises and learning effort on terminologies for martial arts as well as my interpretation of the karate koan most call the ken-po goku-i. I didn't do this to publish for money and I don't plan on trying to charge for these two pdf books in the future.

I am making them available free to whomever wishes to obtain them for study and reflection. If you would be interested in reading them simply send me an email address that I can send them to as attachments. Please note that I am still editing them both so you will find errors and omissions within as to grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc. I have a friend who is an editor who has graciously consented to edit the ken-po goku-i effort. When it is done I plan of notifying those who ask for a copy so they can have an updated and hopefully fully edited final edition.

The terminology pdf book is not what you might normally find as it does not give technical/technique oriented terms but rather terms of a teaching/martial philosophical nature. I had this one as a blog for a while but decided it might better serve those who are interested to have a pdf version available to either read and use via electronic means, i.e. either a computer like the iPad or a kindle reader type thing. 

So, send your email to isshin.do.karate@gmail.com and I will gladly send you one or the other or both for your reading pleasure. I would ask that if you do that you give me your review of them, if you wouldn't mind, when you have read them. - Thanks!

Three is not just a number!

Three is a significant number in the Ancient Classics such as the Analects and the Book of Changes. As a matter of fact mathematics are significant in all of it. Binary numbers are shown to be associated with the eight trigrams as follows:

1. Heaven = 111

2. Lake = 110

3. Fire = 101

4. Thunder = 100

5. Wind = 011

6. Water = 010

7. Mountain = 001

8. Earth = 000

When you want to see balance you would then associate 1 & 8, 2 & 5, 3 & 6, and 4 & 7. One of the more significant pairings is no. 1 & 8, which are Heaven and Earth. The combination of these two forces or non-forces is held to produce the complete human being. (you find this referenced in the first tome of the ken-po goku-i of Isshinryu)

Chinkuchi [チンクチ] or Kokoro to karada zan [心と体残]

The characters/ideograms mean "body and mind balance." The first character means, "mind; heart; spirit," the second character means, "body; substance; object; reality," the third character means, "balance; remainder; leftover."

Chinkuchi or as I translate the approximate English definition "kokoro to karada zan or body and mind balance" when applied to martial technique has a variety of sources trying valiantly and diligently to define the term, which is Okinawan dialect, uchiganuchi, for the western mind. Much like trying to define and explain the ken-po goku-i along with other documents like the I Ching, the Tao Te Ching and other ancient classic texts - difficult at best and most esoterically fluid as dependent on individual interpretations. 

Some of the Okinawan sensei have tried to convey the meaning to the western mind:

Higaonna Morio, 10th dan Goju-ryu Karate has this to say about chinkuchi:

“This expression [chinkuchi] is used to describe the tension or stability of the joints in the body for a firm stance, a powerful punch, or a strong block. For example, when punching or blocking, the joints of the body are momentarily locked for an instant and concentration is focused on the point of contact; the stance is made firm by locking the joints of the lower body – the ankles, the knees and the hips – and by gripping the floor with the feet.

Thus a rapid free-flowing movement is suddenly checked for an instant, on striking or blocking, as power is transferred or absorbed. Then the tension is released immediately in order to prepare for the next movement.”

Arakaki Kiyoshi, Karate writer, said this:

“A simple explanation is, when punching for instance, to contract the muscles used when punching (especially the triceps and the trapezius), increasing the speed of the punch or block from within your own body.”

Karate historian (and practitioner) Tokashiki Iken had to say about chinkuchi:

“When punching, the most important thing is that the “koshi” [hips] are in it, and that chinkuchi is being utilized. Chinkuchi, in a word, means to contract the trapezius, the triceps, the pectorals major, etc. when thrusting the fist out. At that time, the armpit must also be closed when punching or blocking.

This means that a punch with chinkuchi has an instantaneous increase in power. This is called “one cun power” [one inch punch] and causes a great destructive power upon the opponent’s body.”

"Chinkuchi is both a system of ‘conscious’ internal energy management and an experience of moving in sync with a confluence of subtle energies." Hayashi Tomio

"Chinkuchi is synonymous with internal energy cultivation. There are degrees of Chinkuchi control. There are different methods of exerting or expressing this ability. " Hayashi Tomio

Then there are individual interpretations from the western spectrum of the Okinawan karate circles that are just as muddy in their explanations and interpretations with a lot of missing parts, if will allow.

This post is an attempt to convey the complexities and personal interpretations that go with the term "Chinkuchi" or what I have derived in study as "kokoro to karada zan.

Chinkuchi or kokoro to karada zan are concepts that manifest themselves when applying martial systems fundamental principles to technique. I believe this is also very simplistic and leaves out the other more esoterical aspects to the term much like many mistake basics over fundamentals in same. I attribute this view as I connected it to both the fundamental principles of martial systems and the ken-po goku-i as derived from my studies of both the spiritual and physical of karate goshin do. 

Such postings as this must be accepted as a kind of truth that is a part of a whole, an atomistic explanation that must be merged into a holistic whole that would be another atomistic and holistic aspect to karate or martial arts practice, training and applications.

Chin-ku-chi along with shu-ha-ri and others esoteric teachings such as shin-gi-tai pull together various fundamentals of martial systems into a final whole that epitomizes what Asians allude to in mastery of the martial arts. 

We and other martial artists must accept them individually and then allow them to blend, flow and merge into a whole that will influence all aspects of the martial arts. This is why it is explained as a separate entity with the understanding it must be morphed into other entities to make a whole or "one" experience we call karate-goshin-do or simply the "way." 

In its simplest form, a misleading one at that, it speaks to the merging of the mind and heart with the body along with the spirit of practice, training, and application of martial systems. The levels are many much like the levels of human existence along with the simplistic levels or grades of the dan-i system.

We speak of the power derived from proper chinkuchi which is explained simply as body mechanics, limited at that, and can be attributed to more that make up the fundamental principles of martial systems like body alignment, muscle and breath control, body positioning, generation of energy and power, etc. If only it were as simple as that and many tend to leave it at that if it meets their immediate needs.

Chinkuchi along with other models are what carry you throughout your life from the sprint, summer, fall and winter years of life as humans. It is more than strength, more than power and more than simply applying properly executed technique. It is worth exploring from as many sources as possible with an open mind allowing for the differences and leaving right and wrong out in the trash. 

No right, no wrong, just differences to learn from and to apply to life, practice and training achieving proper applications in accordance with all the principles that make mastery of the martial arts achievable. 

Happy Holidays Everyone

As the week progresses we get a bit closer to the annual celebration we call Christmas. Since there are many who celebrate in different ways I tend to just wish every one a happy holiday since regardless of beliefs those who reside here in the America's tend to take that time as a holiday I felt it generic enough to express happiness and joy for the season while, hopefully, not offending anyone.

I will be at work till this Friday which means I will be in the Bloggersphere but after Friday until the morning of the second of January "2013" I will be on holiday with my wife, three cats and poodle dog. Have a great holiday everyone if I don't hear from you; I wish us all the best for 2013!!!!

Eight Teachings of Boxing [八の教え拳闘] Hachi no oshie kento

"The mind and body are in unison with heaven and earth; the blood flows in rhythm with the sun and moon; the way of breathing is both strong and flexible; change is inevitable with time; techniques come fro a clear mind; the feet advance, retreat, separate and meet; the eyes see everything, even the slightest change; and the ears hear in eight directions."

Bibliography:

Itoman, Morinobu and McKenna, Mario (translation). "The Study of China Hand Techniques." Mario McKenna Publisher. 2012.

Eight Teachings of Boxing

Hachi no Oshie Kento [八の教え拳闘]

"The mind and body are in unison with heaven and earth; the blood flows in rhythm with the sun and moon; the way of breathing is both strong and flexible; change is inevitable with time; techniques come fro a clear mind; the feet advance, retreat, separate and meet; the eyes see everything, even the slightest change; and the ears hear in eight directions." - Morinobu Itoman as translated by Mario McKenna in "The Study of China Hand Techniques."

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.