A Change in Perspective Can Reveal to Us Our True Teachers

I know that for most of you reading this blog, karate-do is more than just a hobby. I know that it has and continues to teach you many things that reach far beyond the walls of your Dojo into every aspect of your life thus changing your perspective of the world around you. I know that you are a different person now than you were before you started practising karate-do. I know this because I most definitely am. I can say with certainty that I would not be where I am today if I had never began practising Karate-do. I can also take this statement one step further and state that I would not be who I am today if I had never began practising karate-do. I believe that this change is a direct result of the shift in my perspective that the various experiences I have had caused within me. A great deal, if not all of my life changing experiences have been a result of my relationship with karate-do.

Perspective
When our perspectives change they sometimes allow us to to learn very important life lessons from common things in our everyday lives. Things all around us and even our mundane experiences become our teachers. In this post I would like to discuss one such example of this phenomena looking at a hidden message within Chinese and Japanese characters; Kanji. In this post I will share with you one example from separate kanji and ask that you consider how this hidden message may influence and enhance your training.

The picture above is a very famous perspective test often used to illustrate how we can go back and forth in our minds regarding what we see and perceive to be true.

An Important Aim of Karate-do
One of the core aims of karate-do is the enhancement of the quality of the lives of its practitioners. We strive to strengthen our bodies and minds in an attempt to improve ourselves ideally leading to happiness and contentment. There are as many different definitions of the term 'success' as there are people who have ever contemplated its meaning. I am not trying to define success here in this post or even in this blog. I believe that all of the various definitions presented to describe the process to attainment of success and the state of being successful are important and valid because we each are striving for our own form of success.


In our training we learn the important lesson of もう一同 Mou ichi dou, One more time. Of 諦めない Akiramenai, to Never give up. This is quite possibly one of the most profound lessons in this and other martial arts because it is this drive that we develop within ourselves that pushes us to do one more push-up, to take one more step, to try one more thing, one more time, that in the end leads us to our goal. This message is exemplified when we compare the following kanji:
Most people Stop; 止まる Tomaru just before they get it Right;  正しい Tadashii.


Sometimes it only takes One more step あと一歩 Ato ippo. One more try あと一歩 Ato ippo.
When you think about it, the process of karate-do training is really a long and studious one of building upon all that we have already done in order to be prepared to take that one more, most important step; あと一歩 Ato ippo.
Please take another look at the two kanji written above, if you haven't already noticed, 正 and 止 are very similar. The only difference is one very important stroke of the brush; Just One Line changes the meaning from "Right; correct; proper, or perfect" to "Stop; halt; to stay in one place."
Sometimes it only takes One Thing to make All the Difference!

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Let's look at another couple of kanji and compare them in the same way to see if this isn't just a fluke. This time I will take two kanji that are juxtaposed in their meaning: 辛い Tsurai which means painful and is often used to describe suffering. But, with just one more stroke of the brush 辛い becomes 幸せ Shiawase which means "Happiness; good fortune; luck; and blessing." By simply taking one more step あと一歩 Ato ippo, and writing one more line in our life's story, we can change our suffering into a blessing. I believe that this is one of the major lessons that kartate-do is trying to teach us through its process. A process known as 達成感 Tasseikan; the process of achieving fulfillment.


I look forward to 2017 being a productive year for us and that our unique perspectives will help us to see the important lessons all around us more clearly, allowing us to grow in leaps and bounds as we actively participate in our own personal development throughout the year.

Looking More Deeply Can Help Us to Let Go

年末 Nenmatsu, the end of the Year, is a very busy time in Japan and stressful, too. But, the stress that people are feeling usually has little to do with Christmas shopping or other Christmas related stress that you may be familiar with at this time of the year. In fact, if Christmas doesn't fall on a weekend it is business as usual in Japan. The following photos are of a white board in one of the classrooms of the senior high school where I teach in Kumamoto City, Japan. Written on the board is the schedule for December. Do you notice anything, or rather the lack of anything?

(Photos taken by the Author, shows 課外 Kagai, Extra curricular lessons run from the 21st to the 28th with a 休み Yasumi, one day Break on the 25th. No mention of Christmas other than the fact that it is written in Green and Red)


People here are too busy, it seems, to celebrate Christmas the way a North American would expect. Busy with what you ask? Well, the list is long and it depends on where you are in life. If you are a student, the end of the year is time for exams; either 2nd semester mid-terms (because the academic year begins in March and ends in February), or preparing for the dreaded university entrance exams known as the センター試験 Senta (Centre) Shiken. If you are working, 社会人 Shakai jin, it is income tax time! There are also many year end meetings. The list goes on, but I will save you the burden of having to read through it. I just want to stress that, 'Fun, fun, Happy Holidays', doesn't really come to mind when reading through a list of responsibilities of Japanese people at this time of year. There is also a kind of 'mad dash' to get everything done in time for the New Year, 新年 Shin nen so that a relaxing, お正月O Shou gatsu, may be spent. I have talked about my O Shou gatsu experiences in previous posts. I have been saddened by this disattachment from the Christmas that I experienced as a child growing up in Canada. However, there is something special about this time of year in Japan and, personally, it has helped me through some pretty tough times and positively contributed to my growth and development in karate-do as well as the quality of my life in general. I am talking of the custom of 忘年 Bou Nen. Simply translated this means "forgetting the hardships of the old year" (JED-Japanese English Dictionary-Google Play, 2016). But, there is nothing simple about letting go of past hardships. I would bet that many of you reading this are still holding on to things from years past that are still affecting you negatively. If not for this custom of Bou Nen, I would be carrying around a lot more hardships with me, this I can say with confidence. It is not an easy thing to do, but necessary things in physical and emotional growth never are.


The facade of Bou Nen is extensive drinking parties with co-workers, friends, and maybe even family and extended family members, i.e. your community.

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But, the drinking parties are merely a facilitator to something much deeper; a time to reflect, 反省 Hansei. This is the time when you take to reflect upon and address all of the burdens and stresses of the year, done on to you and caused by you, inflicted on those within your community in the aims of letting go, forgiving, and moving on! For me, this has played a significant role in deepening my understanding of my place here in Japan.


It is a process that is very personal and seldom talked about and therefore, may seem just like another party where the total aim for some seems to be just to get drunk. This may be the case for some, but for others it is yet another opportunity for deep intrinsic growth. I like to think of my life's journey as if I am on a path and there are many roads set out before me, my growth and development, my successes and failures are all determined by which path I choose to take; which road I go down and how far I follow it before venturing down another. I'm sure you've heard analogies like this before, even the title of this blog hints, very loudly, to this analogy. The term 空手道 Karate-do further illustrates this frame of thought. So, during the time of extensive drinking parties and all the stress surrounding this time of year, what path, what road will you go down? And for how long will you follow it?

(Photo retrieved from, http://www.stunningmesh.com/2011/04/awesome-roads-and-paths-making-the-art/)

Questions like the ones above, we must ask ourselves whenever we set out on another one of our life's journies. But, at this time of year, according to Bou Nen custom, we are urged to double check what we are carrying in our 'packs', dare I use the metaphor. We have to assess what we really need and what is simply weighing us down, physically and emotionally. It is at this time that we can let go of all that we no longer need. Perhaps it served its purpose or maybe it has been holding us down for way too long. Either way my advice to you is the same advice that I try to follow, during the Bou nen and before the Shin nen, let it go.

(Photo retrieved from, http://www.spytx.com/)

I'll leave you with this final thought. Continuing with the metaphor of the 'empty cup' (this time I used the image of a 'back pack', but it is the same metaphor) If we do not let go of the things that we no longer need, the things that are only taking up valuable space within ourselves, we will have no room to successfully tackle the new year's resolutions that we intend to make!

No Hacks in Karate Only Responsibility

In this post I would like to have a dialogue regarding some of the things that have been on my mind lately. As I unpack my thoughts, I aim to shed some new light on some deeper concepts, specifically不動心 Fudoshin; an immovable spirit and 鍛錬 Tanren; forging, disciplining, training. This new perspective may also provide further insight to other important concepts which I have discussed in earlier posts. These concepts are often the topic of debate when trying to find a definition that adequately describes them in English. As we grow our perspective changes allowing us to see things in a different light. Therefore, revisiting concepts such as the ones discussed in this post is important as it may help us to better understand them.

The more I consider various philosophical concepts on my journey in karate-do, the more I see that everything is connected; All of the deeply rooted principles of karate-do are grounded in the human condition. However, in this modern world where everything is getting faster and faster the slower pace of growth and development in the martial arts may seem discouraging to younger practitioners. Contrary to what is being sold to us on the Internet, there are no "shortcuts" or "hacks" in karate-do. It takes time to process our experiences. I believe that our experiences are what shape us. In this frame of mind, it may be said that our karate shapes who we are, but I offer to this discussion that who we are is what is shaping our karate. This kind of growth and development cannot be uploaded into us like Neo in the Matrix.

If we try to approach our karate training by looking for shortcuts, the karate that we develop will be hollow and our character flawed. I suggest that, instead of looking for quick fixes, we pay careful attention to the details in each and every experience both in and out of the dojo. In order to do this there are some things that we can do to change our perspective and get the most out of our experiences. First, I strongly feel that we must understand that there is no "one true style of karate-do."(A statement of false pride that I have often heard uttered by instructors in various Ryu ha and Kai ha referring to their style as the "one true style of karate) No one style is any better or worse than any other. There is only karate-do and our personal interpretation of the karate shown to us based on our individual experiences. So, I say, respect all styles, cross the boundaries, live in the moment and get as much as you can from each and every experience.

As I continue down this path, I consider that there are some things that only come with age, but adulthood is not one of them. Physical maturity is often mistaken for adulthood. However, in my opinion, emotional maturity is what truly displays whether or not someone is an 'adult'. There is one specific trait that displays emotional maturity in someone and it all begins with taking responsibility. By taking responsibility in three major areas of our lives we will grow more emotionally mature and assume the level of adulthood that I am talking about. the following three areas are the most important areas to take control of in order to effectively contribute to personal growth, they are:

Taking responsibility of our own Thoughts

Taking responsibility of our own Feelings

Taking responsibility of our own Actions

I first heard about this concept of taking responsibility of our thoughts, feelings, and actions in Jack Canfield's Success Principles and this concept changed everything for me. The moment I took responsibility of these three things in my life everything changed. This is the key to introspective reflection because with out taking responsibility of these we will always have the potential to be manipulated by outside forces. Consider this concept for a moment and you will see clearly that our thoughts are controlled by our feelings and our actions are controlled by our thoughts. In short, taking responsibility of our thoughts, feelings, and actions is the key to 不動心 Fudoshin.

Often translated as, "an immovable spirit" as mentioned above. This translation is limiting and  leads to a serious misunderstanding implying a steadfastness or a rigidity that is not  only limiting, but also misleading.  The following has been built upon, taken from a previous post from this blog titled "不動心 (Fudoshin) an Immovable Spirit is Not about Not Moving at all."

The first kanji 不 Fu also pronounced as Bu in Japanese is where some of the confusion may lay with regards to this concept as a whole. Adding Fu to another kanji, such as 合格 Goukaku Success, to pass (e.g. exam) would change the meaning to the opposite; 不合格 Fugoukaku (examination) failure, rejection. In this case of Fudoshin the kanji 不 Fu is placed in front of  動 Do; Ugo (ku), which means to Move (physically) and changes the meaning to a negative or the opposite, as is the rule, becoming 不動 Fudo Immobility, Steadfastness. However, there is another perhaps more appropriate translation for the second 動く Ugoku which is to Stir, Change, or Move (emotionally), it may also be translated as Confusion. This is very important to note in this context because the third kanji; 心 Kokoro (Shin), suggests that  the translation of to be 'moved' or 'stirred'; affected or influenced by something seems to be more appropriate. You can see that it is in this context that Fudo should be interpreted in this way. By deconstructing the three kanji and understanding how they work together we can see that Fudoshin may be interpreted to mean 'to be unmoved by external influences'. Furthermore, the 心 Koko/Shin is often closely related to and interconnected with 気 Ki, life's energy which is always moving as it vibrates. Sometimes the vibrations make us happy, at peace, and content, but other times it can move us in negative ways, if we let it, leading to pain, anger, depression, and some even argue physical illness. Developing one's immovable spirit is simply another way to suggest that one not be moved in the wrong or negative (unhealthy) way by the ki which is all around and within us. It is in this context that I consider thoughts and feelings within us moving us to action. If we allow someone else to affect us so deeply as to change our feelings about something affecting our thoughts and changing our actions we are giving up such an important innate power and this is the ultimate of sacrifices. I believe that this is why this is such an important concept of the martial arts and karate-do training; a training method which teaches, above all else, self control.

This training in self control is referred to as 鍛錬 Tanren; forging, disciplining, and training. This, too is often misunderstood as having to be a hard external disciplinary training experience. however, the true tanren occurs within us and begins with taking control of the emotions that move us, the ability to remain cool-headed even in the most stressful of circumstances. The human, physical approach to achieving this state of mind may be through repeated sessions of gruelling training experiences, but the state will never be achieved until something clicks within us. This thing that clicks is not physical, it is very emotional and constitutes a paradigm shift of perspective.

We use the word mastery when we discuss the growth of martial artists, i.e., he practised hard and became a master in that karate style. Here I am suggesting that the growth in karate-do is something more natural than this, not forced rather realised, developed not externally, but rather internally. Very similar to the growth of a child to adulthood.

So, I say to you, there are no shortcuts or hacks only intrinsic epiphanies on this path that we call karate-do. We shouldn't be looking around for the latest app or hack to speed up the process, but rather look within ourselves to release the limits that we are setting upon ourselves, to live fully and experience deeply each moment and grow...

Thank you for reading and for your continued support of this blog. I apologise for taking so long between posts. This has been a very difficult year in Japan and around the world. A year of Tanren  that I am sure will lead to profound growth within humanity.

Power Spot Kata Challenge for Cancer Research

Prologue

In this post I would like to share with you something that I have recently been inspired to do. Let me start by telling you how I became inspired.

I tested for the 全日本空手道連盟, All Japan Karaqte-do Federation (JKF) 四段 4th Dan over the summer vacation at the 全日本空手道指導者研修会 All Japan Karate-do Instructors' Training Course held at the 空手道会館 Karate-do Training Hall in Tokyo. This is the headquarters for the Japanese Karate-do organization recognized under the World Karate Federation (WKF).

(公益財団法人 全日本空手道連盟　日本空手道会館, Photo retreived from http://www.jkf.ne.jp/map, 2016)

In preparation for this grading I spent a lot of time practicing 形 Kata. However, since the style of Karate-do that I practice, Chito-Ryu Karate-do, is not a recognized afiliate of the JKF I had to perform a different style's kata. I chose to perform 剛柔流の形 Kata from the Goju-Ryu style as, in my opinion, the stances and breathing components of this style are most similar to Chito-Ryu.

I had to perform two kata for the test. One 指定形 Shitei Kata, this is a kata from the list of designated kata recognized to represent the 4 major styles affiliated with the JKF; 松濤館 Shotokan (sometimes referred to as Shotokan-Ryu in Japan), 剛柔 Goju (Goju-Ryu and Goju-Kai), 和道 Wado (Wado-Ryu and Wado-Kai), and 糸東 Shito (Shito-Ryu and Shito-Kai). From this list I chose to perform セイパイ Seipai, a well recognized Goju kata frequently performed in competitions all over the world. The second kata was, 得意形 Tokui Kata this can be translated as a Specialty Kata. The kata does not have to be performed exactly in accordance to the Shitei guidelines, but it still needs to be a kata from one of the affiliated styles. I chose to perform 制引戦 Seiyunchin, also a Goju style kata not to be mistaken for the similar Shito kata Seinchin.

(Seiyunchin, performed by Morio Higaona Sensei, uploaded to youtube.com Sept. 3, 2009)

To help me get a better feel for these kata I wanted to see them performed by someone with a similar body type as myself. I asked my friend Richard (Ricky) Kaminski, an Australian Goju practitioner living in Fukui Prefecture (Pictured below) to film himself doing Seipai and send me a copy to help me. He abliged and it was this video that inspired me to begin a much larger project.

(The Author and Richard Kaminski Sensei, Okayama Momotaro Hai, 2013)

I will include the video of Kaminski Sensei doing Seipai later in this post. But, first let me tell you more about this project that I want to start. I will need the support of the Karate World to make it a success. I truly believe that this project can be something that brigns us together, crossing the boundaries of Ryu-ha and Kai-ha for something much bigger; Humanity. I will outline the project below and include two video examples.

Outline

I am assuming that you have heard of the "Ice Bucket Challenge" to raise awareness of ALS and the "22 Pushup Challenge" where you do 22 pushups  for 22 days  to promote awareness for veteran suicide prevention and honor military service members and veterans. Well I am proposing something similar. I would like to start a Power Spot Kata Challenge and nominate people around the world to film themselves performing their favorate Kata in a place that is special to them (a Power Spot). You can perform the kata in your Gi or in sweats, that doesn't matter. This is not a tournament and I ask that the kata not be critiqued by the public. This is not about that. It is about bringing people who love Karate-do together in a common goal. I would like to use this project to raise awareness for cancer research.

I have lost 4 people very close to me to cancer, two of whom were my Karate-do Sensei; Sensei Micheal Delaney, whom I have written about in previous posts. He was like a father to me in many ways and guided my Karate-do training since I began practicing. And, Sensei Robert (Bob) Gascoigne Who played a big part in my training from around the time of 2nd and 1st Kyu. (Both are pictured below). I have been quoted as saying that these two men were "the Heart and Strength" of the Atlantic Karate Club, where I began my karate journey.

(Micheal Delaney Sensei and Robert Gascoigne Sensei, Halifax, NS, Canada, 1990s)

What to Do

I ask that you film your kata and post it to youtube.com or facebook or some mainstream social media site. Please include a link to this blog (understanding-karatedo.blogspot.jp) and any information about cancer research foundations in your area. Of course, information on ways to donate to cancer research and donations to cancer research would also be great, but I am in no way soliciting money from you. Also, please nominate others to do the same.

I nominate...

To start this off, I nominate anyone and everyone who was taught by or who had a friendship with Delaney Sensei and Gascoigne Sensei.

Example Videos

Video 1 - Chito-Ryu Shihohai performed by the author at the Temple of Heaven, Bejing, China, 2014. The kata begins at 1:46 into the video. Video 2 - Goju Seipai performed by Kaminski Sensei in Fukui Prefecture, Japan, 2016.

Video 1

(Waterfield Shi ho hai, Bejing, China, 2014)

Video 2

 

(Kaminski Seipai, Fukui, Japan, 2016)

Links to Cancer Societies

the Canadian Cancer Society

http://www.cancer.ca/en/region-selector-page/?url=%2fen%2f

Japanese Cancer Association

https://www.jca.gr.jp/english/index.html

Japan Cancer Society

http://www.uicc.org/membership/japan-cancer-society

http://www.jcancer.jp/en

My Interpretation of 忍

In this post I would like to share with you what the kanji 忍 Nin; Shinobu means to me. This is a very important kanji for me and it holds a special place in the Asian martial arts philosophies. It can be seen hung in many Dojo all over the world, but do you know why it is hung? If you could see this kanji the way I do, I believe it would become, not only clear why it is hung in dojo, but also very inspirational and looking at it while training may even help you to push yourself a little harder resulting in more positive results.


I would also like to share with you the explanation that my Sensei, Micheal S. Delaney, gave me regarding 忍 when I was still a young athlete training at the Atlantic karate Club (AKC) in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. My Snesei gave me many gifts while I was training under him and him introducing me to this kanji profoundly changed the way I face the challenges in my life and deepened my understanding of the true purpose of my karate-do training.

(Nin written by the Author, 2015)

忍 (Nin; Shinobu) Part of Something Greater

This Kanji can be found in many places one such place is the Chito-Ryu Karate-do Showa; a motivational poem written by the First Generation Soke, one of the pioneers of Okinawan Te who contributed to the spread of Karate-do from Okinawa to mainland Japan and world-wide, and Founder of the Chito-Ryu style, Dr. Chitose Tsuyoshi. This poem is recited at the end of training in multiple languages all over the world. I wrote an in-depth, two part analytical post on this earlier. (for more information on the Chito-Ryu Showa, please see "Analysis of the Showa Part 1 and 2")


In this post I would just like to point out that both the kanji for Peace 和 Wa and this kanji 忍 Nin are found in the Showa and represent a much deeper dynamic that can be found in most, if not all, Asian philosophies; Namely that of the polarities of such things as hard and soft, young and old, good and evil, yin and yang which are all polar opposites to one another, but are actually just parts of the same thing. Although they are found at the opposite ends, they are connected to each other and in their connection they are part of the same whole, the 道; what the Chinese philosophies refer to as the Tao or Dao and the Japanese reading of this same kanji is Michi or Do; the Way of nature, put very simply. This concept can also be found in this one kanji. Although it is often translated as 'perseverance', I believe there is a deeper meaning which is much more profound than to simply persevere. Let me try to explain why I feel this way. I would like to start by sharing with you something I wrote in Japanese calligraphy a few years ago.
(Please see the photo below)

(Japanese Brush and Pen Calligraphy combination by the Author, 2010)