The Basics of Karate-do Are Not Limited to Physical Techniques

I apologize for the length of time between posts. At the beginning of this Month, while in the middle of preparing for a number of projects that I currently have on the go, my computer broke down. To make a long story short, the hard drive needed to be replaced. This means that I lost some of the files that I didn't get backed up in time and I am going to need to start some things all over again, from scratch. This reminded me of getting back to the basics in our training. 'Speed bumps' and 'hick ups', Come when you least expect them and unlike the speed bumps on the road there are rarely warning signs to help you prepare yourself for them.

It seems that no matter how hard we train we can never seem be able to completely prepare for these setbacks. I am sure you will agree that they never seem to come at the times we think they should. However, when we look back, most of us say that they came when they were needed and, as a result, had a positive impact on our training. Or at the very least, took us in a new direction we would have otherwise never gone in. I hope the same will be true in this case as well. That is to say that I hope this small set-back will help me to be able to see new possibilities with regards to the projects that I am involved in now and my preparations can move forward in new and better directions that they may have otherwise never gone in. I am beginning to think more and more that perspective is the key.

(Karate-do Written in Kanji by the Author, 2015)

冷静と集中 (Rei-sei and Shu-chu)

Introduction

冷静と集中 Rei-sei and Shu-chu. These are words you will begin to hear more and more often, the longer you are around Japanese practitioners of karate-do and Japanese athletes in general. You may hear them during everyday training sessions and most definitely, you will hear them during competitions, often being yelled by the coach and other athletes as advice during the match. In this post I would like to discuss the meaning and importance of these terms in our karate-do training. Personally, I feel that these terms are not limited to competition, although they are necessary for achieving high level performance. Achieving a state of rei-sei can therefore, be very beneficial to our training and in our daily lives. Furthermore, I believe these terms are closely related to and can help us to better understand such terms as 残心 Zanshin and 無心 Mushin and the metaphorical use of the term 崩す Kuzusu; to breakdown or destroy in the context of mental attitude.

 

集中力

Let's start with the more commonly used term, 集中 Shu-chu. As I said in the introduction, you will often hear this being shouted at athletic meets in Japan no matter the level of competition or the age of the competitors. This term means to concentrate or, as in the case of training and competition, paying attention to the details. When we train, we must train with purpose 目的 Moku-teki; we must have goals 目標 Moku-hyo, that set the course of our training to take us in the direction we want to go. I am sure that you are all already aware of this and set appropriate goals for yourself and your students. The problem with achieving the goals set often lies with motivation levels. How do we stay motivated to train everyday and strive for something which doesn't seem to get any closer no matter how hard we work? How do we rise above the confusion especially in the heat of battle? The answer may lay in the term Shu-chu or rather our level of shu-chu ryoku. By adding the kanji for power 力 Chikara, Riki or Ryoku we can see that our successes in training and in life are often a direct result of our ability to notice and take care of the finer points, the small stuff, the details. So how can we build up our shu-chu ryoku? There are some techniques that have been practiced in Japan for generations one of which involves a candle and time.

 

The challenge is to sit and gaze into the light of the candle without moving until the candle burns out. It is said that the famous swordsman Miyamoto Musashi often practiced this form of concentration building exercise. This exercise is not very dramatic and may seem easy to do, but I know what you are thinking, in today's fast paced world who has the time to sit and watch a candle burn? However, when we think about the time spent in front of the T.V. or the computer it would seem that we could easily make the time. So I challenge all those who wish to strengthen their concentration to light a candle and watch it burn until it goes out. You can start small and work your way up like weight training. Start with a birthday candle and then move up to a slightly bigger one and then a bigger one and your concentration is sure to increase, or so they say.

 

Like with 座禅 Za-zen, Seated Meditation, in the beginning our mind is running wild, unable to settle and relax. This is the same in the candle exercise, but the longer we practice the more control we can attain. Soon you should be able to settle your mind more quickly and eventually achieve a state of relaxation and mental clarity. Finally, it is said that you will be able to increase your levels of concentration while staying relaxed but focused even without the candle. But, in the words of Levar Burton, "you don't have to take my word for it." Give it a try and see for yourself.

 

冷静

The next level of this state of relaxed, alert concentration may be referred to as a state of Rei-sei. This is the ability to keep one's cool; Cool Judgement or a Calm Attitude. In the case of competition, this is one of the most important things needed to win. Athletes in this state can pull out the win no matter what the circumstances may be. They come from behind and find a way. They make the key play in the clinch and don't lose composure over the course of the match. Some may call this state "being in the Zone" or in a state of "flow." I have seen many times, athletes crack under pressure. In fact, I have been the athlete that cracked under pressure. I have also seen some athletes who never loose their cool and maintain this state of rei-sei throughout the competition. Using the analogy of the flame again, this time think of the temperature of the flame. What is the colour of a flame burning hot?

 

 

Health Benefits of Karate Do Training (Continued)

In a previous post, I presented some of the health benefits of Karate Do Training. The blog may have seemed a little bit one sided due to the fact that I only focused on the positive impacts of Karate Do training. Furthermore, I had to end the blog before addressing the Mental and Spiritual benefits that I stated I would. In this post I would like to get back to this thread, but before doing so I would like to clarify one important point regarding the information I provided in that post 'Health Benefits of Karate Do Training'. The information I provided was taken from a book that Chitose Tsuyoshi Sensei, the First Generation Soke and founder of Chito-Ryu Karate Do (O Sensei) wrote, "Kenpo Karate-do Universal Art of Self-Defense." He wrote this book in the late 1940s (1946 or 1947) eventhough it was translated into English by Christopher Johnston and published in 2000 by Shindokan International. (the Cover of this book is pictured below)

 

Training approaches have changed a great deal since this book was written and since it was published. The audience for which the book was intended must also be considered when we read it. It was intended for Japanese Nationals living in post WWII Japan. Many were malnourished and in poor physical health. This book was expressing the benefits of Karate Do training as a way to increase the general physical health of Japan as is stated in three very important sentences in The Purpose of Studying Karate-do where O Sensei writes, "In order to re-build the New Japan, we must first ensure that we are in good health. To begin with, to perform sound physical exercise is to study Karate-do. Initially a way to protect ourselves, Karate-do is the most complete form of physical exercise" (p. 90).

While sports training methods have grown in leaps and bounds in the 70 years since the end of WWII, the health benefits of continued exercise such as the practice of martial arts which now often includes various forms of cross training such as running and other strength training, speaks for itself. There are, however, some things that we do need to be careful of when teaching or training specific 基本 Kihon, Basics and 技 Waza, Techniques, namely the danger of injuring our joints due to the application of stress caused by unnatural twisting, torquing, and pressure. It should be noted that these injuries are not caused by the technique itself but rather by our misunderstanding of how it should be practiced. There is nothing unhealthy about Karate Do,  but the limits of our understanding often lead to unhealthy practice habits. I am no exception. I have had my fair share of injuries which resulted due to my limited understanding. However, since studying Japanese Language and Culture and after coming to Japan and developing relationships with various Karate Do Sensei my understanding has increased and my injuries have reduced in number and severity. I would have to say that only recently have I begun to practice at a level that I feel is indeed increasing my health without a high risk of injury to my joints. It took me almost 25 years to understand, but in the past 2 years I really feel that my Karate Do has changed for the better namely due to deeper understanding in two major areas. I would like to tell you about them. The first area will be the focus of this post and the second I will write in a following post. The first area deals with a more natural use of muscle combinations, focusing on contraction, stretch, and a state in between which may be referred to as neutral, natural, or relaxed.

 

Muscle Use
During my time training in Japan I have grown and and deepened my knowledge base in many ways, all of which have impacted the way I approach my personal training. One of the major epiphanies I had was the realization of how to use the muscle groups in my upper body, namely my shoulders (Trapezius) and Lats (Laissimus Dorsi) in a more natural working combination through out the movements of 基本 Kihon and 形 Kata (See photo below for muscle groups discussed).