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Funakoshi
Chikara Karate Studios
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Excerpt from Gichin Funakoshi's book, karatedo kyohan - the master text
THE WAY FROM TECHNIQUES The tremendous offensive and defensive power of Karate-do is well known. Karate-do is an art with which one can defeat enemies with a single fist attack or kick, without weapons. The value of the art depends on the one applying it. If its application is for a good purpose, then the art is of great value; but if it is misused, then there is no more evil or harmful art than karate. At one time, the Police department of Okinawa attempted to introduce the art of karate to its members, but deep concern over the danger of this art caused the plan to be abandoned. In another instance, the late admirals Rokuro Yashiro and Norikazu Kanna proposed that navy Personnel learn karate, but again fear that it would find application in sailors' brawls led to disapproval of the suggestion. The indiscriminate use of the art of karate would cause great public concern and one cannot deny its potential dangers. However, it would be regrettable that pursuit of this mysterious art, of which one can be properly so proud, should be shunned simply because it is too dangerous. The source of concern is largely based on the misconception arising from instructors of poor character who thoughtlessly place the emphasis of training on the techniques rather than on the spiritual aspects of the do, and from the misbehavior and poor attitudes of karate students who are learning this art solely as a technique of fighting. There are even extreme cases in which students are actually encouraged to employ their karate in brawls. Such admonitions as "You can never improve or Polish your techniques without some actual application in fights" or "If you cannot beat so-and-so, then perhaps you had better quit karate training altogether" are truly grievous for the reputation of Karate-do. However, such talk only shows the lack of sense of those who know nothing at all about Karate-do. Properly conceived and taught and practiced in the true spirit of Karate-do, this art is not only the antithesis of a present danger but it in fact admits few equals as a thoroughly noble martial art (budo). Powerful drugs are dangerous. Poison is frightening. However, there is no one in the medical world today who advocates shunning drugs. The danger of Powerful drugs and poisons depends on their usage, and when applied correctly, they can be of great benefit. Karate-do, improperly used, is certainly dangerous and vicious. But for the same reason that it is dangerous, karate, too, if properly applied, can yield results of great value. At the time a patient receives a Prescription for a powerful drug, he is made to understand its nature and is taught its proper usage. In the same way, those who would learn Karate-do must be made to understand it at the outset and be instructed in its proper use. The correct understanding of karate and its proper use is Karate-do. One who truly trains in this do and actually understands Karate-do is never easily drawn into a fight. One attack or a single kick determines life or death. Karate is properly applied only in those rare situations in which one really must either down another or be downed by him. This situation is experienced possibly once in a lifetime by an ordinary person, and therefore there may be an occasion to use karate techniques only once or not at all. The writer has always told his students, "Art does not make the man, the man makes art." Students of any art, clearly including Karate-do, must never forget the cultivation of the mind and the body.In Karate-do, one's individual goal might be improvement of his health or training of his body to function of his arms or legs or body, efficiently. He might wish to develop the strength of his arms or legs or body, or to attain poise and spiritual fortitude. Clearly one could wish to learn Karate-do to become humble. All such goals have to do with self-development. In contrast, in the moment that one misuses the techniques, for example in fighting in such a way that he injures another or himself, or brings dishonor upon himself, he nullifies any of these benefits and merits of Karate-do. Such misuse, arising from superficial understanding, is in fact self-defeating. Through the man, techniques become art. I must earnestly repeat: do not misuse the techniques of karate. True karate, that is, Karate-do, strives internally to train the mind to develop a clear conscience enabling one to face the world truthfully, while externally developing strength until one may overcome even ferocious wild animals. Mind and technique are to become one in true karate. Those who follow Karate-do must consider courtesy of prime importance. Without courtesy, the essence of Karate-do is lost. Courtesy must be practiced, not only during the karate training period but at all times in one's daily life. The karate student must humble himself to receive training. It may be said that a presumptuous or conceited person is not qualified to follow Karate-do. The student must always be aware of and receptive to criticism from others; he must be constantly introspective and must readily admit any lack of knowledge, rather than Pretending to know what he does not know. Those who follow Karate-do must never forsake a humble mind and gentle manner. It is the small-minded individual who likes to brag upon acquiring some small skill, and those with little knowledge who carry on as if they were experts are childish. It is because of the large number of false martial artists in the world that the public tends either to ignore the martial artist or to consider him wild. Therefore, many serious martial artists are embarrassed. Students of Karate-do should always keep these points in mind. Those who follow Karate-do will develop courage and fortitude. These qualities do not have to do with strong actions or with the development of strong techniques as such. Emphasis is placed on development of the mind rather than on techniques. In a time of grave public crisis, one must have the courage, if required for the sake of justice, to face a million and one opponents. For the Karate-do student, the most shameful trait is indecisiveness. For many years, I have humbly dedicated my life to the introduction of Karate-do to others. During the course of these many years, I have become associated with succeeding generations of fellow karate enthusiasts. Fortunately, my views have been understood by them, and their deep humility and gentleness have earned them the enthusiastic support of the public. I believe that this good result is a treasure we have found together through our mutual endeavor in karate. In a few words, then, those who seek karate should not stop merely with the perfection of their techniques. Rather, I hope, they will dedicate their lives to seeking the true Karate-do. This is because life through Karate-do is life itself, public and private. THE VALUE OF KARATE AS ATHLETIC TRAINING The nature of karate is such that it requires the body to move in all directions, in contrast, for example, to the emphasis on the arms in rowing or the legs in jumping. There is absolutely no need for concern about one-sided development of the body in karate, and the fact of uniform development may be considered to be one of the benefits of karate. In most cases, only a minute or two is required to complete a kata. Moreover,as one continues to practice, the movements become quicker and the training as a whole more vigorous, so that one can get ample exercise from a relatively short period of time. This is an ideal form of exercise for the many people. today who complain that they would like to exercise, but they just do not have the time. The little time required is, therefore, a second major advantage. Almost no other form of exercise, be it judo, kendo, archery, swimming, or horsemanship, can be performed at any time or place as easily as karate. Most sports require a large area, equipment, or a partner, and in this regard as well, karate is the most adaptable. No specific area,equipment, or even partner are necessary, for it can be performed in a garden, living room, hallway, at any time or place that one feels the desire to practice. This is the third significant advantage of karate. Usually, exercise suitable for men is not suitable for women, and that for women is probably not enough for men; that for people recovering from illness is not enough for healthy people, and similarly, sufficient exercise for healthy, young people is too strenuous for older people or young children. Karate, however, may even be practiced by the physically weak, by women, children, and by elderly people. In other words, since each individual may adjust the exercise to his own capacity, and with each unit of exercise being of but one to two minutes' duration, there is no danger of overexertion or physical exhaustion. Moreover, as the body is built up and the techniques become more skillful, the movements naturally become more powerful, so that the amount of exercise becomes sufficient even for the healthy young man in his prime. Thus, the amount of exercise increases naturally as the training progresses, a point that I would cite as the fourth athletic merit of karate. The fact that karate may be practiced either alone or in groups is a feature unique to it. Finally, even considered purely from the standpoint of physical techniques of practical value, the individual hand or foot movements, each with its own meaning, and the many variations in the various kata sequences become challenges to learn. While enjoying and being engrossed in their study on this basis, one accrues their benefits almost without realizing it. The value of karate as physical training may easily be demonstrated by scientific tests, and even after a year or less of practice, one can easily see for himself the tremendous improvement in his condition over its state before karate training. My esteemed teachers, the late masters Shishu (in Japanese, Itosu) and Azato, were both very weak in their childhood, but after starting to train in karate as a means of improving their health, they developed so much that they seemed like different people compared to their old selves and lived to become famous, in our times, as old masters. Master Shishu lived to the venerable age of eightyfive, and Azato to that of eighty. Master Azato's own teacher, Master Matsumura, lived to be over ninety years of age. Other contemporary karate experts such as Masters Yamaguchi, Aragake, Chibana, Nakazato, Yahiku, Tokashiki, Sakihara, and Chinen, have all lived to be over eighty. These examples are indicative of the role of karate as a superior method of maintaining one's health. AS SELF-DEFENSE Almost all living creatures have some mechanism for defending themselves, for, where this development is incomplete, the weaker are destroyed and perish in the fierce struggle for survival. The fangs of the tiger and lion, the talons of the eagle and hawk, the poisonous sting of the bees and scorpions, and the thorns of the rose and Bengal quince: are these not all preparations for defense? But if the lower mammals, birds, insects, and plants each have such specialization, should not man, the lord of creation, be prepared as well? An appropriate basis for the reply to this question is provided by the statement: We should have no intention of harming other people, but we must try to keep out of harm's way. To protect oneself, one must find a method that will give the weak the power to defend themselves against stronger opponents. The power of karate has become well known in these times for its effectiveness in breaking boards or cracking stone without tools, and it is not an exaggeration to assert that a man well trained in this form of defense may consider the whole body to be a weapon of awesomely effective offensive power. Finally, although karate does have throwing techniques, it relies principally on striking, kicking, and thrusting techniques. These movements are much quicker and can escape the untrained eye. Block-attack combinations are execute simultaneously, and weaker individuals, women or young boys, do have ample strength to control a more powerful opponent with them. In short, among the advantages of karate as a means of self-defense are these: no weapons are necessary; the old or sick, or women, are able to apply it; and one can protect himself effectively even with little natural strength. These points combine to make karate a form of self-defense without equal. AS SPIRITUAL TRAINING Karate is no different from the other martial arts in fostering the traits of courage, courtesy, integrity, humility, and self-control in those who have found its essence. However, most of the martial arts, since their practice is harsh from the outset, are not suited to individuals of weak constitution, poor build, or weak character, and such students, generally speaking, will lose spirit and drop out early in their training. Moreover, it is possible for a student, because of physical weakness, to train so conscientiously that he overexerts himself to the point of injuring himself or becoming ill, his body not being able to keep pace with his will, and early failures of this sort are encountered as well. For these reasons, many people, being physically weak, have had to give up hope of training in the martial arts, even though such training and its development of bravery and a solid, firm body could be of special importance to the constitutionally or spiritually weak individual. It is, therefore, important in this context as well that karate can be practiced by the young and old, men and women alike. That is, since there is no need for a special training place, equipment, or an opponent, a flexibility in training is provided such that the physically and spiritually weak individual can develop his body and mind so gradually and naturally that he himself may not even realize his own great progress. This flexibility of training also makes possible great strides in spiritual training. For if training in any martial art is discontinued after half a year or a year, it can hardly be expected to lead to any egree of spiritual training. An insight into this art, a mastery of its techniques, a polishing of the virtues of courage, courtesy, integrity, humility, and self-control to make them the inner light to guide one's daily actions: these require at the least ten or twenty years, if possible a lifetime of devotion to the study of this art. In view of its adaptability to continued training, I consider karate to be the most suitable of the many martial arts in leading to fulfillment of the need for training of the spirit. |
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