12/30/2011 TRUTH AND HONESTY IN KARATE

After reading a book on Karate, I was wondering why there is so much made up history on this subject.  Books that give a fictional interpretation of karate history are not needed.  The true facts of the way Karate came about is a great story. It seems funny that people feel the need to embellish on the truth, or give half-truths on the way it began.

I understand that most of the history was not written down, but passed on by word of mouth; this is a problem on its own.  However, it still needs to be passed on correctly.   I guess it still comes down to the men that are telling the story; maybe they wish it was a certain way.  Perhaps, after a while, they start to believe their version of the story to be true.

Some of the books that are out there about KATA BUNKAI (applications) are total nonsense. I truly cannot understand why these educated men can believe these applications, let alone write it in books.  Some of these writings could be a script for a low budget Hollywood movie.

Throughout Karate history, there have been people who change facts, or pass on untruths, just to make themselves look better. Or, maybe to make a profit by attracting more students? For some reason, they do it.  This same kind of person will sometimes try to associate themselves with famous people to make themselves seem better.  Even in our organization, we have men who remember things differently, or try to change the truth in order to feed their own egos. To prop their own image up, or make someone else look inferior.  The sad thing is this problem will never change.  What these people need to understand is that Karate works on your weakness, not just physically, but on your faults and your lack of integrity.  So, no matter what you want or wish things could be like, it will show up in the Dojo, and in your training.

In the Dojo all of these weaknesses come out.  Everyone knows who trains the hardest or who is the first one to give up.  There will always be someone who can do a better kata, a harder kick, or holds a higher rank. These things do not matter to the true martial artist.  Concentrate on your own kicks, your own kata….your own life.

The toughest opponent you will ever face is yourself.  That was the truth 150 years ago and it is the truth today.  You will live life like you train, through truth, honesty, and integrity.  The way is in training.  KARATE-DO  is for the perfection of your character…it just doesn’t guarantee it.

See you in the dojo

Leave a Reply

US Branch of Japan Keishinkan Karate