Author: admin

Finally, the quintessence of combative sport is that when you face an opponent, you bow properly with respect, show a combative and animal instinct and with the voice of the judge HAJIME, fight with omniscience and omnipotence. With the voice of judge announcing the end YAME, come back to your humanity and then bow with modesty and respect regardless of defeat or victory.

This action is the beauty of the martial arts.

Another important point is modesty. For Japanese, this modesty is very important.
Although this point might be difficult to understand for others in different cultures, this is the most important point in learning martial arts.
If you are too confident, you cannot see important things. If you consider you are immature, you can ask others for advice.
This is because Karate players bow before entering DOJO (training hall). In other word, they have to leave their pride and career outside of DOJO to learn everything modestly.
In Japan person who shows off his ability is regarded as uneducated and uncultured person. However, in some countries, displaying one’s ability is considered important.
This is a matter of cultural difference. I don’t know which is better.

Finally, I would like to talk about REI (respect).
In martial arts, REI is considered very important. REI means respecting people. The significance of leaning Karate is this, especially for youth and children.
Off course, Karate is ideal sport which works to make youth and children’s body gain well-balance physique. However the most
important thing is that Karate gives children a sense of respect and confidence by possessing techniques.

in Karate, there are Kata (forms). Most of them are established in China, then introduced to Okinawa (Southern islands in Japan).
From old time, Karate players improved their techniques by practising these forms. Technique of Karate can be acquired by practising KATA. Recently, people tend to practice by KUMITE (fighting) to win game, and not to practice KATA. KATA is essence of Karate. In KUMITE, you can play only with combative instinct and quick relaxes without learning the forms and techniques. If someone practices only by KUMITE, he/she will not be able to play Karate over the age of 40.
By KATA, you can learn ideal balance, speed and breathing. Today, the era of games, Karate players tend to care how to show their playing style and forms beautifully using KATA,
in which real powerful punch and kick cannot be seen. On the other hand, it does not mean that can get beautiful KATA by getting only speed and power.
My purpose of practising KATA places great importance on the mental aspect. I can calm down myself before starting KATA, I try not to strain and relax myself (Zenshin) when I do forwarding KATA, maintaining dynamic status while performing static movement, and maintaining static status while conducting violent attack, to play KATA with senses of fulfilment and fight (Tsuushin) and to end with no idle thoughts, which is very difficult to achieve. (Zanshin)
I experienced this feeling only twice when I was competitor in games in the past.
I did not notice anyone even audience and judges, and my breathing was perfect in spite of the hard movements. I attained a spiritual state of perfect selflessness and it was great feeling. I practice Karate over 40 years almost every day and every time to achieve this feeling.
From my experience, I found that controlling myself is much more difficult that controlling opponents in the fight.
What I want to say is your mind moves and controls your body.