Intrinsic Concepts in the Teaching of Classical Okinawan Karate

The roots of Asian society lie in the careful attention				first to be attuned to the unconscious.
given to reflective thought on the needs of all				If one really wishes to be master of an art, technical
society and in the conscious development of effort				knowledge of it is not enough. One has to transcend
as a process of spiritual awakening or enlightenment				technique so that the art becomes an 'artless art'
(kaigan) for everyone, working in relationship and				growing out of the Unconscious." Herrigel Zen in the
harmony (wa). This is embedded in the East and is				Art of Archery
particularly visible in Japanese culture.				Moral Philosophy and Spiritual Foundation
Traditionally, the teaching of classical Okinawan				In modern times, far too commonly, there is no
karate also integrated the principles of kaigan and wa				explicit discussion of the philosophical and spiritual
and was imparted through close one-to-one care,				foundation alive in karate practices, leaving the
attention and guidance given to a student by a				learner inarticulate about the effect this has on ones
master teacher. This was central to the teaching				life. There is much to be gained by the conscious
tradition of the old karate masters and formed the				prompting of discussion in this area in view of the
core of the karate Program.				fact that karate's origins dealt not only with conflicts
Master Teacher Defined				restricted to situations resulting in physical aggression
As with many words, common use of the term				but sought to confront internalized conflicts so that
teacher has steadily robbed it of any depth of				the learner could strive to overcome their fears,
meaning. It pays to examine it more closely, and in				doubts, and inhibitions.
particular to go beyond the term teacher and				What was true in the beginning is still true today, i.e.
understand what lies hidden in the further term				that the development of the inner self develops
master teacher. The simple definition of a teacher is				personal humility, respect and tolerance for all things
that he (or she) instructs another in one or several				of the universe and it is through this austere training
subject matters. A teacher has achieved fluent				that the learner is able to avoid life's obstacles and
control of their area of expertise and they have				overcome insurmountable odds in order to live happily
established an effortless relationship with the				and without conflict. This is the true pursuit of
materials, processes and outputs of their chosen field				classical Okinawan karate study. The roots of this
and are able to communicate this to others. A				practical philosophy lie in the Japanese concept of
master teacher is something more. A true master				Shugyo, the dynamic interplay of patience and
teacher has progressed beyond this to a deep				humility.
understanding of humanity itself so that he/she is				Stages of Development
able to see what needs to be nurtured and at the				In classical Okinawan karate learners go through
same time deeply understands and can guide the				three phases of development. This development is a
learner through the process of struggle, learning and				protracted endeavor which many people never
growth that yields maturity. He can grow future				achieve, and which master teachers would say
teachers and indeed future master teachers. The				repeat and never end. The processes of growth are
result of a teacher's work is output. The result of a				slow and the phases of development have to be
master teacher's work is people.				nurtured over time. The three phases of
Whereas a shogakusha, beginning learner of classical				development are known in Japanese culture as Shu
Okinawan karate sees the art as a practical means				Ha Ri.
of self-defense and as a method to condition the				While starting from Confucian roots teaching in Japan
body, a master teacher understands that classical				has been substantially shaped by Zen practice. In
karate is a path of life and philosophy that both				particular the teaching of classical Okinawan karate is
teacher and learner pursues in the search for				structured through the shu ha ri cycle of minute
enlightenment. In Japanese this is referred to as michi.				attention to detail, the development of complete
The master teacher strives at his art, for it to				technical fluency and then an alert responsiveness to
always carry the light. He strives at himself, for his				circumstances very analogous to Zen learning
virtue to be capable of the task. His teaching is a				emphasizing the closeness and subtlety of the
calling.				master/student relationship and its longevity, through
Master teachers carry this practical philosophy in two				repeating cycles of action and reflection over time, in
ways. Firstly there is a dimension of sacrifice evident				a three-fold learning process.
in their teaching, sacredness both in process and				Shu ha ri as a learning process which goes from
product (Latin: sacrificio - to make sacred) so that it				superficial to profound to superficial, so that there is
definitively carries life's meaning. Then there is evident				first a external understanding based upon learning
in themselves a powerful ascetic self-control. They				rules by rote; the second stage involves expanding
work a long way beyond being self-centered. (Latin:				the learning to various applications and situations, in
virtus - strength. Virtue - to have the clarity of soul,				order to deepen; and the final stage is superficial
the strength of soul, to hold to what is right and not				again, as one reaches the ultimate phase all
let go.)				attachments are severed and one is completely
Essence of Classical Okinawan Karate				emancipated. This emancipation, however, leads one
Classical karate is an art that embodies physical				back to the beginning and the foundations of his
practice, theory, and ethics (moral philosophy and				education. The final phase brings one back to the
spiritual foundation). In the initial stages, most classical				first steps of learning the rules, but now the rules can
karate instruction concerns itself with physical				be understood from a perspective of freedom, in
practice and theory, with ethics being revealed in				that they are applied not through unquestioning
time, under the careful guidance of a master teacher.				replication but through an understanding of their
Physical Practice and Theory				inherent wisdom.
The physical practice and theory involves learning and				In this context, the responsibility carried by the
integrating a broad range of fundamental physical				master teacher for formative guidance - for care and
skills as well as the underlying physiological and				respect for the person being guided - and the
psychological principles upon which the self-protection				responsibility of the student to try to give life to the
arts rest.				guidance of the master teacher - a reciprocal caring
The physical practice and theory of classical				and respect - is tangible. But so is the Japanese view
Okinawan karate encompasses a core curriculum				of life as a learning process of growth towards
designed to ensure that the learner achieves the				aware maturity, in which activities are always worked
highest level of skill for its intended utilitarian purposes				at for their spiritual content.
i.e. the simple yet effectively brutal self-defense,				Précis
while at the same time nurturing the active direction				The heightened empathy, seeking out the root
of attention to the philosophical and spiritual aspect				causes of things, and realizing its potential for good, is
of the art.				at the heart of classical Okinawan karate. These
While the immediate output of physical practice and				building blocks are central to the teaching of classical
theory is effort, it always has internal as well as				Okinawan karate. Sensitivity to the detail of
external results. Dedicated training requires internal				circumstance has to be combined with the
effort, developing the self-control necessary to				observations of others captured from their
master a skill for instance, which results in the internal				experience and passed on as advice. Out of the
competence to be able to apply that skill. In all				struggle of this combination process comes
growth processes the internal stages occur unseen -				enlightenment. In all this the experience is primary, as
below ground - and a master teacher will nurture that				much of what the master teacher is passing on can
process, feeding the roots. What flowers comes later				only be passed on in context. Competence cannot be
are of its own accord, i.e. the internal always				developed in abstract. It cannot be taught in a
precedes the external, and patience is essential				handing over information in a classroom sense,
because time is the true judge.				because it is not abstract information. It is a set of
While physical practice and theory provides for				dynamic skills, alert sensitivity and well-honed
technical competency, it should not be seen as an				responses to circumstances that has to be
end in itself. The core mission of physical practice and				developed in guided practice.
theory is to provide a conduit in which human growth				This provides a framework for the master teacher
occurs and where the meaning of all things is seen in				to impart and teach classical Okinawan karate.
the context of the whole and thus each thing is done				Specifically, it highlights the real responsibility of the
for its intrinsic value, a process in which both the				master teacher as an archetype and catalyst, not
master teacher and learner express themselves,				simply as a custodian of information.
listen, absorb, respond, and find themselves				The following quote captures the spirit of teaching
incrementally enlightened through their relationship.				classical Okinawan karate very effectively:-
"One of the most significant features we find in the				It is as though the master had said to him, "I can tell
practice of archery, and in fact of all the arts as they				you there is something you need to know, and with
are studied in Japan and probably also in other Far				my help you may be able to learn it. But I cannot tell
Eastern countries, is that they are not intended for				you what it is in a way you can now understand. I
utilitarian purposes only or for purely aesthetic				can only arrange for you to have the right sorts of
enjoyments, but are meant to train the mind; indeed,				experience for yourself. You must be willing,
to bring it into contact with the ultimate reality.				therefore, to have these experiences. Then you will
Archery is, therefore, not practiced solely for hitting				be able to make an informed choice about whether
the target; the swordsman does not wield the sword				you wish to continue. If you are unwilling to step into
just for the sake of outdoing his opponent; the				this new experience without knowing ahead of time
dancer does not dance just to perform certain				what it will be like, I cannot help you. You must trust
rhythmical movements of the body. The mind has				me.

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Intrinsic Concepts in the Teaching of Classical Okinawan Karate