• TRADITIONAL OKINAWA KARATE-DO - COMPARISON WITH KARATE SPORT
The following text is a part of the author's lectures by professor Takamijagi Shigeru (Hanshi 10th Dan), held on 3rd October 2007 during the event of "The Cultural Exchange between Serbia and Japan" in Belgrade in University "Kolarac".
The Japanese text was translated into Serbian by Mr. Yamasaki Vukelic Hiroshi Lavov, writer and translator.
• KARATE-DO in Okinawa has always through its history emphasized its traditional essence, as a means of developing personality, as a means of defense and of strengthening physical skills. At its base is a course of Martial Arts and, therefore, it began, in accordance with the requirements of modern times, to include elements of competition in late 70s of last century. So, with great delay KARATE-DO in Okinawa began to adapt to the times and to fulfilling the requirements of modern martial arts - to be a means of competition.
In Japan, all arts, not just martial arts, but also others, such as for example: dance, music, applied arts etc. were historically developed on the basis of social competition. History of these arts has, especially since the new era, clearly shown a tendency to strengthen the elements of competition.
And KARATE-DO (as one of the martial arts) had to include an element of competition. It is a historical process that KARATE-DO had to go through as well. However, the competitive element should not be developed at the expense of the authentic essence of martial arts, strengthening of physical abilities and building of the personality. This means that a way has to be found to organically connect and harmonize the traditional martial arts and elements of competition.
KARATE-DO, as a traditional martial art, must be based on the principles of existence of the forms of exercise which start with Kata, and through Kumite returns to the KATA. KARATE-DO can not be developed contrary to that principle, even in time when all types of martial arts increase the element of competition. If KARATE-DO edges towards only one side, the side of competition, it can not fulfill its primary role and mission of preserving traditional culture.
| • | SPECIFICS OF THE KARATE-DO AS MARTIAL ART AND SPORT'S KARATE (FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF MARTIAL AND OF ART & SPORT) |
When we compare KARATE-DO as Martial Art and Sport's KARATE we get the following logic conclusions:
| CONCEPTUAL BASE OF COMPARISON OF KARATE-DO AND SPORT'S KARATE | ||
MARTIAL ART KARATE-DO |
<———> | SPORT’S KARATE |
IDEALISM |
<– 01 –> | HUMANISM |
FIGHT FOR LIFE OR DEATH |
<– 02 –> | FIGHT FOR VICTORY OR DEFEAT |
DEADLY TECHNIQUE IS NOT APPLIED |
<– 03 –> | VICTORIOUS TECHNIQUE IS APPLIED |
TECHNIQUE ENRICHES YOUR SPIRIT |
<– 04 –> | TECHNIQUE DOES NOT HAVE TO ENRICH YOUR SPIRIT |
CLOSE LINK TO ZEN |
<– 05 –> | INDEPENDENCE FROM ZEN |
IT IS PRACTICED AS A REAL, REAL FIGHT |
<– 06 –> | IT IS EXERCISED FOR ENJOYING, FOR EYES AND BODY |
THE POSSIBILITY OF LIFELONG PRACTICING |
<– 07 –> | PRACTICING TO CERTAIN AGES |
SYSTEM OF TECHNIQUE IS INDIVIDUAL |
<– 08 –> | SYSTEM OF TECHNIQUE IS COLLECTIVE |
THE AUDIENCE IS UNNECESSARY |
<– 09 –> | THE AUDIENCE IS NECESSARY |
TITULAR SYSTEM IS FOR LIFE |
<– 10 –> | RANKING SYSTEM IS DYNAMIC |
PLACE OF TRAINING: DOJO |
<– 11 –> | PLACE OF TRAINING: GYM, SPORTS HALL ... |
The one who finds himself in the world of martial arts is constantly teetering on the brink of life and death. The idea of martial arts is directly related to the view of life and death. In KARATE-DO as a martial art, it could be expressed as: "Kill by one strike. Defend yourself unmistakably. Practice intensely and severely. Never lose from your mind the idea of life and death. Always be ready to die if you make a wrong move, in the same way as in the fight with bare swords".
When, after a severe training on the edge of life and death KARATEKA reaches such a high technical level, to be able to decide about opponent's life or death, he will no longer wish to apply а deadly technique. When a fighter senses fear of the consequences of the application of lethal technique, he is not in a mental condition to apply this technique. At that point, he begins to follow Confucian logic: "A LOFTY GENTLEMAN DOES NOT COME CLOSE TO DANGER". Thus, he avoids any possibility of conflict and struggle. He realizes that the life in unity and prosperity for all is real ideal of man, and then he is devoting his whole life to reach and to become this ideal. Finally, he enters in the world of lofty enlightenment.
On the other hand, in sport it is important that a competitor beats his opponent, or wins as many points which will bring him victory. Matter of life and death is not raised with practicing techniques. The competitor will use the most trained (lethal) technique against rival. The logic of the fight for the victory requires this implementation.
Sport highly appreciates harmonization and adjusting, as values. However, it is deprived of deep thought that by perfecting of techniques you can enter in the world of high spirituality, as well as that strengthening of the spirit and the body discovers the final way. The sport does not carry the idea that "BODY AND SPIRIT ARE RESEARCHING THE PATH".
| CONCEPTUAL BASE OF COMPARISON OF KARATE-DO AND SPORT'S KARATE | ||
MARTIAL ART KARATE-DO |
<———> | SPORT’S KARATE |
ONE MOVE IS FINAL |
<– 01 –> | EACH MOVEMENT IS RELATIVE |
KILL BY ONE STROKE |
<– 02 –> | WIN BY ONE STROKE |
TECHNICAL SYSTEM BEGINS WITH DEFENSE |
<– 03 –> | TECHNICAL SYSTEM BEGINS WITH ATTACK |
TO ATTACK FIRST OR SECOND IS RELATIVE |
<– 04 –> | THE FIRST ATTACK LEADS TO THE VICTORY |
A martial arts technique does not take into consideration so-called "NEXT MOVE". One move is final. Mistake is fatal, either in attack or in defense. Just like the motto of the fencing school "JIGEN-RYU" in the country of Satsuma: "BELIEVE IN THE FIRST STROKE BECAUSE THE SECOND MEANS DEFEAT". This slogan contains an extreme cruelty of technique, that the opponent be destroyed by one stroke.
Contrary to that, repeating of techniques is used in sport. There is a second move and the third move, so that mistakes can be corrected. The moves are relative.
Martial arts, arts and sports have a lot of common. In Japan, the martial arts in the modern age have achieved specific forms and completed their system as the art of fighting "BUGEI" or as the way or path "DO". These are different from sports of the West because sports of the West are primarily used for entertainment; fun and relaxation. Primarily aim of martial arts in Japan is to temper spirit by strengthening the body and by the development of techniques. And arts *) in Japan are similar to them, too.
*) Arts are skills of expressing the inner feelings by using body and spirit. Calligraphy, painting, »NO« drama, music, dance... all of them are characterized by using of the body to express something. It is clear that sports, martial arts and arts share such characteristics and that they are essentially based on using of body. In other words, they contain normativity and express aesthetic specificity. Looking at subtle form of KATA performers in KARATE-DO, at gymnasts or dancers, we can easily conclude that all three of them share common traits.
In the end, THE SPIRIT is what determines the quality of the technique. This is called "SPIRITUAL EYE" and indicates the ability to penetrate into the essence of things. Mental state of maturity that has such ability is called the "NORMAL STATE OF MIND". This state of mind is so serene that it is indistinguishable from the normal state, in any situation. The one who reaches such state of mind can "SEE INVISIBLE AND TO PERCEIVE THE UN-PERCEIVED".
In the world of BUDO the order of tempering starts from the body and mind to cognition about the way - "DO". Firstly, the starting point is the body (strengthening physical abilities and perfecting of techniques). Then the "SPIRITUAL WORLD" is built, and finally what follows is entering into the "WORLD OF WAY". This is the order to reach the final goal: cognition of the "WAY OF MAN". Cognition of the way is the ultimate world of techniques. It is way which is reached by true masters. It is a spiritual world. KARATEKA reaches the final world only after many years of practicing.
The one who reaches the "WAY OF MAN" will be released of "all desire, passion, anger and jealousy". He/she will spend life in pure and in undisturbed state of mind. He/she will be free of obsession. When someone acquires a pure soul, they can see the world around them in an extraordinary way, and can sharpen the power of discerning into movement of things. In other words, they reach the state where they remain indifferent to everything and become an unselfish person. Those who practice TRADITIONAL KARATE-DO should aspire to such final state through perfecting of techniques.
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