In
Gichin Funakoshi’s book, “Karate-Do My Way of Life”, he writes of the six rules
of Karate-do (although only five rules are actually noted). These rules are applicable today to any
martial art as they were when Master Funakoshi wrote the rules over 40 years
ago.
The
rules are:
1.
You must be deadly serious
in training.
In
studying a martial art, you are training to protect yourself.
Brian
Rainie tells a story of training with Mr. Kim , “If I used something
that was not effective he would turn to me with those very cold eyes and simply
say “You’re dead.” Nothing drove it home faster, or more effectively,
than those two words.”
In order to be effective in your training you must focus while practicing as if you are in every instance protecting yourself and your life may be on the line. This will make the most out of your training.
2.
Train with both heart and
soul without worrying about theory.
Students
can get wrapped around the axel about why something works or get concerned they
are not learning something as fast or as well as they think they should. If one continues to train and practice,
concepts will be revealed in time to where a student understands it. And in time, techniques that seemed
impossible to master become second nature.
I can still remember the first time I was shown our side kick thinking I
may never be able to throw a side kick.
But over time and through continuing training, eventually I could. Mr. Kim would just say, “Show Up. Practice”.
There is nothing more to it.
3.
Avoid self-conceit and
dogmatism.
Regardless
of the number of years you have practiced or how “good” you think you have
gotten, you should always be humble.
Thinking you are better than others can lead to getting injured. One should never underestimate an
opponent. In addition, you should not
be fixed on absolutes. Getting your mind
set in such a way where you do not stay open and flexible in your learning and
training will result in stalling out and limiting any further progression in
your training.
4.
Try to see yourself as you
truly are and try to adopt what is meritorious in the work of others.
We
all have our strengths and areas we need more effort. Mr. Kim would say more often than not on a
test form “More Work”. Ensure you are
honest with yourself when you are doing your best and when you are falling
short. You might ask yourself if you are
not trying your best, are you really doing yourself a favor or just developing
bad habits?
Emulating
others who demonstrate effective techniques (as long as it works for your body
type and is equally effective) is always encouraged.
5.
Abide by the rules of ethics
in your daily life, whether in public or private.
Martial
artists are honorable and live by ethics.
They abide by ethics in all things they do regardless of place or
time. Martial arts, at its essence, is a
way of life not something one does two or three times a week. This rule of all the rules is probably the
most important.
Many of these rules should sound familiar if you have been
in class for some time or have read some of my previous blogs. While I may not have used the exact words
Master Funakoshi has used, the rules are fairly universal in traditional
martial arts.
I encourage you all to think about these rules and how you
are applying them in you practice and if not, when will you start?
Regards,
Kelly
"With Karate-Do, by extending help to
others and by accepting it from them, a man acquires the ability to elevate the
art into a faith wherein he perfects both body and soul and so comes finally to
recognize the true meaning of Karate-Do." ~ Gichin Funakoshi (1868-1957),
founder of Shotokan Karate
References
- Karate-Do My Way of Life by Gichin
Funakoshi
