AN OUTLINE HISTORY OF KARATE-DO

Philosophical background

Karate-do is a martial art developed in Japan at the beginning of this century after hundreds of evolution in the Orient. It is an art, or way, that requires of its students a great deal of intellectual and physical discipline.
It is considered one of the finest forms of combined physical and spiritual training available today.

 It is vitally important that new students and the public understand the difference between fighting and karate-do. New students should learn at once that karate-do not engage in fighting, either in the dojo or anywhere else. Students also are taught that the purpose of karate-do is to avoid conflict and refrain from fighting unless there is no alternative. Fighting is a physical struggle against an enemy for the resolution of conflict by way of violence and force. In karate-do, there are no enemies, and conflicts either are avoided or resolved by reason. People who know how to protect themselves can maintain a calm spiritual attitude, which usually is reflected in their approach to daily life.

Karate, on the other hand, refers to a combination of methods of unarmed combat that evolved and developed in the Orient over a period of a thousand years. Only in the past 50 years has karate become known in the Western Hemisphere. Unlike instinctive fighting, karate is an organized blend of several indigenous fighting arts, some of which still exist and are being practiced in their original forms in Asia, Africa and South America.

A typical karate session is conducted by a Sensei, or teacher. Sen means before, and Sei means born. The Literal of the Japanese word Sensei is “one who is born before.” This refers to spiritual birth rather than chronological age. The person whose spirit has touched enlightenment and has demonstrated a certain level of proficiency in the art can be the teacher of the person who seeks to become the Seito, or student, regardless of age, sex, race or social status.

The process of learning in karate-do is an ongoing phenomenon. In fact, the concept of the teacher learning from the lesson is basic to all meaningful karate instruction. This is why the practice hall is referred to as the dojo, or the place of the way, the place of enlightenment. In this context, enlightenment means getting to know oneself. Therefore, if karate-do is the way to enlightenment, then karate is the vehicle leading to the way.

The martial arts began to develop this emphasis on personal and spiritual growth in the 16th century when the need for combat skills in the Orient began to diminish. It was also known that the spiritual strength derived from karate practice made the practitioner a better karateka and more skilled in the art. In karate-do, actual fighting is replaced with kumite. Kumite, or freehand sparring, is a method of practice performed with or without a partner. The partner, or opponont, is a fellow karateka and helps with the process of learning. Kumite is a mutual process of sharing knowledge and experience. If there is a conflict, the opponent at best reflects the mirror image of that conflict but does not help to resolve it. For this reason, there are no winners or losers in kumite. There is only mutual learning and sharing of experience. If there were losers, they would be the real victors because they had learned from the winners. Conversely, the winners would not be the real victors because they had not sharing the experience of the losers.

Meditation and contemplation are inseparable parts of karate training. Several simple methods of meditation have been designed to augment karate training. Karate’s premises of self-discovery and spiritual renewal aim to reduce the stress people encounter in daily life. For this reason, karate-do is not only a form of self-defense. It is also a method of self-awareness.

The ethics of modern karate-do are contained in the Dojo-kun, or precepts of the dojo, which urge karate-ka to seek perfection of character; to be faithful; to endeavor; to respect others; and refrain from violent behavior.

The Dojo-kun is derived from Tode “Karate” Sakugawa (1733-1815), known as the first Okinawan teacher of karate. The Dojo-kun contains precepts designed for a lifetime of use, applicable both in the dojo and outside as well.

Such is the way, or path, of karate-do, not karate alone, that provides the opportunities for individual progress and spiritual growth, both in life and in karate practice.

Reference: THE SPIRIT OF IKA: by Mark Grigorian; Ara copy & printing