WORDS

     All through the years of my training I have always read all I could on Karate and Japanese Martial arts.  I took the time to write down sayings and different  words from all sorts of masters and Senseis.

            These are some of them, I have found  to be very helpful and inspiriting.

            “One must have a spirit of determination, self-discipline, and humility to be successful in Karate.  A person who wants to take up Karate must have the determination to master the art and the discipline to practice regularly.  He should never become puffed up.  He must have the spirit of humility that he may not think himself greater than others or go looking for a fight.  This is the spirit that the nation needs to succeed.  If all citizens had this spirit the nation would be strong..”   Master Takazawa

            Karate can be separated into two parts:  Physical and Mental or Sport and “ DO” .   In sports we use the physical part, muscular power, training your body to the height of condition.  But physical power is not lasting and after you age and your body is changing, your strength leaves you. That is when you start the second level of Karate which is “ DO “ .   The use of KI  ( internal energy ) and mental power, and with the aid of special training in mind, spirit, and zen…you will conquer all physical limitations.  This is the highest form of Karate.  One with the Universe.   Master Takazawa

        Kata should be studied as a map.  It shows the angle and direction of attacks to vital points of the body.

           True Karate demands hard work,  no benefits can be gained without diligent and disciplined practice.

            The Way is in Training…  one thousand days to forge the spirit,  ten thousand days to polish it.

            For the most part, in Karate one does not hit or strike, but thrusts with his fist or bone.  To hit, one must move up with the fist and body, but to thrusts, one can keep his waist, thus his body, in a stable stance.  Master Funakoshi (1922)

            Eliminate external distractions and concentrate only upon intention.

            You fight like you train.

            What lies behind or before us is nothing compared to what lies within us.

            Action speaks louder than words.

            We shall not cease exploration, but at the end of all exploring, we will arrive back at the place from which we started and know it for the first time.  T.S. Eliot

            Spirit first,  techniques second

Tactics- planned application of techniques, to secure advantages.

Strategies-to manipulate an opponent into responding in a certain way, so as to implement tactics.

            To be hard, you have to train hard.  Master Chibana

            If he pushes you pull,  if he pulls you push

            Hand techniques require the use of the body. The body generates the power and the hands serve as the instruments of contact.

            When forced to fight, theory and technique are one in the same; victory depends upon who is better prepared.  When engaging the adversary, respond instinctively. Movement must be fast and materialize without thought. Never underestimate your opponent, and be careful not to waste energy on unnecessary movement.  P. McCarthy

            One blow-One kill    the concept is that with every single blow executed, it is your intention to end the fight there and then

            Train with both heart and soul with out worrying about theory.  True practice is done not with words but with the entire body.  What you have learned with your whole body, you will remember for the rest of your life.

            Strike to kill (resolve any problem with a decisive action),   Do not hold anything back (never be tentative)   Do not place hope in finding a secret technique.  Polish the mind through ceaseless training; that is the key to effective techniques.   Master Mifune

            When a crisis occurs, in addition to wisdom and a calm mind, you must also be brave enough to execute your decision.

            Hear and forget

            See and remember

            Do and understand

            Combinations occur in response to an opponent’s action, not because they are your favorite set of techniques.

            True Karate is rooted in the feet, it develops in the legs, is directed by the waist, and functions through the hands.

            Surprise…Speed….Violence of action…that is how you win a fight.

            “the Way of the Fist conditions the body,  cultivates the mind, and nurtures the spirit.

            The words of the old master are very helpful and shows us the way to keep training,  I have a book that I write down any thing I run across that will help me keep motived,  these can be from Karate Master, coaches or really anyone.   One of the main points I come across seems to be there are no secret styles, no better schools.  It is simply the amount of training that one puts into whatever style he is learning.  Each style has its strong points; none is better than another

                                  See you in the Dojo