A critical view on Karate

On a beautiful Sunday afternoon in Werner's garden with coffee and cake, Haki and Judith discussed about well known and not-so-well known masters, the tradition of karate and the character of kata. What Haki said this afternoon, might be of interest for all karatekas - and especially illuminating for our members, since it is a piece of theoretical background to our usually unusual training.

Judith: "How can it really be that people say about a high-degree Dan that there's nothing to be learned from him? That they are full of criticism for such a person? He definitely must have a lot of experience! And without the dedication and discipline no one will ever get that far."


Haki: "Yes, that's right, and the best intentions he has, too. The question is: what would somebody else have done in his place? What else could another person have achieved? The answer is: nothing. Even the critics would not have landed somewhere else, because such a person is - like many others - an end result of the system. For me, since I had to realize this, I am not able to criticize anyone any longer. "

J: "But what is the problem? A working system is just useful, isn't it? "
H: "Well, first of all, each highly structured, hierarchical system is always somewhat rigid and therefore the number of those who can be successful is limited. But that is not as bad because the successful ones are usually dedicated and absolutely capable people. However, the advancement and perhaps the gain of influence promotes a certain approach to knowledge  hampering their own development."


J: "What do you mean? What do people really seek from a master?
H: "Let me put it this way: to have knowledge is highly valued, to know something, however, does not mean you are able to do it - it is more a precursor thereof. Tradition is also upheld. But people use this term without prober definition.


J: "What is your definition of the word 'tradition'?"
H: "In my view the tradition of karate is the tradition of fighting. You dont' need to understand the entire  Far Eastern culture in order to understand the tradition of karate - this is a task which is manageable only for very few. What we need to preserve is what we can learn from karate itself. The tradition of the fighting is passed with the basic techniques that are preserved in the kata which are models and examples of how these techniques could be used. Masters such as the one mentioned above have just accumulated knowledge which they pass directly to their students. "


J: "What has changed on their way?"
H: "Not much. They gathered more and more knowledge, rehashed it over and over again, and just like savings on a bank account they gave it to their grandchildren, but it never became a part of their own bodies. To me tradition means to continue something you have learned from your master - in your own, unique way. This does not, of course, say that every person needs to establish a new style. There is nothing new to invent! I just need to take what is already there and use it properly. Flexibly applying karate techniques in a certain situation means to get rid of a learned structure and be able to adjust to what is happening at the very moment.
Anyone who is able to do so is a master of karate! Whatever new application someone else tries to teach you cannot be anything else but just a new model which you again will have to free yourself from in a specific situation in order to remain flexible. You have to be a warrior for yourself. Whatever you do, you do yourself."


J: "But isn't it a bit strange to leave the kata so far behind? The master who invented a certain kata had something special in his mind!"
H: Yes, certainly the master had something in mind. He has left us a work of art, a masterpiece. He intended to show us his ideas about how to combine and apply the techniques. By delivering this model, he intends to teach your knwoledge of the principles of karate and promote your own ability to form an idea of what you are doing. To what extent you  are able to benefit from this system depends on the manner in which your master leads you to the point of creating your own masterpiece in each specific situation.
You do not need to become 70 or 80 years old to reach this point, and we do not need to define who is the greater master. Karate is some kind of food that nourishes both body and spirit. To teach people means to enable them to develop their own personal karate. And this does not mean to teach lots and lots of different, good-looking methods of defense against an Oi Zuki or Mae Geri. The teacher must empower the student to be his own master. "

© Shotokan Karate Gronau e.V.