Caveat: This article is mine and mine alone. I the author of this article assure you, the reader, that any of the opinions expressed here are my own and are a result of the way in which my meandering mind interprets a particular situation and/or concept. The views expressed here are solely those of the author in his private capacity and do not in any way represent the views of other martial arts and/or conflict/violence professionals or authors of source materials. It should be quite obvious that the sources I used herein have not approved, endorsed, embraced, friended, liked, tweeted or authorized this article. (Everything I think and write is true, within the limits of my knowledge and understanding. Oh, and just because I wrote it and just because it sounds reasonable and just because it makes sense, does not mean it is true.)
Please make note that this article/post is my personal analysis of the subject and the information used was chosen or picked by me. It is not an analysis piece because it lacks complete and comprehensive research, it was not adequately and completely investigated and it is not balanced, i.e., it is my personal view without the views of others including subject experts, etc. Look at this as “Infotainment rather then expert research.” This is an opinion/editorial article/post meant to persuade the reader to think, decide and accept or reject my premise. It is an attempt to cause change or reinforce attitudes, beliefs and values as they apply to martial arts and/or self-defense. It is merely a commentary on the subject in the particular article presented
1) The most important thing that a karate-ka (student) must keep in mind is that under the law his hands are considered deadly weapons.
2) A karate-ka must as an obligation to society and the art, do the utmost in his power to avoid a conflict with another human being.
3) You do have the right to protect yourself but keep in mind that your follow man is also guaranteed this right under law. Therefore do nothing to offend him by speech or action, if you follow this course there is not just reason for this man to attack you.
4) If you are attacked and find no avenue of escape, protect yourself, this is your right.
This is the moral code presented circa 1964/1965 for the New York Worlds Fair by the Isshando Karate Association, 524 Mercer Street, Jersey City, New Jersey as managed and run by Don Nagle Sensei of Isshinryu Karate. Nagle Sensei was one of the Marine Corps servicemen who studied Isshinryu in the late fifties while stationed on the island of Okinawa. He was and is considered a “First Generation” student of Shimabuku Tatsuo Sensei, the creator of the Isshinryu system.
A first generation student, at the time, meant that the person studied directly under the supervision of the Honbu Dojo Sensei who just happens to be the Master and Creator of the system called, “Isshinryu Karate.” As to why this is considered important you would have to get a definition from those who hold that distinction but rest assured that the defining will differ with each person. It seems to hold some special meaning in the heritage or ancestry in the community, the Isshinryu community.
The reason for this article is when analyzed it created some questions and comments as to just how valid the code is in today’s martial art or karate community. I will take each one and make a general comment then a couple of comments as to my questions toward the content, intent as it feels right to me and the philosophy it may or may not infer to the student reading it without guidance, etc.
Please note that this exercise in analysis, etc., is in no way to disparage the code, its author or its value and validity today. As all martial artists know, the philosophies, theories, and cultural beliefs of a system are critical in adhering to the fundamental principles of all martial disciplines/systems/styles. My goal in this effort is to bring about questions, idea’s and possibilities that will garner more questions toward learning, growing and advancing the martial arts over remaining in a state of stagnation in a false sense of tradition resulting in no change, no growth and no greater potential for the system, the art or the practitioner, etc.
1) The most important thing that a karate-ka (student) must keep in mind is that under the law his hands are considered deadly weapons.
Oh, what a web we weave when we first practice to deceive especially when it is from a point of honesty, commitment and a heart that means well but misses the boat. In the mid to late sixties there is or was and never was a law that designated our hands as deadly weapons. Granted, in todays legal arena along with credentials that state one is proficient in martial arts that system could present that level of expertise as making the person of greater danger to the average person but also could be considered at each separate instance of justice as applying deadly techniques with the hands. This does NOT make the hands deadly weapons!
In reality, much like various weapons, their perceived value in self-defense can be judged by a reasonable person mandate as deadly weapons vs. something considered by that reasonable man as not as deadly, etc. Like the movies and perceptions as to what the uninitiated and non-expert may think is deadly vs. what is actually deadly is open to judgement.
Deadly hands don’t exist. I would also add that many, if not most, deaths that occur from the use of hands occurred not directly by those hands but rather as a result of say, falling down and hitting your head on a solid object that kills you, i.e., loss of balance, falling down, gravities pull, head against sidewalk, resulting in death or grave bodily harm.
There is, in my view, a need for any practitioner of martial arts, especially as it is practiced toward the full spectrum of what is considered Self-Defense, must understand and appreciate the capabilities and repercussions of using such skills. They do have the potential to do grave harm or even death yet in reality it isn’t all that high a probability or possibility. It is more a rarity.
The deadly hands maxim as to law or even as to reality is based on a myth, a myth started by someone who in all probability wanted to create a mind-state that attracted students and thus fees and membership, etc.
2) A karate-ka must, as an obligation to society and the art, do the utmost in his power to avoid a conflict with another human being.
This one stands well on its own, it is true then as it is true now that the best course of action in conflicts, violence and violent conflicts to avoid them if at all possible. The way that is done is far more complex than merely taking self-defense classes at a martial art dojo. What makes me feel good about this one is that in a time, 64/65 time frame, folks actually gave a thought to such a concept when in those days to fight was the preferred way to defend and protect.
3) You do have the right to protect yourself but keep in mind that your follow man is also guaranteed this right under law. Therefore do nothing to offend him by speech or action, if you follow this course there is not just reason for this man to attack you.
This one also speaks to what is best when self-defense is involved. Even tho a bit melodramatic in form the overall meaning is also about avoidance. It does allow openness to other venues as well that fall under avoidance, i.e., such as the art of deescalation. It does when one contemplates it as a Zen like self-defense “Koan” allows less obscure meanings to rise up in practice, training and application. It would also embrace simply being aware, various types of awareness, and using the naturally instinctive “Flight” response, i.e., simply running away from the conflict, violence and violent conflict.
4) If you are attacked and find no avenue of escape, protect yourself, this is your right.
I also find this one following the same path as no. 2 and 3 above with most of no. 1 except as commented already. I would add in that if you did everything you could to avoid conflict and found that it escalates to physical violence regardless of its source, i.e., social vs. asocial violent attacks, leaving you no other choice but to apply self-defense as mandated by societies laws, etc., then do so with all the limitations that requires including the level of force appropriateness and when it is time to stop and so on.
Self-defense in modern times means more than what is initially proposed by these codes as presented those many, many years ago. The complexities of self-defense are greater today then even those early years.
Overall, this is a pretty good start for a martial moral code. It could use more for clarity and to cover more of the self-defense spectrum but for those days and those times it is better than most of the same days and times.
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