Japanese Mentality in Okinawan Karate

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Partial Quote taken into another context for this article, “ … so many Okinawan karate followers train with a Japanese mentality…” - Michael Clarke, Shinseidokan Dojo Blog Go West Young Man….. http://shinseidokandojo.blogspot.com/2015/06/go-west-young-man.html

I am going to go all “Theory-ized” on you with this one. You know, like I tend to do anyway but in this instance I believe that my thoughts may be closer to reality than one might want to believe, let alone accept. But, what the hey, I am just trying to get a grip on things not documented historically or even present day. 

Yes, modern westernized martial arts with an eye toward Karate, an Okinawan culturally oriented system, karate today is pretty much Japanized. Why? Because Japan started to influence strongly things Japanese on the Okinawan’s starting, at least, in the 1600’s. Even our Okinawan ancestors, speaking as to originators of karate only, wanted to be assimilated into the Japanese ways so they could be accepted, accepted in the tribe or group or society. It is one of those survival instincts rearing up and influencing things. 

It isn’t just western practices that seem to be of Japanese mentality because in the late 1800’s and into the 1900’s up to and including today Japan has influenced greatly the practice of martial disciplines and that includes Okinawan karate.  Granted, Okinawan cultural influences still persist but that too is slowly being absorbed or assimilated into a mixture that is dominated by Japanese influences. 

American practitioners of Okinawan karate found that the many budo and bushido and Zen Buddhist influences “Fit” what they were trying to create more than any influences present, if taught or learned at even the base levels, in Okinawan teachings. Remember that the military, except for very very few, didn’t stay long enough to learn about the cultural influences that may or may not have been present in Okinawan karate. 

Even those who travel to Okinawa make “Assumptions” that what they are getting is inherently and exclusively of Okinawan cultural humble beginnings. I also attribute this to the effort to put karate and other martial disciplines into the educational systems of Japan (that include Okinawa too). Most of what was and is taught today has deep roots in Japanese influences and this comes from the connections and inter-cultural practices where the focus was more on Japanese acceptance than Okinawan. Okinawan karate masters of the day wanted and needed Japan more than Japan wanted or needed Okinawa. Come on, Okinawa is a conquered entity and when conquered the conquerers pretty much force their ways on to the conquered. Yes, Okinawan’s did resist and worked to maintain their cultural identities but then again when certain aspects of all cultures that encountered and did business with them had effects, i.e., they took what they liked and assimilated it while leaving other aspects out. I think you are getting the picture.

There is and was a lot more cultural exposure from Japan than ever from Okinawa, even today. Just remember there are few who are not living a Japanized form of Okinawan life that teach karate. Okinawa is Japan or a part thereof even if a few kilometers or so south separated by an Ocean. Japanese influences were strong, persistent and accepted even by Okinawans. One reason why the Okinawan language or dialect of “Uchinaguchi (pardon the spelling)” is almost a lost dialect. There is a reason why Okinawan language is Japanese. 

If a person looks very closely they will see huge Japanese cultural influences. Now, why so many followers of Okinawan karate train with a Japanese mentality? Because both in and out of Okinawa Japan was accepted and karate was changed to present a more “Japanized” version so that Japan martial communities would accept karate as a valid martial discipline. 

I would also pose that Chinese influences and mentality tend to bleed into Okinawan followers even those who claim traditional/classic forms or disciplines because China also pushed and Okinawans accepted aspects of Chinese culture that strongly influenced and changed Okinawan Ti or Toudi, the precursor to karate of modern times. 

I would challenge anyone to show anything that is exclusive and solely Okinawan cultural in today’s karate both in and out of Okinawa that speaks to being inherently Okinawan? 

Think of it this way, just because they labeled it “Empty Hand” does not mean they created it exclusively for you will find empty handed combatives in all cultures and all of them used various parts of the body in their respective implementations and applications. The Greeks used a type of kick that was devastating, etc. and so have many other cultures. Take a look into their history books with reservations because, like Okinawa and others, those who conquered wrote the books but regardless you will see similarities across the board. One such similarity is principles, they all have the same underlying principles such as structure, posture, etc. to create force and power, right?

We want, we need and we strive for uniqueness and group identity that will put us, the tribal group mentality, into its own unique group with a goal to achieve status, etc. that puts us above others in a superior and hierarchal fashion, all human survival instinct traits, so we can say, “Look at me, I belong to <fill in tribal name here> and we are superior to all others,” type mentality. 

In the end, it is not too difficult to find out why Japanese mentalities dominate in most martial disciplines including those seen as Okinawan. Take a closer look and open the mind to where those perceived Okinawan karate or martial discipline philosophies are derived and you may find that it is not as exclusive to any one culture no matter what you believe.

In the end, it is about you and what you want, need and believe. If it gets you what you want, if it gets you into a community that benefits both you and your group, and if it speaks to you regardless in a positive and moral way suited to your live and survival then have at it. In the end it doesn’t really matter if it has a Japanese mentality or flavor, if it has a Chinese mentality or flavor or if it has an Okinawan mentality or flavor - if it gives you what you want and what you need and what you seek then go for it. 

Now, you might be thinking that I am dissing Clarke Sensei’s meaning in his post or that I am saying his philosophy is wrong and not associated to Okinawan karate but I am not because I believe his philosophy is true and Okinawan. I believe he has and practices the spirit of Okinawan karate budo (a term uniquely Japanese). I do tend to go out there in my thinking and consideration toward my personal practice and this is what I am doing here. 

Who knows, one day I will be writing on the American mentality toward martial disciplines to include Okinawan karate. Or, did I do that already here? Just do this, “Think about it?”

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