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“Okinawan Karate is based on kata, within kata lies Gokui (極意 essential point or secret principles). Knowing what to look for in kata are the secrets."
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“Okinawan Karate is based on kata, within kata lies Gokui (極意 essential point or secret principles). Knowing what essential points to look for in kata is kata goku-i.”
Every once in a while I hear things about secrets such as this statement (Note: taken out of context to be an example for this article - don’t take it personally!): “Okinawan Karate is based on kata, within kata lies Gokui (極意 essential point or secret principles). Knowing what to look for in kata are the secrets." - Ciso Shimabuku, 2nd Son Shimabuku Tatsuo, Isshinryu Karate
Yes, I have issues calling something secret for to call it a secret means, it isn’t secret because everyone knows of it. Secret by its very meaning means, “not known or seen or not meant to be known or seen by others; something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.” So, if we say that kata have goku-i, secret principles, then how can we know of them or know they exist since they are secret.
Some might say, “Well, they were secret but Sensei taught us to bring out the secrets.” Then if that is true and now everyone teaches and practices those once secret principles then they are not goku-i of kata but ‘principles of kata’. I believe and suspect that the term secret is used not to convey some special theory or idea but to convey something that makes the recipient ‘feel special’ because that teacher is providing something unique, special and of limited release only to the chosen.
Now, if we remove the term secret in translation and use only ‘essential point’ being that something esoteric about kata that leads practitioner to greater understanding and puts a distinct intent in the practice and training of kata then we do have ‘kata goku-i’. Here again, saying that knowing what to look for in kata are the SECRETS therefore means one is providing information but the content of that information is secret so you will just have to take our word for it for to remain secret one cannot let you know or see it or what it is meant to be known or seen by others not privy to such secrets. Telling secrets means those secrets are no longer - SECRETS.
I can only surmise that using such terms, etc., is either a gimmick to attract the attention and make oneself seem special or it is pure ignorance. I am not saying Ciso Shimabuku Sensei is egoistic or ignorant because he used what language he could translated into English. There is a good chance that in translation the best understood and known English was the word secret when saying, maybe, “Knowing what to look for in kata is the principles toward understanding the kata purpose and applications,” would have been better. Yet, the above sound bite, sounds better and rolls off the tongue well. Maybe that is why it is used. Or, maybe in our hurry and drive to gain more defined knowledge of what was most often taught with lack of depth and breadth of knowledge, much like teaching kids in the educational systems, we made assumptions from our beliefs and our excitement to then pass on - the secrets!
Yes, yes, I am such a picky particular asshole - sigh, things just don’t change even if correct, factual and reality, just sayin!
Note: I can assure you I know, understand and have worked in environments where secrets are kept and I can attest, as a retired physical security specialist, that secrets are not leaked out and only those authorized and cleared and legally bound to keeping secrets are informed - often partially, not completely called separation of duties and knowledge, etc. Silo-type separation. (departmentalization of classified data) One entity will not know or pass on to other entities so that both will hold partial, distinct and differing information.
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“In order for any life to matter, we all have to matter.” - Marcus Luttrell, Navy Seal (ret)
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| Hidden and Secret - Redundant I think … you're either hidden or you have secrets but can you hide secrets being what secrets are defined as? I am so confused!!! |
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