Simplicity isn't easy

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Clarke Sensei wrote about simplicity today and it reminded me of the complexities that humans tend toward in all things they do. It makes me wonder why we lean so hard toward a more complex world in lieu of keeping it simplicity. Maybe he has it down, simplicity is not easy as is most thing in life for life is hard yet simple. We live to survive and propagate, the reasons are simple in a complex way leading toward discussions, theories, hypothesis and the ever changing argument of, “Why are we here?” The following collection of quotes, or meme’s if you prefer, tell us about Clarke Sensei’s perception of karate simplicity.

“Simple is best, more direct, elegant even. Simple is small, quiet, unassuming. Simple is without trappings, without noise, without the extras that stand you out from the crowd. … Simple is an attitude. … Simplicity is discovering the principle behind the movement, the mechanism by which many physical options become available.” - Michael Clarke, Shinseidokan Dojo

First, I liked the article and especially these excerpts, they speak to me. Sometimes I am reminded that when I write it seems the content and intent is complex and yet I feel it is about explaining something so simple that it seems complex. A bit like trying to write about the Tao as many have tried over the hundreds of years the book of the Tao has existed, i.e., writing about something that cannot be written about yet we humans pick up writing devices, break out paper and put pen and ink into words, sentences and paragraphs all in the attempt to explain simplicity leaving behind complexity. 

There is reasons why they say things like, “Keep it Simple,” or “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication,” “Simplicity makes for happiness,” and “Simplicity is the glory of expression.” 

Once, long ago, a fellow karate-ka told me I talked too much about a subject. He said I should simply demonstrate the concept and then allow them to go off and practice. At that time, I felt maybe he was right because how much of what I explain actually sticks. Then, in the last decade or so I came to disagree because:

1. Not providing background and additional information leaves too much to chance and improper assumptions.
2. Allowing such chance and assumption allows incorrect teachings to take hold which are doubly hard to change to correct.
3. Information is knowledge ergo why I explained things in depth as well as provide study materials to refer to over time.
4. To adequately teach you have to use more than simple mimicking, i.e., demonstrate and then have them do it. 
5. Karate is more than simply physical copycat mimicking of movement therefore needs deeper understanding.
6. A combination of visual, auditory, tactile, etc., forms of teaching are necessary to teach and learn the depth and breadth of any subject but more so karate that is a mental and physical manifestation of human survival tools. 
7. The steady decline over two or more decades of karate and martial disciplines is a result of ignorance and a failure to research, analyze, hypothesize and then synthesize the applicability of the discipline toward life and survival - especially when it involves self-fense. 
8. We in the West assume that doing is learning, it is - partly, but we also failed to learn and understand the culture and belief systems of such disciplines origins used such models along with their cultural systems to teach silently and over long periods of time. The West works in just the exact opposite of that due to our cultural belief systems. 
9. Once Asian Master told his American student upon awarded a teaching certificate highly recommended, “When you return home, remember, teach them as you would Americans!” Meaning, the Asian way is not the Western way and although the system was taught the Asian way it consists of principles and how they are taught and manifested without ties to either the Asian way or the Western way - makes the core of martial disciplines span all cultures and belief systems across many borders. 

As you can see even from this partial list there is much that must be passed on in order to learn such disciplines, a seemingly complex model that is actually quite simple. So, I returned to explain but with one caveat, “I would explain in terse details with periodic updates and addendum’s over time to help students take little steps without losing attentiveness and becoming bored.” After all, it is about balance and that is simple simplicity don’t you think.

I learned, as Clarke Sensei presents in today’s article, simplicity isn’t easy and to rein in my desire, excitement and honor to pass along what little I know and understand because I had to curb that enthusiasm to better server the students and to better serve the discipline of karate. 

Hat tip (Ritsu-rei) to <Shinseidokan Dojo Blog by Michael Clarke Sensei> as the inspiration for this post.

Bibliography (Click the link)

“In order for any life to matter, we all have to matter.” - Marcus Luttrell, Navy Seal (ret)

Symbol Triggers

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In karate as well as other martial disciplines the West has adopted what I would think of as symbols of the disciplines but those symbols trigger a deeper drive in us and in humans that may give greater meaning and understanding of why those symbols have become such important trappings of the martial arts community. 

In nature humans have this basic need, survival. That survival drive influences every aspect of life even in our modern times and even tho the ability to avoid death exists. Survival means gathering into groups bringing together all those traits and abilities the group needs to survive, everyone is a contributor and the entire process creates a group hierarchy where status and authority of various levels and requirements must exist to - survive. 

In this natural/nature driven survival drive there exists various levels of status and authority. It is the status that allows authority to achieve the groups goals in survival and failing that results in the groups death or the removal of the person or persons not complying with the groups survival needs. Authority must appear authoritative to the group so the group through the status effort may have, “Titles and/or Clothes and/or Trappings” that symbolize the status and authority of those within the group. Take a look at the military to see the most obvious representation of authority symbols, etc.

This quote provides the gist of what I am trying to say in this article, i.e., “Due to social conditioning, humans have an extreme willingness to go to almost any lengths on the ‘command of an authority’. Whenever humans are faced with a potent motivator in human action, humans naturally expect that good reasons exist fo the motivation. We live under a multilayered and widely accepted system of authority that confers an immense advantage upon a society (remember, keep in mind societies and humans all collect together for the base need of survival). It allows the development of sophisticated structures for resource production (necessary for survival), trade (necessary for survival), defense (necessary for survival), expansion, and social control (necessary for survival) that would otherwise be impossible.”

When one dons such trappings such as titles, i.e., Sensei, Master, Grand Master, First Generation Student and others, this conveys both directly and indirectly that the wearer of such things, at least by association, is an authoritative figure in the discipline. As with other symbols such as the belt systems the color provides a hierarchal system with status set according to colors, etc., i.e., white belt being at the bottom and all the levels of black belt setting levels of knowledge, understanding, experience, etc., of Sensei/Yudansha, etc.

The very nature of such titles, clothes and trappings of the dojo smack seriously and trigger deep seated instinctive drives and mechanical automatic click-whirr responses that solidify connections, mostly unconsciously, to the symbols. 

In another quote one can perceive and believe how this works and why it has become so important to people, i.e., “We are trained form birth that obedience to proper authority is right and just and disobedience is wrong and unjust. The essential message is formed toward social conditioning from parental/family lessons, school house rhymes and school yard dynamics, stories, and songs of childhood that are carried forward to our societies legal, military, and political systems we encounter as adults. Notions of submission and loyalty to legitimate rule are given a great deal of value and the repercussions of failure to live to these are often very high.”

We are actually left little leeway in deciding how and why and when we come to accept and believe such things that automatically become a part of our belief systems because it is so deeply ingrained. I bring this up this way because it lends understanding to why we all, I mean all of us in the dojo, believe and are attracted to such trappings, it is our nature and it does double duty by pulling us in from being a mystical mysterious way of the Asian culture and beliefs bringing with it heritage, history and connections to something much greater and a contributor to our very past, present and possible future. 

Symbols that trigger Authority; Titles, clothes and trappings of authority:

▪ Titles: the most difficult and the easiest to acquire; to adopt a title automatically provides automatic deference; actions are frequently more influenced by a title than by the nature of the person claiming it; authority status affects perceptions; humans see size and status as related; outward signs of power and authority frequently may be counterfeited with the flimsiest of materials; 

▪ Clothes: In chameleon style, people adopt karate-gi, belt of black, uniform patches, or a collection of trophies and certificates of completion and association membership papers that the situation requires for maximum advantage. etc.  

▪ Trappings: As with clothes, patches and such; owners of prestigious relations to luminaries both real and perceive receive a special kind of deference from people, etc. 

So, it becomes apparent that such trappings and the dan-i system, associations and seminars with perceived masters of martial disciplines will and always will attract and associate others for the purpose that seems to create a perception of authority, professionalism and expertise in martial arts. The lesson to learn here is that because of a total lack of control and the  ability to validate the more nefarious compliance oriented people will continue to use such symbols and trappings to trigger, click-n-whirr, automatic mechanical unconscious actions that will bring in customers and fleece, opes sorry, take in monies to run their dojo (Note: What makes this so difficult, so hard, is that legitimate sensei and dojo suffer repercussions from such nefarious folks and actions). 

No wonder the quote, “Buyer Beware,” holds so special and critical sway over all of us in dealing with professional economically driven compliance professionals (think ad-men and the like including resource/process predation). 

This is enough to still the ongoing conflict of the value of the belt system, etc. because “we can’t help ourselves!” Sigh, at least it gives reason to the conundrum of karate/martial trappings. 

Bibliography (Click the link)

“In order for any life to matter, we all have to matter.” - Marcus Luttrell, Navy Seal (ret)

True Leadership

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In reality leadership means one thing but in true-reality it is about being noticed by those in power; about likability; and about fitting into the system itself. You have to look and act like others in power/authority think that you should look and act like. You have to think and act in ways that those in power are comfortable with and that leads to both good and bad.

In most power/authority structures, including martial disciplines, you end up with a hierarchy/power structure that is top-heavy, look at the quantity of martial masters, with people wo look good in the uniform, who talk right, who do well enough not to totally embarrass themselves and to develop a personality, often without true character, that meets these standards as dictated by those already in power. 

These teachers, if you will, are all the kind of people who thrive in this environment. They end up selecting their favorite students based on precisely the same off kilter sense of priorities. 

Where lies the fault is often those who truly meet the leadership role tend to stay away from such trappings and since the system is already chocked full of those kind this leaves the true leadership running back-yard personal dojo with limited practitioners. Yes, likability is an important human factor in all social dynamics and intricate to cohesive cooperative efforts but it must be tempered and balanced with talent as well. Being able to do at a professionalism level along with creating an atmosphere of respect, etc., is a must for the most effective optimal learning and teaching experience. 

Likability will make those who train and study under your guidance try to make your efforts both beneficial and proficient through dedication and effort to learn, understand and apply. It is the way one understand why things are done a certain way and allow everyone to see beyond the emotional egoistic trappings often binding humans to the wrong path. 

Trying to be one of the guys is more an obstacle then beneficial but as stated achieving a certain level of likability is paramount to spiritual, strategic and tactical success for group dynamics survival conditions. 

To lead, to follow and to guide means developing both character and personality with a foundation of knowledge, understanding and the ability to apply all of it in actions and deeds, A&D with a smattering of humility, this leads leaders to the leadership roles that maximize, epitomize and create great group dynamics chock full of interconnected personalities that promote, build and feed of one another with proper and appropriate goals, strategies and tactics that make martial disciplines - martial. 

Read Also: “Leadership”; “Breaking the Mold”; “Sensei, Mentor, Teacher, Coach”; “What you write, say or do matters”; “Leaders and Leadership”; and “Teacher-vs-Instructor-vs-Sensei”

Bibliography (Click the link)

“In order for any life to matter, we all have to matter.” - Marcus Luttrell, Navy Seal (ret)

Leaders and Leadership should be a required prerequisite
to achieving black belt and holding the title, "Sensei!"

"Blah blah blah blah blah...does that make sense?" "Yes sensei" "Ouss!" "Hai"

Blog Article/Post Caveat (Read First Please: Click the Link)

In the most recent article at the Shinseidokan Dojo blog he addresses what I assume are seminars. At first, I had to laugh and then I stopped laughing and thought to myself, “Why do they attend if they are not getting a thing out of it?” Then I remembered my studies of association in the psych book I am reading on the Psych of Influence. In the end, they are all pretty good salesmen and they probably don’t even realize it because they are, in all likelihood, just mimicking those who came before and who created this new karate, martial disciplines. 

Honestly, I am not trying to insinuate that I am above all this or that I am judging it but I do have questions and more often than not I do find answers - sooner or later with later being the key word since I am discovering things in my latter years of study and practice.

It is about appearance, status and other such things because we tend to need the feeling of uniqueness and importance. When we cannot get that directly then we associate ourselves with others who have allowing for an association that makes us feel good and gives us the appearance of expertise by proxy. 

For more in-depth of my theories read: “Why Karate-ka are drawn to Karate Luminaries …”

As that article explains (the one linked in last sentence/paragraph) using sports and the seriousness brought to that activity it does explain a lot about why we humans do what we do. I have often wondered why friends would go to such lengths in watching sports, almost to the level of fights and such, and until recently could never figure out what all the hoopla was but now I get it. I also thought the same about other sports such as football and so on but now I get it. 

In all my years of karate and martial disciplines I thought too that such teaching methods was necessary and feel considerably lucky that I was able to see from the efforts of a few professionals that my direction was not wrong but not the true path I, personally, should follow. No regrets but what a wonderful lesson to learn even at this stage of the game.

I remember once a fellow black belt who as an associate at the dojo I was attending taking me aside and respectfully telling me that I talked too much, it was a bit like although my intentions being good I was trying to convey as much as I could in the hopes of conveying a better understanding yet in truth, as Clarke Sensei writes, I was causing those blank looks and then the triggered karate tapes, click-whirr, that regurgitated the old canned response, “Yes Sensei.” At least I would then have them break off and actually try to train and implement the stuff - sigh, if only we could develop a universal guide to teaching … oh wait, I did an article about the traits of a sensei … oh my ;-)

Back on topic Charlie, as can be seen by the article I came to think, back on subject, why do they attend if they truly do NOT come away with some benefit and practice but end up just returning to the same of way of doing things, the status quo. Well, one highly placed karate-ka told me once when I asked about a visiting Okinawan Sensei, i.e., “Well, we invited him and then followed his teaching at the seminar but once he leaves, and after he presents us with certificates and promotions, we just go back to what we want to do.” In short, they used him to sign certificates as if his status in karate would rub off on them and give them validation even while ignoring his teachings once he left. Sigh … it does give credence to those psych of influence studies I mentioned.  

So, seminars and such along with lecturing, lecturing, lecturing is not about learning, teaching and understanding but a means to associate oneself to provide the appearance of status and perceptions by association rather than, as Colonel Boyd would say, by “Doing!”

In the end, talking about what it is you need to practice is actually good and beneficial but with one caveat, sparingly and over time is better. In other words, about 20% discussion of the topic at hand then 80% getting out there and practicing, practicing and practicing. Allowing the discussion to be validated in actions which leads to understanding - understanding of an intellectual nature as well as a physiokinetic nature. You cannot get this and accomplish this type of thing in a seminar.

Ok, now I am on the the soap box of the benefit of seminars. Seminars are not teaching venues, they are selling venues. It is not about learning and taking things back to the dojo but selling venues to get you to buy something, their “Valuable time as experts and masters” so you can say, I trained under <so-n-so master> therefore I am, by association, a better karate-ka and so on. Ain’t life grand?

In closing, if you have not read Clarke Sensei’s article (which is totally different, separate and distinctly unique to his thoughts), this quote says it perfectly.

“So, the next time you're in the company of an instructor who demonstrates their karate on a complaint assistant, talks endlessly about how they did it and then ends their little pantomime with..."Does that make sense?" (or something like it), try to be brave, hold your hand up and say: "No!" If you do, you may well find you learn something of real value...about you, and the guy who likes to ask loaded questions.” - Michael Clarke Sensei, Shinseidokan Dojo Blog excerpt/quote :-)

Questions, questions and then questions are necessary but in karate as true of martial disciplines it is about translating that into actions, actions and actions. In short, 20% academia and 80% on the dojo floor. 

Note: Hope this rambling bunch of words makes some sense :-)

Bibliography (Click the link)

“In order for any life to matter, we all have to matter.” - Marcus Luttrell, Navy Seal (ret)

Purpose of the Enbusen Line II: What is the reason/importance of the Enbusen in Kata?

Blog Article/Post Caveat (Read First Please: Click the Link)

Interesting question with as many answers as there are kata in karate. I recommend reading the article by Andreas Quast Sensei HERE ( http://ryukyu-bugei.com/?p=4762 ) Short answers is, “It depends!”

Enbusen (also romanized as Embusen) [演武線] The first character/ideogram means, “Performance; act; play; render; stage,” the second character means, “warrior; military; chivalry; arms,” and the third character means, “line; track.” 

There seem to be rules regarding kata enbusen such as, “The rule of embusen is that any movements in one direction should be symmetrical and countered by an equivalent number of movements in the opposite direction.“ 

Another source to check out on this one is a response on Iain Abernethy’s forum site that states by CSS1971, “The embusen rule is basically that a kata should "balance". Each step in one direction should be countered by a step in the opposite direction. If they did the design of the kata right, you should always end up exactly back at the point you started, the kiten. It's good for performance of kata because you can run through a load of them without really moving, and in a small space, with a group of people. The limit to steps in any direction in okinawan kata is usually 3, giving approximately a  3mx3m (3yard x 3yard) training space.“

You can read Abernethy’s response to parts of the above quote/question HERE: (http://iainabernethy.co.uk/content/another-embusen-embusen-rule), scroll down to #4. 

In short, he states:

“Ending up in the same spot was never a consideration when the kata were created. Why would it be? It is something that has risen up relatively recently and it’s a mistake to see it as being somehow fundamental to the way the kata have been constructed. We have seen some kata modified to fit this modern dictate, but it was not a rule that was fundamental to all kata as they were created.” - Iain Abernethy Sensei

“If you were designing any of the traditional kata, you’d be living in a point in history where no such uniform rule existed. Such a rule would serve no practical purpose so you’d not even consider such a thing. It’s a bit like asking the tribal huntsmen of the past if they designed their spear throwing technique to ensure their foot did not go over the line (as is required in Javelin throwing in athletics).” - Iain Abernethy Sensei

“You were creating kata to record combative methods and to provide a supplementary form of solo practice. Starting and finishing on the same place has zero bearing on either of those two objective so it would never even be considered.” - Iain Abernethy Sensei

“ … many traditional kata don’t start and finish on the same place.” - Iain Abernethy Sensei

“ … While Funakoshi expressed the idea in Karate-Do Kyohan – but not before that – other style, which also have Itosu in their lineage, don’t demand kata start and finish on the same place. As I say, it’s primarily just the Shotokan branch that developed this idea and expressed it in their literature. Mabuni (regarded by many, including Funakoshi, to be Itosu’s senior student) makes no mention of the start and finish point being important in his discussion on embusen.” - Iain Abernethy Sensei

Joe Swift wrote: The meaning of the directions in kata is not well understood, and frequently mistakes are made in the interpretation of kata movements. In extreme cases, it is sometimes heard that, "this kata moves in 8 directions so it is designed for fighting 8 opponents" or some such nonsense.”

Joe Swift also wrote: “Looking at the embusen for Pinan Nidan, one can see that karate kata move in all directions, forward and back, left and right. When interpreting kata, one must not get too caught up in these directions. For example, do not fall into the trap of thinking that just because a kata begins to the left that the opponent is always attacking from the left.”

As to my perception and beliefs regarding enbusen, I feel that such things are from Japanese influences to kata-ize karate to make it more palatable to Japanese bu-do and I also attribute it to the educationilization of karate for the educational systems in those years prior to WWII. 

I would add in military influences along with how one learns and encodes patterns into the human mind. It seems that the creators of kata no matter at what time in history instinctually understood how humans rely on patterns to survive and that such patterns were most excellent in learning things such as karate. In addition, it was more a tool to my mind than a fighting pattern to teach and learn, it was more about teaching and learning certain principles that were, at the time, best taught from such patterns. It is why kata moves, generally, are not rendered in the kata form or patterns in actual sparring and especially in an actual self-fense situation and application. Humans, people, just don’t fight that way whether sport or reality self-fense in violent situations, i.e., what most incorrectly call street-fighting. 

In my beliefs, kata are patterned forms and formula’s used to teach and condition certain primal like responses that manifest naturally in ways that break the kata form and patterns while allowing creative creations of methodologies and force types/levels to achieve goals such as not get gravely damaged or killed while stopping the attacker from gravely harming or killing - you. 

We, the military, who brought kata and karate and other martial disciplines to the masses who found military patterned formation form like drilling and connected it to the educational driven form, patterns and drills of karate whereby our already formidable training and understanding came together like old friends and made for a wholehearted way that we adopted easily and quickly - necessary in short spans of time on duty to achieve the coveted gaol of wearing a black belt. 

Another, interesting perception and belief regarding enbusen, is found in my home karate system of Isshinryu, i.e., 

Embusen is important in kata because it keeps with the Oriental philosophy of beginning and ending. The old tombs of Okinawa are called turtle shell tombs because they resemble a turtle, but on closer examination they are supposed to represent the womb. Hitoshi explained this to several members on one of our tours to Okinawa. You are born from the womb and return to the womb. This can also be seen in the circle. Many times you see a sumi or black ink painting of a circle and this also represents beginning and end. So if you are looking for perfection, then beginning and ending are important.

• All things being equal, the person closest to the start of his kata will win in a kata contest.
• It is important to stay in your embusen in a dojo other wise you run into another practitioner. 
• Embusen is the path or line of kata. Embusen on a highway is very important because if you don't follow the correct path or line of movement, or stay in your lane of traffic on a highway, guess what!
• All styles or sensei do not teach embusen but it does exist. 
• To make it work, remember that all steps in kata are adjustable.
• In the videos I show how embusen and with the exception of naihanchi kata start and end in the same spot. 

per Arcenio J. Advincula Sensei

Several things I felt when reading this excerpt, it seems to be directed to a more sport oriented rendition and practice, i.e., winning in a kata contest. I kow that many who judge kata competition use the enbusen start/stop point as a means to judge accurateness thus what point value it receives. The issue with this one example for me is, “What is being judged regarding accuracy, etc.?” In a sense of self-fense, karate as a means of protection against personal violent encounters, because the ability to make adjustments in the performance of the pattern to start and end at a certain marked point on the floor is meaningless. It does train the mind tho to do things that will result in failure if you are training for self-defense. 

To allude also to traffic and accidents and not explain and define what is meant by saying, “Enbusen is about following a path or line of movement or staying in your lane on a highway” seems incomplete especially if it is not about performance competition but defending against an aggressor bent on doing grave harm or killing you. 

I can also see the concept of perfection being of importance in karate and kata BUT that is about, to my mind and belief, a more philosophical self-help form of practice because perfection of movement in self-defense is not appropriate for fighting, self-defense and predatory violence is chaotic, formless, confusing and not about perfecting a form or patter but acting under the duress of danger, damage, death, crowding, imbalance, structure disruption and fighting from disadvantage and the effects of the adrenal stress-conditions of the reality of violence. 

As a way it is awesome, but as a means of learning and applying violence to stop violence - not so much except to supplement and support philosophy as a minor part of a whole where physiokinetics and technique along with a minor role in theory are involved. 

Enbusen is also a novice level, to my beliefs, to teach novices about movement, balance, structure and other such fundamental principles so that one can learn at a more experienced knowledgable level how to learn, develop and apply dynamically multiple methodologies and varying types of appropriate force to stop damage and the attack/attacker. 

Then again, maybe I am wrong and maybe I am missing parts, principles and other factors that others of greater experience, knowledge and understanding have over my simple mindless meanderings. 

So, in a nutshell, take some time and do a bit of analysis of all the various informations and sources available, do the analysis and then develop a synthesized creation of a interpretation and meaning behind the concept of ‘enbusen/embusen’. 

Read Also: Purpose of the Embusen Line

Read Also: Hard Lines [Embusen 演武線]

Read Also: Kata or Embusen or Kata

Read Also: The Embusen Line in Self-Defense vs. Fighting

Bibliography (Click the link)

“In order for any life to matter, we all have to matter.” - Marcus Luttrell, Navy Seal (ret)

————————————————————————————

The Enbusen depends on the kind of training place, the martial arts tradition, as well as the starting point and end point of the performance, which is called “matomari” (finish). It is said that starting point and end point have to be the same spot, that is, Kata are thought to have been designed so as to return to the original starting spot. However, by differences in the physique, power of expression, way of stepping, footwork of the performer, and others, the end point and starting point might not always exactly be the same. Moreover, there are Kata where the starting and end points are definitely not the same. - Andreas Quast Sensei

“One of the most important functions of the intermediate movements is that of  “positional coincidence”; they cause the final position of the kata to coincide with the initial position. The kata begins at one point and ends at the same point so that symmetry of position, as well as movement, is upheld. … The theory of positional coincidence is also supported by principles of physical training. Well balanced movements in symmetry are essential to any exercise or sport.” - Shoshin Nakamine, The Essence of Okinawan Karate-do

Off Topic Rant: Social Conditional Effects

Blog Article/Post Caveat (Read First Please: Click the Link)

We live according to social conditions and social conditioning, i.e., the tapes or sub-routines/functions that go click-whirr when certain stimuli trigger them in our instinct-like primal conditioned response-actions. It would seem that group dynamics in social conditions also have effects on the individual and the group mind. Here in lies the rub, media does have a huge effect on humans and social media of the Internet by its saturation of our world with all kinds of emotionally driven effects will rub off on both the group and its individuals. 

In the psychology of persuasion by Dr. Robert P. Cialdini, PhD, he speaks to social proof, a proof humans as individuals who are driven by social survival conditions to look to ‘others’ in groups to make decisions one way or another. So much so that when media reports grave violent news that very report will effect the mind-state of others who are exposed toward actually, at the extreme, taking their own lives in response. 

It is my theory that social media and the saturation of emotionally changed monkey dancing dramatized so-called news or just information in an information driven Internet our very emotional maturity toward life itself has become ‘IN-affected’. 

Look at it as the electronic version of groups who gather for a demonstration where a few within the group, another smaller group whose agenda is to inflame and incite, start actions out certain agenda driven emotional actions, words and events to stimulate and effect the others into taking actions they normally would not subverting the original intent of the demonstration into an inflamed violent action.

Take a look at how the current elections are going and the emotions that are flaming around indiscriminately causing others to follow the herd, it is being fed by those with the agenda through social media to inflame and incite others to follow along, follow the herd so to speak. 

Dr. Cialdini’s group actually is believed and reported to be involved in one candidate’s actual change of strategy and tactics using his influential psychology programs. If all he studied and presented in his results and now in his two books on the subject is true then social media and the platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Youtube and so on are all contributing heavily toward the direction our society is going and that to my mind is an emotionally immature direction. 

Sigh!

“In order for any life to matter, we all have to matter.” - Marcus Luttrell, Navy Seal (ret)

p.s. to bring some of the actual topic to bear regarding this article, in self-fense of avoidance and deescalation this part about social conditions, conditioning and proof principles can teach us the how of the mind so we recognize when events are going to trigger certain tapes, sub-routines and functions more automatic in nature so we can stop the triggers and use that information and the art of persuasion to avoid violence and eve deescalate offending adversary’s  but that is a whole article unto itself for later. 

The Dojo Kun …

Blog Article/Post Caveat (Read First Please: Click the Link)

The dojo kun, the ken-po goku-i and other such written beliefs although beneficial to the study of martial disciplines also play another role in the dojo, a social one. Now, you might say that fostering a social context in the dojo is a good thing and you would be correct yet I must add in that a social context but be morally and socially driven and acceptable, i.e., it must benefit the group and its survival in what I would accept as a morally correct, etc. way. 

It is when that social context is not socially acceptable even in a way that cannot be readily seen or heard and drives us from an unconsciously driven social persuasive influential principled based way. 

As socially driven animals who must congregate into groups for survival even in modern, relatively safe from lions and tigers and bears eating us, times we are still driven by such gene oriented survival instincts. It is those very principled based drives that work for us and also can be worked against us. 

The dojo kun, the goku-i and other such short terse tomes can trigger the tapes, click-n-whirr, that drive belief systems. When a belief system is based on facts both academic in nature but more importantly in a physical way the belief is often beneficial. Yet, when such beliefs are found to be refuted by socially acceptable sources of proof such as documented and accepted facts along with the physical proofs and the group resists them because of beliefs then issues arise. 

The various written and often observable kun’s, goku-i’s and such, especially when misinterpreted, become problematic and trigger procedural tape and encoded routines, click-n-whirr, then something unusual and unbelievable occurs to outsiders of the group. 

I quote, “The principle of social proof: Often, when physical documented proof is presented that would result in scorn and derision and because the publicity and recruitment is the only remaining hope of the group they have to spread the word, so to speak philosophically and physically; the group finds they MUST inform the uninformed by any conceivable means such as word of mouth (the more who profess it as the truth the more it is accepted socially), personal interviews, and even video’s of such personal interviews and discussions. If the group can persuade the skeptics or convert the uninitiated and unknowledgeable, their treasured beliefs would become truer. The greater the number of people who find any idea correct, the more the idea will be correct. Since the physical evidence does not exist or cannot be changed, the social evidence has to be to convince and thereby be convinced. This is even more critical to the believer than to others exposed to the belief who are not yet believers. Winning converts means in addition to the original numbers they can increase the number of people to find the idea, the concepts and the philosophy to be correct, the more that idea, concept and philosophy will be correct - socially.”

When beliefs become so ingrained and important to the survival of the group and the individual often our instincts are triggered by the monkey brain toward a flight-fight response releasing all the adrenal stress-conditioned chemical dumps that reinforce the now found false beliefs that trigger responses such as described above to put back something, often as stated social proof by sheer numbers of believers, etc., that will reestablish in each group members mind a socially proven foundation so they can continue on with that belief. 

I have come to … wait for it … believe … that such groups become more closed toward membership, especially when the enough believers are members, exclusive and harder to penetrate. This is especially true from my perspective simply from my drive to ‘question-everything’ so when recently finding myself questioning many of the beliefs involved in once such group I found myself dismissed, excluded and removed from membership. The personal answer I actually did get when asked was, “You are always arguing with me,” or something similar to that - can’t exactly remember. It was because I made comments and asked questions toward the validity of what was being taught. Something I welcome here at my blogs, comments and discussions to either provide more support for my perspectives or to help me see and change those very same perspectives. 

One luminary of my respect, a historian and practitioner, once stated that he/she was discouraged because another respected teacher refused to beleive and accept documented proof of things currently taught under the heading of that group. In retrospect it explained why the original believer often spoke negatively about people of similar ilk, people who questioned and provided proofs that parts of the belief required changes, etc.

It is also extremely understood now that once a person and group enter that realm there is little to no chance that any member, old and new, who will accept any type of information that would rock the boat of their belief system. 

It has been enlightening to finally understand how some of this stuff works because it appears to be effective in changing humans and changing human self-image. Such understanding may achieve a better self-fense ability by how one influences others to avoid and deescalate, etc. 

This article is titled, “The Dojo Kun …” so lets speak directly to that, when such terse, often unexplained and mysterious because of a lack of understanding, tomes can lead a group toward a more social like belief rather than a concrete supported physical belief. It is like my favorite, the ken-po goku-i, that tends to have as many meanings and interpretations as there are practitioners in the martial disciplines. Literally thousands and thousands of translated interpretations that can be both true and relevant or false and irrelevant. It depends …

If a misinterpretation is given, if the practitioners come to believe it and believe in it and if the group finds it of some benefit that beings them together into a cohesive, strong and connected group that belief will take hold and become irrefutable - pretty much forever, mostly. Take one luminary of the martial community who studied a more mystical mysterious belief of ‘chi or ki’ energy. In one way it exists provided you understand how that can be true and its limitations but if you allow your mind to go beyond the reality of it, the physics in this case as well, then you can find a group driven belief system that says chi/ki can be projected and used to provide self-fense in conflict and violence. This same person who at one time was considered a leader of the martial community even when shown physical proof that it was not what it was believed simply fell into the groove of splain’in-it, the proof that is, away. 

It is easy to take aspects of the martial disciplines, both Okinawan and Japanese, etc., and make them feel, seem and work (under controlled environments and situations of training and practice) so that the more uninitiated will be amazed and come to believe - that is the premise behind many false beliefs over the centuries of human existence, the charlatans who milk us by triggering those psychological influential principles I allude to in this article. 

This is why one of my goals in blogging and teaching is to, at a minimum, instill a questioning aspect of one’s training and practice to make sure they learn all that is known and needed to understand such tomes, terse kun’s and goku’i’s of the martial arts world. If you assume and let yourself be led into agenda driven beliefs, etc., then you are susceptible to being misled as well. The old adage of, “Buyer Beware,” is a good one so “Martial Artists Beware” is something I try to get readers to accept as a part of their studies, practices, trainings and applications. 

Believe in what you believe wholeheartedly but with a bit of caution for all beliefs can be refuted to one degree or another in some time over time. It does not mean you have to rid yourself of your beliefs but possible make small changes in those beliefs all in the name of your beliefs. Beliefs, over the centuries for humans, have always changed and none are set in stone, it is just not how we evolve through the ages. Ok … Don’t believe me … find out for yourselves! I dare you; I double dare you; I triple double dare you!

Bibliography (Click the link)

“In order for any life to matter, we all have to matter.” - Marcus Luttrell, Navy Seal (ret)

The Middle Way

Blog Article/Post Caveat (Read First Please: Click the Link)

This is about some history, personal and not well documented (even tho the sources are personal conversations with interpreters, etc. and we all know how accurate that is especially with the divide between the cultures in discussion but that is just me), concerning certain aspects of the founders belief systems.

In this article I found information that said the founder, “Was in the middle.” It was mentioned that the founder followed a philosophy, my word, of “The Middle Way or The Doctrine of the Mean.” The great thing is that the article associated with the Chinese character [中] used to represent the middle way is also shown to be incomplete, i.e., the middle way and the doctrine of the mean are represented by [中庸] these two characters. 

It is most excellent that the author relates more to the characters/ideograms in a complete way and that is very, very good. I often don’t see this much effort used to make sure readers get a full picture to work with. 

The author goes on the say that it means, meant to the founder, that in karate as in life the founder to live the correct way, to cultivate his life the correct way. Since the founder was a fortune teller and used the Ancient Classics that one can assume with some authority that he meant that one should live the middle path or way, i.e., a yin-yang balanced mutually beneficial way where life with its good and bad, ups and downs, serenity and conflict must find balance somewhere in the middle of all of the life’s adventures. I feel that karate when practiced encompassing the full and complete fundamental principles helps us make that happen, to encode it deep down in the proverbial gene’s of each of us. 

My only glitch is the graphic used to symbolize and represent that philosophy is, in my persona view, incomplete and leaves too much room for interpretation as can be seen in my graphic at the end of this article. There are four Japanese terms that fall under that one character/ideogram and although they also contain limited translated terms in English that could or might lead to the meaning, The Middle Way,” the use of the one term and the two associated characters/ideograms seems more appropriate and closes down most of the uncertainty of meanings as the graphic may indicate. 

In this addition to an already great teachings about the founder and Isshinryu, as just one out of many Okinawan karate systems/styles, this assists that effort by providing another perspective and perception through analysis, hypothesis and finally synthesis. 

I would add that although finding balance and holding true to the path of the middle, the mean, is a lofty and most excellent path and goal we cannot forget that life does not remain along that path for if it did the yin-yang, doctrine of the mean and the middle path would not exist. We still have to recognize, accept, and understand those ebbs and flows, especially when exposed to either ends extremes, so we may find and analyze them, hypothesize how we as individuals need to handle them with appropriate coping skills, and the synthesize our actions, deeds and applications to apply strategies, tactics and reach our set goals so that we may return to the middle and march on. It is a good thing to find our middle path but not to the exclusion of those off road ways of life both good and bad because they will, as is natural and nature, encroach on our path like weeks that grow between the cracks of that sidewalk of life and living. 

Bibliography (Click the link)

“In order for any life to matter, we all have to matter.” - Marcus Luttrell, Navy Seal (ret)

Click image to enlarge for readability. 

Secret, Secrets and Then There are Secrets - Oh My!

Blog Article/Post Caveat (Read First Please: Click the Link)

“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."

TO

“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. 

Bibliography (Click the link)

“In order for any life to matter, we all have to matter.” - Marcus Luttrell, Navy Seal (ret)

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!!!