Karatedō as a Way of Life

A question that always comes up in the dojo, especially but not exclusively in the advanced classes, is: "Going forward", what things should we be working on along with our karate?" This is a great question, and when instructors hear such questions, they know that karatedō is really beginning to take root in the lives of the students. I answer this in several ways.

First, as Shotokan karatedō practitioners, our responsibility is to learn, know, and understand our style through faithful, continuous, frequent, and rigorous training. Training comes first, and everything necessary can be learned from training hard and more.

Second, as we age and evolve as karateka, and especially as our work in bunkai matures, we begin to see applications of the movements in the Shotokan kata that are not strictly karatejutsu applications and not only associated with kicking, punching, striking, and smashing techniques. We begin to see grabs, escapes from grabs, takedowns, counters, throws, locks, bars, breaks, and dislocations. It is at this point, "going forward," that we might want to support our karatejutsu by beginning a study of jujutsu, aikido, or aikijutsu. These allied systems support the Shotokan style, and no competent martialist can avoid the study of other martial systems, especially one from a kata-based style such as Shotokan karatedō, as the kata curriculum is an immense and varied treasury of applications.

So too does the serious karateka "going forward" need to study kobujutsu, as kata teaches many defenses against weapons' attacks as well as open-handed attacks. Therefore, one response to the question is that we must train diligently in karate first, as this is our paramount commitment, yet to understand the meaning of the kata, we must eventually undertake a study of other systems, especially jujutsu and kobujutsu.

Next, I tell even the most advanced students to live their dojo kun. Every day and every night, after every class in our dojo, we recite the kun as a set of values and shared understandings that bind us together as a martial community.

Read them again:

• Strive for perfection of character.
• Live the way of truth and sincerity.
• Uphold the principles of propriety and courtesy.
• Cultivate the spirit of effort and perseverance.
• Maintain self-control and avoid violent and improper behavior.
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If each of us lived by this code—or tried to, to the best of our abilities—would the world not be better? So I tell students to train hard and live by their dojo kun.

Last, I advise the "going forward" students to pay attention to and develop a set of competencies essential to any senior student, and absolutely required by an instructor. Indeed, "going forward" will not be a long journey without these central habits, skills, and abilities. Stability of lifestyle and personality, and continuity of training based on that stability, are most important. Leadership is no less critical, especially the quiet and persuasive example set by the diligent, mindful student.

Service is the keystone of a karate life, as a commitment to serve others, not self, makes one samurai, literally "one who serves." To give to others, to be sensitive to their needs, and to be selfless are crucial. It is truly said that "there is no 'I' in karate," for the ego has no place in the karate life.

Experience is vital in karatedō and budō, in various organizational and administrative positions, with diverse student populations, and in life generally. Experience seasons and matures the karateka, ripens him or her. The last attribute would be knowledge—knowledge of the technical elements of karatedō, of history, lineage, and protocols, and of other martial arts and sciences. With age and the natural decrease of certain physical abilities should come the commensurate increase of mental powers and a mastery of the internal arts. One example would be kyūsho, or the pressure point sciences.

In review, a deep study of karatejutsu and a broad knowledge of other allied systems such as jujutsu and kobujutsu, a commitment to live the dojo kun as fully as possible, and the development of associated habits, skills, and attributes are all vital to "going forward" on the martial path. Karatedō is, seen in this way, truly a way of life, and by no means an activity limited to a schedule of classes or practice sessions. Every minute of every hour in every day, year after year, for as long as we are fortunate to live, is an opportunity and challenge for us to keep to this wonderful path. We train for application; we train to calm the mind, and we train to become better people. "Going forward," that is what we work on. These three things are the fundamental purposes of karate training.

Written By JT Sensei