I asked a student, "do you think you could beat me in a fight?"
This student is much taller, faster and stronger than me. The only advantage I have is that I have much more experience in Karate.
The student did not want to answer, but I pressed him until he sort of conceded that he did think that he had a good chance. I have to agree that this student is pretty tough.
But that was not my point.
I then asked the student, "how do you think you would do if I had a razor blade?"
That really changed things! He realized that even if he hit me, he would certainly get cut, probably very badly. A little razor blade made a big difference.
"So you see," I explained, "you can never tell when an attacker might have a razor blade or other concealed weapon." "Even if you feel confident that you are stronger, faster, and a better fighter, you can never know."
Respectfully,
Charles C. Goodin
Do You Think You Could Beat Me?
Picking a Fight
A friend of mine visited me today and related a recent incident in which a guy tried to pick a fight with him at the airport. Fortunately, my friend was able to avoid the fight.
But I could not help but think how terrible it would have been for that guy to have picked a fight with my friend. He really is the wrong person to fight with! He has studied martial arts for well over 40 years and, in my estimation, is a really tough (and potentially dirty*) fighter. I suspect that the guy would not have had a chance!
* By "dirty", I mean brutally effective.
Here is the point. My friend does not particularly look like a martial artist. At the airport, he probably just looked like another frazzled and weary traveler. But he is a martial artist. If that guy had known about my friend's background and ability, he might have thought twice.
On the street (or wherever) we do not have the luxury of knowing who will attack us and their fighting skills. The attacker could be a weak fighter, a great fighter, a drugged up crazy person... who knows?
I mentioned in a post quite a while ago that I once escorted Sensei Morio Higaonna to his hotel during a visit to Hawaii. When we got to the front of the hotel, a man came up and looked like he might mean trouble. I stepped in front of Higaonna Sensei to speak to the man and fortunately he went on his way. But I could not help but think that he would have been absolutely crazy to attack Higaonna Sensei! I probably should have stepped aside and watched, but I had a responsibility as a host.
As martial artists, we probably think that most people would be crazy to pick a fight with us -- and that is usually right. But we should not underestimate other people. Sensei Pat Nakata once told me that one of the toughtest fighters he ever saw was a street fighter here in Honolulu -- a street fighter, not a martial artist.
We should not underestimate other people. Who knows? The attacker might be a serious martial artist or a great street fighter. Or he might be armed or have friends lurking out of sight. We should not be like that guy at the airport.
Respectfully,
Charles C. Goodin
Karate and Longevity
There is a saying that Shorin-Ryu instructors live at least to the age of 85. Of course, this is not always true, but there is a certain element of longevity assumed in Karate training. Is it true that Karate instructors live longer than the average person?
With respect to the Shorin-Ryu saying, you have to keep in mind that this is an old saying. Today, people live much longer than they did in the past. In Okinawa before World War II, a person living to the age of 85 might have been special. Today, I would think that many people surpass that age. In fact, many people live past the age of 100 in Okinawa.
In a recent Barbara Walter's special about longevity, it was mentioned that about 84,000 people in the United States are over the age of 100!
So living to 85 is not that extraordinary of an accomplishment today (it is a good thing, just not that unusual).
I can think of three reasons why Karate training might enhance longevity. The first has to do with self-defense. If a person uses Karate to save his life, his life will obviously be longer. If he did not know Karate, he might have died and had a shorter life.
I do not know of many Karate instructors who claim that Karate saved their lives in this manner. In fact, two instructors I asked about this, said that their lives were saved (or they avoided bad injuries) because of Judo. Both had fallen off ladders at work, and landed flat on their backs on hard floors. But their Judo training helped them to take a safe fall and only suffered bruises rather than broken bones.
The second reason Karate might enhance longevity is because it is a regular form of exercise. Tai Chi people often emphasize this aspect of their training. But is Karate exercise really better than other forms of exercise? If a non-Karate person were to spend as much time exercising as a Karate student, would the results be the same, worse, or better? I guess that it all depends.
I know some Karate instructors who are in excellent shape. I also know others who are in poor shape. Some of the later have suffered injuries during their Karate careers and now have weak or injured knees, backs, necks, etc. To the extent that Karate training results in long term injuries, it takes away from a good quality of life. That is why it is so important to emphasize safety in Karate training.
Lastly, Karate training keeps a person mentally active. This is especially true when a person teaches. It is intellectually stimulating, to learn, practice and teach Karate. I think that this helps to keep people mentally young and active. This has a positive effect on the person's health -- an active person is generally a healthy person.
But there are also negative mental aspects of Karate -- politics, ego, rank, titles, awards, etc. If Karate becomes negative, it can also have a negative effect on one's health.
I do not know whether Karate is the best exercise in the world. I would think that scientists could come up with some regimen that enhances longevity. But I think that Karate training is, or can be, an excellent form of exercise -- as long as it is not too severe. Some Karate instructors literally beat themselves to death by severe training. For what? If the objective is a long life and a good quality of life, these objectives must be factored into training.
I would like to suggest a new saying -- Shorin-Ryu instructors live to 110!
As a note, there is also a saying that Goju-Ryu instructors do not live long. I am not qualified to comment on this. Kanryo Higashionna lived to be quite old, while Chojun Miyagi did not. Who can say why? But if I were a Goju-Ryu student, I would want to consider how my training might increase or decease my longevity.
I do think that one key, of any form of Karate, is to learn to remain as relaxed as possible until the moment of impact (kime, kikomi, etc.). Karate students should be cool, calm and collected.
Respectfully,
Charles C. Goodin
About Technique
When I give lectures to other dojo or classes, I often point to the smallest woman in the group and say, "if she could not use a certain technique effectively then there is something wrong with the technique."
Karate techniques should not be size and strength dependent. If only big, strong men can use the technique, then it is not really Karate.
I always add that I realize that there are many women who are taller, heavier and stronger than me. As a relatively short person (5 feet, 8 inches), I am keenly aware than many attackers will be taller, heavier and stronger than me.
For a small woman, this would be even more true.
So what is the answer? Karate techniques should be practiced for maximum effectiveness, not only for scoring points. Students need to learn where to strike and how to strike in a way that negates the attacker's size advantage. A Karate student should be like a surgeon in terms of the precision with which he or she strikes/attacks the attacker's most vulnerable areas.
I am serious. If the smallest adult in your dojo cannot use a technique (despite diligent, longterm practice), then something is wrong. Some of the greatest Karate masters were barely 5 feet tall and only 120 pounds. They had something other than sheer strength. Their Karate was not size dependent.
Respectfully,
Charles C. Goodin
No Osae?
In the Guest Post by Sensei Pat Nakata entitled Transition, Nakata Sensei recounts a conversation I had with him and his student, Bob Inouye (Snaggy) at one of our favorite Chinese restaurants (that serves a great buffet). Knowing how important osae (press) is in their Chibana Shorin-Ryu system, I asked them how many Karateka they have observed performing osae.
As Nakata Sensei mentioned, they hardly see any osae. I think that Snaggy might have said, "None."
Quite honestly, I was surprised. I have been emphasizing osae in my dojo for a while now. It is very clear when a student does osae and even clearer when he does not! Without osae, the movement looks weak and empty.
Snaggy further explained that most people leave out osae because they are so focused on trying to execute the waza (technique) as quickly as possible. It is like they are racing! But he added, "Without osae you won't get to execute the technique."
Say you are going to execute two shuto uke (knife hand blocks), a right and then a left. After the first shuto, most students will rush to execute the second shuto. But what takes place between the two shuto is important -- perhaps more important than the next technique itself. If you are weak after the first shuto your opponent will be able to overwhelm you. He can break through your weak defense and crush you. You will not be able to deliver the second shuto!
So rushing from one technique to the other is bad Karate. Getting from point A to point B is not the point, or at least it is not the main point.
Why rush? I suppose it is because it looks good.
I will tell you something funny. My mother-in-law used to tell me that if you speak quickly people will think that you are smart. English was her second language and I was studying to be an attorney at the time. I believe that she was right -- at least some people will think that you are smart if you speak quickly.
I wonder if people think that you are good at Karate if you move quickly? I think so!
But just as a person could speak quickly but not know what he is talking about, a Karate student could move quickly but actually have poor technique. A skilled person could see this, but an untrained or lesser trained person might not.
Let us say that you have executed a chudan uke (middle block). After you block, you leave the block up for a moment and during this time, the attacker runs into it. If you have osae, you can knock him down or at least fend him off. If you have released your osae, he will be able to push your block aside.
Osae is also very important in Kendo. When the Kendo Sensei is facing you, his shinai (bamboo sword) is often aimed right at your throat. Although he appears to hold the shinai loosely, it is actually firm. He is pressing toward you.
I have experienced this firsthand when I charged in and was speared in the throat! It was like running into a brick wall (or a spear embedded in a brick wall). I almost killed myself!
But the shinai was firm because the Kendo Sensei was pressing (osae). Osae was part of his kamae (posture).
I know that I have oversimplified this, and I do not presume to know anything about Kendo (unlike my sons). But the point is that osae is emphasized in Kendo. You can see it and feel it when you run into a shinai.
Osae is also essential in Karate. Like Snaggy said, without it, you might not get to execute your next technique. This is especially true if your attacker is skilled and can read the weakness of your movement/posture.
It is amazing how much you can learn about Karate at lunch!
I want to also add that just about all of Nakata Sensei's students are senior to me in years of training and age. However, since I am their Sensei's friend, they are always very courteous to me. I never forget that they are my seniors, but recognize that they have been taught the traditional forms of courtesy. I learn a great deal about how I should be (as a student) by observing them, and try to pass this along to my own students.
Respectfully,
Charles C. Goodin
Guest Post: Transition
This Guest Post is by my friend and senior, Sensei Pat Nakata. Nakata Sensei is the head of the Okinawa Shorin-Ryu Karate Association in Hawaii. He was a student of Chosin (Choshin) Chibana in Shorin-Ryu, and also studied Ryukyu Kobudo under Sensei Fumio Nagaishi. When he was a young man, he studied Wado-Ryu Karate under Sensei Walter Nishioka.
In the Chibana Shorin-Ryu Karate Kata curriculum, osae is taught and stressed in the Kihon Kata and the Naihanchi Kata, after which, the whole concept of osae is forgotten for the other Kata. As in Goju-Ryu, most Karate Kata have osae, but most Karateka do not know the concept of osae. For example; if one was to block and kept that block without releasing (hazusu / hazusanai) that end position and did a kick holding that block position, that block was then an osae. That being said, many Karateka do osae when practicing "fighting" techniques. Most of these Karateka question the effectiveness of Kata for real combat. Well, how can a Kata be effective, when there is no osae? In other words, there is no practicality for true combat situations, such as closing or entering the opponent(s).
Most Kata performances I witness are when the Kata performer enters one pose after the other. There is no concentration on the transition (be it osae, clearing, etc.) from one technique to the next. As soon as one technique is completed, there is an immediate transition to entering the next technique. This transition covers the "space" between the techniques. The transition is the fighting application of the techniques. So, the effectiveness of the fighting technique (within the Kata) is dependent upon the execution of the transition, other than just the technique. For an example, one can have a strong punch with good body mechanics, but will not be able to apply it without entering the opponent (osae).
This entering or osae is the transition "technique" that makes a Kata an effective fighting practice. What good is there in having strong techniques when one does not know how to effectively enter the opponent? In the teachings of Chibana Chosin Sensei, "there is osae in every move of the Kata".
I was fortunate to have been able to listen to a discussion between Ueshiba Morihei Sensei (founder of Aikido) and Otsuka Hironori Shihan (founder of Wado-Ryu Karate) on "real" fighting application. Both masters agreed that in real Bujutsu (martial arts [techniques]), one does not wait for the attacker to enter, but rather one should enter the opponent's attack. This application of osae and is the highest level of Kata application.
How does one reach this stage? Through Kata. How does one experience it? Practice Kata.
Pat Nakata
Two Fine Sensei
Last night, Sensei Angel Lemus, who now resides in Hawaii, visited our dojo. See Zentokukai.com. We practiced Yamani-Ryu Bojutsu (Sakugawa Nu Kun and Shirataru Nu Kun). It was a real pleasure. He also began to teach three yudansha and myself his elbow technique drill. Wow! I really like elbow techniques. I think that the drill as 20+ movements. I can remember the first 3!
This morning, I visited the University of Hawaii Karate class of Sensei Sean Roberts. See Minakami Karate Dojo. I spoke about early Karate in Hawaii and "oldstyle" Karate. Again, it was such a pleasure.
Roberts Sensei is spreading the art of Karate at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. I am reminded of the way that Gichin Funakoshi spread the art of Karate in universities in Japan. It takes a great deal to teach in the university setting. The classes are large and I would imagine that most students would not be able to stay in the class for long (several years). I admire Roberts Sensei's dedication to the art by teaching at the university.
I am very fortunate to know many fine Sensei. Lemus Sensei and Roberts Sensei are both in their 40s (Lemus Sensei is closer to my age). Most of my Karate friends are considerably older than me. Of the younger Sensei here in Hawaii, I consider Lemus Sensei and Roberts Sensei to be among the finest. I respect their techniques and abilities very much.
To be able to meet with two fine (young) Sensei in just two days is a real treat! It makes me very happy to be a Karate student and instructor.
Respectfully,
Charles C. Goodin
Restraint
When I am asked about the most important thing in Karate, I always say restraint. As students, we try our best to learn the techniques of Karate and to condition our bodies so that we can move with speed and power. However, we also have to condition our minds and temperament.
A Karate student should be extremely reluctant to use the destructive techniques of the art, unless it is absolutely necessary. The feeling should always be "hold back, hold back, don't fight, don't fight."
Just as a police offer keeps his pistol in its holster, we should keep our hands held back (metaphorically in the pocket or sleeve). In the same way, a sword should be kept in its sheath (saya).
After restraint, I always add peace. Karate students should emphasize restraint and peace.
Now to some people I'm sure this may sound pretty weak! Restraint and peace may sound like the traits of a person who cannot fight at all. That may be true. However, it is also true of some people who can fight extremely well -- but are always trying their best to avoid having to do so.
Nuclear reactors can produce incredible power. Nuclear power stations are so large because it takes a great deal of concrete and steel to safely house the reactor. And even then there can be accidents. The more powerful (and potentially destructive) a Karate student becomes, the more restraint he or she needs.
A student with destructive power but lacking in restrain is an accident waiting to happen.
Respectfully,
Charles C. Goodin
Remaining Calm
One of the most important aspects of Karate training, and martial arts in general, is cultivating the ability to remain calm. Sounds easy, but it is not. Being able to remain calm is one of the greatest skills.
When confronted with a violent situation, it is easy to become angry, enraged, filled with negativity. Some people might say that this energy can be channeled and harnessed to give you more power. But generally, getting angry is a waste of energy. Angry energy tends to be wild and unfocused. If the attacker can make you angry, he can control you (or at least try to do so).
Calm energy can be focused and controlled. A calm person does not quickly respond to taunts or insults. He is not easily tricked into a bad position.
I have seen people who grow wildly angry -- literally fuming from the eyes -- only to become a sobbing wreck just minutes later. One minute "strong", the next helpless.
Remaining calm is not only important when attacked. Actually, an attack is usually very quick. A fight can be over in seconds. There might not be time to become angry.
But in social situations, at work, at home... there are many opportunities to become angry. It is just as important for a Karate student to remain calm in these situations. Social conflict can lead to aggression. How the Karate student conducts himself in such situation tells a great deal about this Karate training and ability.
There is a saying that the mountain does not move. A calm person is like a mountain. An angry person is like a grasshopper bouncing from place to place -- a scurrying cockroach.
I have also noticed that a person who gets angry easily, also tends to lose control in an emergency. In a hurricane or earthquake, a calm person can focus on what needs to be done. A calm person can summon seemingly superhuman strength to save lives. A calm person sometimes becomes the ordinary person who becomes a hero by risking his or her life to save others.
You can't get angry at a hurricane or an earthquake. And if you do, how long can you maintain such intensity, before you feel drained and empty?
Karate students must learn to become calm.
When I was young, I found kumite to be exciting -- scary, challenging, thrilling. Over time, it felt like nothing. Whether I hit my partner or got hit did not make any difference. If I did "well" or "poorly", I felt the same. There was no winning or losing. It was just training. It was not a matter of honor or shame.
When a person throws a brick at you, you might get mad. But if a brick falls off a roof and almost hits you on the head, who will you get mad at -- gravity or the wind? You have to get out of the way in either case. In the case of an attacker, you have to prepare for the next attack. In the case of the roof, you have to get to a safe place in case there are more loose bricks.
The more skilled a Karate student becomes, the more he or she is able to remain calm. The reverse also tends to be true.
Think about the Karate seniors you know and have known. How would you rate their levels of anger and calmness? How would you rate your own?
Remember the old saying, "When you are angry, keep you hand back. When your hand goes out, do not be angry."
Respectfully,
Charles C. Goodin
Guest Post: A Snowball's Chance
This Guest Post is by my friend, Mark Tankosich, who has dan rankings in both Sho-ha Shorin-ryu karate and Zen Nihon Kendo Renmei jodo. Along with the martial arts, his passions include the Japanese language. He currently lives and teaches in Hiroshima, Japan.
I've mentioned before that, in addition to karate, I also practice an art called "jodo." Jodo, or "the way of the stick," is essentially about using a four-foot-long wooden pole to defend yourself against a sword-wielding opponent. In the dojo, of course, practice -- which is mostly two-person kata work -- is carried out against a wooden sword or bokken.
Very recently I was tested for a promotion in jodo, and, although I passed, I believe that I got something much more valuable than a new rank level from that test.
You see, the conditions that I took it under were not really what you would call "ideal." Let me see if I can quickly list them here: 1) The test was held only 2 days after my return from a two-and-a-half week stay in the US, so that when I took it I was severely jet-lagged, rather sleep-deprived, and lacking any real chance for serious practice with my partner; 2) My partner was someone that I hardly knew, and with whom I was able to practice only twice; 3) I was still recovering from a broken rib that I'd suffered in a scooter accident about a month before the test; 4) The test would include a written (in Japanese) portion consisting of 2 out of 4 possible essay questions; 5) Upon arriving at the test site, I learned that some of the techniques we'd be tested on might be different than what we'd originally been told; 6) One of the test judges was a man that I'd had a very, very serious run-in with several months earlier; 7) My foot got slightly injured when I was practicing the day before the test; and 8) For various reasons, we were made to sit around on the floor for a couple of hours before actually doing the test.
As I said, not really what you would call "ideal" conditions. And yet, somehow, I passed.
I'll be honest: During much of the 2 days leading up to the test, I had a real struggle going on inside my head. A big part of me would think, "Who cares how it turns out? There are just too many obstacles this time. I've got a snowball's chance in Saudi Arabia here. Just get the darn thing over with and forget about it!" But then, another part of me would say, "Yeah, I may not pass. There are lots of things in my way. But that's still no reason to just throw my hands up and surrender. I need to give it my best shot!"
In the end, it certainly was not one of my best jodo performances. But thanks to that test, I was able to re-confirm for myself an important truth: Just because all the odds are against you, it doesn't mean that you can't win.
Mark Tankosich
A Calamansi Tree
I have two calamansi trees in my backyard. Calamansi is a small citrus. It looks like a little orange, ranging in size from the diameter of a quarter, to about twice that size. It all depends on the rain, sun, etc.
Calamansi is a Tagalog word. In Ilocano, I think they say calamundin. My wife is Tagolog, so I am unsure about other dialects.
Anyway, the older tree has been in our yard for many years. It is pretty big. About 5 years ago, I planted a smaller calamansi tree on the other side of the backyard. For about 4 years, it did not grow very much at all and barely had any fruit. It was pretty weak looking.
Finally, I thought about digging it up, but I waited. Well, in the last year, that tree really grew. It is now thick, and produces great fruit. In fact, the calamansi it produces are bigger and juicier than the older, larger tree.
I'm glad that I gave it another year and did not dig it out!
What does this have to do with Karate? You might have some mature, skilled students in your dojo. They are like the bigger tree. You might also have some newer students who don't really seem to catch on. They are like the smaller tree.
You have to give students time, just like the smaller calamansi tree. You can never tell when they will "take". They could be weak for years and years, and then all of a sudden blossom. The could become better than the best student you have now.
When a instructor mentions to me that a student is doing poorly, I generally say, "Give him time."
You never know when a student will catch on -- but that will never happen if they leave the dojo and stop training.
By the way, calamasi goes great with fish!
Respectfully,
Charles C. Goodin
About Conserving Energy
Halford Jones, a big supporter of the Hawaii Karate Museum, wrote to me about my post, Conserving Energy. Regarding compact florescent lights (CFL's), he mentioned that such lights do not produce much heat. Here in Hawaii, that is a good thing. We generally are trying to keep our houses cool. Yesterday, it was in the mid-80s here, and it is only April. But in cold regions, perhaps some heat is a good thing.
Halford also mentioned that he uses low wattage night lights in his home. That way, he does not have to turn on lights late at night. I have done the same thing. I use very low wattage LED lights. I think that all of them combined use less than a dollar's worth of electricity a year.
Of course, the best way to save electricity is to turn off lights when they are not needed. I often have to get on my kids for this. When they are not in their room, they should turn their lights off.
Halford did not seem to like my use of a wet/dry vac for cleaning up things in the yard and outside around the house. He prefers to use elbow grease. Don't get me wrong, so do I. Usually clean up manually. But once in a while this wet/dry vac seems good. For example, I sometimes used to clean my steps and garage by spraying them down with a hose. This wasted water. And when I used a broom, there were crevices I could reach. The vacuum works good in such instances.
But I realize that it uses a lot of electricity and will not overdo it. Perhaps they will come up with a solar powered vacuum.
Halford also mentioned about using solar lights. I am thinking about installing some solar security lights around my home.
Why try to save energy -- because it is a good thing to do.
Respectfully,
Charles C. Goodin
Seeking Enlightenment
This is a story.
A senior Karate instructor visited his Sensei (a very wise person) and said, "Sensei, I have spent nearly my entire adult life seeking enlightenment and I feel that I am no closer today than I was when I started."
His Sensei replied, "That's right."
The student was a little shaken. He had expected a more encouraging answer, at least some sympathy. Is that all you have to say?" he asked his Sensei.
"No. I should add that your pursuit of enlightenment also explains why your Karate is mediocre. How can you expect to excel at Karate when you do not practice wholeheartedly? You practiced Karate to get something else. You need to simply practice Karate for Karate."
The student thought about his Sensei's words. "Do you mean that if I practice Karate wholeheartedly, I will become enlightened?" he asked.
"No, what I mean is that if you practice Karate wholeheartedly, you will become better at Karate."
The End.
Respectfully,
Charles C. Goodin
Conserving Energy
I have done some things to conserve energy.
First, I made rain barrels to collect rain water at my house. I have four 55 gallon barrels that are connected to downspouts. My wife uses the rain water to water her orchids and ornamental plants.
Every time it rains, we collect water. In a year, I do not know how much water we save, but it is a lot. The PVC barrels were only $3 each at a bread store. I put screens over the top so that mosquitoes cannot get inside (we have never had even one).
If we have a natural disaster, we could also use the collected rain water for drinking (after boiling), washing, or flushing toilets. You never know when you could need water.
We also have a clean 55 gallon barrel for storing drinking water in the event of an emergency.
Second, we changed almost all the lights in our house to compact florescent lights (CFLs). They save a lot of electricity. The only lights we did not change are in the refrigerator, oven, and one light fixture that uses chandelier bulbs (the CFLs were not quite bright enough in that fixture).
Lastly, I sold my Lexus RX 300 (it was out of its extended warranty) and bought a Corolla S. The Corolla gets much better gas mileage and can use the cheapest gas. I usually drive around by myself, and did not need an SUV. I could have bought a smaller Lexus, but it would not have gotten as good gas mileage. For me, gas mileage mattered.
We should all try our best to conserve energy. By saving energy, we also save money. More importantly, it is good for the environment.
We should also try to conserve energy in our Karate training. Wasted energy does us no good. When we waste energy, we grow tired more quickly and give the attacker more movement to react to. In Judo, they say, "Maximum efficiency with minimum effort."
Conserve energy.
Respectfully,
Charles C. Goodin
Wet/Dry Vac
I really like working in the yard and around the house. After all these years, I finally bought a wet/dry vacuum. The hose can be reversed so that it can also be used as a blower. Now I can vacuum up leaves in the yard and dirt on the steps and in the garage.
It is the best tool ever!
I can even vacuum up little leaves and debris in my ornamental rocks. If some rocks get sucked up, I can remove them when I empty the vacuum. I can even use the vacuum to remove sand and dirt from between the ornamental rocks (I made a filter for that).
What's the point? I want to keep my home clean, as clean as the dojo.
Respectfully,
Charles C. Goodin
"Looks Good"
The other day I arrived at class a little early and, after sweeping the floor, started to use Windex to clean some dirty spots. As the students arrived, they went about their business. Not one offered to help.
After I finished, I went to put the Windex away. A young student sitting near that closet motioned to the floor and said, "Looks good."
"I said, "You shouldn't say that that the floor looks good -- you should have offered to help. If you saw your mom or dad doing work at home, you would offer to help, wouldn't you?"
That is the point. I did not need any help. I would have almost certainly declined if a student offered. But they should have offered. When they see their parents working, they should offer to help. That is the point. Learning to be helpful at Karate class only has value if it translates to the home, if it applies outside of the dojo. Otherwise, it is like a person who is "holy" only in church.
Don't just say that the floor "looks good." Offer to help. Better yet, just grab a rag and start cleaning the floor without saying anything at all.
Respectfully,
Charles C. Goodin
"Practical" Karate
I was looking for Karate books online and came across a book with the word "Practical" in its title. That makes me wonder, what kind of Karate is not practical? Has Karate become so influenced by tournaments and commercial considerations that practicality has to be emphasized? This may seem like a ridiculous question, but I have spoken to seniors who feel exactly that way -- that because of tournaments, commercial considerations, and an emphasis on sport, practicality has to be emphasized and re-emphasized.
Goshinjitsu is a way of saying self-defense. It is practical. When goshinjitsu is emphasized, what does that mean? Isn't all Karate supposed to be goshinjitsu?
We must always keep the purpose of Karate in mind. When Karate become impractical and useless for self defense, then what good is it?
Respectfully,
Charles C. Goodin
A Karate Student Should Not...
A Karate student should not...
try harder in the dojo than he does at work or school.If Karate training makes a student better at self defense only, it has value, but that value is limited. If Karate training makes him better at life, it has unlimited value.
show more respect to his Sensei than he does to his parents.
clean the dojo but neglect his own home.
travel the world for training but not take his wife anywhere.
forget all the people who helped him to attain skill in Karate.
forget that Karate is practiced in daily life.
forget that what he does reflects on his Sensei, his dojo, and the art.
speak unkindly of other martial arts or martial artists.
forget that there is always more to learn.
Respectfully,
Charles C. Goodin
Nice vs Tough
When I get new students, I am always very happy to find nice ones. Sometimes I find tough ones.
I always say that it is easier to make a nice student tough than it is to make a tough student nice. When a nice student learns Karate, you can be pretty sure that he or she will only use it for self-defense. With a tough student, you have to constantly emphasize restraint.
Respectfully,
Charles C. Goodin
Were Students Better In The Past?
I was training with some seniors, when one asked another, "Were students better in the past?" I think that many people believe that the students "in the old days" were better than they are today.
My own view is that students in the past were more focused on Karate training. Today, youngsters do so many things. There is school, the internet, cellular phones, and so many extracurricular activities. Sometimes children come to Karate class after a long day of school, followed by music class, soccer, and just stopping long enough to grab a hamburger and fries. After Karate, it is home to do homework, check the internet, talk on the phone...
Of course, this does not describe everyone, but there is so much more to do today. Back in the "old days" there were not even many street lights in Okinawa. Okinawa back then must have made Hilo look like New York!
My friend grew up in Hilo. He fished, snorkled and practiced Judo. That was just about it. As you can imagine, he got pretty good at Judo.
A person can get pretty good at anything they try really hard at for a long time. If you practice Karate regularly for 10 years, you will get pretty good. Anyone should get pretty good. If they do not, something must be wrong. (I am not talking about a student who starts training at the age of 2.)
Students today are not better or worse than those of the past -- they are probably just busier.
OK, I thought of another thing. Students in the "old days" walked to and from class. Today all my young students are driven to class! No one walks anymore. And you have to remember that in Okinawa, most younger people would have been barefoot. This makes you appreciate tsumaski geri (tip of the toe kick). A student walking barefoot on rocky ground must have had really strong feet and toes.
Respectfully,
Charles C. Goodin
Grabbing the Neck and Ear
When my good friend and senior Sensei Pat Nakata was learning from Sensei Chosin Chibana, Chibana Sensei mentioned that when the hands come together at the side, this means that you are controlling or throwing the attacker.
We call this a "clam" hand position in my dojo. The hands are in fists, stacked one on top of the other, at a right angle. You can see this, for example, when you turn to the front after completing the back sequence in Pinan Shodan. The left fist is stacked over the right, with the hands near the right hip.
Nakata Sensei was young when he learned from Chibana Sensei, and he wondered how you would throw the attacker if he was not wearing a gi. When he asked the question, Chibana Sensei, characteristically, asked him to throw a punch. When Nakata Sensei did so, Chibana Sensei grabbed him by the ear and the side of the neck and pulled him to his hip area while turning (like in Pinan Shodan). Nakata Sensei was twisted and helpless!
This is funny, because I think that all students, at one time or another, want to ask their Sensei a similar question. We all want to know how something works and what would happen if, for example, the attacker is not wearing a gi or sturdy clothing for grappling. We all want to ask, but generally learn to be careful about how we do it.
You have to remember that Nakata Sensei was young.
Well, when he told me this story, I was already in my 40s, and should have know better. When he got to the part of the story where he asked Chibaba Sensei the question, I said, "So what did he do?"
Nakata Sensei waved his hand a little and said, "punch."
I naturally complied and quickly found myself twisted and helpless with my head pinned to his hip -- just like Nakata Sensei had found himself over 40 years earlier! Nakata Sensei had grabbed the side of my neck and ear the same way Chibana Sensei had done.
It is funny when this happens to an 18 year old, and perhaps even funnier when it happens to a 40+ year old (me).
Actually, it is just a little funny. I felt very fortunate to learn this technique firsthand from Nakata Sensei, who had learned it firsthand from Chibana Sensei, who, I am pretty certain, learned it the same way from his own teacher, Anko Itosu.
Respectfully,
Charles C. Goodin
Loud Koshi
We all go through phases, some long, some short. There are many phases to Karate training, especially for students who train for many years or decades or their whole life.
So here is my current phase -- I do not like showing koshi. That is ironic since I have spent considerable time and effort since 2002 specifically learning learning how to use and generate power with the koshi. The style I practice is known for this.
It is not that I do not use koshi, it is that I do not like to show it. I prefer to move in a way that looks more linear but is actually powered by the koshi. The koshi movement is small, and almost hidden inside the gi or flesh. Most people would not be able to see this. Of course, people who understand koshi could see it easily, even feel it. It is like the difference between a simple piece of metal and a magnet. They might look identical but are very different.
Making big koshi movement, to me, is like talking too loud. That is, TALKING TOO LOUD. BIG KOSHI IS LIKE WRITING LIKE THIS!
So why big koshi? In my Sensei's case, I am certain it is so that students can learn how to copy him. First, they have to be able to see his koshi. He must make his koshi big, exaggerated, so that the students can see it. Then they can start to copy it.
But I am sure that for my Sensei, showing big koshi must feel like going into a museum or church and SHOUTING! It must feel very uncomfortable.
If it is already uncomfortable for me, it must be incredibly so for him, and other advanced koshi people.
It takes big koshi movement to get to the point where you can start to reduce your movement (tighten the lines). When you get to the point where you can make small, internalized movements, you no longer want to move big. It is so loud, so busy, so unnecessary.
But it does help the other students.
Respectfully,
Charles C. Goodin
Aim High
I like to emphasize this.
Aim high. What is within your grasp is good, but reach farther. Stretch out your hand! Stand on the tips of your toes! Get a box and stand on it!
Don't try to be better at something than the person sitting next to you. Don't try to be better than the best person in your class or group or school. Try to be better than the best person that ever lived.
What if Einstein only sought to surpass the person sitting next to him?
If you try to be better than the best person ever, and you fail, you might still end up being 10 times better than the best person in your class or group or school. You are not challenging the best person ever out of disrespect -- you are just challenging yourself!
Even Einstein, when he solved so many of the great riddles of the universe, did not stop. He continued to search for a unified theory for the rest of his life. He was not done. He was not content with fame. He was still reaching!
When you are reaching, life is always very interesting. When you settle for less, it can become pretty boring!
If I had a Karate student who said, "Sensei, I am going to try to become as skilled as you," I would reply, "Why are you aiming so low? Try to become the very best you can be!"
How many people can you say have become the very best that they could be? Think about it. Do you know anyone? Anyone at all? If you do, I'll bet that that person is still reaching, still striving, still growing. Otherwise, they are not the best that they could be now. Yesterday's level is not good enough. This is a new day, and tomorrow will be another new day.
Aim high! If you fall down, you might find a diamond! Get back up and keep going.
One of the great fortunes in my Karate life has been to be able to meet, and in some instances, to train with some truly great Karate Sensei. All are much better than me -- many times so. I am inspired by them and they give me good targets! They help me to realize what it means to aim high. They did. So can we!
Aim high! Don't settle. A determined person can accomplish anything. You can accomplish anything!
Respectfully,
Charles C. Goodin
So Kuchi!
I was speaking to an older Japanese lady today. She was born on the Big Island and lived in a Japanese camp. The sugarcane plantation camps used to be segregated by race. There were Japanese camps, Okinawan camps, Filipino camps, etc.
She described a conversation she had with another lady who had apparently promised to do something but has never done so. So the older Japanese lady said, "She was so kuchi!"
"Kuchi" means "mouth" in Japanese. A person who just talks but does not do something is "so kuchi."
This reminded me of "kuchi bushi," a "mouth warrior" -- someone who only talks Karate. See: Okinawa's Bushi -- Karate Gentlemen.
But a person can be "kuchi" about anything. All talk and no action.
Hearing this very nice lady speak brought a smile to my face, and made me remember to always try my best to follow up my words with action.
Respectfully,
Charles C. Goodin
Mario McKenna's YouTube Videos
I just noticed that Sensei Mario McKenna has uploaded many videos to YouTube. He writes the excellent Okinawa Karate & Kobudo Blog. Please see:
For students of Kishaba Juku, you will notice that Mario has uploaded some Matsubayashi-Ryu kata video. I recognize several of the instructors, many of whom have since gone off in their own directions. But the video seems to be from a pretty big demonstration. I don't know the year or location.
Watching Matsubayashi-Ryu kata performed by these instructors had an interesting effect on me -- it made my back hurt! My posture was very poor when I was a student of Matsubayashi-Ryu. As a result, I often had a sore back and neck. Now (knock on wood), I rarely have such problems, and if I do it is likely from lifting weights rather than Karate practice.
As you know, I do not refer to many online videos. However, McKenna Sensei is very reputable, and I think you might enjoy viewing his very interesting collection.
Respectfully,
Charles C. Goodin
Tired From Training
Recently, I met a student who used to practice in a former dojo of mine (one where I also used to train). We had not seen each other for some time and she asked if I was still teaching. I answered that I was and she said, "Oh, that must make you tired."
I replied that on the contrary, training gives me energy.
Sure I get winded when I train hard, but it makes me stronger. The more I train, the more I can train, and the faster I can recover.
Training gives me more energy and more time. This is because being in good shape makes it easier for me to focus and work hard. I can get more done in the limited time I have in the day.
Sometimes it is hard to make time to go to class. There are always things to do. But I always feel good after training. I never regret it. It is good for me personally, and I also feel good teaching other students. I feel great when anyone learns something new, especially when a student does something they never thought they could do.
I still train because I enjoy it so much. It makes me healthier and sharper. This is especially important now that I am in my 50s.
I do not get tired by training -- I get tired when I don't train.
Respectfully,
Charles C. Goodin
About Sensei's Sensei
In Sensei's Sensei..., I wrote about the situation in which there are multiple levels of Sensei in the same dojo or group. I suggested that it might be good to have terms like the ones used in some Chinese martial arts schools. There, the teachers are referred to in terms that are similar to family titles.
In Japanese dojo, titles tend to be hierarchical. We have titles like Sensei, Osensei, Soke, Hanshi, etc. These are not family based -- they are based on a vertical progression. Of course, the term Sensei applies across levels. A Hanshi will also be a Sensei.
My point was not that we need more hierarchical titles. I personally do not like them. I have written many times about my views concerning rank and titles.
When I say that it would be good to have a term that connotes that a person is the friend of the Sensei, and thus is like an "Uncle Sensei," I mean that this would be good because it shows the relationship. When students hear that a person is an "Uncle Sensei," they immediately know that they should show this person the same respect they show to their own Sensei.
A Grandfather Sensei would be the student's Sensei's Sensei. Naturally, a great deal of respect would be owed to such a Sensei.
But I am not suggesting that this would be the type of title that people would wear or get certificates for. It would be a title showing relationships.
Lacking such titles, we will have to be happy ambiguously calling everyone "Sensei." And, of course, Sensei is a title we should all work very hard to deserve.
Respectfully,
Charles C. Goodin
Sensei's Sensei...
In our dojo, my second son is the Sensei. I am his Sensei. My Sensei (here in Hawaii) may return to the dojo later this year. I also have a Sensei in Okinawa.
So who is the "Sensei?"
In the dojo, the students call my son Sensei. They call me Sensei too, and would call my Sensei Sensei too. We are all "Sensei."
I think that it would be nice to have terms that showed the father, grandfather, greatgrandfather progression. In Chinese martial arts, this is sometimes shown by the terms sifu, sigung and sijo (as I understand it) . I do not think that there is such a geneology based system in Japanese martial arts.
You can also have uncles. My good friend and sensei, Sensei Pat Nakata, is a Sensei. I call him Sensei. But he is not my students' Sensei. He is like their uncle. He is the senior and friend of their Sensei.
Don't get me wrong. I don't like titles and am not suggesting that we need more. I just wish that there was a simple way to clarify the Sensei role when there are multiple generations in one dojo.
But then again, "Sensei" is an excellent term and a title we should all aspire to. To be a good Sensei is the most we can hope for.
When I am not sure of the correct title, I always try to call my seniors "Sensei."
Does this make sense?
Respectfully,
Charles C. Goodin
Bench Press
Tonight I tried to set a new personal best in the bench press -- 205 pounds. I got the bar down to my chest fine! Thank goodness my second son Charles was there to spot me.
I will have to work up to that weight. But I am working on it.
When I hear about people benching 300 or even 400 pounds I just shake my head.
I always say that I may not be able to bench 400 pounds, but I could bench 100 pounds 4 times. Sometimes it is not how much you can lift once, but how much you can lift cumulatively. In Karate too, it is not about practicing well once, but about practicing regularly all the time.
Still, I would have liked to have hit 205! My third son weighs about the same as me (170) but can bench 245. It is really challenging to try to compete with my sons! Even though I almost always lose, I win!
Respectfully,
Charles C. Goodin
Book Donations
I have just listed three new books that were donated to the Hawaii Karate Museum. Two were donated by a Karate Sensei and one was donated by the book author (he is also a Karate Sensei).
Please see: seinenkai.com and click on the What's New? link.
I cannot tell you how much we appreciate book donations. We make a point to name the donors of each book in our collection. If you review our collection (several hundred books), you will see that many have been donated. I am especially honored when authors sends us their new books. It is an honor for us to receive them.
I should let everyone know that we have recently acquired a Karate-Do Kyohan by Gichin Funakoshi. I appears to be a 1935 edition, and may actually be a first edition. We have our fingers crossed. The book is being sent from Japan.
From time to time, people adopt our books. We acquired this book with Museum funds. It was not donated. If you would like to have you name listed in our collection as "Acquired with a donation by 'Your Name'", please contact me. This is an expensive book, and such a listing would cost about $700. I realize that this is a lot, but this is also a very special book, especially if you are in Funakoshi Sensei's line of Karate.
Funakoshi Sensei wrote five books (that we know about). So far, our museum has acquired originals of three of these books. Of course, we are trying our best to acquire them all.
For all of you who have donated books to us, a heartfelt thank you. When you review our collection, you will see that we have some very well-known donors. We also have many donors, who may not be well-know, but deeply respect and support Karate, its history and traditions.
As for me, I am like a little ant. A little here and a little there, and the collection grows. I am a book ant.
Thank you very much again. I keep waiting for someone to donate Motobu Sensei's two books (originals). That would be something! I have not even seen originals of them. Perhaps before I turn 60!
Respectfully,
Charles C. Goodin
1873 Karate Description
Have you read this 1873 Karate description? (That's 1873, not 1973.)
"As regards more manly accomplishments, they are expert archers on horseback and good marksmen with the matchlock. Their skill in boxing is such that a well-trained fighter can smash a large earthen water-jar, or kill a man with a single blow of his fist."If you would like to see the source, go to Seinenkai.com and click on the What's New? link in the left frame. Our museum received an incredible donation today! The entire article (Notes on Loochoo, by E. W. Satow, Esq.) is now online thanks to the generosity of Goju-Ryu practitioner David A. Williams.
Respectfully,
Charles C. Goodin
More On Big Throws
There is a reason why you might want to use a big throw. Think about it. Have you come up with a reason?
At least one reason may be that you want to throw the attacker onto his back. In sport martial arts, you might get a point or even win for doing this.
However, for self-defense there are many other ways to make the attacker land. You could, for example, make him land on his face or the top of his head. You could throw him in such a way that it would be very difficult for him to take a clean fall. In fact, you could throw him with the intention of breaking bones.
Such a throw would not be legal in sport martial arts (for good reason). But for self-defense, a throw could and probably should be considered as part of the counter attack. Except briefly, a throw that simply puts the attacker safely on his back will not stop him from attacking.
Again, sometimes the best throws are small ones -- often a tight, downward spiral.
Respectfully,
Charles C. Goodin
Big Throws
I often see magazine and book covers in which someone is throwing his partner/attacker. I'm sure that you do too.
Generally, the throw is a "big" one -- the attacker could be vertical in the air above the defender. The bigger the throw the better! Well, at least that is what photographers for magazine and book covers will tell you, and probably what they told the person doing the throwing.
If you ask me, "little" throws are better than big ones. A throw should get the attacker to the ground (or into a wall, fire hydrant, or other hard surface) as quickly and with the least effort possible. A big throw takes time (the attacker has to move throw space). It may look impressive and graceful... but it takes time.
And there are skilled people who can reverse throws in the air! I watched old footage of Mifune Sensei (one of the greatest Judo experts). His partner would throw him up in the air and Mifune Sensei would kick his feet, almost as if he was swimming. Then Mifune Sensei would reverse the throw while he was in the air! It was amazing.
A good grappler (of any art) can reverse throws, particularly big throws. It is much more difficult to reverse or escape from a small, quick throw.
Big throws may look good but small throws usually work better. Perhaps someone should tell that to the people who design book and magazine covers.
Respectfully,
Charles C. Goodin
So Much -- So Little
Some people do so little with so much.
Just a thought.
Respectfully,
Charles C. Goodin
About Bad Habits
Last night I was teaching two new students how to punch from a stationary position (jigotai dachi). Both students are new. One only started training last night.
One of the students did something wrong. I think he punched too high or low, or did not bring his arm back correctly. I thought to myself, "that is a bad habit."
Then I caught myself. New students do not have bad habits. They do not have any Karate habits. Everything is new to them. They are just trying to copy me. They might make mistakes, but that is different from a bad habit.
Advanced students can have bad habits. They have learned and a mistake has become ingrained in their technique. They are doing something wrong all the time.
But a new student has no habits... not yet. It is up to us, as instructors, to teach properly and to ingrain the correct movements in the student's technique. We have to help him to form good habits and have to help prevent him from forming bad habits.
How many "bad habits" were formed because the teacher did not teach diligently? How many bad habits were allowed to slip through because the teacher was not paying attention or was too busy with other students?
My Sensei here in Hawaii, Sensei Rodney Shimabukuro, is very good about not going on until the student gets the technique right. If the student does not get it, he will start over again from the beginning. Shimabukuro Sensei's attitude is that each movement can be broken down into its basic parts. One part is built upon another. If one part is wrong, the next will be wrong too. That is why he is very patient about making each part correct. A little defect in one part can lead to a big defect in a later part, or the whole.
And one technique can form the basis for another. If one technique is defective, the next technique will also be wrong.
New students do not have bad habits (when it comes to Karate technique). They can only form the habits that we allow them to form. It is up to us, as instructors, to ensure that they learn to move correctly.
As I often say, any errors in the dojo are my errors.
Respectfully,
Charles C. Goodin
Unarmed Martial Arts
Another thing that Stan Henning mentioned in his lecture about Chinese martial arts, was that the most important weapon in China for hundreds of years (perhaps longer) was the bow and arrow. I thought that the sword and spear were the most important weapons. However, it makes sense that the bow would be much better long distance weapon.
I imaging that the sword and spear looked much better in Kung Fu movies. Most people would not be that interested in watching people shoot each other with arrows.
But Stan also mentioned something that sounded familiar to me -- that the unarmed martial arts were used when you lost your weapon or your weapon was broken. Think about it -- unarmed martial arts only make sense when you are not armed. If your opponent has a weapon, you would want to have a weapon too. While there may be instances in which an unarmed martial artist defeated an armed warrior, such cases are few and far between. The more likely outcome would have been that the unarmed martial artist ran away or was killed.
Warriors were skilled in the use of weapons. Only when a weapon was lost or broken would the unarmed martial arts come into play -- and then only until a weapon could be obtained.
What makes Okinawan Karate so interesting is that it is a martial art built around unarmed techniques. In Karate, unarmed techniques are primary, not secondary.
In addition, Karate is a civilian martial art. It was not designed for use by the military. It was designed for use on the street (or to defend your home), not on the battlefield.
It is said that Karate developed because the people in Okinawa were prohibited from carrying weapons by the invading and occupying Satsuma samurai. However, it is also said that the social conditions in Okinawa were such that the people did not carry weapons. As a center of trade between China, Japan, and other countries, Okinawa was known as the land of courtesy, not warfare. Okinawan (Ryukyu) nobles did not carry weapons because it was not necessary or considered proper for them to do so. It may have been that such nobles actually had many weapons -- but would generally not carry them.
Many of the nobles were educated in China and Japan, where they could have and probably did learn about the use of weapons. The early Karate experts, particularly those of the noble and higher classes, were most likely trained in the classical weapons of the time. Matsumura Sensei, for example, was an expert of Japanese swordsmanship. I also heard stories about Kentsu Yabu teaching the use of a short, two edged sword in Okinawa.
As for the "common people", I have often been told that the most plentiful and readily available weapon in Okinawa, was a stone. Okinawa is a very rocky island. A stone could be thrown or put in cloth and swung like a flail.
Respectfully,
Charles C. Goodin
The Most Difficult Thing I Do
As most people know, in addition to teaching Karate, I am the head of the Hawaii Karate Museum. I should say the "head", hands, and feet.
I enjoy Karate research very much and find it personally rewarding. I also feel that it is important to collect and preserve old Karate books, articles, weapons, and artifacts so that future generations of Karate students will have access to these treasures.
However, there is one aspect of my "work" that is particularly difficult -- that so many of the elderly people I meet and become friends with die. Each year, people I know pass away. I am only 50, but I know many people in their 70s, 80s, and 90s. Year by year, the group of elders grows smaller.
A man I knew died a few years ago. I recently heard that his widow just passed away. They were such a warm and friendly couple. I miss them very much. Although I knew them only briefly, they feel like relatives.
A 90 year old man came to one of my exhibits a few years ago. It was hard for him, but he wanted to show respect to his father who was included in the exhibit. His father had learned from Itosu Sensei. Not long after