Hi,
I am thinking about beginning to study shotokan karate and I was looking at the philosophy posted on this site. One of the precepts listed was to avoid violence. My questions is, is it against the philosophy of shotokan to participate in competitions, particularly full-contact matches?
Re: Shotokan philosophy
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“The best defence is a good offence!” We’ve all heard that before. And, yes, it is true, in most cases. So, does that mean we should be beating up everyone before they beat us? No, not at all.
Shotokan is a martial art. It is a fighting system. With it, we can cause serious damage to others (and ourselves if we are not careful).
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If the mind is compared to the speaker of a telephone, then the will is like the electric current. No matter how sensitive the speaker, if their is no electric current, no communication takes place. Likewise, even if you correctly comprehend your opponent’s movements and are aware of an opening, if the will to act on this knowledge is lacking, no effective technique will be forthcoming. The mind may find an opening, but the will must be activated in order to execute the appropriate technique.
Mizo No Kokuro
When performing, practicing or using karate, one must maintain a “mind like water”. Yeah, right. What are you TALKING about?!?
This refers to the mental attitude while facing an actual opponent. It refers to the need of making the mind calm, like that of an undisturbed body of water.
Smooth water reflects accurately the image of all objects within its range, and if the mind is kept calm, comprehension of the opponents movements, both psychological and physical, will be both immediate and accurate, and one’s responses, both defensive and offensive, will be appropriate and adequate.
On the other hand, if the surface of the water is disturbed, the images it reflects will be distorted. In other words, if the mind is preoccupied with thoughts of attack and defense it will not properly comprehend the opponent’s intentions creating an opportunity for the opponent to attack.
Water also other properties. Water can be quite destructive. In fact, over time, water is one of the most destructive forces on earth. Your mind must be like water. When necessary, be as destructive as you must.
(Shots Niju Kun)
Karate-do wa rei ni hajimari, rei ni owaru koto wo wasuruna.
Karate begins and ends with courtesy
Karate ni sente nashi.
There is no first attack in karate.