HIS Karate-Do

Now, even when you’re not able to make a class of karate-do, remember that it’s not all physical…it can also involve mental, emotional, and spiritual training to strengthen oneself on several levels.  If you take a look at the latest article in the very educational asaikarate.com blog by Yokota Sensei, you’ll see that his latest article discusses the tanden point (what most karateka refer to as, the hara) on the body.  When one trains properly, he/she is improving the awareness and use of a hidden source of power.  In Aikido, we used to call it the “one-point” for Ki development.  In Chinese martial arts, they call it the tan tien in Chi development.  Actually, in this vein, I’m more familiar with it as one of seven points in the body known as chakras by Indians (from India).  In their yogic system, it’s a way to harness natural power coming from the earth, in and out of one’s spine, starting with the kundalini at the base.  Interestingly, the theoretical entry/exit points as this power flows through one’s spine, correspond, not only to the chakra points, but also to various strike points in Karate, as well as Shiatsu healing points along the [...]

In any normal dojo, one always notices the sensei, the sempais, the color belts, and the white belts.  It’s natural; they’re moving and kiai-ing the whole time.  The folks one never really notices are those few who are sitting on the sidelines, just watching class.  You know, the parents or older siblings who drove the kids to practice, or perhaps a student from another class, spouses, or friends, etc.  Anyways, they’ll faithfully come and watch for so many classes and hours that they end up blending into and become part of the walls and furniture.  For example, my wife has watched karate so much, over the years, that by osmosis, she has actually become knowledgeable about many of the techniques and can generally tell if a karateka is any good, just by watching for a moment.  Anyways, I’d like to talk about one of these faithful watchers who was sometimes a member of our dojo’s sparse audience nearly twenty years ago.   Mr. Young was an elderly Chinese gentleman, who would quietly come through our dojo (by weekday, a school cafeteria) doors and take a seat at one of the long dining tables.  I probably didn’t even notice him the [...]

Hey, I just realized that this past July, our little group reached a milestone – it’s fourteen years since since the inception of the NHPC Karate ministry, now called HIS Karate Foundation.  That’s a long time for the train(ing) to be chugging along!   In the past, in the elite groups your sensei’s belonged to, placed high value on certain aspects of training, like: an agressive martial spirit, achieving high technical excellence, training for hours, three or four or even five days a week, performing hundreds of punching/kicking repetitions as a form of warmup and conditioning, doing hundreds of crunches and pushups after training as a form of “cool-down”, heavy sparring, heavy bagwork, and on and on.  Nowadays, I like to think that with age has come a changing perspective and little bit of wisdom, haha.  While those parts of our youthful karate experience were invaluable, today I really believe that the most enduring aspects of training are: humility with strength, trying one’s best in everything one does, being an example to others with one’s way of life – not just in the dojo, and…hanging in there through dogged, quiet perseverance.  I’m very proud of every member in our group; whether you [...]