Well it’s September, and the beginning of a new school year for kids. That and a couple of other things got me to thinking about certain themes that seem to run with the practice of Shotokan Karate-Do. One thing that seemed to distinguish the Shotokan senseis that I read about and got to practice under throughout the years was in the area of higher education. Perhaps it’s a minor thing, but the founder of our style, Master Funakoshi Gichin was not only a master of karate-do, he was also a….schoolmaster. Yes, he spent most of his days as a school teacher, practicing and teaching his beloved karate at night. In fact, one of the stories I’ve heard is that he gave up an opportunity to become a school principal to travel over to Japan proper at age 54, to answer a calling to spread the art to others. Whether that’s true or not, he certainly was the pebble that has created great ripples across the ocean. Today, there are millions of Shotokan practitioners around the globe today.

His successor in spreading the art world-wide and guiding the JKA during its first thirty years was Master Nakayama Masatoshi. Interestingly, Master Nakayama was also in the teaching business, being a college professor and heading up the Physical Education department at Takushoku University. The art itself, when introduced in Japan in the 1920’s enjoyed its initial popularity amongst the intelligentsia and within the college campuses. Virtually all of the first wave of highly trained JKA instructors who spread the art world-wide were college graduates with additional full-time karate training at a “graduate” level at the university. Is it any wonder that Shotokan is considered one of the most technical systems, with great emphasis on body dynamics and bio-physics. In our modern world, a large number of books, magazines, videos, and blogs have been established to aid in practicing, learning and sharing the art. I believe that part of the reason for this is because Shotokan is so technical and its adherents, so articulate. Senseis Wayne, Peter and myself are all graduates; not just of the University of Hawaii, but of the University of Hawaii Karate-Kai, the college arm of the former Karate Association of Hawaii. Sensei Trisha located her karate ministry right on her college campus in California. You could say that Shotokan karate, as we know it, grew up in universities throughout Japan. Hence, my reference to matriculation.

Of course, there’s that old saying, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.”…or something like that. In the same way, a person whose life only surrounds the art of karate is one-dimensional. He/she may become really adept at the art, but become something less than balanced in the process. My children devoted many years in school to acquire their advanced education that prepared them for their adult working careers. It’s true that both also have devoted many years to the art of karate-do. However, each of them have many, many other interests and activities. One pursuit, however, has probably claimed the lion’s share of their attention over the years – music. Both began studying the piano at an early age (5 and 6 years old, respectively). Both read and write music, play multiple instruments, and have entertained in many regular venues, at the Waikiki Shell (Birthday Bash-separately),on the radio, and even on national television (Destination Stardom-together). Both continue to play music on an ongoing basis, in addition to their busy adult lives. Music, like karate-do, takes many years of practice and self-discipline, but the rewards can be immeasureable. Like karate-do, music can be transformational and become a life-long pursuit. Hence, my reference to music.

I just read about the passing of Ellen Masaki, one of Hawaii’s premier piano teachers. The lengthy article went on to describe not only the thousands of students she had mentored over the years, but about how she taught them so much more than just about music. It also described how even towards the end, when she was very ill, she continued to teach others the art of music. This woman embodied what’s found in the best teachers, regardless of the subject….she had a way of bringing out the best in her students and taught them about life itself, through the way that she lived it.

So I guess that matriculation, music and the martial arts can somehow be linked and intertwined together in a greater plan and purpose. Although I admired her, I never knew Ms. Masaki personally, just by reputation. Her maiden name was Kimura. Her late father was a body and fender man during the day. At night, they would call him Sensei Koa Kimura, a master Aikidoka. Sensei Kimura…was also my very first instructor in the art of Aikido, over 45 years ago. Sensei piqued my interest in the martial arts…and forever transformed my life. Hence, my reference to the martial arts.