When we go to the doctor’s, we might undergo any of a wide range of diagnostic testing and examinations. All of these methods are designed to determine the state of our health. We take for granted that a drop of our blood might reveal things about our internal organs, or a low-grade infection, etc. We stand in front of an X-ray machine or have a CAT scan taken or even experience an MRI…accepting the fact that x-rays or ultrasound waves or magnetic resonance will somehow probe through our bodies and create pictures (sometimes even three-dimensional moving images) of our normally invisible insides.

Then there’s the old-fashioned, tried and true methods used by physicians ever since the beginnings of medicine… a stethoscope, a little hammer, a tongue depressor, a little focused light, a few appropriate questions… guided by the basic knowledge gained in medical school, and developed by years of practice and observation.

Whatever the method is, whether it employs high technology or just old “country doctor” wisdom, or a real gift of discernment… these externalities can be a true window into the internal. Karate-do can be like that. Most students, whether young or old, will inevitably, after a period of time, will develop a sense of discernment about karate. Upon watching someone execute techniques, they can pretty much tell how good (or not so good) the practitioner is. Just like those of us who watch anything we’re passionate about: figure skating, Wahine volleyball, Warrior football, and so on… we develop an eye for the activity that far exceeds our own abilities and knowledge of the sport or art. We can just tell something doesn’t look or feel right, and as we become more knowledgeable, we get better at knowing what it is that looks wrong.

Those who become sempais and senseis and have the opportunity (or responsibility) of helping others learn the art of karate-do, take this even further. One of their many tasks is to figure out how to help the different students with their different physical/mental/emotional challenges in the practice of the art. The process of doing this ends up taking the rather passive observation ability and transforms it into a tool for helping others…somewhat like the doctor. The first step towards healing others in the medical arts is figuring out what the source of the health problem is. In karate-do, developing this “eye” for the art is the first step in being able to help others as a sempai or sensei.

A seasoned sensei can tell a lot about a person’s inner strength, coordination, bad habits, favored limbs, favored techniques, balance, and a myriad of other things, just by watching the karateka perform (and we’re talking about after a few moments or seconds of watching someone he/she doesn’t know). When it comes to observing and helping students who have been under their guidance for a long period of time, a much more detailed “prognosis” can be developed by the senseis. Therefore, developing an “eye” for the art of karate-do is a natural and most important aspect of our training, and later, our sharing of Shotokan.
An odd topic, I know, but what got me started was that song from the eighties, “Eye of the Tiger”, which I believe was written/sung for one of the Rocky movies by Sly Stallone’s brother. Shotokan is often represented by the an old drawing of a tiger (most of us can picture it in our minds), done by Hoan Kosugi, a famous artist and friend of Funakoshi Gichin. There are various stories on why the tiger was chosen, e.g., as tora no maki or due to his fondness for the pine forest (remember pine waves and Shoto?) near Mount Torao – or tiger’s tail, and others. Whatever is true, the relationship between Shotokan and the tiger is a strong one, dating back to its early years in Japan. So, as I was hearing the song in my head…I began thinking about Shotokan (tiger) and developing an eye for the art. Inspiration can come in the oddest ways.