Some of you may know that my dad, while enjoying a good quality of life, made the tough decision several months ago, to move into a small private care home. We all feel a lot better, now that he always has people nearby who can help him, should anything happen, day or night. They’re definitely an extended family for him. As a part of this life-change, we had to clear out the mementos and belongings acquired over the 46 years that dad had lived in his home. My dad belongs to that generation of Nisei fathers who never had much to say. In fact, I don’t think dad ever said a single word of affection or encouragement to me…. but I knew that he was always there to support me if I ever needed help. So I was very surprised one day, shortly before he was to leave his house for a new phase of life, when he said, “Wes, go to the chest of drawers in my bedroom and get me my jade ring.” I knew which one it was, and that he only wore it on special occasions. Back in the 1960’s, one of my mom’s friends was a jeweler. He and his wife wanted to do something special for my dad… they had decided to make him a jade ring. You know what these look like. The kind that one sees older men from my dad’s generation wearing. After I brought him the ring, dad asked, “Why don’t you try it on, maybe on your middle finger?” After a couple of tries, it ended up being a perfect fit for my ring finger. Dad simply said, “You keep it.” I was speechless, and could only mutter, “Thanks dad.” This meant a lot to me, the only time I can remember dad giving me something personal of his. Needless to say, I treasure it, and feel a connection to him whenever I am wearing it. I will pass it on to my own son one day.

Anyways, I mention this because it occurs to me that this contains some of the elements of what tradition means to me. In the martial arts, there are many, many different systems. In general, these range from the eclectic to the traditional and every flavor between. I don’t believe that any particular system is better than another. Each is unique, with some focusing on conditioning, others on self-defense, many on sport tournaments, some on character development, and so on. Ultimately, the art/style you select should be a match between what the style offers, the particular instructor and his/her students, and your own needs/interests. Personally, I have always said that I was attracted to Shotokan because it is a modern Japanese karate-do system that is rooted in the traditional Okinawan roots it evolved from. It continues to evolve, yet pays homage to the rich traditions that have helped develop Shotokan to where it is today, and where it will go. I am reminded of a message I once heard in church, about rifle sights… their value comes from the use of both the front and rear sights for proper alignment. Similarly, in life, one shouldn’t just dwell on the past nor blindly go forward without thought. One needs to learn the lessons from the past to move forward towards a better future.

I’ve said many times before, that if you can stick with your karate training for long enough, the passage of years brings many unexpected benefits… especially with regards to the learning process. Simply said, learning never ends. In later years, senior students learn most of their lessons from their own repetitive training efforts and the gift of self-revelation…. though, hopefully, under the guidance of a competent instructor. While you’re busy training (and learning), I hope that from time to time, you take a minute to reflect on, and truly appreciate the history, efforts and traditions which are the foundation of the karate-do we all enjoy today. May each of you feel a connection to the karateka who made your own training possible…and maybe, you’ll get a chance to pass it on one day.