HIS Karate-Do

I realize that everyone starts up in karate for their own particular reasons, the more common ones being: self-defense, exercise, martial arts movies, tournament trophies, cultural appreciation (really!), and one especially common in the secular dojo…”because my parents wanted me to learn some discipline.” For most adults, if they have the patience and drive to hang in with karate-do beyond a year, these early drivers fall off and they’re left with the unbelievable realization that…they just plain enjoy training. This should not be confused with the initial infatuation that many feel for the art, which so often, like in romantic relationships, fades and then karate becomes “something I tried for a little while.” A mature love of the art is a true interest in the bio-physics and dynamics of movement, force projection and speed. It is a real appreciation for the traditions, thought, effort, and sharing attitude of the experts that brought this modern, complex system, with its ancient roots, so freely to each of us who are fortunate enough to study and practice it. For those who survive the first year, therefore, who make it through the natural screening process of repetitive basics (what I like to call “Eternal [...]

Earlier this year, we created the NHPC Karate Ministry Council, consisting of myself and four invited sempais (brown belts or higher) who are not only mature in wisdom (and age), but have consistently been with the ministry for several years, one of whom – Rodney – has been with the ministry since its inception. The council (sempais James, Doreen, Robert, Rodney and myself) discusses the health, direction and goals of the ministry informally, and in addition, conduct meetings every several months. Some highlights from the meeting: —Sempais James and Wes have agreed to give 1/2 hour seminars in the near future. James will talk about interesting correlations between aikido and karate-do (In addition to his shodan from NHPC, sempai owns a shodan from the JIKC and a sandan – 3rd degree black belt – in aikido). Wes will be talking about self-defense awareness (apart from NHPC, sempai studied karate at the KAH, Kajukembo, Okinawan Shorin-Ryu, was formerly a HPD officer and is currently a federal law enforcement officer). We also plan to invite Senseis Wayne and Peter to give unique seminars in the future. —At least once a month, we intend to do training that emphasizes maai…distance and focus training. [...]

A normal thing is the believe that when one trains in karate, the end goal and focus is on oneself…”I want to be…stronger/faster/better-conditioned/able to defend myself/a color belt one day, a brown belt one day, a black belt one day…and on and on. These are certainly great objectives to strive for and I am amazed daily, by the progress everyone makes in their journey. I was no different from anyone else…I joined up, then trained daily (36 years ago) for the very same reasons. Guess what?…I did, indeed, get stronger/faster/better-conditioned, and earned my first black belt over thirty years ago. I don’t know how it happened, but along the way, my original focus (all of them, self-centered), began to be supplanted by a desire to better understand the history of this art, to penetrate the depth of knowledge that lies within the most basic technique, to appreciate the beauty and essence of centuries-old kata, and most important of all…to give back and share some of this knowledge with others. I have said many times, that whether we know it or not, we are continuously being prepared and equipped to serve others. The joy, fun, discipline and exercise you take for [...]