Shindokan Goju Kai Karate-Do Shuudoji Temple Gl. Kongevej 23 1610 København V tel: 33244233 fax: 33240766
DE STORE MESTRES LIVSANSKUELSER
Af Sensei Harry Boserup og Sempai Morten Steen - www.shindokan.dk
For at undersøge hvilke tankemønstre og livsanskuelser vores grundlæggere levede efter, og ønskede at udbrede, må man ty til de historiske kilder man kan finde. De fleste af disse glorificere de enkelte mestres liv, deres kunne og formåen i en grad som et lang stykke hen ad vejen gør at det er svært ikke at forholde sig til dem som andet end legender og anekdoter. Ligeledes er det tydeligt at de enkelte stilarter forholder sig til deres egen stil som værende uafhængig af alle andres.
For at få et nogenlunde rimeligt billede af hvad der rent faktisk er sket, må vi derfor krydsreferere fra stilarts udlægning til stilarts udlægning og trække de tråde der er nødvendigt for at få de enkelte mestre sat ind i en historisk sammenhæng som del - og produkt - af det omkringliggende samfund, og den tid de levede i.
Den tid hvor de mestre vi refererer til voksede op, og dannede deres skoler, var en tid med store omvæltninger. Den amerikanske flåde (med kommandør Perry) havde i 1853 tvunget japanerne til at åbne deres grænser mod omverdenen efter århundreders isolation (Siden 1639). I 867 kommer Meijiresturationen, og den sidste Tokugawa-shogun overdrager sin magt til kejseren. Shinto bliver samme år statsreligion. Fra 1868 begynder Japans modernisering. Kejserdømmet flytter til Tokyo
.I 1879 indlemmes Ryukyu øerne - hvoraf Okinawa er en af dem - officielt i Japan. Der er delte meninger i Okinawa om de hellere skulle have været indlemmet i Kina, pga det lange tilhørsforhold. I 1904 kommer Japan i krig med Rusland den første krig mod en nation udenfor Japan siden sin åbningen. Industrialisering, nye krav til individet om konkurrence.
For at få lagt lidt fakta ud: (se billag: Stamtræ)
Yasutsune Azato Sensei og Yasutsune Itosu "Anko" Sensei [1] (1830-1915), var Sensei for Kenwa Mabuni Sensei (Grundlægger af Shito-Ryu) og Gichin Funakoshi Sensei (Grundlægger af Shotokan).
Ud over Yasutsune Itosu "Anko" Sensei, trænede Mabuni Sensei også hos Arakaki Kamadeunchu (1840-1918), - Kanryu Higashionna Senseis (1853-1915) mester, der ligeledes underviste Funakoshi Sensei.
Mabuni Sensei blev af sin ven Chojun Miyagi Sensei (grundlægger af Goju-Ryu) introduceret til sin mester Kanryu Higashionna der trænede Naha-te. Hos ham blev han fra 1909 til 1915.
For Hironori Ohtsuka Sensei´s vedkommende (grundlægger af Wado-Ryu) trænede han Shindo Yoshin Ryu Jujitsu indtil han i 1922 mødte Funakoshi Sensei i Tokyo under et sportsstævne og startede derefter med at træne hos denne.
Miyagi Sensei havde på et tidspunkt i 1920'erne en Dojo - Ryukyu Tode Kenkyu-kai (Okinawa Karate Research Club) - hvor også Mabuni Sensei trænede, sammen med mestre fra mange forskellige stilarter. Af forskelligt materiale kan det læses at bl.a. en Woo Yin Gue i samme dojo trænede Fukien White Crane Kung-Fu. Denne Dojo må have været et kraftcenter for datidens Kampkunstnere på Okinawa.
Ved at undersøge flere kilder kan man se at flere elever af Itosu, Azato, Arakaki og Higashionna gik videre og navngav deres eget system. Udfra den oplysning er det ikke fjernt at antage at grunden til vi i dag betragter Shotokan, Goju-Ryu, Wado-Ryu og Shito-Ryu som de fire grundstilarter muligvis beror på deres grundlæggeres evne til at udbrede kendskabet til deres fortolkning og deres popularisering af Karate-Do.
Det er tydeligt at se at de forskellige mestre har tilhørt den samme kreds, de har omgåedes hinanden, de har trænet sammen, og har haft fælles mestre. Det er derfor også nærliggende at antage at det filosofiske grundlag de forskellige stilarter hviler på er det samme.
Det er rimeligt at konkludere ud fra oplysningerne om hvem der har trænet med hvem, og hvem der har lært fra hvem, at uanset hvilken stilart vi træner, er den fælles rod den samme, de oprindelige værdi-grundlag det samme, og at vi ved at sammenholde de tekster som eksistere, kan komme frem til en kerne i det, de gamle mestre arbejdede på at få os til at forstå.
Vores mestre og grundlæggere begynder at udbrede kendskabet til Karate-Do til masserne det er ikke længere en hemmelig kunst. Hvor man før ikke havde bæltegrader det synlige bevis på fremskridt lader man sig inspirerer af Judo og en Japansk militær opbygning. Man begynder bl.a. at undervise i skolerne på Okinawa. Flere elever, man begynder at nedskrive sine tanker. Der går et par historier om at Miyagi Sensei fra Higashionna Sensei fik besked på at han ikke måtte anvende Karate-Do, og så vidt vides kom han aldrig i en situation hvor han gjorde det. Der findes historier om hvordan han undgik at komme i kamp. Om Funakoshi er der en historie om at han efter at være blevet overfaldet en nat, og i kamp skadede de 6 overfaldsmænd, svor ikke at undervise i 7 år bagefter: 1 år for hver af overfaldsmændene og et ekstra år som bod. Det er derfor nærliggende at de tanker som vores respektive grundlæggere nedfældede i deres Dojo Kun, er tanker som de har fået inspiration til fra deres mestre. (Se fodnote 1)
Dojo Kun
Noget af det mest koncentrerede i tanker en mester kan give videre til sine elever er Dojo Kun.
Der findes flere forskellige Dojo Kun indenfor den samme stilart. Alene i Shito-Ryu er der en række som hviler på forskellige senere mestres fortolkning. [3].
De Dojo Kun vi har kunnet finde i forhold til Goju-Ryu er lang flere [4].
Man skal derfor nok forholde sig kritisk når der komme til at udlægge Dojo Kun som vores grundlæggeres ord. Dels har de, for fleres vedkommende, været skrevet på ”okinawiansk” eller i tilfældet hvor de er kommet til senere, været skrevet på at andet sprog - , derpå oversat til Japansk for derefter at blive oversat til Engelsk. For Dojo Kun i Danmark ligger der yderligere en fortolkning i den videre oversættelse til dansk. Med de mange Dojo Kun, er det i vores søgning efter et traditionelt grundlag nødvendigt at søge efter det som grundlæggerne skrev
Det er vigtigt i den sammenhæng at sige at søgningen efter det traditionelle grundlag, ikke er en søgning efter at komme tilbage til ”de gode gamle dage”, men derimod en søgning efter at komme ind i et til stadighed udviklende og levende forløb med udvikling og fremdrift. At adskille sig fra forløbet, traditionen, kan nemt afstedkomme statiske ”øer” hvor udviklingen strander i én enkelt mesters fortolkning af karate-do: Kan man ikke se tilbage og se sig selv i et forløb, kan det blive svært at se fremad.
Skrevet af Chojun Miyagi Sensei fra Goju-Ryu Oversat til Engelsk af Tetsunos Uke Yasuda
Be mindful of your courtesy with humbleness.
Train yourself considering physical strength.
Study and contrive seriously.
Be calm in mind and swift in action.
Take care of yourself.
Live a plain and simple life.
Do not be too proud of yourself.
Continue training with patience and humbleness.
Vi har tekster fra Miyagi Sensei der omhandler værdier i Karate-Do.[6]:
"Do not be struck by others.
Do not strike others.
The principle is the peace without incident."
Fra Gichin Funakoshi Sensei har vi Shotokans Dojo Kun
Jinkaku kansei ni tsutomuru koto
Makoto no michi wo mamoru koto
Doryoku no Seishin wo yashinau koto
Reigi wo omonzuru koto
Kekki no yu wo imashimuru koto
Strive for completion of character
Protect the way of the truth
Foster the spirit of effort
Respect the principles of etiquette
Guard against impetuous courage.
Vi har også fra Funakoshi Sensei en 20 punkts princip erklæring om Karate-Do:
#1 Never forget that karate begins and ends with respect.
#2 There is no first attack in karate.
#3 Karate fosters righteousness.
#4 First know yourself and then know others.
#5 Rather than physical technique, mental technique.
#6 Let your mind roam freely.
#7 Inattention and neglect causes misfortune.
#8 Never think that karate is practiced only in the dojo.
#9 Karate is a life long pursuit.
#10 Everything you encounter is an aspect of karate: find the marvellous truth there.
#11 Karate is like boiling water: if you do not keep the flame high, it turns tepid.
#12 Do not think about winning; think about not losing.
#13 Respond in accordance to your opponent.
#14 Wage the battle with natural strategy.
#15 Regard your hands and feet as sharp swords.
#16 Step out the door and you face 10,000 foes.
#17 Learn various stances as a beginner but then rely on a natural posture.
#18 The kata must always be practiced correctly: real combat is another matter.
#19 Never forget your own strengths and weakness, the limitations of your body, and the relative quality of your techniques.
#20 Continuously polish your mind.
Fra Kenwa Mabuni Sensei har vi:
Shito-Ryu´s Go Do Shin - (Five-Way Spirit)
1. Shoshin wasureru nakare (Ishi) - Never forget the spirit of first beginning (Will/Determination)
2. Reigi okotaru nakare (Dotoku) - Never neglect courtesy and etiquette (Moral Virtue)
3. Doryuku okaturu nakare (Haten) - Never neglect effort (Growth/Development)
4. Joshin kakeru nakare - Never lose common sense (Common Sense)
5. Wa midasu nakare - Never disturb harmony (Peace)
Tekster af Interesse
SPECIAL MERITS OF KARATE - by Miyagi Chojun
A large space is not required.
It can be practiced alone.
It's practice does not require much time.
Men and women, young or old, can practice karate, it depends entirely upon one's constitution. Proper kata can be selected and practiced at one's discretion.
One can practice with empty hands or the use of simple equipment can also be employed without much expense.
Training in karate improves one's health. This fact is evident from the physical condition of aged enthusiasts.
Physical and mental unity develops an indomitable spirit.
---
Five Secrets of Japanese Goju Ryu
- By Gogen Yamaguchi
Move quickly.
Sound, calm mind.
Be light in body.
Have a clever mind.
Master the basics.
---
Words of reverence
by Gogen Yamaguchi
Karate requires you to make a strenuous effort Night and day, before you achieve understanding.
Strong Spirit and Will Power, so that we can overcome our own interests.
It is very important to exercise every day, not to be come bored, not to give into anguish
Essentially the purpose of Karate was to protect ourselves, but now through Karate we are not only training our bodies, but our minds. Therefore, The Way is not to attack another, but to restrain yourself; we should not do harm to others.
Accordingly, your emphasis should not be on skills, but on training your mind. If you are impatient, you can not expect improvement in your skill
The major teachings of Karate are to achieve confidence in yourself, to be polite, maintain peace and tranquillity of mind.
You should pay tribute to your parents, ancestors and master. You should also be in harmony with your friends.
You must keep them in mind and not become arrogant and over- confidant.
It is extremely important to keep and show reverence to your master, otherwise, even if you are great at Karate, you will follow the path of extreme, your desire for understanding can never be attained.
If you stop learning Karate, spontaneously you are forced to do that.
You have to know it is a long way to polish your skill, train your spirit and keep tranquillity of mind; to get rid of our own interests and do what is the right thing.
After you become aware of these, you will know the greatness of Gods.
For you to achieve this you must discard your own interest and then you will understand The Way.
Stamtræ
Fodnoter
[1] Tekst skrevet af Yasutsune Itosu "Anko" fra 1908:
Tode did not develop from the way of Buddhism or Confucianism. In the recent past Shorin-ryu and Shorei-ryu were brought over from China. They both have similar strong points, so, before there are too many changes, I should like to write these down.
1. Tode is primarily for the benefit of health. In order to protect one's parents or one's master, it is proper to attack a foe regardless of one's own life. Never attack a lone adversary. If one meets a villain or a ruffian one should not use tode but simply parry and step aside.
The purpose of tode is to make the body hard like stones and iron; hands and feet should be used like the points of arrows, hearts should be strong and brave. If children were to practice tode from their elementary-school days, they would be well prepared for military service. When Wellington and Napoleon met they discussed the point that tomorrow's victory will come from today's playground'.
Tode cannot be learned quickly. Like a slow moving bull, that eventually walks a thousand miles, if one studies seriously every day, in three or four years one will understand what tode is about. The very shape of one's bones will change. Those who study as follows will discover the essence of tode:
In tode the hands and feet are important so they should be trained thoroughly on the makiwara. In so doing drop your shoulders, open your lungs, take hold of your strength, grip the floor with your feet and sink your intrinsic energy to your lower abdomen. Practice with each arm one or two hundred times.
When practicing tode stances make sure your back is straight, drop your shoulders, take your strength and put it in your legs, stand firmly and put the intrinsic energy in your lower abdomen, the top and bottom of which must be held together tightly.
The external techniques of tode should be practiced, one by one, many times. Because these techniques are passed on by word of mouth, take the trouble to learn the explanations and decide when and in what context it would be possible to use them. Go in, counter, release; is the rule of torite.
You must decide whether tode is for cultivating a healthy body or for enhancing your duty.
During practice you should imagine you are on the battle field. When blocking and striking make the eyes glare, drop the shoulders and harden the body. Now block the enemy's punch and strike! Always practice with this spirit so that, when on the real battlefield, you will naturally be prepared.
Do not overexert yourself during practice because the intrinsic energy will rise up, your face and eyes will turn red and your body will be harmed. Be careful.
In the past many of those who have mastered tode have lived to an old age. This is because tode aids the development of the bones and sinews, it helps the digestive organs and is good for the circulation of the blood. Therefore, from now on, tode should become the foundation of all sports lessons from elementary schools onward. If this is put into practice there will, I think, be many men who can win against ten aggressors. The reason for stating all this is that it is my opinion that all students at the Okinawa Prefectural Teachers' Training College should practice tode, so that when they graduate from here they can teach the children in the schools exactly as I have taught them. Within ten years tode will spread all over Okinawa and to the Japanese mainland. This will be a great asset to our militaristic society. I hope you will carefully study the words I have written here.
Anko Itosu. Meiji 41, Year of the Monkey (October 1908).
---
[2] Miyagi Sensei skriver i en tekst fra 28th November 1936.
Those who are engaged in teaching karate in Okinawa prefecture and outside Okinawa prefecture at present are as follows. (in random order)
In Okinawa prefecture:
Kentsu Yabu,
Chomo Hanashiro,
Chotoku Kyan,
Anbun Tokuda,
Juhatsu Kyoda,
Choshin Chibana,
Jinsei Kamiya,
Shinpan Shiroma,
Seiko Higa,
Kamado Nakasone,
Jin-an Shinzato,
Chojun Miyagi
Outside Okinawa prefecture:
Gichin Funakoshi,
Choki Motobu,
Kenwa Mabuni,
Masaru Sawayama,
Sanyu Sakai,
Moden Yabiku,
Jizaburo Miki,
Yasuhiro Konishi,
Shinji Sato,
Mizuine Mutsu,
Kamesuke Higaonna,
Shinjun Otsuka,
Shin Taira,
Koki Shiroma,
Kanbun Uechi
---
[3] Shito-Ryu Dojo Kun
Dojo Kun 1
Seek Perfection of Character
Be Faithful
Endeavour to strive to attain Perfection
Respect Others
Refrain from Violent Behaviour
Dojo Kun 2
Shoshin wasureru nakare (Ishi) - Never forget the spirit of first beginnings (Will/Determination)
Reigi okotaru nakare (Dotoku) - Never neglect courtesy and etiquette (Moral Virtue)
Doryuku okotaru nakare (Haten) - Never neglect effort (Growth/Development)
Joshin kakeru nakare (Joshiki) - Never lose common sense (Common Sense)
Wa midasu nakare (Heiwa) - Never disturb harmony (Peace)
Dojo Kun 3
Hitotsu...Rei Setsu O Omon Zuru Koto - Be courteous in your manners
Hitotsu...Tadashii Kokoro O Motte Seiken To Suru Koto - Have a strong sense of justice
Hitotsu... Kageki Naru Gen Do Kooi O Tsutsushimu Koto - Be responsible for your words and actions
Hitotsu...Ai Shinji Te Wasuru Koto - Respect one another
Hitotsu... Kyu Do No Seishin O Oko Ta Zaru Koto - Karate-Do is the way of the spirit to give you courage and ambition to reach you goals as part of your life
---
[4] Goju Ryu Dojo Kun
We are proud to study the spirit of Goju Ryu.
We shall practice courtesy.
We shall be quick to seize opportunity.
We shall always practice patience.
We shall always keep the fighting spirit of Karate
---
Morio Higaonna Sensei - Dojo Kun
Respect others
Be courageous
Train your mind and body
Practice daily and protect traditional karate
Strive to reach the essence of Goju-Ryu Never give up
---
We who are studying Karate do aspire to these virtues
We are proud to study the spirit of Goju Ryu.
We shall practice courtesy.
We shall be quick to seize opportunity.
We shall always practice patience.
We shall always keep the fighting spirit of Karate
---
The five precepts of Japan Karate-do Goju-Kai Dojo Kun
(International karate-Do Goju Kai / Japan Karate-Do Goju Kai Association, Yamaguchi-Ha)
of Yamaguchi, H. Goshi Saiko Shihan
We are proud to study the way of Goju.
We are courteous in manners.
We strive to develop courage and fighting spirit (humble yet strong).
We cultivate fellowship and understanding (the spirit of Cooperation).
We respect the ideals of loyalty and honour, traditional from olden times in Japan.
---
TOGRKD
Harmonize Body Mind and Spirit
Be Sincere in your Learning
Help one another learn the techniques
Do not criticize, everyone is an individual
Be courteous in mind and heart, respect the teachers who have taught you, and be grateful
Do not become conceited. If you do your progress will stop
Do not argue. Right is right, error is error.
Treat a person with respect and you will gain respect
Do not become angry. He who is easily angered often loses courage at important moments
Practice to the best of your ability and everyone will benefit
---
Jinkaku kansei ni tsutomeru koto. - Work to perfect your character.
Makoto no michi o mamoru koto - Have fidelity in seeking a true way.
Doryoku no seishin o yashinau koto. - Cultivate a spirit of endeavor and perseverance.
Reigi o omonjiru koto. - Always act with good manners.
Kekki no yu o imashimeru koto. - Refrain from violent and uncontrolled behaviour.
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[5] Den Dojo som Eiichi Miyazato startede tæt på hvor Chojun Miyagi Senseis Dojo lå.
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[6] Precepts of Okinawan Goju Ryu
by Chojun Miyagi
It should be known that secret principals of Goju Ryu exist in the kata.
Goju Ryu Karate-do is a manifestation within one’s own self of the harmonious accord of the universe.
The way of Goju Ryu Karate-do is to seek the way of virtue.
---
Patience
- by Miyagi Chojun
"You must, above all, learn the art of true and real patience.
Follow the WAY of patience to the seventh power and never be in a hurry to learn.
Always think first and avoid acting rashly.
Never harm anyone or let yourself be harmed."
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“What is karate? It is the art we exercise mind and body for health promotion in daily life, but in case of emergency it is the art of self-defence without any weapon”
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" Man bør altid være i harmoni med sin træning og tilstræbe at blive et menneske, der kommer samfundet til gode."
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Precepts of Okinawan Goju Ryu - By Chojun Miyagi
It should be known that secret principals of Goju Ryu exist in the Kata.
Goju Ryu Karate-do is a manifestation within one's own self of the harmonious accord of the universe
The way of Goju Ryu Karate-do is to seek the way of virtue