Karate-Do My Way of Life - Reading Discussion

[Chrissy Scott]

My favorite chapter of this book was Recognizing True Karate (pg 91 - 95). Master Funakoshi starts out talking about martial artists and the tradition of breaking boards. He then explains how you can bring a person in and teach them karate for a few months and that person can break some boards too, and that means that "he has succeeded in strengthening his hands," but if he goes out looking for a fight "he has failed to understand the nature of karate." Master Funakoshi "always stressed the point that karate is a defensive art and must never serve offensive purposes." He teaches that "the great virtues of karate are prudence and humility."

 

In my introduction I talked about trying a few different schools before finding Zen Martial. In a lot of schools I felt like I was being taught martial movements, not martial arts. This chapter of the book reminds me what the important things about karate are. I like to joke that when I grow up I'm going to be like a ninja. And while I realize that feeling confident in my ability to defend myself is a great thing. It's so small compared to the aspects of karate that can be used every day. Sure, I might have a run in with some unfriendly people some day and be able to defend myself. I'm thankful for that growing ability. But more importantly, I do acts of kindness every day, I strengthen my body every day, I eat healthy (almost) every day, I am aware of the world around me... It's the every days that really matter because there is so much potential in every day. I still want to be like a ninja, but I want people to see it in the every day things not in the one instance where I'm forced to defend myself. I feel like I understand the true nature of karate but I look forward to being humbled.