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The genius of Itosu’s teaching methodology: obfuscate advanced techniques into safer but still effective movements that still train the student to use the advanced techniques later.

The beauty of the folk dances we call kata. The layers of meaning behind each movement and the many great men and women who touched the form you perform today.

The beautiful essence of violence that karate allows us to experience and permits us to interpret in our own way for our own needs.

The drama of a student’s struggle to find the truth known by their teachers; going only on the faith that they aren’t being led astray.

Watching someone take a Black Belt test, which is almost as fun as watching a student’s teacher during a black belt test.

And so many more.

I leave this post with a few lines from one of the best movies of our time, and a hope that you geek out to something as bad as I geek out to karate.

Motobu Choki was one of the real-est karate masters of old. He was reputed as a bit of a brute and made his name as a street fighter. (He is also quoted as saying, “It is necessary to drink alcohol and associate with prostitutes. The art of someone who is too serious has no “flavour.”)

Essentially, Motobu did not just want to practice the art, he wanted to test it. This was very unfortunate for the people he met, but wonderful for us. I’d much rather learn from someone who used their technique than use it myself!

In experimenting on my own with Naihanchi, I’ve found that the stationary poses of the kata are greatly augmented by twisting as one might do in Win Chun (see video below). It lends greater power to the punches and makes the blocks much more effective.

Play with this and I’m sure you’ll agree.

I was sparring with one of our first degree students who is very skilled and definitely closing in on being able to apply the techniques fluidly in live drill. While I was actively engaging this student, they were able to defend and counter without thought and the exercise was smooth and consistent.

However, when I was not actively engaging the student, their mind was stuck in thinking and planning mode and effectively paralyzed. This young black belt was unable to formulate an initiative without taking time to think about it.

This is, of course, a matter of training and time and experience, but observing it as clearly as I did yesterday caused this little gem of insight to pop into my head this morning:

To sit with no mind is good.
To react with no mind is better.
To act with no mind is best.

First, an exploration into what is mu-shin.

“No mind” is a zen buddhist ideal that one strives towards through meditation and constant practice wherein the practitioner does not allow concerns about the past, future, ethics, perceptions, or results to cause undue consternation when making choices. It is being fully present in the moment by being fully absent from the mind.

My favorite time to practice mu-shin is while doing the dishes. I love doing the dishes! For me, this is when I am most present. I am not concerned about anything other than rinsing, washing, rinsing, and drying. I can easily loose myself in the moment and exist only in the action of the washing of the dishes.

I am no longer concerned with what else I have to do today; nor am I preoccupied with regrets or analysis of the past. Doing the dishes is my favorite meditation.

“No Mind”: acting now without thought.

But what about doing the right thing? Shouldn’t I be concerned with weighing the value of my choices to ensure right action and right motive?

Yes, of course.

At the beginning stages of any practice, one must be conscious of rightness and value. In karate, one should strive for excellent form and effective technique. In life, one must set the course of action pointed in the direction of compassion and humanity. Without this foundation, all movement is chaos.

The practice of right thought, right action, etc. is not meant to be a constantly conscious activity. At some point along the path to mastery, right action becomes a habit and the student is able to proceed with confidence and without constant self-examination.

This is the value of practice: to do so until one no longer does good, but becomes good.

Like karate.

Young students learn to stand in horse-stance with a calm mind, unconcerned with the burning in their quadriceps and confident in their balance. This is to sit with no mind.

Students further along the path of practice learn to respond to incoming stimuli with good technique until defense becomes as easy as sitting. The mind is removed from the process and the body defends itself. This is to react with no mind.

Further down the path is action or, in this case, attack. To be able to initiate motion in the moment of opportunity  and be unattached to the outcome of that action is acting without mind. This only comes from the confidence established by good, consistent training.

When a student can exist in the freestyle without constant analysis or decision making, the process of mastery has truly begun.

And when a student can exist in life without constant analysis or decision making – without stress or worry or fear or ambition – the process of living has truly begun.

“Why am I here?”

Why do you put the sweat in every day to move your body in odd ways and fight imaginary opponents?

Why do you train your body to punch, kick, throw, and devastate an assailant, yet practice nonviolence?

Why do you bother showing up to put on your white pajamas and multi-colored belts to work out and play fight people with whom doing the same might be your only common bond?

At some point, you will have to answer these questions.

In my perspective on self protection, I use “green-yellow-red”: Green means life is normal, take every day precautions. Yellow is the window of escape or de-escallation where verbal and escape and evasion tactics come into play. Red is when someone has or motions to put hands on you.

This scenario is one of the rare “black” scenarios. No warning, no posturing, no discussion, no immediate motivation.

WARNING: Graphic video content.

I in no way suggest that my interpretation is correct and admissible in a court of law. It is provided here for general reference and entertainment purposes only. Please consult with a legal professional before defending your life, home, family, or property. 

That being said and understood, here is my interpretation of the pertinent NYS laws regarding self defense :

(To read and research the law yourself, click here.)

You may use physical force upon another person to defend yourself, another person, or property in the following ways:

You may use NON DEADLY force to prevent yourself from being physically assaulted in a way that violates the law unless:

1. You provoked someone into violence by threatening violence;
2. You verbally or physically began the conflict and did not back down. If you clearly demonstrate that you are backing down and the other person continues the assault, you may be justified in using physical force.
3. You challenge someone to or accept a challenge to an unlicensed fight. In this case, you are both in violation of the law, and also stupid.

Remember all that above? PHYSICAL FORCE. You are NOT authorized to use DEADLY FORCE unless:

1. You reasonably believe your aggressor is trying to kill you AND YOU DO NOT HAVE THE OPTION OF RUNNING AWAY. In New York State, IF YOU CAN RUN YOU ARE LEGALALLY OBLIGATED TO DO SO, UNLESS YOU ARE AT HOME.
2. If you think you are witnessing a kidnapping, rape, sodomy, or (I’ll add) murder, do what you must to save a life.

You may use NON DEADLY physical force upon another person to protect a building/premises and the property in it IF YOU ARE LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE, LEGALLY OCCUPYING, OR LEGALLY AUTHORIZED TO BE ON THE PREMESIS YOURSELF!

1. If you are the legally responsible party for a building, you may use NON DEADLY physical force to prevent someone who is or is trying to do damage to the building or trespass. In the case of attempted arson or burglary, deadly force is POTENTIALLY justifiable.
2. If someone is trying to steal or damage property that is on the premises and belongs to the owner of the premises, you may be able to justify NON DEADLY force in preventing such acts.

And of course, you may not resist an officer of the law in any way, shape, or form; regardless of whether you believe yourself to be unjustly apprehended or not.

Armed with this information, go forth and use the LEAST AMOUNT OF FORCE NECESSARY – including verbal de-escalation techniques – to keep yourself safe.

And remember, an ounce of prevention….

….keeps you from doing things you’d rather not.

Decide and do.

Warning: mild action-film gore

Any questions?

1. Bu prohibits violence
2. Bu keeps discipline in soldiers
3. Bu keeps control among the population
4. Bu spreads virtue
5. Bu gives a peaceful heart
6. Bu helps keep peace between people
7. Bu makes people or a nation prosperous

So, it’s your first few classes and you’re wondering what you need to be concerned with. You don’t know who Gichin Funakoshi or Sokon Matsumura is, and you don’t care…. You just want to know how to look cool and punch stuff!

All kidding aside, here are a few pieces of advice for new students:

1. Do what your teacher says! (within reason.)

If your teacher is giving you the experience you are looking for, do exactly as you are told, without question. They know the best way to teach their art. Let them do it.

This may be uncomfortable at times. It will probably push you beyond the limits you had previously set for yourself, but – if you have a trustworthy teacher – it will definitely be worth it.

However: If your teacher is not giving you the experience you are looking for; if you are in any way emotionally or morally offended or opposed to what they are asking you to do: don’t do it. But don’t stay with that teacher, either.

The single most important thing new students need to know about martial arts instructors is this:  they are human.

Yes, your sensei, hanshi, grand poo-bah is a person with normal human abilities who moves their body in the same way you have the capacity to move your body. He or she is there to help you discover your own potential, not transfer some ancient secrets to you via the Vulcan Mind Meld.

If your values are opposed to theirs, find another teacher. There are plenty out there. But if you choose to stay with them, do exactly as you are told.

2. Practice at home!

Do it. Now. Later. Tomorrow. Every day.

A teacher who sees you two or three times a week for an hour or two will give you a lot of instruction in that time. In fact, that is mostly what they are giving young students: instruction in the basics. The practice part is up to you.

Practice slow punches in the bathroom mirror. Practice stances while cooking at the stove. Begin to incorporate the principles of your art into your daily life.

Check out my post on learning karate for some intermediate level ideas on how to practice karate outside the dojo.

3. Go to class.

Even if you don’t feel like it, do it. The absolute worst thing for the future of your martial arts practice is to develop bad habits or sloppy techniques. In the beginning, it is absolutely critical that you receive consistent guidance so as to avoid learning things that you later have to unlearn.

That’s about it. Do what you’re told, practice at home, and go to class.

(Bonus: bring friends to class with you! It’s more fun for you, makes your club bigger/better, and your teacher will love you for it!)