Requirements of a Master

I was recently thinking further on what requirements make a Master of Karate. Then it occurred to me who better to state them than Mas Oyama?

Mas Oyama once stated “Well, an old Budo-Ka once said that 1000 days of Karate training makes a beginner, 10,000 days makes a master.”

I’ve just entered my 37^th year training and how would I stack up compared to Oyama Sensei’s comments.

I’m a permanent full time part time martial artist. Family, work and other considerations have always come first in my own practice, especially teaching for free, the best I can make out I’ve only trained 7,600 or so days in those years. If I had been able to train 5 days a week I still would be shy only having completed 9360 days or so.

As near as I can make out I made my 1,000 days in 1980 (during my sho-dan years). That was when I became a beginner. At my current pace I’m sure I won’t make 10,000 days. Just a reality not an indictment.

Of course I’ve been thinking about my art 365 days a year in that time. That gives me 13,140 days in my own mind, but what the heck I’m aging, losing it and am proud to have made it to beginner.