Paradigm

 

 It is quite possible we do not really know what we know.

 

So much has been written in books, magazines and in the internet, repeating the same ‘truths’ that the endless repetition itself becomes a ‘reality’ or current lever of abstraction, not based on reality.

 

Consider that when Funakoshi and Mabuni began sharing a paradigm of what they studied with 4 year university programs, that was something new. They proved that was possible, and trained many who would then go forward in the Japanese society, reinforcing that such things were possible. Quite different from what occurred on Okinawa.  Especially proving new ideas could take hold.

 

I agree I don’t know enough, but from my incessant reading on Okinawan karate history for much of the past 100 years, there was never a focus on Karate systems, just the instructor who shared. That slowly changed more after the war.

 

Consider Miyagi Chojun. He was trained by Hiagonna Kanryo, engaged in further studies, taught mostly individuals and some school karate. For most of his time he trained to what he felt the individual needed, not teaching most everything. Towards the end of his life he changed his mind. Also he never promoted anybody to black belt. Then on his death hos students got together, trained each other in their varied kata studies. And as a group awarded each other dan levels, and from their efforts Goju became a system akin to what it is today. So as we think if a system it was more constituted that was about the mid 1950’s.

 

And Kyan Chotoku never taught a system, just karate. As was normal on Okinawa his students, some of them, became instructors some time after his death. Those that formed schools named them differently. Viewing those schools you can see a bit of commonality which relates back to Kyan, but also veering in different directions, eventually each of those groups becoming systems.

 

 

Then Shimabuku Tatsuo followed much the same path. Like so many others he incorporated kata from several of his instructors. Considered and passed on his own ideas what was necessary. He was willing to take on short term students and adjust his art for the short time they were with him. He was continually considering what was the best way to present what he say, which I believe he got from those who trained him.

 

Realistically he could not really know those short term students would be inspired to spend the rest of their lives doing his karate. He really had no idea that a world spanning organization was needed to consolidate his teachings, then what attepts were  done to do so, did not face the reality that there was so little in place to do so. Each of his students had the grasp of what was his Isshinryu they had seen. That they would perpetuate the name to be a ‘system’ was not the Okinawan karate Shimabuku had experienced.

 

Each of those instructors, with different experiences, faced very different realities when they came back home, Many of them were instrumental in founding Karate in America. And each based off the paradigm that they experienced. Often joining with other karate’s in America forming new, different traditions. But for the most part they kept the name Isshinryu, forging the idea that Isshinryu was one system, and in doing so creating something quite new too, IMO>

 

That there are many different paradigm’s using the name Isshinryu is what I have experienced. I know so little, just what I have experienced.

 

 

1.      The Paradigm I learned from Tom Lewis and Charles Murray

 

 

2.      The Paradigm I worked on myself to study kata application potential.

3.      The Paradigm I created to incorporate various subsidiary kata studies from many who shared with me and became the Isshinryu paradigm I taught.

4.      The paradigm that Sherman Harrill and then John Kerker shared from their studies together.

 

That is a brief suggestion of what I have seen, and I realize there is much more Isshinryu that I have experienced.

 

I have learned not to consider others paradigms as anything but what they represent. There can be many correct answers, based on many different things, and still being effective at the same time.

 

To me it is clear Okinawa paid attention to what Shimabuku Tatsuo accomplished and also learned from that. Perhaps not so public-ally but the reality he created left lessons.