The
other day I was reading Mark Tankosich’s paper “Karate Ni Sente Nashi” and was
entranced by the story about Choki Motobu. Reading that story triggered a long
lost thought of mine about me in another time.
When
I studied Isshinryu we did not get lessons about Okinawan karate past. There
was never enough time for our studies for that. Our karate studies were very
focused on using our karate with the opponent
standing in front of us.
Then
several years went by, I had been reading karate magazines (the internet of
that day) and had picked up some information about Okinawan martial history.
Of
course I did not know then what I know better today. And in those tender years,
I tended to believe everything written in those magazines. (o’ those days of
lost innocence.)
So
what I understood has little to do with the actual Okinawan history, with a
huge boost from my imagination.
I
knew there were the current practices of karate, and a foggy idea that there
was a karate before that time. I had no idea what the actual history was.
I
knew Okinawa was conquered by Japan, and some idea karate was preserved for
self defense. My imagination supplied the rest. I imagined that the conquerors
were hanging around everywhere.
What
I worked out is that the best way to make karate work was to look like everyone
else. Give out no tells of what you were capable of. Then you could walk past
your oppressor not appearing you were going to do anything.
This
would allow you to strike where they weren’t looking, towards their back. For I had worked out
the best answer was to strike from behind where they were not looking.
This
is not far different from what Motobu Choki had done.
As
time passed and I learned ever so much more about matters martial I never
forgot that thought.
So
strikes hardened on the makiwara accompanied with correct alignment, with all
the possible force enhancers are among the ways such a strike to the rear could
do even more damage. (I have only suggested one answer where there a whole
infinity of possible answers.
Of
course I did not teach this, for I wasn’t interested at creating individuals
who would study methods of attack. And what an individual is shown as an answer
how a technique should be used, it normally takes great effort so see any other
answer for their studies.
Striking
below the opponent event horizon.
