These are
interesting post. I can see where a view of karate being
significantly different 100 or
more years ago is not only plausible but
probable, but IMHO I think some
karate on Okinawa as well some fighting methods in China may be closer to what
it was like years ago than we think. Why? Because some groups have made it
their purpose to maintain the past or to continuously look to
the past.
Some post have recently stated
that life on Okinawa is so much different today than it was 100 years ago and I
agree that it is when it comes to modern conveniences and life styles but the
purpose of karate to many of the Okinawans is the same today as it was years
go. Karate is for the development of self defense so that the peaceful life
style of the Okinawans could be lived to the fullest. Karate was a way of
developing the human strength that provides a healthy body that will provide
the longevity the Okinawans focus on.
So, if you look from the
perspective of how the Okinawans were described by outside historians 150 years
ago perhaps Okinawan karate is not that much different today in some dojo. How
much have the Okinawans changed in the last 100 years when compared to their
culture and values? Our karate should be a reflection of our culture and values.
Just food for thought.
Gambatte
Dan Smith
KuDan Seibukan Shorin Ryu Karate
Okinawa Report
As I committed I
would give a report on what I learned while on Okinawa concerning the
background of Okinawan karate as it related to China, how Okinawan karate was
developed and the purpose of Okinawan karate past and present.
The primary purpose of the recent
trip as many of you have learned from Sir Harry's post was to attend the 2003
Okinawan World Karate Championships. Additional reasons were I usually go to
Okinawa at least once a year for training and to celebrate my 35th year of
training with the Shimabukuro family.
I lived on Okinawa from 1968 to
1971 and was fortunate to have teachers that suggested that I make contacts
with most of the schools of karate and kobudo on Okinawa. I had trained in
Shotokan for seven years before going to Okinawa and since it was relatively
unheard of for Americans to have a background in karate and not even considered
that we would return to Okinawa for training in the future my teachers wanted
me to be exposed to as much of Okinawan karate and kobudo as possible. Many of
the teachers I visited during the three plus years I lived on Okinawa have
become life long friends which has made it possible for me upon returning to
Okinawa to continue my education not only in Shorin Ryu but all the ryu ha of
Okinawan karate and kobudo. These relationships have helped facilitate our
bringing senior teachers to the USA for the 1996 Olympics for demonstrations
and seminars, 1999 Rengokai Masters tour of five cities in the USA, and being
given the honor of hosting the Okinawan World Tournament in 2001.
The above activities have been
important to me but not nearly as important as having the ability to sit down
with the most senior teachers on Okinawa and ask them questions concerning the
three key topics that were being discussed at length in these venues.
The question that prompted my
committment to solicit answers to the above questions was the continual
discussion in these venues about what the Okinawans thought or did. My question
was why not ask the Okinawans and get the information straight from them versus
re-telling someones hypothesis or information handed down through multiple
levels over the years. So here is what I found:
Chinese influence on Okinawan
karate - All of the teachers that I have asked not only on this trip but on
previous ones gave the same answer. Okinawan karate was certainly influenced by
Chinese fighting methods but in no way do they consider Okinawan karate as
being greatly influenced by China. Of course the one exception is Uechi Ryu
which came from China less than 75 years ago and even Uechi Ryu has been
influenced more by Okinawan karate than has Okinawan karte been influenced by
Uechi Ryu IMHO. Goju Ryu which has been closely related to Chinese influence a
little over 100 years ago by Kanryo Higaonna's time in China has over the last
few years come to understand that Higaonna Kanryo studied Okinawan karate
before ever going to China and so the question is how much was he influenced in
what he taught upon returning to Okinawa. Without exception the senior Okinawan
teachers maintain that if the Chinese
fighting arts were better for the Okinawans than what they had they would have
kept more of the Chinese fighting traditions. This position is in no way a
reflection of the Okinawans thinking their ways are superior but that the
methods that have been developed on Okinawa for centuries and are their cultural
heritage are better for them.
An interesting side note to the
above is that I met several karate men from several of the off islands and
there was no karate practiced on those islands until karate migrated from
Okinawa in the early 1900s. The Chinese and Japanese visited many of these
islands but yet there is no historical evidence that any fighting forms were
codified on these islands. Perhaps the hypothesis I have developed over the
years that the Okinawan fighting arts were developed by the upper classes and
policemen has merit when you question why the fighting arts were not developed
on the outlying islands.
How then was Okinawan
karate/kobudo developed if it was not directly transported from China? - Since
Okinawa is substantially larger than all of the other Ryukyuan Islands the
Uchinan Chu had the need for protecting themselves from not only the other
populace of the island but from frequent visitors to the big island. Just as in
most civilizations have developed figting methods the Okinawan methods were
highly developed in empty hand combat and easy to access weapons not made of
metal due to necessity. The development of the movements into pre-arranged
sequences was influenced by Okinawan Odori(dance).
It is quite complimentary to the
kata methods of starting and ending in the approximate spot, the equal
utilization of both sides of the body and the movements codified as to remember
events or applications. The Chinese had kata but they were not systemized as
highly as the Okinawan kata due to the small size and population of Okinawa
compared to China. The Okinawa kata methods were also adapted to allow the for
practicing alone whereas the Chinese methods placed higher value on partner
training. The Okinawan life style dictated that perhaps only one or two people
in a given area had the need for martial skills whereas with the massive size
of China and their population the widespread need for fighting skills was much
higher. In retrospect this IMHO is what gave the necessity for jujitsu and
other combative arts that depend on partner training as it was a part of armed
or military combat. Okinawan karate was for the use of keeping the peace and
providing proctecion to the civilian population. All the senior teachers agreed
that prior to the early 1900s only the wealthy or policemen had knowledge of
karate while there was a broader
practice of kobudo due to the bo, eku,etc. being readily available and part of
everyday life. The
Sai on the other hand was
strictly a police weapon.
The purpose of Okinawan
karate/kobudo both past and present remain the same to the senior teachers.
Even though there is a strong element on Okinawa that favor sports the large majority
of Okinawan karate practioners still practice the same today as they did in the
early 1900s. Those reasons are: personal development through the physcial and
mental aspects of karate, self defense, and health. The training methods have
virtually remained unchanged in most Okinawa ryu ha with the emphasis on
learning the forms and movements of karate, developing the ability to strike,
kick and block, the learning and development of kata. Okinawan karate as I
mentioned earlier was developed to practice principally alone. You need a
knowledgable teacher but most of your training time is spent alone developing
your personal skills and strengths. This element of practicing alone has not
been transferred outside of Okinawa in most cases and the missing link to the
cultural treasure of Okinawa to the rest of the karate world is the development
of ones self and the ability to have the discipline and patience to train alone
without recognition or obvious reward.
The senior teachers that
contributed to my understanding of what I have outlined above are too numerous
to name and I certainly would not want to list names as a method of gaining creditability
to what I am presenting. Hopefully many of you that have been to Okinawa or
have attended events held in the USA know that the senior Okinawan teachers
willing make themselves available for discussions and sharing of their
knowledge.
The Okinawan culture has been and
continues to be one of peace and friendship. The Okinawan karate methods while
deadly and effective provide a balance that generates the desire for harmony
with others. I have never found a closed door or mind on Okinawa when they
understand that your desire for Okinawa is sincere.
In closing I would like to expand
on the comment that I made concerning the demonstration of Chinese Boxing by a
group of Okinawans. This group has been active in Okinawa for many years and
usually participate in most events of this nature. The stark difference in
their flashy, complex movements vs. the Okinawan methods only demonstrated what
I think the Okinawans saw as the reason to develop their fighting methods along
the lines they followed. The Okinawans have concentrated on insuring that the
finite muscle movement necessary for complex techniques are held to a minimum due
to during a time of stress these complex movements are surely hampered by the
loss of finite muscle movements.
We had a great trip and for those
who did not get a chance to go this year we will be taking a group in the
spring of 2004. We will also be bringing a group of Okinawans to make a five
city tour in October of 2004. Anyone interested in being a host city please
contact me off line.
Gambatte
Dan Smith
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