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morality – civility – honor

civility: Civic virtue is the cultivation of habits of personal living that are claimed to be important for the success of the community. An individual act or a manner of behaving which conforms to social conventions of propriety.

morality: Concern with the distinction between good and evil or right and wrong; right or good conduct. Concerned with principles of right and wrong or conforming to standards of behavior and character based on those principles.

honor/honorable: Not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent; the quality of deserving honor or respect; worthy of respect.

When you look at the fighting arts in a strictly physical form it is no more than techniques used to cause great bodily harm to another. Morality, civility, and honor should be viewed as the buffer or a layer developed and utilized to screen situations before the physical aspects of karate are used. This is a precept that provides the “Do” of karate its depth and meaning.

Other adjectives that should be a part of the “Do” in karate-do:

intent – restraint – action

intent: An anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions.

restraint: the act of controlling by restraining someone or something; discipline in personal and social activities.

action: something done (usually as opposed to something said); carry through: put in effect; execution of a decision.

humanity – justice – courtesy

humanity: the quality of being humane; regard for the health and well-being of another; compassionate.

justice: the quality of being just or fair.

courtesy: Etiquette is a code that governs the expectations of social behavior, according to the contemporary conventional norm within a society, social class, or group.

As one can readily determine by these precepts (precept – principle: rule of personal conduct) this is the metaphysical triad that must become one in order to temper and balance our practice of the fighting arts.

Ron Crew of Florence, MS promoted to Nanadan. He is the originator of “The original Whole Heart News” which was started in 1989  in Mississippi. It was a periodical designed for all Isshin-ryu karateka.

Mr. Ron Crew, since March 1999 has served as Instructor/Coordinator for the Mississippi Law Enforcement Officer’s Training Academy. Mr. Crew has developed training courses for First Line Supervisors, Field Training Officers, and Defensive Tactics programs for a variety of agencies, authoring the book “Police Subject Control©”. He has worked in the Law Enforcement field since 1989 as Patrol Officer, Narcotics Investigator and Chief of Police. Mr. Crew has served 15 years with both the Army National Guard and Army Reserve in the Military Police Corps and Special Forces. Ron has studied Isshin-ryu Karate for 31 years holding the rank of 6th degree black belt. He has also studied Escrima & Arnis since 1985, and Aikido since 1992.

AJA

7. The eye must see all sides. 8. The ear must listen in all directions.

When we reflect on these two kenpo gokui tomes we tend to think in regards to combat. It is best to think outside the box and reflect on what these two and other kenpo gokui mean in relation to every facet of life be it in the dojo or out in the world.

A good example is the eye must see all sides can be interpreted in practice as the practitioner focusing on his/her Sensei and/or Sempai when receiving guidance in waza.

We first must use our “ears” to focus and actively listen to what is being said. We learn this way but in order for it to stick we must couple that learning with other forms such as the “eyes.” This means once the Sensei/Sempai finishes telling you something they will then demonstrate it for you where you must actively focus on what is being performed.

You then couple that or connect that with what was said. Then then next phase after seeing all facets of the waza with the “eyes” ; hearing the details of what is said with the “ears”;  we then get to actually put it all into action which reinforces what was said and seen.

Just an example of what we can get from the study of the kenpo gokui and karate-do. To actively listen and see coupled with demonstration/self-demonstration binds it all into “one”.

The practitioner studies diligently to polish the waza while continuing to hear, see, and do each time Sensei/Sempai provides additional guidance on that waza.