of life, we take our practice and give it to others. Karate means “empty hand.” An empty hand clings to nothing. It does not hold on to preconceptions, prejudice, or the status quo. An empty hand can give and be of service to others. As we move about in our daily lives, we are practicing moving zen, total involvement and absorption in the present moment.
When someone watches a karate master do a kata, one is absolutely riveted by the beauty and power of the movements. They do not have to be explained, and they do not appear to be learned, but seem to come from within. If this experience were possible only in the dojo, then karate would be of limited value. However, it is possible for students to have the same experience in their everyday lives: a teacher giving a lecture; a stockbroker working in the chaos of the trading floor; a nurse in the charged atmosphere of a hospital. We study karate Zen to get in touch with our “original self” and to take that “big self” and put it to work to alleviate the suffering of others.
In the martial arts, there are many “ways,” e.g., judo, kendo, kyudo, karate-do. Zen gives them a single common ground.
“... if one practices and realizes the Buddha way, when one gains one dharma, one penetrates one dharma. When one encounters one action, one practices one action.” Genjokoan
If every movement and every action in our lives were infused with this ideal, how much richer, more enjoyable and more productive our lives would be.
Seido Black Belts, assembled for 1985 annual clinic. (Battery Park, at entrance to New York Harbor, lower Manhattan).
Annual Black Belt beach training. Sunrise at Rockaway Beach, New York.
Chi Gyo Ichi Nyo
The word chi means knowledge. Gyo means doing or action. Ichi nyo means inseparable. Acting without adequate knowledge or understanding is a constant source of consternation and problems. We are often busy and active, without really understanding the basis of our actions or their full impact. Some people study karate without knowing why they are really studying. In class they do the techniques without understanding their purpose, and so they lose much of the benefit. They do push-ups without understanding their purpose. Is the purpose just pain or just building strong arms? Or do they understand that they are building a stronger spirit, a nonquitting attitude? Do children come to class because their parents want them to, or for themselves? For what reasons do the students seek a black belt? For self-satisfaction? To impress others? Without real knowledge and understanding of why we do such things, we fail to get the full benefits and to realize our potential.
Karate in Everyday Life
At the office, a student must deal with many different demands on her time.
Work is finished, it’s time to train.
A true karate-ka takes the physical skills, discipline and power of concentration developed at the dojo and applies them to work, family and social life. In this way, karate is integrated into the fabric of our lives; it is not something separate. The way of karate is the way of everyday life.
An executive can still be a student, practicing weapons and basic kicks.
A Floor broker on the stock exchange, subject to lots of pressure and stress.
B Time to forget work, and train.
C Concentrate on only one thing.
A An advanced student practices weapons with intense concentration.
B Bow when you come to train.
C Junior students watch and learn from seniors.
D, E The same concentration practiced at the dojo is brought to the job.
A, C Students training in class.
B Time to kiai!
All students in a karate dojo, whatever their rank, are governed by the same rules of courtesy and respect. If you respect yourself, for example, you always want to practice in a clean dojo. You show your respect for others by undertaking to clean the dojo floor with a damp rag after class. Since we are all united by the same values in Seido karate, we all clean the floor together. Symbolically, this practice, which comes from Zen, represents the wiping away of delusion from our minds.
Application to Modern Living
This book is about a traditional way of karate and it is hoped that the reader will be able to understand, to some extent, the real foundations of this martial art. However, it is logical to ask, “What tangible benefits does karate Zen have for twentieth century life?”
First, karate is an extremely efficient form of physical conditioning, that can be practiced by women, children and men of all ages and abilities. It develops aerobic fitness by raising the heart rate into the training zone and keeping it there for significant intervals. Strength is developed progressively through exercises using the body’s own weight. Emphasis is also placed on developing and maintaining flexibility through progressive stretching of major muscle groups. In the Seido system, every student is asked to constantly give 100% in his/her training, recognizing the individual’s own capacities and limitations. Training is done only under the supervision of certified black belt instructors.
Secondly, karate is the most efficient form of self-defense, which is very important in today’s urban society. Students learn basic kicks, punches and blocks that develop self-confidence. Beyond that, they learn specific combinations of techniques
