回復力 (kaifukuryoku)

At nearly 50 years old, while I'm still very young. I can say that resilience has been imperative in my life. It is a concerted mental skill which everyone needs, and we all must continue to foster.

Back in October of 2013 I wrote an article titled ‘KARATE DO: A Powerful Mechanism For Resilience’; accordingly, it’s long overdue that I talk about this critical life-skill again.

 

Nevertheless, while nothing has changed in that time (in regards my views presented back then), I’d like to address the quality of resilience from some different angles.

 

Firstly, let’s look at in 日本語 (the Japanese language) which is, of course, most relevant to the art of karate.

 

回復力

This is read かいふくりょく (kaifukuryoku)

 

回 = ‘times’, ‘counter for occurrences’, 'swirl'

 

復 = ‘rebound', 'revenge’, 'return', 'recuperate', 'recover'

力 = ‘force’, ‘power’, ‘strength’

 

Combined together as ‘kaifukuryoku’ it means ‘THE POWER TO RECOVER’; so, like resilience in English, it implies ‘the capacity and will to bounce back’.

 

However, when considering the individual kanji making up the Japanese equivalent, we can ascertain typical linguistic and cultural underpinnings which shape ideas slightly differently. Indeed and to be clear, this applies when comparing and contrasting all languages. On a side note, as I’ve talked about before, this is why “…there are so many very senior karateka, and instructors, in the world with deep misunderstandings about karate technique”; moreover, when they physically train and teach others. Needless to say, this is one of the major disadvantages of non-Japanese Karateka, which is very sad, restrictive and, oftentimes, bad for the propagation of true budo karate. On a positive note, this is problem that we (IKS and others also) are working hard to fix.

 

Anyway, besides the imperative human foundations of love and empathy, to me, ‘kaifukuryoku’ (resilience) is a top priority in life and, certainly, in karate training as well.

 

When “…the persistent drive to try again, outnumbers the failures” —something very profound occurs. Not only for that person, but those witnessing it. To me, this is at the heart of 押忍の精神 (Osu no seishin)—‘the spirit/heart of perseverance’.

 

Like a basketball being thrust down to the floor, it rebounds instantly’. I always tell my students and trainees “come back ‘like that basketball’ in all of your endeavors”: karate and otherwise.

 

Irrespective of ‘success and non-success’, “…there is no failure within oneself—if one simply KEEPS TRYING”. Please pay attention here that: “…the plural word ‘keep’s’’ over-shadows the word ‘trying’.” This is irrespective of: (a) all personal limitations; (b) all external negativities including the naysayers; and (c) any self-doubt that maybe lurking in one’s subconscious mind. Put another way ‘winners never quit, and quitters never win’.

 

From jissen-kumite ("real" meetings of hands/fighting) perspective, it possible and actually commonplace for the more resilient person to actually defeat the more skillful opponent. In this way, besides developing technical skill, one simultaneously can develop the spirit of a tiger. Needless to say, this underpins the symbolic ‘tora no maki’ produced by the legendary Japanese painter, Kosugi Hoan. This makes a very important statement, which actually scolds present day Shotokan ‘nitpicking instruction’; “the focus on fine details, and feeling, at the expense of combative reality”. Yes, the fine details are very important and ‘give the edge’; nonetheless, they are “intrinsically secondary to the low motor skill large-scale actions”. Of course, this transcends movement, and, again, relates to strong 気迫 (kihaku/fighting spirit). Don’t be fooled by the charlatans.  

Ferocity and spirit usually overcome fine details and feelings.

 

The father of modern-day Karate and our Shotokan style said something that I believe fits very well here:

 

勝つ考は持つな; 負けぬ考は必要

 This  famous saying, which you’ll know all too well,  translates as: “Do not think of winning, rather think of not losing”.

 

As I have said countless times in past posts, two favorite sayings of Asai Tetsuhiko Shusei-Shihan were 少しずつ前進 which means to ‘move forward little by little’. This was always followed by him saying “Step by step” in boisterously. Another thing he often said in English, during the heat of keiko, was “Never give up!” In sum, his sentiments constantly echoed kaifukuryoku.

 

Kaifukuryoku, thus, is no only about outcomes. These are limited and short-lived . Rather, it is more about ‘the process’ or more better put: ‘the processes’ (again, always plurality). In this way, having resilience not only helps people to achieve. It also contributes greatly to personal happiness. 

 

© André Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2023).

Kata training is outdated...

Some people with very narrow perspectives dismiss the training and practice of kata. These people claim that in the 21st century “kata is outdated in various fighting arts”.

What they fail to recognize is that, in the bigger scheme of things, ‘martial arts without tools have been outdated for thousands of years’. Tools meaning 'forged weapons'.

 

That is, everyone in every culture across the world has fore-mostly focused on creating ‘ever more effective weapons’ and increasing skill in their usage (techniques, tactics etc). This ranges from clubs, blades, bows and projectiles, to the latest high-tech-weaponry in modern warfare. And, indeed this process continues and will keep continuing as long as humanity exists.

 

With these points in mind, it is clear that all ‘unarmed fighting techniques’ have been developed: (a) for when one is unarmed (obviously); (b) lost their weapon(s); (c) their weapon(s) is/are no longer useable or significantly nullified; (d) less lethality is the objective; or—in the case of contemporary karate—(e) the aim is “...self-defense for the average civilian in their daily life, as opposed to battlefield combat”.

 

From the last of these points, we can see what shaped Funakoshi Gichin Sensei’s karate, post-World War Two; and hence, even (for the most part) the removal weapons training in the Shotokan ‘style’. 

In addition to the aim of making Shotokan optimal for self-defense—for the average citizen—Funakoshi Sensei also saw karate as a means to strengthen the body, mind and spirit. The catalyst, at the heart of this, was/is ‘the art of karate’, which can be best attributed to the various kata. That is, kata not only 'preserves the traditional art of karate' but also 'evolves the karateka into an artist', which transcends mere unarmed combat.

 

Certainly, Master Funakoshi could have easily formulated a system of training excluding the kata (solo kata practice) and focused 100% on their respective oyo. However, unlike the narrow-minded people I referred to, in my opening statement, he saw karate from a bigger perspective. This bigger perspective gave kata not only its historical/preservation value, but also it’s incredible holistic strengthening capacity and simultaneous ability to make karate accessible irrespective of age; that is, lifetime budo—‘an art form’.

 

This means that when one is ‘past their prime’ they can still greatly benefit from training. Also, it means that one can practice the more brutal techniques in a solo form without harming others or being injured, which is imperative as the body ages (and recovery becomes a major issue). Needless to say, iriguchiwaza such as the ‘fish hooking’ in 雲手 (Unsu), 五十四歩大 (Gojushihodai), and other such classical kata applications, simply cannot be properly practiced on others, and certainly not with full speed and power; thus, on a pragmatic level, “...solo kata practice remains extremely valuable in the overall scheme of karate training”. So, here, we see safety from two perspectives.

 

From this realistic perspective, regardless of age and condition, kata practice provides rudimentary skills for self-protection; furthermore, physical training to build one up from where they currently are at any given stage in their life.

 

So no, solely practicing kata won’t prepare one for ten rounds of boxing, a cage fight, or a kickboxing match; however, when trained properly, it will enhance one’s ability in self-defense: and motivate training for a lifetime. 

Whilst the careers of competitive fighters are short lived, karateka—through the vehicle of kata (if practiced as bujutsu)—can keep developing their self-defense skills well into old age; moreover, enjoy a beautiful (budo) art, which has so many other life-long benefits.

 

I’d like to conclude by saying that I deeply respect all fighting arts and styles. That being said, I have very little respect for those with narrow perspectives about training/practice and application, that includes those in Shotokan.

  

In sum, there is no superior style or art, only what is optimal for each individual and their personal objectives. Furthermore, the capacity and efforts of each individual. Yes, please excuse the cliché: “it’s not the style but the person”. With this universal and productive perspective, time is not wasted ‘style bashing’ and, most importantly, one’s training time can be optimized! In my case, I’m not training to have a duel with anyone, compete in combat sports, nor am I preparing for the battlefield. My karate, application-wise, is purely for self-defense against an unprovoked attack as I go about my daily life. With these points in mind, KATA IS TIME VERY WELL WORTH SPENT! 

A very happy new year to everyone. AKEMASHITE OMEDETOU GOZAIMASU!

押忍!

 © André Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2023).