(Much of the post addressed a prior email by Patrick McCarthy Sensei. I deleted segments not addressing my subject.)
Dear CD Members,
. . . . .
Other topics:
1. Your comment, what would be the need to question their teachers on what was handed down to them? My comment was not intended to show that they were blind to seeking information outside what their teachers shared with them. I think the key element on why the Shorin Ryu practioners have a much different opinion on Chinese influence over the Goju Ryu people is timing.
The Chinese influence on Goju Ryu is very evident due to Higonna's brining back to Okinawa methods directly from China whereas the Chinese influence on Shorin Ryu at best is over two hundered years old. IMHO time and circumstances reduced the relationship to Shorin Ryu and Shorin Ryu has had several hundred years to develop on it's own as an Okinawan method.
2. I have have also met with Hokama Tetsuhiro, Tokashiki Iken of Gohaku ryu, and Nakamoto Masahiro. I understand that they have done research and have read Hokama sensei's book but I do not see where they have provided any findings that are noteworthy. Also, these three men have backgrounds in Goju Ryu. Iken sensei has a Goju Ryu and Tomari Ryu (?) which in my opinion gives them a reason to try and reserach the Chinese influence.
Can you please provide the principle points of their research they find noteworthy. I will be in Okinawa in early October and can arrange to visit them for discussions.
3. Your question of which living history am I referring to? The Okinawans have as you stated used an oral tradition to pass on information about the creation and history of Okinawan karate. The living history is the continuation of these oral traditions. The information has not ceased to be passed down.
Are we to believe that the Okinawan teachers are not passing down the information that is relative to the existence of Okinawan karate? In my opinion just as I stated to you in 1997 that the Okinawans do not know anymore than what they are currently passing on about the kata history and origins.
IMHO we are more interested in the history than the Okinawans because we think there is something in the history that will provide us a new insight rather than just following the art as the Okinawans do through physical effort. During the 2001 Uchinan Chu Tai Kai sensei Ryuko Tomoyose presented me with a scroll of the secrets of Okinawan Karate. Tomoyose is a member of the famous Tomoyose family that has been a founding family of Uechi Ryu since the beginning of the Uechi Ryu. He is also one of the top five shuji writers in Japan. The scroll was pesented form my efforts in supporting Okinawan karate around the world. The secret of Okinawan karate as written by Tomoyose sensei is. " the secret of Okinawan karate is in the effort." My comment to you in 1997 had to do with my efforts to find the "roots" or origins of the Okinawan kata, to find the definitive reasoning behind their structure, to find someone who could unlock the secrets of the kata.
What I found is that there is no secrets, there are not hidden guiding principles and the preservation of the kata from the days of the Pechin is for self defense, self development and to preserve our health. The Okinawans are living the history of their culture through the preservation of the kata. The living history of Okinawan karate is the kata.
My position is not one of independent superiorty but one of understanding of what is the purpose of Okinawan karate. Your "thing" has been to state it is to provide self defense against civil disobedience or self defense against other Okinawans, to which I agree but I think you have left out the most important aspect of Okinawan karate which as told to me by the most senior Okinawan teachers that you judge how effective somone's Okinawan karate by how long and healthy they lived.
3. Your comments concerning the organization of Okinawan karate by the Japanese. Without a doubt you are correct on this point. I began pointing this out as early as 1974. Having been a shotokan practioner before going to Okinawa I found out in 1968 the extent of the heavy influence on Okinawan karate in the organizational and pedagogy of Okinawan karate. I also found out how differnt the techniques in the Okinawan dojo were to the Japanese methods of Shotokan, Shito Ryu, Wado Ryu and Goju Ryu.
The Okinawans knew that the Japanese had influenced the organization and standard setting of their karate. I attended a symposium many years ago on Okinawa led by a panel of the most senior Okinawan instructors for the purpose of insuring that the Okinawan methods were kept versus allowing the Japanese influence to change their culture. The Okinawan Karate-do/Kobudo Rengokai was formed for this specific purpose.
4. You mentioned ippon kumite. While the Japanese formed the ippon, sanbon, etc. kumite drills they missed the boat completely as to what the meaning of ippon is to Okinawan karate. While Okinawan karate does have two person drills the emphasis is on not allowing the attacker to have a continous attack.
As we all know a continous attack is the most difficult to defend. The Okinawan method would be to move away and receive the attack in such a way that the attacker does not have the ability to execute a continous attack.(You can see these concepts in the DVD on Kyan's kumite).
I understand and accept the value of two person drills as a form of conditioning and engagement but the senior Okinawan teaches I have trained with stress not allowing a continous attack by the opponent over the two person drills. The kata teaches this concept and you can achieve this ability through the solo practice of the kata.
5.Your comments on not finding comprehensive explanations of the defensive applications of the kata. It depends on what you call comprehensive explanations. In my original search I was very frustrated that no one would or could share with me every aspect of every kata. What I found over time was that less is more.
No matter how many explanations of a kata move you have the possibility of the exact kata move being executed in combat is nil. The purpose of the kata is to develop a ubiquitous spontaneity for the purpose of not allowing an attacker a continous movement and allowying you to effectivey cause the attacker to stop the attack.
6. I do not understand what you mean by the mixed delivery systems of striking, kicking, etc. Can you expand?
7. Yamane Ryu history. I am not qualified to discuss this subject as I have previously stated. I have been exposed to Yamane Ryu on several occasions with Shinzato sensei while visiting Okinawa. I do agree that many of the Okinawans you mentioned have have backgrounds in Yamane Ryu kobudo. I have a very close relationship to Nakazato Shuguro and his kobudo does not look anyting like Kishaba sensei. I have studied Matayoshi kobudo for more than 25 years and it does not have the elements of what I see in the Yamane Ryu Bojutsu of Kishaba sensei.
How and why there are so many differences would strictly by conjecture on my part. I have been putting more emphasis on my own kobudo in the last two years as I was asked to do so by Matayoshi sensei's son and my Shorin Ryu teacher. I will make an effort in my upcoming visit to Okinawa to gain more understanding on this subject. One thing I will add is that Yamane Ryu Kobudo is not considered a ryu ha on Okinawa by the Rengokai.
I was the chief judge for two Okinawan world tournaments in he kobudo division and Yamane Ryu was not allowed in the Rengokai tournaments as I was told it was not a recognized ryu ha. My response was it may not be recognized but it certainly appears to be very effective.
8. Your question concerning my reasoning behind the first had experiences vs. learning at a distance. I had no hidden meaning. I believe that we are a sum total of our experiences we form our abilities and wisdom from these experiences. It is difficult for any of us to comprehend a subject unless we have similar experiences.
For example, my Okinawan experience is totally different from yours. I see Okinawa from my view point and you see it from yours. Who is right or wrong? IMHO neither as I have full confidence that the path I am on is right for me and I am sure you feel the same about yourself.
My opinion is the same as it was the day we were wrapping up at my dojo. You have your "thing" and I have mine. While they are different hopefully they are valuable. I am of the opinion, like my Okinawan teachers, that I like my karate the way it is, and while I am not through searching or working I think that Okinawan karate the way it is today is of great value to a wide expanse of the world's population.
Gambatte
Dan Smith
, Love the paradox