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Domo arigato gozaimashita!

Intai [引退]

The characters/ideograms mean "retire." The first character means, "pull; tug; jerk; admit; install; quote; refer to," the second character means, "retreat; withdraw; retire; resign; repel; expel; reject."

Taishoku-sha [退職者]

The characters/ideograms mean "retired person; retiree." The first character means, "retreat; withdraw; retire; resign; repel; expel; reject," the second character means, "post; employment; work," the third character means, "someone; person."

There comes a time for everything. We are all subject to nature's intent - birth, life and death. The cycles are there and unavoidable so the best way is to seek the time best to retire, to leave a service and contemplate life. 

I have had a good run on the Internet. I have experienced a good run in active martial arts specifically the striking art of Isshinryu. As I study I find that I have been passed by and that is ok with me. I am turing fifty-nine and no longer desire to get out there and mix it up. It is time to allow others to reach for the stars and those stars are a far greater path than I followed.

My path was great for the time in which I experienced it. I am not finding that to remain steadfast in these new times I have to achieve goals that are not my desire, the physical ones necessary to speak with authority. Academia is not enough, the martial arts requires a balance with academia and physical applications. 

In order to maintain an honorable and responsible level requires greater engagement in the systems. To write or speak with the authority and validation necessary to mentor, lead or guide others in the martial arts one must get out there and do it daily - not a sport, not for fun, not as a social system but out there experiencing and learning and leading. 

I still strive for personal excellence in my practice of Isshinryu but it is now very limited in a traditional form. I still use it to attain a level of self-perfection but to lead others requires more and I find that I don't wish to go there  where younger more experienced folks are traveling. I wish to provide more choices but am unable or not wanting to take the extra steps and effort to reach that high. 

My time has come and I want to bow out gracefully unlike some who become an embarrassment. I love to write but need to leave it at the simplest level of philosophical such as I have attempted with my rendition of meaning behind the ken-po goku-i. If a question were to be provided I would give my theory and opinions but .....

This blog site is now considered retired. I leave it intact and available in case the information remains relevant to those seeking knowledge. My hopes are that it provided one person inspiration and allowed the person to gain knowledge and a modicum of open-minded thinking. I hope it made a difference in their practice, their training and their martial art but most of all it allowed for change and growth in all facets of life. 

Those who took time to read, thank you. Those who took time to let me know, I am grateful. Those who actually allowed the world to see they read my efforts, most appreciative - my sincerest thanks. To all those out there who inspired me with their posts and comments and books - your value to me is immeasurable, thanks. 

Domo arigato gozaimashita!

What is the karate creed and is it a good one for self-defense?

First, the karate creed was fist written or referenced by Sensei Ed Parker of Kenpo or Kempo fame. Ed Parker is the uncle of Ward H. Adams (now Parker since a name change some years ago) who served as a Marine in the late sixties through the seventies and early eighties. I can not say with any authority that this creed was the creation of Mr. Parker but I first heard it attributed to him over a decade or so ago. I simply give him credit for being a pioneer who used the phrase or presented the phrase first. Here is one interpretation or quote of this creed:

"I come to you with only Karate  - empty hands, I have no weapons; but should I be forced to defend myself, my principles, or my honor; should it be a matter of life or death, of right or wrong, then here are my weapons – 'Karate, my empty hands'." - Ed Parker, Grandmaster American Kenpo Karate.

Once, a while ago, I assumed incorrectly that this creed was an intricate part of the Okinawan karate heritage but found out that this was not and did not originate with Okinawans. I also was led to believe that it was indicative of specifically the Isshinryu system, which is also incorrect. It can be attributed to the Kenpo/Kempo systems headed by Mr. Ed Parker.

Analysis of the Creed:

"I come to you with only Karate  - empty hands, ..."

Hmm, for a karate practitioner this means we would assume karate is to be used for self-defense situations. This is not obvious but some assumption I would make if I used this in my self-defense karate practice, etc. It would indicate to me that I have this as a means of protection and that I would, an assumption, have this available if the need were to arise, i.e. the quote that continues. In reality today I would not want just karate as it has been view and perceived to be exclusively an  empty hand system for defense/protection but a part of a whole for defense which is far greater in scope than the mere empty handed applications one could learn in karate-goshin-do.

If one were actually learning and practicing a more traditional and historically supported system, style or branch that is karate then it would encompass far more than kicking and punching, etc.

"... I have no weapons; but should I be forced to defend myself, my principles, or my honor; ..."

The first part makes no sense to me in this, my personal interpretation, since having the use and expertise in karate means you have a weapon. It seems to me a bit convoluted to be referencing weapons as those things used to extend weaponry beyond the human body for it is this human body and all it encompasses as to weaponry that makes it karate, i.e. striking, kicking, grappling, vital points, joint manipulation, etc. 

As to being forced, I agree that to use any means of self-protection outside of avoidance and deescalation means you are going to utilize your weaponry but when it is used in such a narrow way according to defending principles or honor it speaks to me of ego, pride and the influences of the monkey which is not exactly directed by morality, legalities and economic influences, etc. which in and of themselves are inadequate as well. 

We can not apply a set of principles unless those principles are directed by legal, medical and moral understandings that are dictated by the individual and the society in which they live and operate including that institutes cultural and belief systems. It just isn't this simple. 

Honor is also driven by both internal and external influences and who is to say whether that honor system is adequate to require application of karate-goshin-do and in a simplistic way does that honor provide for the how and how far we take it to meet and remain within legal, ethical and medical, etc. constraints, guidance and processes.

"... should it be a matter of life or death, of right or wrong, ..."

Life or death also must be explained since it may or may not include the individual but possible others and those questions are dependent on many factors both legal and moral as well. If they are applicable then do we actually learn, know, understand and apply them correctly? Is it possible that without additional guidance that this creed actually provides for incorrect impressions as to applying karate in defense/protection of self, others or some principle, etc.?

As to right or wrong, whose interpretations and whose legal, moral and medical interpretations where each depending on the expertise, etc. will differ? Right or wrong is very subjective on its own without additional clarification and validation then we have to think "whose?" When it comes to the actual application of karate who will say whether it was adequate, not enough or too much?

"... then here are my weapons – 'Karate, my empty hands'."

Again, maybe I am being a bit over analyzing things but I often think now about the individual and how they may perceive things, i.e. their perceptions, their expectations, their personal influence authoritative training in life as well as other more direct disciplines to include karate. If this quote and creed were used in a self-defense/protective model then it should be coupled with a good deal of other prerequisites before being used as a "creed." 

"Creed" tends to promote a certain feeling  of authoritative direction to follow. Creed, the word itself, symbolizes to many a religious belief, faith. It is a word that says this content is a set of beliefs or aims to guide you in the application of karate, or actions taken with the use of karate where certain specifications drive it and may not cover all the possibilities that have far reaching and possible detrimental effects on you life and those other lives associated with the individual. 

Since it alludes symbolically of a religious connection some may interpret this as something driven and required by their own cultural religious beliefs if not qualified and modified to fit the model in which presented, i.e. karate as a self-defense system.

Something to consider and meditate/contemplate on ..... ?

http://www.bohans-family.com/Dojo/karate_creed.htm

http://www.nyseibukan.com/Intro/Karate/Creed/creed.html

http://powaymartialarts.com/karate-creed-pledges

http://usik.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47&Itemid=55

http://www.toshikai.ca/aboutIsshinryu_CreedCodes.shtml

http://isshinryu-hillsboro.com/members/creed.shtml