What is Karate-Do?
Contributed by The Shihan-Ryu Institute

It is a martial art in which the ultimate purpose is not to seek to win but to work towards perfection of character by the accumulation of experience through training. It is also a form of self-defense using all parts of the body, which by hard and systematic training become effective and powerful weapons. Karate encompasses whole body movements which develop balance so that an overall maturity of movement is created. Karate incorporates the use of the entire body, in which the legs, hips, spinal column, shoulders and arms are all made to react with each other in a mechanically coordinated system so that power which has been created at different points of the body is finally channeled into a single area with tremendous force.

This kind of co-ordination is achieved through the constant practice of the basic movements (Kihon) which due to their variety and complexity can be considered as a complete art form in themselves. The mastery of these fundamental techniques ensure a strong foundation for progress and expansion in the two other aspects of Karate-Do, being, formal exercises (Kata), and sparring (Kumite).

Karate-Do has increased greatly in popularity throughout the world that is good for true Karate, but there are certain groups that have moved away from its true meaning, eschewing moral and spiritual ideas. This attitude results in too much emphasis being placed on free style fighting which can never develop a person of character. True Karate-Do practice is to train the body and spirit, to respect one’s training partner it should be practiced with all one’s heart and energy, and with humility.

Karate as an Art

The natural result of the requirements to which the body must adhere to in order to produce maximum efficiency is an artistry and beauty that can compare Karate with Ballet. The self-control, discipline and flashes of inspiration, coupled with the disappointments and heartbreaks that all devotees of Karate experience make it a comprehensive aesthetic form. In its practice Karate spans the whole spectrum of human emotions and endeavor.

Karate? Not just a way to train fighters

Although Karate is a form of fighting, it will nurture non-aggression in its practitioners. When, through a misunderstanding or lack of guidance, Karate techniques are practiced solely as a fighting method, they cease to be Karate. Nobody needs Karate to learn to fight. Street fighting techniques are very efficient. Although a Karateka is capable of fighting, his training leads him to avoid trouble and provoking hostile situations. This is Karate.

Patience is a quality that a student of Karate-Do will develop. Progress in Karate (unlike that in most sports) tends to be very slow and there is often a desire to give up through disappointment. He who perseveres will always progress no matter how small that progression. This, too is Karate.

From the first, a student must enter the Dojo with an empty mind forgetting all he has been taught in other sports. Only by doing this can he grasp the essence of Karate and the message it conveys. Simplicity and respect are two qualities a student should never forget. In the Dojo nobody should presume that he is better than anybody else, for the true challenge of Karate is with oneself.

Underlying Principles of Karate

The tremendous speed and power generated in the execution of Karate techniques has long been thought to have originated from the Occult, knowledge shrouded in secrecy and mystery. When analyzed, all Karate techniques can be shown to be based on, and governed by, scientific principles. Similarly, the lightning fast reactions which appear to make the attack and counter-attack one and the same can be understood by applying psychological principles. At a very high level it is possible to sense or feel the other person’s intended move, an ability present in move animals but usually dormant in Man.

Evolution of Karate

Through a process of natural selection life is constantly, gradually, changing and evolving, allowing us to adapt and function more efficiently in our ever-changing surroundings.

It took millions of years for creatures as beautiful as the tiger or as streamlined as the shark to evolve to their present form. This method of cultivation and progression is a continual process to which even Man has turned his hand. For instance, it has taken Man fifty years to develop his ideas about flight from crude, clumsy wood frames, to the high precision, advanced aircraft.

However, we progress, we achieve refinement, and more attention is paid to detail. Karate has undergone continuous change to arrive at its present form. Over centuries it has been adapted and modified to enable the body to give up maximum energy. The continual search for perfect form has distilled a beauty and harmony of movement that gives Karate its essence. Simply to believe that Karate-Do is to learn how to fight, is to distort the truth. Continuous sparring at the expense of basic training causes Kime (a quality unique in Karate-Do) to be forfeited. Since the very essence of all Karate-Do techniques is Kime, it is obvious that techniques demonstrated without the use of Kime are mere imitations of reality. Continual practice of Karate techniques changes the body and, in particular, the manner in which the muscle and skeletal systems operate. Gradually it is molded into a highly coordinated structure capable of generating tremendous power in an instant burst of energy. This is Kime.

Physiological Aspects

The human body can be compared to a machine. Like a machine, a force that is applied at one point causes a reaction at another. The arms and legs of the human body can be likened to the moving parts of a machine, the muscles to the engine. Engines work by the conversion of energy, as in the internal combustion engine which uses a controlled explosion to turn the moving parts. Similarly, muscles work when chemical reactions occur within their tissue making them contract. An engine performs most satisfactorily when it has optimum conditions, including a good supply of oxygen and high-grade fuel. The same is true of muscles. Muscles will relax when air is inhaled, and contract when air is quickly exhaled. As the speed at which the hands and feet perform are directly linked to the speed at which the muscles contract it can be seen that breathing is an important aspect of any technique. Speed is important in Karate because the power of any technique is proportional as the square of the speed of the hand or foot when it make contact with the target. A doubling of the speed produces a quadrupling of the force in accordance with the formula: Force=Mass x Acceleration.