May 25, 2018

The two 6th dan karate-ka visiting my dojo asked at lunch, "So, what is karate to you?" I paused for a moment knowing that the expected answer would be something like, "One punch victory," but I suppose I owed them an honest personal answer so I drew a deep breath and said, "Love." Well, I can't tell you how long that uncomfortable silent pause afterwards lasted, but I finally broke it by saying, "Well, not in the sentimental way that you may be thinking." I don't think it really helped much. You see, in my mind I equate "love" with "connection" and "appreciation". But I'm not sure any of these words come close to what I feel, they are just the best that I can think of that come close enough. Don't get me wrong, I train as if my life depended on it, and I do believe in the decisive blow, but that is not the apex of the spirit of my practice. The apex is a deeper appreciation and connection to life. That is the core of what I'm after. When I train at 4am in the quiet of the morning, the connection to my body is the thing I'm experiencing. When I step and face the opponent, it is the connection I'm trying to feel as we engage. When I walk in nature, it is my sense of belonging that I rejoice in. When I watch video of my friends as they practice their karate on the shore of some distant land I can see the joy they get from the connection they have to their practice. It is like a gigantic "thank you" for being alive, an appreciation of the deal that was struck. What better "self-defense" than to be more "alive"? Of course these are just my thoughts, but I know for a fact that had I thought of only the utilitarian I would have not sustained a practice for 50 years. As our Sunday Morning Keiko community grows, I rejoice in the connection I have with all the fellow travelers who have been invited to the planet at the same time and share this similar interest. And not to forget the connection to all those that have passed — yes, I practice Funakoshi's karate.