The Darkest Moments of Karate

By Master Genshin Hironishi

President of Shotokai International Association Headquarters Japan

The last surviving 5^th Dan of the 12 Godan Karatekas that existed by the end of the Second World War

Our Master and father, SHOTO, GICHIN FUNAKOSHI, died on April 26^th 1957.

The next day we had a very urgent meeting to analyze a very complicated matter that immediately arose after his death, the (Kyokai) Japan Karate Association (JKA) would not assist to the funeral ceremony if they where not the ones organizing it.

The JKA (Kyokai) attitude surprised us all in a disagreeable way. Their attitude was unacceptable, even more so considering the words of Master Giei Funakoshi primogenitor of O-Sensei, who insisted on the following:

“The burial of my father shall be in the hands of the Shotokai School because he had no other position than director of the Shotokan Dojo and the Shotokai School. Now that the Dojo has burnt down and disappeared, it is only logical that his burial should be in charge of the school. “

We know that in a traditional hierarchical society as the Japanese, the primogenitors wish is the one that counts most with respect to the funeral, the (Kyokai) JKA requirement was not accepted.

At that moment the (Kyokai) JKA agglutinated some of the main Universities that concentrated a long history as Keio, Takushoku and Hosei, while Chuo, Noko, Seijo, Gakushin and Senshu Universities were loyal to the Shotokai School, fully backing the organization of the funeral by the latter.

With respect to Waseda University, there was a complicated internal situation. Mr. Ohama, director of the Physical Education Coordination Department and a fellow countryman of Master Funakoshi and a very dear friend, was in charge of coordinating the funerals, while on the other hand the club had taken (Kyokai) JKA position, actively acting on behalf of the latter. They could not boycott the funerals ignoring Mr. Ohmas intentions but neither did they offer to back up the reconsideration of the (Kyokai) JKA. Thus they were present at the meeting but they did not give their opinion on the subject. This complicated and tense environment preceded the meeting where around 50 Karatekas were convened. I was present as a moderator limited to that position, Master Egami and his helper Yanagizawa (Chuo representative) would be in charge of convincing the (Kyokai) JKA that they should reconsider their attitude.

All through the meeting Master Egami repeated his call to reason in the name of the primogenitor Giei, with his short and precise sentences, very much convinced that it would be a grave mistake if they did not assist to the funeral. The (Kyokai) JKA on the other side from the beginning maintained a rigid attitude “if the funerals were not organized by the(Kyokai) JKA they would not assist”

Hours and hours passed and no agreement was reached. It was clear that for the (Kyokai) JKA there was no possibility of reconsideration. The representative of Takushoku, Keio and Hosei retired taking with them their clubs flags that had been left for the pre-funeral ceremonies. They said they would need them the next day for some university ceremonies.

After long hours of discussion, we were obliged to reach a conclusion, whatever it was.

“The assistance, or non assistance, to the funerals would be a personal decision…” We had no other solution than to do it that way.

The only reason sported by the (Kyokai) JKA consisted in the fact that Master Funakoshi, besides being President of the Shotokai School, he occupied the position of highest technical councillor of the (Kyokai) JKA. As I have before stated, I acted as a moderator at the meeting and I limited myself to that role. I made no comments on the subjects, I only commented on a personal plane to correct an error which was the following.

“The(Kyokai) JKA does not recognize the Taikyoku (Kata), thus it is not practiced by them. It says the Kata was created by and perfected by Master Gigo Funakoshi. But this is not so. The Taikyoku is the result of many years of training by many people. Mr. Kuguimiya

(Takushoku) is one of those Karatekas. During the Second World War “Karate-Do Kyohan” was published (the Second Edition) the book was written by Master Funakoshi, as we all know. In the supplement of that book the author presents the Taikyoku under his own signature. Once that is said I call to your attention one thing: if the KJA considers Master Funakoshi as the highest technical councillor and it doesn’t practice the Taikyoku, this would be incoherent.”

After that encounter what had to happen happened. In December of that year Mr. Nakayama came to see me and we had the following conversation.

“Become a member of the (Kyokai) JKA Stop your subtly and become a member”

To this invitation my response was final.

“Before inviting me to enter the (Kyokai) JKA you have to do two things; Go to the house of the Funakoshi and ask them to forgive you, How can I become part of the organization that boycotted our Masters funeral?, and you will also have to recognize the Taikyoku as official. If you fulfill these two compromises, I will consider it”

(Reply) “Well you may be right. But let’s not discuss now. Join the Kyokai (JKA) and later on impose your reasons”.

The JKA (Kyokai) at the moment of our conversation already recognized the Taikyoku as created by Master Funakoshi. But they still did not practice it, something I could not understand.

“Look Nakayama, we are Karate technicians. We have trained together and shared hard times. I hope you understand me. You have students and if people say to them: you are from the association that boycotted the burial of Master Funakoshi; that hurts you, doesn’t it, no? Go to the home of the Funakoshi and beg for forgiveness. its a mere formality, I know, but you must do it”.

This was the last time I saw Mr.Nakayama.

Genshin Hironishi.

Footnote

I personally can not find adequate words to express my personal upsetting feelings with regards to the above statement by Master Genshin Hironishi. So strongly do I personally feel that I fully intend to write an essay with regards to my feelings and implications? Of the above statement, however it may give you a flavor of them when I say that I have just removed the Dojo Kun from my home that was by the hand of Mr.Nakayama, just as an aside “Hypocrisy be it the size of the galaxy or the size of a fleas balls is the same. You are free to disagree.

The Dojo

This is not an attempt to give either a history of Buddhism or Zen-Buddhism’s arrival and impact on Japan, it is only meant to be a very brief outline on the term Dojo and where it derived from, so bearing that in mind I ask any readers to have mercy upon my attempt at such an over intricate subject. However to give some understanding of the term Dojo and its implications to Japanese Martial-Study, a little knowledge of the arrival of Buddhism and Zen-Buddhism to Japan is necessary.

In the mid 500s when the Korean King of Paekche was warring with the King of Silla he sought to ally himself with Japan and sought military support for his campaign, he presented the Emperor of Japan with some sacred Buddhist scriptures, and described Buddhism as the religion of the civilized world. The Mononobe aristocratic Clan Leader who led the Imperial army opposed this, so to did the Nakatomi Clan their united opposition also included importing Buddhism into Japan. As they believed that it would be an affront to Shintoism, also it was the duty of the Nakatomi to perform the Shinto religious rituals at the Emperors court and it was thought by the Nakatomi family that Buddhism would contradict there authority.

The Emperor doubted the wisdom of adopting Buddhism into Japan but allowed the rising in power Soga Clan to practice Buddhism in private on a trail. The Nakatomi and Mononobe had great success in the spreading of hostility against Buddhism and the outbreak of an epidemic was seen as a sign of the anger of the Shinto gods and the Sogo temple at the palace was burnt down, a few more Buddhist monks arrived from Korea adding to a very small Buddhist Community at the capital. After centuries of turmoil and the rising and falling of Clans, murders and intrigue of every possible dimension Buddhism and Shinto learnt to coexist. The Form of Buddhism that would emerge is referred to as “ Pure Land Buddhism “ and there where no shortage of rival schools of thought contending with each other and no shortage of violence from Buddhist

Another Form of Buddhism that developed in Japan was called Zen, Zen originating from China where it was called “Chuan “ Zen was psychological as was the original teachings of Siddhartha Gautama. Rather than having a mission in life the adherent was encouraged to live existentially, without anxiety and with self reliance.

The first Zen temple was completed in 1205, at Kamakura by the Japanese Monk Eisai who 15 years previous had been driven from Kyoto, now at Kamakura he had the patronage of the military; Zen was appealing to the Samurai who soon mixed it with there own values in a way that was alien to “Chuan Buddhism “its emphasis on focusing the mind and physical discipline was similar to the discipline used in Martial training.

Clan Lords advocated Zen for their Bushi, Zen monks and monasteries where patronized

The Zen Bushi Viewed Life as an illusion, with no past or future, killing was no worse than any other activity and dying was nothing. These ideals would develop into the fusion of Buddhism, Taoism and Shinto and be known as “The Way of The Warrior “Bushido.

Such was the zeal by the Bugi for Zen that they began to congregate around and attach themselves to Zen temples and conduct martial practice there numbers became troublesome many being itinerant or master less. This being the case Clan Lords who had always had set aside places for their troops to practice (Gakko, Kukku) created or gave permission for specific areas to be used for what was now referred to as “Place of Study and Enlightenment. That study and enlightenment was Martial. “DOJO the term comes from the original Buddhist sancsript “Bodimandala “the Dojo went through a period of changes from rough to polished and from polished to esoteric.

The four sides of a dojo have names and function. The central location is the “Kamiza” implying upper seat; it is the place of honor, opposite the Kamiza is the “Shimoza” or the lower seat, during ceremonies Instructors and students are assembled in rank along this side of the Dojo. When facing the Kamiza the right side of the Dojo is called the “Joseki” or upper side, the left side is the “Shimoseki” or lower side. Students when receiving instruction line up along the Shimoseki and the instructors face them from the Joseki.

Today our Dojo are more likely to be in a sports centre or community hall, and that is also true in the Japan of today, however there still exists in Japan Old and Venerable Dojo whose polished floors have felt the weight of centuries of practitioners, however a true Dojo need not be even a building but it does need to be a place where the Dojo Formula is used and adhered to, the four sides of the Dojo where not just given names for esoteric reasons, for there was no room for the esoteric or the fanciful this was an age where ones life was less than the length of a sword blade. There is no shortage in Japan and indeed the rest of the world of what are called Dojo, the problem is which is a Dojo that meets the Dojo Formula criteria, and which is little more than a money making machine for the gullible, yes the Dojo business is truly into the 21^st Century with every martial system you have heard of and lots you or anyone else will never ever hear of. And the system that has the most permanent Dojo is ….. Yes the ever growing WEKONYOU RYU. When I see some of these syndicated and franchise Dojo the term “ego massage parlor comes to mind” however there are in our country some par excellent professional Dojo and Instructors of the highest caliber, and they must feel swamped by the professional marketing ploys of the “WEKONYOU RYU “If these few words are useless to you that’s fine or if you find not a word of merit that’s also fine. But if you find a couple of words that provoke you to thought ….. Then that also fine. Speaking of the famous WEKONYOU RYU reminds me to do a little more work on my article entitled

SOKES and SMOKIES

Best Wishes

Ronnie Colwell

Turn of the Century Ju-Jutsu

There is now a generation of which they term themselves martial arts historians. Now I have a view of historians and I may add only my view, and I pass it on to no one. And that is looking back at history and historians. At the time so many admired historians where in effect a mixture of old spin doctor and propagandists, and thus tended to give at best a jaundiced view of the history of there time, not forgetting the establishment and vested interest who paid them.

Now I do admire historians who give a broad view and a researched account leaving room for further enlightenment, however caution must be observed when we are looking at the history of martial systems of Europe and its influence from Japan. Most importantly our Great Nation, Great Brittan, for some reason the starting point seems to be in our country the middle 1950s and in Japan 1946/7 Japan it seems had national amnesia for over 30 years or so and woke up feeling refreshed and benevolent to all mankind.

So how very easy it is to forget martial practitioners of over a hundred years ago now, and write them out of history or even make them a none person. Plenty as been written about Edward W Barton Wright, and his activities, but more on him at a later date, as I wish to use this small space to introduce you to some real characters, which deserve there, place in our nation’s martial history?

So let’s start in the year 1900 the year that held out so much promise and hope to the world. There where so many larger than life characters who where early practitioners and adepts of what at that time was referred to as antagonistics, and I intend to say a few words about those few I personally knew, however I am convinced that so many have been lost in time and forgotten and the Great War WW1 decimated society. But if you personally know of any of those early practitioners I would be more than delighted to hear. As they deserve their place in our history and not wrote out by Mc-DO and Co. so I would first like to start with a famous instructor in the City of Liverpool Jack Britten.

Jack was born in London and started hit training in the old Anglo Japanese Jujitsu institute in London, he was also a boxer who eared in the boxing booths at that time, and he looked every inch a scraper, he studied under Yukio Tani, Sadakazu Uyenishi, and the Japanese who stayed in London whilst in transit to other European capitals and even to south America where what eventually would be known as Gracie Jujitsu would emerge, in those days it was a practice to style oneself as professor, this was quite common, hence Professor Jack Britten, He fought in the first world war from 1914- 1918, and many the story to tell of the unbelievable hardships and the hand to hand combat in trench warfare, he had a dreadful scar on his hand warding off a bayonet in which he nearly lost the hand the blade had just missed the tendon but it was the infection the was the real problem.

With the end of the war in 1918 Jack eventually returned to London, alas with so many of our brave fighting men who we sent out of the front door with flags and bands playing they came home through the back door, to a society changed forever, after 6 years of hell these brave men where not the same boys that had left. So as with so many Jack wondered the south of England looking for work.

Sometime in 1921 he came to Liverpool and opened a pet shop in Smithdown Place, and above he established a Ju-Jutsu School, it is not certain when he moved but thought that he made his move in the 1930s to Shiell Road, Kensington, Liverpool, taking over a very large house that had 5 tatami rooms, he still called it the Alpha School of Jujitsu, and until his death it remained a full time school teaching the same system he was taught by the first Japanese instructors he did not go dawn the Kano JiJitsu (Judo) road, and as with many men in his position he was an instructor to a variety of constabularies, in the 1950, many of his students would go on to make their mark on Jujutsu and Karate . In the next part I will go on and give some details of the Alpha School of JiuJitsu (Jujutsu)

Makiwara

By Master Ronnie Colwell

One of the major imagery in the general public’s perception of Karate is that of Karate practitioners performing feats of breaking wood, tiles etc. in fact there seems no end to the materials that seem to be attacked even large blocks of ice that would be more at home among the ice flows of the bearing sea.

However I am coffining myself to what is loosely known as hand conditioning by using the traditional Makiwara. With regards to the wide range of striking aids on the market I give no opinion, and confine myself and these few words to what we would all recognize as the traditional post Makiwara with Japanese rye straw striking head.

Makiwara can come in many different forms each has a different lesson to teach. Coordination, strength, speed, when one truly practices with the Makiwara the gains are tremendous however the down side can be very serious lifetime injury, that is why very deep thinking should take place before undertaking this training, the major problem facing the determined is that age old one, finding a competent Instructor one that does understand the Makiwara Waza, and can guide you through what will bring about massive changes in bone structure and physical appearance etc, and if you are fortunate he will do all in his power to dissuade you from taking such a path as I do.

There is no question that 16 year olds and below should ever under any circumstance undertake Makiwara practice, it is said by some that between 16 and 18 a student must have their parents permission to undertake such training,” permission “for what, to have possible arthritics in years to come and malformed hands, problems caused by shock wave to the lung spine, loss of sensitivity and much more and many of these effect will take years to become apparent, what parent has the right to give that permission?

There is so much clap trap wrote and advocated on hand etc conditioning it would be hilarious if it was not so dangerous. And the mythology surrounding this type of training are legion, a prime example is that a Shuto can sever the horns of a bull, no human hand can or ever can severed the horns of a bull, and anyone who thinks it can be done should just carry on with there Harry Potter book.

Are you dissuaded yet you should be, there’s a multitude out there just waiting to get their hands on your hands (couldn’t resist the pun) and of course your money. One of the essential ingredients needed for Makiwara practice is the medication that is applied to the different areas, and the real thing is not cheap and you will use a lot of it, a Teacher will identify it for you, however be aware that you could be easily sold a product that may well be sold as a hair restorer in another country or a clamed remedy for an antisocial disease.

Still determined? Also the straw Makiwara head must be of quality Japanese straw, over the years a look-alike has appeared from the China area and they are cheap however there is a high risk that under certain conditions they develop a fungi that if it get into your system through a scratch you could be in big do do, that is another reason why a variety of heads are now in use, apart from the fact that to get a real one is difficult manly because there is no commercial market. By now you must surly be totally dissuaded I am doing my best to stop you, still want to know more? How about poisoned hands are common?

I am an admirer of boxers I admire the skill level and commitment to consistent and rigorous training, and I don’t believe that a boxer can function as a boxer without bag work, likewise there is a school of thought that says that a Karate Ka does not function without Makiwara training other than calisthenics

Makiwara is a much overlooked aspect of Karate, indeed some Masters believe that without it a persons Karate affectivity is dramatically reduced, some even say ineffective. The regime is a hard one to follow physically mentally and yes spiritually. One must work at it daily through the four seasons. Ones starting daily strikes on either hand may range from 30 to 60 morning and evening, also before and after formal practice. To many this number may seem low, however your kimai is to a depth of about 2in and it is usual to have a training partner standing behind the Makiwara post with the palm of there hand about 2in away they must be consistent and diligent in this so that the strike makes the Makiwara post slap there hand and only the strikes that have caused the post to slap are counted so it is easy to see why one must start on low numbers.

So when you can drive that post to slap your partners hand 50 in succession and it is repeatable daily you will be well on you way to power kimai and Mushin. It has been scientifically measured that a punch trained on the Makiwara can measure up to 2000lbs per square inch, and repeatable again and again that is awesome to think that the human hand can take that pressure. At this point the practitioner with have united with the intangible Shin-Gi-Tai At this point you may well be asking the question was I dissuaded or did I under go the practice well I will tell you…………. No no I won’t I will leave that one to your imagination.

Ronnie Colwell