Mentality over technique

One Japanese karate instructor advised Petra Karlova, my friend from Tokyo, to write a short article on the ethics of Budo. Her thoughts are very close to mine, so I will give them:

"A Japanese karate instructor suggested me to write a column on the topic of Budo ethics.

We are very happy that many people from various countries have come to join our practice, especially when seeing their eagerness and love for karate. However, some people miss the understanding of Budo culture. Some of them even do not greet other people with respect. Of course, it may be their first time coming to Japan, so no wonder they do not know much about Japanese culture. Still, they are some basics that all karateka around the world should carry in their heart. It is that mentality is more important than technique. Unfortunately, this is difficult because many karate teachers focus on karate techniques and do not teach Budo culture. Likewise, many people come to our dojo because our instructors' high technical level impresses them. Of course, learning Budo culture is not easy because it originates in Japan, and thus it is foreign to non-Japanese people. But as for its outer form, one can learn it step by step by observing and imitating the ways of Japanese people one meets (or watches in videos etc.). Just paying attention to this and making an effort to learn shows the mentality of respect, which is a basic Budo ethics. In our dojo, we are often reminded to be grateful that we could meet and practice karate together today because nothing should be taken for granted. It is a gift. Let's keep this in mind when meeting fellow karateka, and not only them."

Indeed, I have often heard interesting things about Budo from people who live or have lived in Japan. One sensei, 8th dan Shotokan, asked me what traditional karate is. He didn't understand what I meant.

He also said that the heart is more important than technique. To repeat the same thing day after day, becoming better and making others happier - this is the Way, Budo. Another friend who lived in Japan said that even boxing could be Budo for the Japanese. What matters is not what you do but how you do it. Even sweeping the street is also the Way if you do it day after day, with all your heart.

There is a famous Zen story about Manjushri, whom the Buddha called to enter the gate. To which Manjushri replied, "I don't see anything on this side of the gate. Why should I come in?" The commentator Nögen says that man learns duality instead of unity, often building gates, and only then considers what is outside them.

Attitude matters the most. Whatever mood I do the work, that's how I get it. For example, I do kata without investing my soul - there is no kata. The ritual before and after karate practice helps to tune in to it and connect the present lesson with subsequent ones. It happens that there is no desire to spend your time and energy on the ceremony. And then I blame the students for not being good enough.

Without students, there is no teacher. Without karate, there is no karate. It turns out that everything exists only relative to something else.

It's more than just karate. It turns out that Budo is a way of uniting with a place, a teacher, and friends. One of my comrades noted well that "without ritual, including reigi, there is no most important layer of tradition, and there is no understanding of the essence of art and communication with the masters of the past, and this is a road to nowhere."

"Karate begins and ends with respect" - these are the words of the founder of Shotokan karate, Funakoshi sensei. On several occasions, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to pay my respects to Funakoshi Sensei at his place of eternal remembrance at Engaku-ji Temple in Kamakura. It seems that it was essential to pay my respects to the memory of our teacher, whose wise words "There is no first attack in karate" are engraved on the monument.

The values of karate are respect and courtesy. Karate, while denying the boundaries between countries, races and peoples, embodies the traditional Japanese values of Budo or the "martial way" based on the strict discipline and spiritual purity that are required from practitioners. Therefore, etiquette can and should be taught. In our school, we took the example of Sensei Norio Kawasaki. His Tenshinjuku school hosts a children's competition once a year. One of the sections is Budo etiquette. Children demonstrate the rules of etiquette, the correct standing and sitting posture, bow, and the judges evaluate their actions by flags. Our school has included this part in the kihon-ippon kumite section. We assess the ritual performance with standing and sitting bows before and after the fight on an equal basis with the technique.

The JKA Honbu dojo also pays much attention to etiquette. There is a small memo in Japanese and English on the bulletin board. It is entitled "Order in Everything. Careful Preparation."

Here is what is written there:

1. Quickly bow when entering and leaving the dojo.

2. Do not talk or communicate on personal topics in the dojo.

3. Get ready and wait for the start of classes.

4. Line up and kneel. Gather yourselves, calm your mind, and bow deeply.

5. The score and kiai should be loud and sharp.

6. Do not touch walls or pillars; do not put your legs out to the side when you sit down. Do not leave your personal belongings in the locker room when you leave.

Today my practice will begin with a bow. I will do kata. Or it may move me. In reality, there is no difference because, separately, there is no performer and no performance. It is essential to understand that there is nothing on this side of the gate, to leave duality and stop seeing "no-budo". "Well, where are these gates? And where are you - outside or inside?"