On the first point. there was an Okinawan phrase
... which escapes me right this moment. But in English it comes across as "Dan Collector", in reference to somebody who has jumped styles a few times, right after obtaining shodan. It was seen more often as something westerners seemed to do.
The fact that there was a phrase for it, surprised me at the moment. But upon reflection I totally get it.
As for the last point, my methods have always been under critical self review. Is there a beter way to do something?
If so, how can I implement it?
In the last five or so years, I did a lot of soul searching, while also looking back in time, at karate about the time Itosu brought it out into the public.
When karate was by todays standards more karate jitsu then karatedo. More primitive in a sense. Not a quest to make yourself a better person, but a regimen for phisical health, and unarmed self defense against a relatively low skilled assailant.
The kata wasnt pretty or flashy like the jka tournament stuff of today. It had a rough around the edges... but could cripple and maim someone flavor.
The bunkai was deep. It was more about the practical. Karate for better or worse changed greatly when it went to Japan. In oh so many ways.
The more got into the work of Patrick McCarthy and other researcher the more I felt a need to revert some practices, and methods.
As time went on, I realized I didnt have to do it the way I always did. So I took everything apart. Looking back, what changed? Why did it change? Are these changes neccessary?
I rebuilt and tried to remain faithful to what was originally Te, and was was additions were added by the Koreans and the Japanese, that were useful.
And then adopt a western scholastic mode.
Prior to Itosu Karate was an bujitsu artesian enterprise.
Post Japan exportation... Dojos taught karate more like an assembly line factory.
We have a DO.. a blueprint, a way... a method. We teach this way, no deviation.
To promote health, make you a better citizen, and a good recruit.
A lot of this is cultural. Japan even to this day is very very big on "Do".
Post war... karate in japan saw a sea change in "budo" emphasis. Less jitsu... more do. Primarily, because of the Allied Forces GHQ edicts that led to the purges at the DNBK... and the supression of Japanese martial arts schools.
This is the flavor of most GI Serviceman karate that came back to the US.
My question is what would karate in Hawaii have been like if Choki Motobu had been allowed into the country before WW2? Instead of being denied entry to to having questionable character. His streetfighter background was known well enough to get him barred.
What would that dojo have for us today?
Certainly not the kick punch kick kata and point fighting that is of questionable value (imho)
