Karate Do?

[opr1945]

I have seen things like "Karate Do is Life", Karate is a way of Life." I have a sign in my office that says "it's not about being than someone else, it's about being better than you were yesterday. "

during my life I have visited probably 25 Dojos to inquire about their program. Studied at 3 for short periods of time, a few months, before life got in the way. Only one had more than a physical program. In addition to physical training they offered classroom instruction on life skills/philosophy.

So where does a student learn what the rest of Karate is about, the principles, or how to apply Karate principles in their life?

Is it all independent study?

Niju Kun

1. Karate begins and ends with courtesy and respect

2. Never strike first

3. Be on the side of justice

4. Control yourself before engaging others

5. Mental attitude is more important than technique

6. Empty your mind and be present

7. Accidents stem from lack of attention

8. Carry karate values beyond the dojo

9. Karate is a life-long endeavour

10. Bring karate into your whole life and find inner peace

11. Karate is like boiling water: without applying heat it turns cold

12. Never strive to win - instead, make sure you do not lose

13. Use the strengths and weaknesses of your opponent

14. Winning depends on the right application of softness and hardness

15. Think of hands and feet as swords

16. When you step through a door, be ready to face opponents

17. First master the karate stances, then adopt a natural pose

18. Perform kata with firmness; perform combat with fluidity

19. Apply softness & hardness, contraction & expansion, relaxation & speed

20. Be mindful, diligent and resourceful in the dojo and in life

 

[Taiji Rebel]

The following book is useful for your quest - I have read it a number of times over the last few years and always find something new to consider:

 

[Tony Dismukes]

I'm not a karateka, but my martial arts are very much a way of life for me. I've been training for close to 44 years now and I have taken many lessons off the mats to benefit the rest of my life. My thoughts on the subject ...

IMO, dojo classroom instruction time spent on life skills/philosophy is relatively meaningless. Being a martial arts instructor does not qualify someone as a life coach. Some instructors may indeed have worthwhile life lessons to impart. But then, so do some plumbers, painters, lawyers, doctors, truck drivers, and representatives of almost any profession.

More importantly, a martial art is an embodied, physical practice. Learning and reciting a list of tenets in an official creed will not make you internalize those principles or use them in your daily life. But if your daily practice instills certain physical and mental concepts and attributes, then these are tools you can apply in your daily life, should you so choose.

I wrote an essay on that subject some years back: Self-Improvement

I'll add that I very occasionally ramble for a few minutes at the end of class to point out some concept that students could carry over from the mat to their daily life. But I don't do that regularly. It's just to give them the heads up that they have the option of finding a broader use for their dojo experience. If I have something of value to offer in terms of "martial arts as a way of life", it's much more to do with the example I set, the way I run class, and carry myself on the mat.