why Karate (Oriental Martial arts)?

[isshinryuronin]

I believe that, on at least one level you may be confusing, and or conflating Confucianism with Taoism. The Tao is “the way”, which is certainly at odds with Confucian thought in several instances.

Taoism is more influential in Chinese MA than Japanese. I think Japan's MA "way" is different than CMA's. Since most of karate originated in China, some DNA is still there. Confucianism, with its emphasis on loyalty, hierarchy, order and respect did quietly fit in with Japan's fighting arts, and Zen also matches very well with the Japanese warrior mentality of austere stoicism and general fatalistic outlook more so than Taoism, IMO.

Japan is very good at taking concepts that are "at odds" with each other and not only accepting them but finding a way to make them work in harmony. Shinto wedding, Buddhist funeral. Christianity finds a way to fit in also, for example. They pick and choose freely for what works for them. While Okinawa shares this same attribute, its historical view was less concerned with philosophy or religion, keeping it simple with ancestor worship and a touch of Shintoism.

At least this is my overall impression from what I've gathered from my various readings and experience over the years. I see "karate-do" more of a Japanese construct of the art than Okinawan, although Nagamine's Matsubayashi shorinryu seems to embrace it, especially the Zen aspect. At the 3 dojo I've been active in, we just did karate.

 

[isshinryuronin]

in the 1960s, no one knew the terms for Chinese martial arts so his sign read Karate Kung fu.

My karate schools' signs said the same thing. No one in those days knew the difference between kung fu, karate and sushi. It was all cool Asian stuff. The first sushi bar in LA county opened in Malibu in about 1972. Great place and experience with comraderie among the customers that's unknown today.

 

[HighKick]

My karate schools' signs said the same thing. No one in those days knew the difference between kung fu, karate and sushi. It was all cool Asian stuff. The first sushi bar in LA county opened in Malibu in about 1972. Great place and experience with comraderie among the customers that's unknown today.

My first school was named 'Midstate Karate Studio' because my partner at the time and I were convinced not many people had ever heard of Tae Kwon Do in 1986 rural middle TN. About three years later we changed the name.

 

[Prince_Alarming]

Well don’t forget that both had homogenized racist colonialism at the heart of their cultures. Brothers by separate mothers.

True, true... there are good things about our culture though- we're quite free to personally abuse our leaders for example- and the same can be said of Japan. I like, for instance, their motorcycles. I don't want to appear to be down on Japan, we all have a past, and karate is awesome. I come from a country where the word 'lovely' can be used as a swearword and I think that's a great thing.

 

[Wing Woo Gar]

True, true... there are good things about our culture though- we're quite free to personally abuse our leaders for example- and the same can be said of Japan. I like, for instance, their motorcycles. I don't want to appear to be down on Japan, we all have a past, and karate is awesome. I come from a country where the word 'lovely' can be used as a swearword and I think that's a great thing.

In the south of the USA “ Bless your heart” can mean the worst insult.

 

[opr1945]

... we're quite free to personally abuse our leaders for example-

I have never been to either country, but from I have read Monarch's have to ability to punish dissent or competition.

Where I am, we are learning about that first hand. Again.

 

[Prince_Alarming]

I have never been to either country, but from I have read Monarch's have to ability to punish dissent or competition.

Where I am we are learning about that first hand.

Monarchs at least in this country haven't actually used these powers for a long time. The British king is constrained by the bill of rights that was adopted during the restoration of the monarchy, with the result that we are now ruled by a charming old gentleman who is specifically forbidden to tell us what to do. In theory, if a bill is handed to him from parliament he still has the power to say no, but in practice he never would as this would be impolite.

 

[opr1945]

King George III.

As I reflect on it, my comment is more accurate historically rather than currently.

 

[Prince_Alarming]

Yes, it is a bit

 

[opr1945]

Perhaps you can help me understand something.

My understanding is that monarchs rule for one of two, both, reasons. One is fear/power. The strongest becomes the ruler. And dissent or competition is not tolerated. And eliminated. I can under stand this.

The second is because the subjects believe the ruler is better than they are. blue blood, power from a higher power, tradition. What makes royalty- royalty? Why for example do
Great Britain's think the Windsor's (my wife's maiden name) deserve the power and prestige they give them? I have never figured this out.

From my limited experience the same thing appears in Karate. Lineage makes one style, or sensi, better than one with a lesser lineage, or perhaps, one created more recently.

No disrespect or insults intended.

Indeed, most of the time when I offend someone it is entirely unintentional. I don't mind offending people, but I prefer to do it intentionally.

If anyone has been offended by me, please accept my apology. Thank you.

 

[Prince_Alarming]

Perhaps you can help me understand something.

My understanding is that monarchs rule for one of two, both, reasons. One is fear/power. The strongest becomes the ruler. And dissent or competition is not tolerated. And eliminated. I can under stand this.

The second is because the subjects believe the ruler is better than they are. blue blood, power from a higher power, tradition. What makes royalty- royalty? Why for example do
Great Britain's think the Windsor's (my wife's maiden name) deserve the power and prestige they give them? I have never figured this out.

From my limited experience the same thing appears in Karate. Lineage makes one style, or sensi, better than one with a lesser lineage, or perhaps, one created more recently.

No disrespect or insults intended.

Indeed, most of the time when I offend someone it is entirely unintentional. I don't mind offending people, but I prefer to do it intentionally.

If anyone has been offended by me, please accept my apology. Thank you.

I'm not sure I understand it either. We have a great affection, but very little respect, for our royal family on the whole. Most of us don't believe them to be better than we are, it's been obvious to the lower orders here for some time that our rulers- all of them, not just the royal family- are mostly inbred, inept psychotic schlemiels. The main reason they're royalty is because their ancestors won a battle hundreds of years ago and things kind of developed from there. Privilege is a difficult thing to compete against, and the more privilege somebody has the more they are able to provide for their offspring. That's the sorry truth.

 

[Buka]

In the south of the USA “ Bless your heart” can mean the worst insult.

I heard there’s plans in the works to rename it South America.

 

[Wing Woo Gar]

I heard there’s plans in the works to rename it South America.

Sounds about right. The Gulf of Disparity.

 

[Buka]

Sounds about right. The Gulf of Disparity.

I haven’t been down south in twenty years. Spent a lot of time down there before that. To some it’s an acquired taste. Which is the same thing my little dog says of bird poop.

 

[opr1945]

In the south of the USA “ Bless your heart” can mean the worst insult.

Followed by "Bless your little heart."

Earlier I lived in Mississippi twice And my parents lived in Florida for 25 years.

 

[Prince_Alarming]

I'm not sure what our worst insult is. Perhaps 'the honourable gentleman', which really means 'the corrupt, lecherous, imbecilic and fat slimeball seated on the other side of the house to me'

 

[opr1945]

I'm not sure I understand it either. We have a great affection, but very little respect, for our royal family on the whole. Most of us don't believe them to be better than we are, it's been obvious to the lower orders here for some time that our rulers- all of them, not just the royal family- are mostly inbred, inept psychotic schlemiels. The main reason they're royalty is because their ancestors won a battle hundreds of years ago and things kind of developed from there. Privilege is a difficult thing to compete against, and the more privilege somebody has the more they are able to provide for their offspring. That's the sorry truth.

When the Tudors died out Didn't the Stuarts become the royal family until they died out. Then the German Hanovers who didn't even speak English were imported? Then they changed their name to Windsor and learned English. So King Charles the III is actually German?

 

[opr1945]

"I'm not sure what our worst insult is. Perhaps 'the honourable gentleman', which really means 'the corrupt, lecherous, imbecilic and fat slimeball seated on the other side of the house to me'"


The more accolades the greater the insult?

 

[Wing Woo Gar]

I'm not sure what our worst insult is. Perhaps 'the honourable gentleman', which really means 'the corrupt, lecherous, imbecilic and fat slimeball seated on the other side of the house to me'

You are at the White House right now?

 

[Wing Woo Gar]

I haven’t been down south in twenty years. Spent a lot of time down there before that. To some it’s an acquired taste. Which is the same thing my little dog says of bird poop.

Speaking of staffy tricks, we couldn’t find Benny anywhere this morning. He was hiding under the covers in my bed.