LEARN THE CHARACTER(S)

 by Phillip Starr

I often urge my students to learn to read certain Chinese characters (particularly the ones associated with martial arts) because I believe that a firm understanding of the characters can lead to real insight into various techniques, forms, and even styles. I strongly suggest that practitioners of Japanese, Okinawan, and even Korean styles do the same thing. Let me provide a couple of examples...

Take the characters for “ninja” for example (忍者). The first character, “nin”, is comprised of two radicals. The uppermost radical is “dao” in Chinese (刀) and means “knife.” Actually, it refers to a type of sword with a curved, single-edged blade (broadsword). The bottom radical, “shen” (心) refers to the heart. Taken together, this whole character means “endure.” The second character, “ja” (者), refers to a person. So this tells us that a ninja is a person who can endure a great deal – remember, having a razor-sharp blade hung ABOVE your heart (thus, the placement of the radicals; the radical for the sword is above the radical for the heart) is a bit stressful, right? But such a man can endure this kind of stress and difficulty.

Now let's look at the well-known “knife-hand” (刀手), which is called “shou-dao” in Chinese and “shuto” in Japanese. The first radical is “dao” (刀) in Chinese and “to” in Japanese (pronounced “toe”, it's just one of several words for “sword” that the Japanese use), which doesn't really refer to a knife as we think of it. Rather, it refers to a curved, single-edged sword (broadsword). The second radical is “shou” (手) in Chinese and “te” in Japanese. The Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese character, which they kept, is “shu.” So the name is literally “sword-hand” or “hand-sword.” But there's more to it that just simple semantics; it tells you something about the technique itself...

The Chinese and Japanese character for sword (jien in Chinese, and ken in Japanese, 剑) refers to a straight, double-edged sword. But this isn't the character used for the technique; that particular character refers (in both Japanese and Chinese) to a curved, single-edged blade. The key word in that statement is CURVED. If, when you execute a “knife-hand strike”, your hand and arm are aligned in a straight line, it's wrong; it should be gently curved from the tip of the little finger clear to the shoulder because your entire arm is supposed to represent the curved blade! And this curvature actually begets greater striking power.

I think you should be able to understand the importance of learning the characters and dissecting them so as to decipher the meaning of the radicals that form them. It can really give you much deeper insight into the art that you practice and/or teach.

THE KNOT IN YOUR OBI

 by Phillip Starr

The next time you don your karategi, take note of where the knot is set; is it as high as your navel? Higher? Is it below your navel? Most martial artists don't know what the belt/sash was originally intended for (and still should be). It wasn't a delineation of rank, per se. It's actually a tool that is meant to promote correct breathing!

Eons ago, the ancients (in China) developed a form of breathing, which we call “reverse breathing. This special technique has the lower abdomen (as well as the flanks and lower back) expand outward upon exhalation, which is the opposite of what we know as “normal breathing.” If the sash (yaodai) was wrapped firmly around the lower belly, one could readily feel it when the abdomen pushed out against it when exhaling. Then one knew if the breathing was correct. Moreover, it fostered the development of very strong breathing and that helped develop increased power in one's technique (as well as promoting other side benefits).

For a long time, this technique was regarded as secret but with the passage of time, the secret eventually became fairly well-known and was practiced by a great many martial artists. But breathing isn't particularly exciting to practice and it was eventually forgotten.

In modern China you can see large numbers of people practicing a variety of forms of gong-fu in the parks every morning (they're especially fond of taijiquan). Many of them still wear a form of sash although it may well be worn underneath their upper garments. It's not unusual to see some of them wearing common Western-style leather belts! Cinched firmly around their lower bellies and hence, the dantien (“tanden” in Japanese), the tradition of wearing a sash during practice is carried on although I suspect that many of them don't know exactly why this is to be done; they do it because their teacher told them to do it...

Old pictures of karate teachers in Okinawa show them wearing a sash. When Gichin Funakoshi introduced karate to Japan, he became a close friend of the founder of judo, Dr. Jigaro Kano. Kano had developed a standardized practice uniform (judogi) and his students wore a cotton belt (obi around their middles. The knot was pulled down so that it rested on the area of the dantien. Thus, if his students were breathing properly they could readily feel it.

Gichin adopted the judogi, making a lighter version of it (the modern karategi) and he began using the cotton obi as well. Early karateists wore their belts down low and I recall seeing the old-timers constantly pulling their obi's down as they would ride up a little higher during training.

Nowadays it's not unusual to see martial arts devotees wearing their belts rather high- some worn as high as old men wear their trousers!! This is incorrect and it's clear that these students (and probably their teachers) don't know what the belt is really all about; it's not to keep your jacket shut or simply a symbol of rank. It's a training tool and should be used – and worn – as such.

KIME

 by Phillip Starr

Kime (Japanese: 決め) is a Japanese word. It is the noun form of the verb "kimeru," which means "to decide". Kime (pr. “kee-meh”) is a commonly used term in Japanese martial arts. In karate it can mean "power" and/or "focus," describing the instantaneous tensing the body at the moment of impact during a technique. The tension at this time is mostly focused on the dantien ("tanden" in Japanese) and abdomen. In judo, the "Kime-no-kata" is often translated to "Kata of Decision." In other budo, the term refers to attacking a vital point. In all cases, certain finality is implied.

I remember many years ago, my karate teacher trying to get across to us the idea of applying kime. In fact, I'm fairly sure that he didn't fully understand it himself.

Nowadays, most practitioners of Japanese karate interpret the term as the instant (of impact) when the body is tensed for a split second. It is my belief that this interpretation of the word/concept is flawed.

When you punch or strike something in any fashion, the instant of impact wherein the force from your body is transmitted into the target is measured in micro-seconds. Trying to tense your muscles at that exact moment is pointless; you're going to be either too early or too late. It's best to let nature/physics take over and do its thing; if your structural alignment is correct, the force will be transmitted perfectly. Don't interfere because you'll just muck it up.

In my opinion, kime is the focus of body (that is properly aligned), mind, and spirit for a split second. It results in a deep, explosive power that is directed by your will (yi).

Unfortunately, the concept of kime is being lost in today's contemporary martial arts world. The concept of focusing one's being (for a micro-second) on a single technique is foreign to many modern martial artists.

I hope that you will practice and develop your kime through the practice of your basic techniques, formal one and three-step fighting practice, and kata. It is essential to understanding and practicing real martial arts.

THE JUMPING-OFF POINT

 by Phillip Starr

Back when I was a young karateka (karate student), the last three kyu grades (kyu is a grade below black belt) of brown belt, sankyu, nikyu, and especially ikkyu, were known in Japanese karate as “the jumping-off point.” That is, most brown belts would give up for one reason or another and never make it to shodan (first grade of black belt). I think many of them figured they knew their stuff well enough by that time and there was no need to continue with the rugged, disciplined training.

Times have changed. It seems that nowadays, shodan has become the new “jumping-off” point. Many students throw in the towel after reaching this grade, the coveted “black belt.” In the West it is held in much higher esteem than in the East, however. We tend to regard a “black belt” as an expert (which, as Walt Whitman so aptly described the term, is “anyone who can spit over a boxcar.”). In the East, it is regarded as an important step in one's progress, but little more. It means that you have learned the basics and can perform them with a reasonable measure of skill. Nothing more than that. It's akin to graduating from high school. You have developed some basic skills but you're a far cry from going into a professional field.

At the stage of shodan, you're now ready to learn the REAL thing. You have enough of an understanding about your chosen art that you can begin to wrap your head around more advanced concepts AND your body has been trained and disciplined so that you can perform and implement them. Prior to this, it would have been like trying to explain trigonometry to a sixth grade student and asking him to solve a series of rather complex problems.

For every ten shodans, only two or three will go on to the next grade (and the percentages get smaller as you continue to move forward). I want to encourage you to keep moving forward along the martial path. NEVER give up! Stay the course and don't jump off!

IT'S A LONG STRETCH...

 by Phillip Starr

How frequently do you engage in flexibility exercises? Most of us don't really like to do them; they're uncomfortable and boring. We'd rather get into the “meat” of our training – the various punches and kicks and practice routines with a partner. And that's perfectly normal. It's the same wherever you go – whether it's in the US, England, Japan, China, or Korea. Most martial arts enthusiasts really dislike doing stretching routines but most of us understand that they're really an essential part of training; they warm up and prepare the muscles for vigorous exercise (and help prevent strained or torn muscles), they foster good circulation, which helps remove toxins and helps keep the muscles soft and pliable, and they provide other health benefits as well. The Chinese say that “long muscles mean long life” and to some degree, they're right.

I'm convinced that one of the main things that contributes to “old age” is lack of flexibility. Most senior citizens stop doing any kind of flexibility routines and their aging muscles get tight and seem to “shorten.” This can result in poor(er) circulation and contributes to balance problems and a host of other health problems. If you're fairly young, make stretching exercises a part of your daily workout. If you don't, you'll pay for it when you get older! It's more difficult to increase flexibility when you're older (and the muscles have stiffened) that when you're young. But (for you oldsters out there) it CAN be done; you just have to go slowly and don't “over-do and risk tearing a muscle. If you keep flexible from your younger years, remember that it's much easier to stay flexible than it is to get flexible.

Working to increase your strength is good (especially when you're young) but flexibility is, in my opinion, more important overall. And when you stretch, remember that your muscles are akin to rubber bands, Don't “bounce”; the rubber band will simply return to its usual length and lengthening it will take a very long time. Plus, you're running the risk of tearing it. Instead, stretch and hold the position for several seconds (a nice 8-count is good) and do it several times. If you do this with a rubber band, it will slowly (and more safely) lengthen with minimal risk of tearing.

And take your time! It's good to set a goal, but make it realistic. It's actually best to set a short-term goal that is quite reasonable and then when you achieve it, set a new one...and keep doing this until you reach your long-term goal. And never compare your progress or lack of it) to others; you are unique and you must move at your own pace.

When you practice a certain stretching routine, it should be MILDLY uncomfortable, but never very painful. And if, during your exercise, you feel a burning sensation, stop immediately! That means that the muscle(s) involved in that exercise has been over-stressed and they're about to tear...

Heavy stretching is comparable to weightlifting; you should do it only every other day. Lighter stretching can be done on a daily basis. But don't practice stretching in a hit-or-miss manner. It has to be practiced regularly. If you do it only now and then, you're guaranteed an injury.

The key to stretching is relaxation. You must learn to RELAX the muscles that you're stretching as well as the rest of your body. Tensed muscles don't stretch easily or comfortably and learning to truly relax may take some time. When you stretch a given muscle, exhale and let all tension/stress leave your body along with your breath. Relax! And your gains will slowly increase. I strongly recommend making flexibility exercises a regular part of your daily workout. Set aside as little as 15 minutes for this. You'll be thankful that you did.

DECORATIONS

 by Phillip Starr

Decades ago there was a considerable difference between the practice uniforms (particularly those used in karate and taekwondo) and many of those worn today. Back in the day, a karate or taekwondo uniform (they were virtually identical) bore no emblems or anyone's name; a school/style insignia might be worn on the left breast, but that was it.

Nowadays, I see martial artists wearing uniforms that bear a striking resemblance to a map of downtown Los Angeles... There are numerous colorful patches and so forth, They seem to have mistaken a martial arts uniform for a set of military dress uniforms, complete with service and campaign ribbons and the rest of it. The practice uniform was intended for just one thing; practice! It wasn't ever meant to be used as a display of one's achievements or anything else.

Sometimes, uniforms bear the name of the wearer's school on the back (kind of like a cheap imitation of a sandwich board used for advertising)...or the wearer's name or even his “title.” I've seen more than one with the word, “Grandmaster” emblazoned on the back (maybe it's there so the fellow doesn't forget what he's supposed to be or what he thinks he is). And I guess those that bear the wearer's name are there so he/she doesn't forget who he/she is!

Hash stripes can sometimes be seen on the sleeves of some uniforms. I guess they're there to indicate years in training, much like a military uniform's hash marks denote years of service.

The same holds true for belts...many of them bear the wearer's name and/or the name of the school that issued it. In the past, most belts were just that...belts, without any markings to indicate what degree of black belt the wearer had earned, or anything else. Some few organizations would award belts with Japanese characters on them, indicating the grade (of black belt).

As for me, I prefer the old, simple Japanese style of wearing a plain uniform and belt without any decorations. I remember that we used to favor our uniforms that had become a bit frayed. Many washings had made them very soft and comfortable and the fraying (which was never allowed to become very severe) was an indication of how much we had trained in that uniform. The focus was on training rather than ranks, titles, advertising, or tournament victories.

The same held true of our black belts which, if worn through rigorous training for a long period of time, began to fray and slowly turn back to white (beneath the outer covering of a black belt is a white cotton belt). The more they began to slowly turn white, the more they were to be valued.

The first time I saw a young lady of about 16 wearing what appeared to be such a belt, I was stunned. I turned to my friend, Andy Ching, and asked him about it. He worked for one of the nation's largest martial arts equipment and uniform suppliers. “They're made that way”, he said. “They fray in a very short time so they look really old and worn.” I figured that wearing such a belt was a very cheap way to increase one's status. I still do.

The Chinese “practice uniform” is much simpler. To this day, there is no standard kung-fu uniform but many practitioners wear what the Chinese call “Tang clothes”...a reference to the Tang Dynasty. This is what I wear nowadays. I still favor the old ways... There's more to it than simple cosmetics.

DAILY HABITS

 by Phillip Starr

Almost all of us have several “daily habits” to which we adhere; upon waking up, we brush our teeth, wash our faces, some of us shave...and so on. We don't (usually) have to be reminded about doing them; they've become part and parcel of our daily routine. They're important to us and we repeat them day after day.

It's said that if you want something to become a habit, you should do it regularly for 100 days, I guess I'd have to agree. So, if your training or your skill in your chosen martial art is truly important to you, don't you think it'd be a good idea to practice a bit every day? Your practice time will likely be different from mine and how much time you have available for practice may vary but the important thing is that you MAKE the time and do it! And if you do it daily for 100 days, it'll become a habit.

Many people offer up the excuse of “I don't have time” without considering that unless they deliberately MAKE time, they'll never have it. Anyway, I can't imagine anyone not having 15-30 minutes of free time in a day; if that's truly the case, they need to adopt a different lifestyle! Daily practice of your martial art is, I believe, an essential part of maintaining (or even improving) your health – especially as you get older.

That's why so many millions of Chinese go to local parks early every morning and practice taijiquan; it's a form of preventative medicine! But you needn't travel to the nearest park...just find your own practice area in or near your home. And develop the habit!