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Rei & Osu

Rei & Osu
by Tanzadeh Shitokai on Friday, May 23, 2008 at 1:29am

They say Karate begins and ends with REI, which means "respect," as well as "courtesy." Karate students treat not only people with respect, but also such things as their school and uniforms. What this mean that we do not take these things for granted. The left radical in REI means "deity" while the right signifies "bounty." In other words, REI is the spirit of giving thanks for bounty. It is appreciation of good fortune.

What would Karate practice be like without REI? Certainly, students would not learn as much, for listening attentively to the instructor and not taking out is an important part of REI. It would also be more dangerous, because cooperating to ensure a Karate class is safe is a part of REI. Without it, people would be free to disrupt class or cause unnecessary injury. In Karate, as in society, smooth interaction relies greatly on courtesy and respecting social conversation.

The way in which Karate student express respect most is by bowing. Student bow to the teacher before and after class. They also bow to each other before starting to work together in drill or sparring. Even before and after competition matches, which contestant try their hardest to win, they bow to express their mutual respect. After all, it takes courage and determination to enter and train for competition.

By showing REI during Karate class, student and teachers are saying they appreciate the opportunity to learn from each other. And by treating their classmate with courtesy and respect, student also recognize the hard work and discipline that everyone is devoting to Karate. By treating thing such as their schools and uniforms with respect, they make certain they do not take these things for granted. Remember, not everyone is fortunate enough to be able to learn Karate.

Apply the principles of REI to life outside of Karate class, and you have simple etiquette. Thanking guests for coming to your party is an indication the effort they made to attend. Proper table manner are an expression of your respect for your dining partners right to enjoy a pleasant meal without being offended.

As you become accustomed to expressing REI in Karate class, see if you can show similar attention to the etiquette of daily living. And never take good people, nor good things, for granted. That is the sprit of REI.

OSU!

People who study Karate can often be heard saying the word OSU. Sometimes they will say it in a normal speaking voice, but just as often, they will loudly shout this word, which can substitute for "hello", "good bye", "yes", "okay", or "I understand." No matter how or when it is said, however, OSU reaffirms one of the most important lessons of Karate.

The first character, O, means to push, and symbolizes one hundred percent effort. The second Character, SU, means to endure. Combined, OSU, is a pledge to do one's very best and to endure. However, SU by itself can also mean "to be silent," and the character is made up one of the radicals meaning "blade" and "heart." The Japanese idea of endurance, therefore, encompasses being silent, even if your heart is cut with a blade.

It is very natural for people to seek positive reinforcement in return for their efforts. This is the very principal by which our society operates, after all. Professionals are paid for their work. Teachers reward hard-working students with high marks. Parents pay children compliments for their efforts.

But Karate is a discipline which involves a great deal of self-reflection, and self-reflection is more concern with irrefutable truths than with rewards. Unfortunately, there are some Karate students who pretend to work hard only when they believe their instructor is watching. These types of students devote more energy toward attracting their teacher's attention than to learning Karate. In other words, their efforts are not "silent."

What these students do not realize is that they are in class to learn Karate, not to impress the teacher. And how much they learn depends solely on how hard they work. If they give their best efforts only when the instructor is watching and are lazy the rest of the time, this will inevitably be reflected in their technique.

On the other hand, true Karate masters are usually humble and reserved. They realize their expertise in Karate and the amount of the effort they have devoted to it are irrefutable, independent of the recognition of others. After all, a flower blossoming deep in a secluded forest is no less beautiful than one growing in a garden where everyone can see. In fact many great Karate masters have spent time training on scheduled mountain in Japan, where they had to continually challenge themselves to work hard even though there was no one there to provide encouragement or reinforcement.

Each time you say OSU during Karate class, remember that is a pledge to work hard and to endure. If you can say it honestly and with pride each time, you can be confident you are doing well.

Good luck in your training!

Read up part 4 - extracted from -- Karate - the art of "Empty-hand" fighting

Read up part 4 - extracted from -- Karate - the art of "Empty-hand" fighting

Combined physical-psychological principles

Focus (kime)

Briefly, “focus” in karate refers to the concentration of all the energy of the body in an instant on a specific target. This involves not only concentration of physical strength but also the type of mental concentration described above. There is no such thing as a focus lasting for any measurable length of time. Since successful karate depends entirely on effective concentration of body strength, focus is extremely important, and without it karate would become nothing more than a form of dancing. This principle will appear frequently in the follow pages, so a clear understanding of it at this point is desirable. To further analyse the concept of focus, take the technique of punching for an example. In reverse punching, the fist is thrust straight out from the body and simultaneously the hips are twisted in the direction of the punch so as to transmit the strength of the hips and trunk to the face of the fist, augmenting its speed and power. Of course, speed and power must be carefully balanced, i.e. sacrificing speed by exerting too much power into the arm or body must be avoided. Also, the breathing control principle explained above plays an important part in focusing, i.e. the breath should be sharply exhales at the moment of impact . an of course, there must be an accompanying mental attitude reflecting this total concentration of the body strength. As the fits nears the target its speed is increased to its maximum point, and at the moment of impact the muscles of the entire body are tensed. The effect of this is that speed is transformed into power, and the strength of the entire body is concentrated for an instant at the fist. This, in essence is what “focus” in karate means.

It should not be forgotten that this maximum exertion of energy is instantaneous and in the next instant is withdraw in preparation for the next movement, i.e. the muscles are relaxed, the breath inhaled, and position appropriated for the net technique assumed. A karate technique which is not focused is in effective and so much wasted effort.

Responding (hen-o)

This karate concept refers to the correct apprehension of the opponent’s movements and the conscious adoption of the proper techniques in accordance with them. Both parts of this process are performed as a single momentary act and appear to an onlooker almost as a reflex action. It is this character of karate that creates self-confidence in it practitioner, i.e. he knows that his mind-directed reflexes don’t have to “think what to do”. ( Kim song words -> train to instinct )

Read up part 3 - extracted from -- Karate - the art of "Empty-hand" fighting

Read up part 3 - extracted from -- Karate - the art of "Empty-hand" fighting

Psychological Principles

Since karate involves direct contact between to or more human beings, psychological factors play an important role. In many cases the psychologically strong party wins even when he is out-matched physically. Although this psychological conditioning comes about naturally – until it is almost second nature – in the course of karate training, the examples given below, which embody ancient concepts handed down from the past, offer valuable avenues of approach.

Mizu no kokoro (a mind like water)

This term, along with the one in the flowing section, was emphasized in the teaching of the ancient karate masters. Both refer to the mental attitude required while facing an actual opponent. Mizu no kokoro refers to the need to make the mind calm, like the surface of undisturbed water. To carry the symbolism farther, smooth water reflect accurate image of all object within it range, and if the mind is kept in this state, apprehension of the opponent’s movements, both psychological and physical, will be both immediate and accurate and one’s responses, both defensive and offensive, will be appropriate and adequate. On the other hand, if the surface of the water is disturbed, the images it reflect will be distorted, or by analogy, of the mind is preoccupied with thoughts of attack or defence, it will not apprehend the opponent’s intentions, creating an opportunity for the opponent to attack

Tsuki no kokoro (a mind like the moon)

This concept refers to the need to be constantly aware of the totality of the opponent and his movements, just as moonlight shines equally on everything within its range. With the thorough development of this attitude, the consciousness will be immediately aware of any opening in the opponent’s defences. Clouds blocking the light of the moon are likened to nervousness or distractions which interfere with correct apprehension of the opponent’s movements and make it impossible to find an opening and to apply the proper techniques

Unity of mind and will

To use a modern analogy, if the mind is compared to the speaker of a telephone, the will is like he electric current. No matter how sensitive the speaker is, if there is no electric current, no communication take place. Similarly, even if you correctly apprehend the movements of your opponent and are conscious of an opening, if the will to act on this knowledge is lacking, no effective technique will be forthcoming. The mind may find an opening, but the will must be activated in order to execute the technique called for.

Read up part 2 - extracted from -- Karate the art of "Empty-hand" fighting

Read up part 2 - extracted from -- Karate the art of "Empty-hand" fighting

Physical principles

Maximum strength

Any movement of the body depends on muscular expansion and contraction. There are many factors involved in exerting maximum force through control of these expansion and contractions, and only the most basic are listed here

1) Force is directly proportionate to the degree of the muscular expansion and contraction. This is the principles behind, for example, the coil spring – the more the coil is pressed down, the greater the force it exerts when released. Many parts of the human body operate in the same way.

2) The striking power of a force is inversely proportionate to the time required for its application. This means that in karate it is not the muscular strength used to life a heavy object that is required, but the strength manifested in terms of sped of muscular expansion and contraction. In the other words, force is accumulated in the form of speed and at the end of the movement; speed is converted into striking force. In scientific language, force equals mass times the square of the velocity.

Concentration of strength

To perform any kind of heavy physical work, concentration of strength is necessary. Even a great amount of strength will accomplish little if it is dispersed. By the same token a small amount of strength, properly concentrated, can be quite powerful. It is no exaggeration to say that the practice of most karate techniques is the practice of concentration of strength at the proper time and at the proper place. The following principles are basic

1) Other things being equal, the shorter the time a striking force is applied, the more effective it is. This element of concentration in terms of time is very important in karate, for it enables one to move immediately in to the next technique.

2) The greater the number of muscles brought into play in performing a given movement, the greater the concentration of strength. This force which can be exerted by the hands or feet acting alone is relative small; therefore, the musculare power of the whole body should be exerted in such a way that this strength is concentrated at the point of impact.

3) Maximum concentration of body strength depends on effective utilization of the resultant of forces produces by exertion of the various muscles. When the muscles are properly coordinated, the resultant force is greater; when they act in opposite direction, it is lessened

4) Concentration of strength depends not on simultaneous exertion of all the body muscles, bit on their exertion in the proper order. The muscles of the abdominal and pelvic region are powerful but slow, whereas those of the extremities are fast but weak. In order to concentrate the force of both sets of muscles, those of the abdomen and hips must be brought into play first, and this force transferred to the point of impact, either in the hands or feet. This account for the common saying in karate to move the hips first and hands and feet last.

Utilizing reaction-force

This refers to the well known principle of physics that to every action there is an opposite and equal reaction. This principle finds wide use in karate; for example. In punching out with one hand, the other hand is simultaneously withdrawn to the hip, adding reaction-force to the punching hand. Running or jumping is made possible by pressing downward with the opposite leg. This is important feature in karate where, for example, in punching, the rear leg is pressed hard against the floor, and the resulting reaction force is passed through the body and arm to the striking hand, adding force to the punch. In even more complex fashion, when the hand actually strikes the target, the shock of the blow is passed through the body to the legs and floor and then is reversed back to the punching hand, adding further force to the blow.

Use of breath control

It is well known that exhaling aids in contracting the muscles, while inhaling tends to relax the muscles. This finds direct application in karate, where the breath is sharply exhaled during the execution of techniques and inhaled after their completion.