The Three Stages Of Empty Hands Necessary To Understand True Karate

The Three Stages Of Empty Hands Necessary To Understand True Karate

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Most people think Karate is designed for children, to protect lunch money, or to win trophies. This is far from the real truth. True Karate means Empty Hands, and there are several levels to this meaning.

One meaning, as expressed by Ed Parker of Kenpo Karate, is that a student of Karate holds no weapon. "I come to you with only karate, empty hands. I have no weapons, but should I be forced to defend myself, my principles or my honor; should it be a matter of life or death, of right or wrong; then here are my weapons, karate, my empty hands."

This is a fine sentiment, a good statement of honor, but it doesn't get to the heart and soul of the real empty hands that Karate represents. The original name of Karate was Naha-te, which translates as 'China Hands.' It was designed by the Imperial Bodyguards of Okinawa to protect their king.

Interestingly, the name was changed by Gichin Funakoshi, the father of Karate. The reason for this change becomes obvious as one delves into the art and finds the zen concepts hiding within. The first of these concepts is that one must learn silence while practicing the art.

Silence in which one sees ones real foe. Silence, which presages and enhances the energy to be used. Of course, while having much depth, this technical necessity for silence is only a beginning.

If one is silent, one has stopped the mind from 'talking'.' One focuses on an opponent, ignores all distractions, ignores all outer movement, separates oneself from all inner thought, and this leads to the true meaning. The true meaning of the martial arts relates to this one question...having no thoughts.

When one is reading a book and loses all sense of time, when the world goes away, the mind has been suspended. Now immerse yourself in the chaos of the world, but so deeply that all distractions go away, and there is nothing but you. Now do it in the middle of chaos.

There is the zen of it all, and there is the point of Karate, and other martial arts. One must empty oneself of distraction and seek to perceive the world as it is. This is the truth of the Empty Hands of Karate.

About the Author:
To Empty the Mind one must learn How to Matrix their Martial Arts. Get a free book on the subject, head to Monster Martial Arts.



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


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