I have practiced karate for many years, and for a number of reasons, but not specifically to become a black belt. My motivation has also never been primarily for self-defense, although that is indeed part of my motivation. So why have I invested the hours and hard work at the Do Jang, leading up to this test for Cho Dan - Black Belt?
The first answer, is I always wanted to practice karate since I was little kid, because I thought it was "cool", but was never given the opportunity to pursue my interest. So when the opportunity presented itself and I had the time, I took it. A second motivation for practicing karate is that I believe in developing one’s talents to the fullest, and living a well balanced life that incorporates many different skills and areas of emphasis. For most of my life I have been pushed (both externally and internally) toward an academic emphasis and karate presents the opportunity to more fully develop the physical aspects of my being. Finally, I pursue karate because while we all need physical exercise to maintain a healthy body, I find lifting weights or jogging to be boring. Karate on the other hand, provides the basic physical exercise and conditioning, while also developing skills of balance, coordination, discipline, and self-defense.
Once I started, I quickly confirmed my instinct, that good karate is not just self-defense or physical technique, but rather a way of life. And indeed a way of life whose values I already shared. My first instructor, in the US Tang Soo Do Federation in Cleveland, Ohio was a fifth Dan (Ron Cechner) as well as a professor in both the Biomedical Engineering Department and the school of medicine. He explained that there are three levels, the physical (Weh Gung), mental (Neh Gung), and spiritual (Shim Gung) and he tried to teach the first on a daily basis, encourage the second and provide some instruction in it, and open our minds to an awareness of the third. While I think perhaps I started in the middle, with the mental and developed my own form of the spiritual, before returning to the physical, as Sa Bom Nim Cechner taught us, most people begin with the physical at a young age when they are full of health, vigor, and strength. Only with growing maturity do they develop on the mental plane and eventually the spiritual. As Sa Bom Nim Cechner put it, physical technique and training will get you through some challenges in life, but in order to cope with other burdens, such as the decline in physical ability with age, or the loss of a loved one, you must develop the mental and spiritual tools and reserves to see you through these crises.
As an example of his training on the mental level, I would like to share one of the important lessons that Sa Bom Nim Cechner taught: The mental discipline and control not to use the physical techniques of karate unless truly necessary. As he put it, an untrained person with a lot of ego can often be easily goaded into a fight with a superior opponent (with regrettable consequences) through various forms of taunting. The disciplined student of karate on the other hand, even if capable of winning a physical contest, has the self-confidence and mental control to walk away from a fight over issues of the ego. An excellent example of this discipline is given by Gichin Funakoshi, the father of modern karate in Japan, in his book "Karate-Do, My Way of Life" (Sa Bom Nim Cechner recommended this and several other books to his students). Walking home after practice one night with his class, they were accosted by a band of thieves. While some of the students wanted to attack the thieves and teach them a lesson, Funakoshi felt that their lives were not in danger and that if the thieves needed money badly enough to rob people, they should give them some money, which they did. While I admire the example, I must admit that I wrestle with the question of which is the moral response in this example: to avoid conflict as Funakoshi did, or to apprehend the thieves in order to protect others less skilled that the thieves may accost and threaten in the future. Did Funakoshi have a right to walk away and leave the thieves at large, or did he do the right thing by avoiding conflict? I do not yet have the wisdom to determine the answer.
As the IMA has 5 codes and 7 tenets, so the US TSD had 10 "Articles of Faith" and 10 "Training Principals". Many are identical or very similar in the two organizations. While I agree with all of the items, IMA, US TSD, or ITF, I would like to discuss 2 of these that I think have particular relevance.
The first principal I would like to discuss is "Always Finish What You Start". Sa Bom Nim Cechner instructed that it is easy to begin things, but difficult to finish them. As a result, many people begin numerous different activities or projects, but finish few of them. On the other hand, developing the mental discipline to finish something can become habit forming. It is perhaps less important what you finish, than it is that you make the commitment and stick with it through the ups and downs, tough times and good, to actually reach your goal or complete your task. I was already well on the way to having the habit of finishing things when I started karate, initially due to the insistence of my parents that I finish things, then due to the mentor-ship of a wise boss who believed in finishing things, even if they looked doubtful part way through, and finally, due to my own determination to achieve certain goals I set for myself. If I had to pick one thing which karate teaches, which can make you a better person, it is "Always Finish What You Start".
The second important principal I learned (one of the 10 Training Principals in the US TSD Federation) was to "Use your art in every day life" - it is not confined to the Do Jang. This does not mean use your physical techniques to get into fights on a regular basis, but rather apply the lessons learned in karate to other aspects of your life. "Always finish what you start" is a perfect example. If you only apply this principal within the confines of the Do Jang, you have not profited from the karate experience. If on the other hand, you apply it to your family life (e.g. do not give up on a marriage at the first sign of trouble but rather be determined to see it through the tough times), your business life, and your social life, you will reap great rewards. Likewise, the principals of "Integrity", and "Perseverance", should be applied not only in the Do Jang but in all aspects of life.
Other aspects of karate which can be applied in everyday life include the basic courtesies of saying "Thank you" and being respectful. Still others include maintaining good posture, and being aware of your surroundings. When walking down the street, do not swagger, but do keep you eyes up, be aware of the buildings around you, do not look at your feet and shuffle along. As I like to put it, Mother Nature pays no attention to the laws of man. If you are walking along the sidewalk and a car veers out of control onto the sidewalk, it does not matter whether you were "right" according to the laws of man and the driver was "wrong". If you are not aware of your surroundings and the car hits you, Mother Nature declares you wrong and you are dead - there is no appeal. If on the other hand, you are alert and aware of your surroundings and see the car coming, you may be able to get out of the way and live to argue over man’s sense of right and wrong.
The last concept I would like to discuss is a favorite expression of mine, "To receive training you must empty your cup". If you are full of yourself, there is no room for instruction. Sometimes you must be willing to put aside what you think you know, in order to truly hear what another is saying. This applies not only in karate, but in all aspects of life. The person who needs to demonstrate how much he/she knows, is not open to new information or ideas. This is closely related to our Tenant number 7, "Humility".
I have been fortunate in my training to experience the influences of three different Tang So Do organizations and to have excellent instructors. Naturally, each instructor has had their own emphasis and I believe I am richer for the diversity. As already, mentioned, I began with the US Tang Soo Do Federation under 5th Dan Ron Cechner. After reaching 6th Gup I moved to Boston where I was unable to continue for 3 years, but then resumed with the International Tang Soo Do Federation under 6th Dan Richard Byrnes, eventually reaching 4th Gup. Where my initial instruction focused on perfect basics, good stretching, proper breathing, and the mental aspects of Tang Soo Do, my ITF training introduced for the first time one steps and placed a heavy emphasis on sparring technique with much less emphasis on formality or the mental aspects of Tang Soo Do. Sa Bom Nim Byrnes has competed successfully in full contact sparring, scoring several knockouts. Finally, several years after moving here to Albuquerque, I learned of Kyo Sa Nim Medina’s school under the IMA and have continued my training to the present.
While I intend to continue my training after reaching black belt (after all, that was not the primary goal) simply for the physical fitness if nothing else, I have gradually come to sense over the past year, that black belt is not the end it once appeared, but rather the beginning. Since I have not completed the journey, I cannot say from personal experience what it is like to be a second Dan or a Sa Bom Nim. However, I sense that to this point I have been learning new techniques and forms at a rapid pace, but not necessarily fully integrating them into my sub-conscious. I sense that as I progress from here, I will learn less new material, but will learn to apply and utilize what I have learned much more effectively. Hopefully this will occur on both the physical and the mental planes.
I would like to close with the observation that there are many different paths to the same end. Within martial arts, different styles place an emphasis on different aspects of martial arts, but I sense that by the time one achieves Master level, one has learned techniques of many different styles. I think of Tang Soo Do as primarily a kick, block, punch style, with joint locks, releases, sweeps, and throws coming relatively late in training. By comparison, some styles begin with an emphasis on these techniques and only add the kick, block, and punch later. However, in the end, a Master of either style is comfortable with both sets of techniques. Similarly, in life there are many paths to "enlightment" and many ways to develop a moral lifestyle. However, the basic values are usually the same, regardless of the route. Karate teaches basics such as integrity, respect, humility, and self-control. Some people learn these values through various organized religions, some through philosophy or on their own. For these basic values, as well as development of the spiritual fortitude to overcome difficult times, the exact path may be much less important than the fact that you have embarked upon a path and pursued it with vigor. Some paths will work better than others depending on the individual. For myself, karate reinforces values I have developed on my own and helps me along my path to personal fullfillment.
Finally, I would like to extend my thanks and appreciation both to my instructors as well as to the students I have trained with over the years. I am grateful for their help, encouragement, and camaraderie.
Tang Soo!