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Shu Ha Ri Page 2
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As a central port lying between China and Japan proper, Okinawa was a nucleus of commerce and barter. It was also here that cultural and religious ideas spread, including karate's peaceful ideals. The Okinawan people referred to their indigenous martial art as te (hand) and incorporated the various Chinese ideas, including Boddhidharma's Buddhism, into their lives. As a result, many of these standards became interwoven with the martial arts' teachings. The varied forms of Okinawa-te underwent further development when the Satsuma Clan of Kyushu, Japan invaded the islands and claimed them for their emperor. The Satsuma instituted martial law and forbade many individual freedoms. The Okinawans had no choice but to fight. Ironically, it was this struggle for freedom which helped to purge many of the peaceful ideals from further development in the Okinawan systems. Their fight did not include passive resistance, but was instead a crude example of guerilla warfare. A small island country, Okinawa's populace were mostly farmers or fishermen. With all weapons banned by the Satsuma, the Okinawans transformed their tools into weapons. Subsequently, only the original Chinese "grandfather" styles - wushu, tai chi. kung fu - returned to mental pursuits and lost their violent objectives. This was the catalyst in breaking and maintaining the peaceful traditions within the practice of Okinawa-te: Here the historical phase of ha took place. Ri: Transcending Tradition As the Okinawan people's history continued, it began to turn back to where it started. History tends to repeat itself, so that it's journey is but an echo of it's previous resolution. Yet something new is always added and the path is just as resolute, reproducing itself endlessly until something alters it's course toward broader horizons. |
Gichin Funakoshi was born in Shuri, Okinawa in the fall of 1868 and would have the greatest influence on karate's present state of development. It was Funakoshi who modified the two major styles of Okinawa-te (Shurin Ryu and Shorei Ryu) into a refined system for modern-day Japan. Not only did Funakoshi blend the two styles together to create the largest style of Japan today, Shotokan, but he enhanced the latent principles of harmony and peace. Funakoshi was born prematurely and not expected to live long life. having great trepidation about his poor health, his parents sent young Funakoshi to live with his maternal grandparents. This marked the start of his recovery from a frail child to a sturdy adolescent. Not only was he pampered and coddled, but young Funakoshi was educated and enlightened. His grandfather spent many hours nurturing him physically and spiritually. He taught the young man the four Chinese Classics and the Five Chinese Classics of Confucian tradition. While in primary school. Funakoshi was befriended by the son of Yasutsune Azato, the great karate master. At the behest of Funakoshi's grandfather, Azato and another karate master, Yasustune Itosu, guided Funakoshi in learning both the hard and soft styles of karate. Here too, Funakoshi received philosophical lessons which set him toward a carrer as a schoolteacher, a path that he would follow for thirty years. The events in young Funakoshi's life reflect that of the times of Bodhidharma: strengthened from emaciated physical condition and enlightened spiritually just as the monks at the Shaolin Temple. Although a schoolteacher by profession, Funakoshi was considered one of the most proficient karate masters in Okinawa by his early 30s.
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