The ”Do” (Way) of Karate by Sensei Christian
From an early age Sensei Christian discovered that the meaning of the Martial Arts was different to the overall concept adopted by the general community.
The teachings of the Ken-Shin-Kan Karate-do Academy have always been of a more internal nature maintaining the traditional values of our master Seiichi Yoshitaka Akamine. His teachings have been passed down incorporating the internal aspects of the Martial Arts cultivating the mind and the spirit. Even though the martial arts as well as life is and has been in constant evolution, the essence of the arts still remains. Martial Arts teaches us how to evolve into better human beings, capable of reaching our highest dimension hence becoming one with the world that surrounds us.
Master Akamine said “only kind hearted persons of strong character can attain noble ideas” how true a phrase. In the evolution of self and the quest for self discovery we develop the heart and the attitude to create strong character; attaining a positive self full of creativity and noble ideas. This in itself is only the tip of the iceberg, there is so much to learn that a lifetime is not sufficient.
In the way of “BUDO” the way of the warrior we strive for perfection not just physical but also of the self as Sensei Akamine said of strong character, kind hearted, of noble ideas. He also mentioned that a Karateka should not be satisfied with his achievement, instead there should be a constant search for knowledge, always attaining new objectives.
On the above there is a lot written, and in the majority of cases the concept always remains. Understanding the meaning of self discovery and personal development is one thing that sometimes leads to complacency, believing that knowing it intellectually is enough. It is only with the help of great teachers that we can put all that knowledge into practice, and not just know it, but we learn to live it.
A warrior must know how to defeat the enemy, and how to be attentive to the moment, to apprehend the numerous enemies that torment us. We must learn to fill the gap between ourselves and who we truly are. To catch the moment not only in the inaction but also in the action. To go deep within the confinements of our consciousness to find yourself, and learn to live in the light without fear, to live a true existence in a beautiful garden, the garden that awaits on our awakening, once the enemies and monsters have been defeated or put behind us.
Sensei Christian Tapia