It is a privilege
for us to share our
knowledge of karate
with you. We
approach the study
of karate with the
greatest humility
and deep respect for
those who have gone
before us in the
true "way." Karate
is unique. It is the
most powerful of all
the martial arts.
However, it is so
only for the serious
student who
practices in the
proper frame of
mind...no winning or
losing...no friend
or foe, only
training...for which
there is no
substitute!
Your training should
start slowly. You
will be using
muscles that are
rarely used. As you
progress in skill
and knowledge, you
should demand more
of yourself.
Remember, there is
no short cut to
perfection in karate
or in life. If you
truly dedicate
yourself to serious
training, a vast
wealth of knowledge,
self-satisfaction
and enlightenment
await you. But it
comes only through
hard work and
training it comes
only as a direct
result of your total
effort.
Karate is a fighting
art. You must train
with deep
seriousness from the
first day. Each
punch, block or kick
must be delivered
with the power of
your entire body in
unison. No matter
how much time you
devote to
training--months or
years--if your
training consists of
no more than moving
your arms and
legs... you may as
well be dancing, and
you will never
understand the true
meaning of karate.
When your instructor
tells you to do
something, do it
exactly as you are
taught without
complaining. Only
those students
unwilling to face up
to themselves resort
to complaining.
Cultivate a deep
respect for
courtesy, tradition,
and discipline.
These elements are
not confined to the
dojo. At home one is
respectful and
obedient to parents
at school to
teachers at work to
superiors, and in
the military to
officers...so it is
in true Karate-Do
and life. Think of
everyday life as
karate training. Do
not think of karate
as belonging only in
the dojo or only as
a method of
fighting. The spirit
of karate training
is applicable to
each and every
aspect of our daily
lives. The
indomitable spirit
born of bearing down
and gritting your
teeth against the
pain of a thousand
kicks, or blinking
sweat from your eyes
from doing kata over
and over will serve
you well in everyday
life. One whose
spirit and mental
strength have been
forged by hard
training will face
any challenge with a
"can do" attitude.
One who has
undergone long hours
of hard physical
training and mental
agony to learn one
technique can face
any task...and carry
it through to a
successful
conclusion. When you
have done this, you
can truly say that
you have begun to
understand the true
"way."
- Sensei Doug
Perry, Hanshi-Kudan
