For those of you who don't know, I've been at a crossroads in my MA training for a few months now. I was part of a group who left my previous Sensei (with whom I had trained for 5+ years). We intended to go it alone, but over the last few months, it's become clear that we lack the resources to do so, if we want to continue to study traditional Wado-Kai Karate.

To summarize a LOOOONG story, we now have an affiliation with a Sensei from our original style, but not our school. He came to train us yesterday.

We spoke a lot about training an art vs. sport, and what that means. He used the term 'Do' a few times. In my previous training, this was rarely if ever discussed.

My question to those who have some experience in this is: what is Do? I know it means 'The Way'. I've heard answers from 'Shut up and train' to some new agey, ki aligning crap.

Is Do simply applying the lessons learned in the dojo to real life? Or is it something else? Is it something you think about or does it just happen on it's own?

Cutting through the more mystistfying bits "Do" means roughly the same thing as Yoga: a set of methods which is pursued in earnest will lead towards Self Realization.

When you read Matt Thornton discuss things like epiphanies from athletic activities or aliveness training as a kind of yoga that dispenses illusions and false-ego he's speaking of his Martial Arts path from the vantage point of a "Do."

Anyone who attempts to spin more then that to the concept of "Do" is likely peddling BS in the name of Spirituality. Avoid these people like the plague.

Changing the suffix -jutsu for -do (or adding it like in the case of Karate) was one of the policies of the Dai Nihon Butokukai in the process of organizing the gendai (post-meiji restoration) martial arts and promoting the "bushido" in pre-war Japan.

Later, Draeger used the self realization (do) vs self preservation (jutsu) dichotomy and things started to go crazy.

Here (http://www.koryu.com/library/dskoss6.html)is an iteresting article by D. Skoss.

originally posted by DCS
Here is an iteresting article by D. Skoss.

Very good article.




originally posted by Feryk
For those of you who don't know, I've been at a crossroads in my MA training for a few months now. I was part of a group who left my previous Sensei (with whom I had trained for 5+ years). We intended to go it alone

just out of curiosity what was the reason you wanted to break away? Was the training becoming substandard or was it just certain aspects were missing that you were looking for?

Very good article.




just out of curiosity what was the reason you wanted to break away? Was the training becoming substandard or was it just certain aspects were missing that you were looking for?


Another long story, but in short, I lost faith in the Sensei. He's starting to like money too much, and trusts his own people way too little. The training was good, but he was starting to get more into other things than Karate.

DCS,

Thanks for the article. It makes more sense than anything else I've read.

Wow, that was one impressive article.

Oh, and on my side my Judo Sensei opts to simplify ANY philosophical debate over the meaning of various things like "What does DO or JU REALLY mean???" as "Shuddup and train" or "C'mere as I show you my interpretation of DO with this O-guruma" in which case the speaker often finds that DO means D'OH! <-- Bad joke, I know. Forgiveness please.

And thus I always figured "Do" meant literally "do" as in don't think on it, just DO it. Take Judo and use it well and use Kano's teachings when and where applicable and stop sitting on your asses pretending to be Confucious. I personally like this description (tho' reading that article may have me rethinking it... until I get to Judo class :p )

i was once told that "do" means wrecking people's **** for your own philosophical betterment.

i was once told that "do" means wrecking people's **** for your own philosophical betterment.

Sig material.

i was once told that "do" means wrecking people's **** for your own philosophical betterment.

If by "wreck" you mean turn styles into crap then sadly that's oft the case.

If by "go around beating the ever-lovin' **** out of yourself and others so that you somehow gain a better understanding of the world for some random reason that only H2H combat brings" then you're thinking of "Osu" used by Kyokushin-kai. (Yes, I know Osu is also Jap punk slang for wassup)

More about the previously mentioned Dai Nippon Butoku Kai (bold mine):


When Tokugawa Keiki, the last Shogun had abdicated his political power to the imperial throne in the Meiji Restoration of 1867, Japan embarked on a new nation building to catch up with the west and to develop a position of military and political power in the international community. In that tumultuous process, the traditional martial culture and its philosophical tenets became important instruments of national ideology.



In 1895, the leading élan of martial elites backed by Governor Watanabe of Kyoto Prefecture established The Dai Nippon Butoku Kai (Greater Japan Martial Virtue Society) in Kyoto Japan under the authority of the Ministry of Education and the endorsement of Meiji Emperor to solidify, promote, and standardize all martial disciplines and systems. It intended to restore the classical martial traditions and virtues of Samurai way and it mobilized the nation of Japan with powerful legacy of martial culture. Many outstanding and renowned practitioners in traditional Heiho systems, Kenjutsu, Jiujutsu, Battojutsu, Iaijutsu, Kenpo, Naginatajutsu, Aikijiujutsu, Bojutsu, Sojutsu, Kendo, Karatedo, Iaido, Aikido, Judo, Kobudo and from other Jutsu forms and Do systems joined in the DNBK society of national prominence. It was the first official martial arts institution of Japan sanctioned by the authority of the national government. The Prince Komatsu no Miya Akihito had served as the first Sosai, supreme commander of the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai while Governor Watanabe served as Fuku Sosai, vice-commander. Consequently, DNBK became the prestigious headquarters empowered by the nation's leading experts, and established as the center for training, research, licensing, and publication of all martial arts disciplines. In 1899, the Butokuden was rebuilt again to become the place for the ancient glory and highest status for every martial art practitioner. In 1911, Bujutsu Senmon Gakko ( Busen ) (Martial Arts Professional School) was established within a framework of Dai Nippon Butoku Kai to administer national accreditation, certification and professional training of all martial arts disciplines throughout Japan. By 1930, National Government Record on Martial Arts Profile showed more than three and half million Black Belt holders, and more than two hundred fifty thousand high-ranking experts registered in the eight major martial disciplines. In 1946, after the end of pacific war the GHQ of SCAP (the supreme commander of allied powers) issued the peremptory directive to dissolve all military related organizations, and subsequently DNBK dissolved its organizational charter voluntarily.

http://www.dnbk.org/history.cfm