Seeking Peace First
For anyone who has studied any of the martial arts styles at any point in their life, the Karate Creed may be something you have heard before. In keeping with the tone of my last post, I am posting the Karate Creed here today.
I come to you with only karate, empty hands.
I have no weapons, but should I be forced
to defend myself, my honor, or my principals,
Should it be a matter of life or death, of right or wrong,
Then here are my weapons,
My empty hands.
In the beginning, pretty much all of the martial arts styles originated as harmonic exercises to benefit mind and body. This is where the forms and Kata came into play. Back in the day, the martial arts were not focused on teaching self defense techniques; not the way you see them taught today. They were focused more on energy and harmony.
I’m a self defense guy; it is what I do – teach self defense techniques. So why am I focusing on peace and harmony lately? No, I’m not getting soft in my old age. As a victim of road rage, I have seen the other side of violence. I have watched my wife get terrorized by thugs who had no real business with us at all; but because they lacked the integrity and respect for humankind, we just happen to become their targets.
Martial arts styles today have changed so significantly from their origins that you may find little trace of the respect and tradition that belong in these arts. Self defense techniques are awesome. They will get you out of dangerous situations and possibly save your life. Self defense techniques and mindset have a great place in this world, and it is my mission to bring that pertinent information to anyone and everyone who would like to learn to protect themselves.
While I teach self defense techniques, however, I never want to forget that the ultimate goal is to live peacefully. And while there are ample ways to learn to protect yourself, it cannot be understated that respect – both for yourself and for others – is high on the list of helpful characteristics. In Karate and other martial arts styles, there is a love of peace, a respect for humanity, and the seeking of harmony.
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