A college kid in the 1970’s got involved in the martial art, motivated by Bruce Lee, Kwai Chang Caine, and Lo Lei in “Five Fingers of Death,” a long haired hippie in bell bottom pants, tank top tee shirt and a fu manchu mustache, I took a dive and entered a karate dojo.
Like everything else during this time of my life, when I encountered something new, I spent more time watching, observing, emulating, saying nothing, and hoping my “Wild flower” imitation not attract attention.
Despite this feeling, I forged forward, not much to accept the rules but more to learn.
A uniform appearance was necessary as not to be an issue in learning: One less thing to worry about while learning something new and perfecting old.
Though the instructor didn’t have to spell it out specifically, I learned quickly that the process of learning evolved further and deeper than what was in front of me.
In retrospect, prior to entering the dojo, and greeting the sensei, I was taught to bow and say the word “Os,” short for “Onegai-shimasu” which, translated, means “Will you help or teach me, please?” An act of respect, and a culture of self control and etiquette all the while learning self defense.
Sensei made eye contact with me and then yelled “Mokutsu!” I had no idea what it meant, but I saw him close his eyes.
My mind then wandered thinking of the roof caving in, crashing down upon all of us except on sensei who remained untouched and unaffected.
Then through the blackness I heard him speak, “As students of karate, leave all thoughts behind you. Your home, your school, your church. Everything. All thoughts, except karate, no longer exist.” I felt an overwhelming peace.
A long period of silence followed and then “Mokutsu-yame!” I opened my eyes just to see what’s supposed to happen next, and everyone has their eyes opened and trained on sensei.
Learning new skills such as dealing with adverse personalities, this new culture felt like cold ice on my feet.
Mokutsu removed outside thoughts and I transformed into a sponge for learning.
Though I’ve trained in other systems, Shorin Ryu and Shotokan Karate, Aikijujitsu, Okinawan weaponry, Muay Thai Kickboxing, and Taijiquan, what I learned from sensei taught me how to learn by first relinquishing all external thoughts.
In math, grammar, history, science or music, I found that if I mastered the fundamentals, it would be easier for me to climb the learning ladder than had I bypassed basics.
Sensei Thomas’ curriculum was the same, no different than the last.
Karate training brought back “Discipline,” a concept that I heard in conversations helped me.
Discipline a military concept was something I didn’t practice prior to taking sensei Thomas’ class.
Everyone else in class suffered while sensei Thomas remained in his stance punching, striking and blocking, a stoic presence.
On occasions, the instructor corrected through instruction, but most of the time, I just copied.
I can say that the most important part about life is to appreciate its intricacies, learn the basics and become an expert, and in this case, the better copy cat you are the better.
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