Karatedo (Shodo Lectures, Meditation Concepts) Flashcards
Yuuki
Courage
Akui Akka
You reap what you sow. A bad cause brings bad results. Allowing bad technique results in bad form later.
Gaden Insui
Self-seeking. Drawing water into one’s own rice field.
Ibuki
Breathing that harmonizes body and mind. E.g. Inhale on a block, exhale on a strike. Soft/Hard.
Enbusen
Starting point (and ending point) in kata.
Seichusen
“The correct line” It’s the imaginary line that the attacker’s punch or kick will follow as it goes toward the opponent, and the line that the defender must defend against because the attack is coming through this line. As long as you guard your seichusen you will not be vulnerable to the attack. This goes along with enbussen.
Ichinichi Issho
One day one lifetime. If we treat ‘each day’ as a lifetime we will make the most of our lives in all areas.
Ichi-go Ichi-e
“This is the moment.” From tea ceremonies it means, “one time, one meeting.” In karate we used the phrase to remind us to move on with a technique despite mistakes. There will always be other moments.
Nintai
“Showing up and training.” A big part of achieving our goals is primarily about showing up and training and practicing.
Nana Karobi ya oki
“Fall seven times and stand up eight.” In Karate practice, it also talks about endurance and perseverance. It’s the concept that we keep trying even thought we fail repeatedly. The daruma wishing doll at the front of the dojo also symbolizes this concept for the dojo and its students.
Mokuso (shodo lecture)
Means meditation, and it is the act we perform at the beginning of class to clear our mind and prepare our bodies for training.
Shuhari
Stages of learning to mastery, can be thought of as concentric circles where the fundamental techniques and knowledge don’t change
Nen
Mindfulness, the state and power of being in the “now mind.”
Ikigai
“Reason for living” or purpose.
Tonbi ga taka o umu
Literally means “a kite giving birth to a hawk.” The ability to transform that which we do not want into something that delights, fulfills, and satisfies us.
Saru Mo Ki Kara Ochiru
Literally means “even monkeys fall from trees,” and is about compassion and understanding that everyone makes mistakes with those in our personal lives.
Sabi
A key concept in Japanese aesthetics, and refers to a maturity or aged beauty, like a patina that reflects years of experience.
Giri
Duty or obligation – specifically the obligation of one person to another.
Iru Fumei Teki
“To hit the hidden target” — a perspective that urges us to seek the path less-traveled because it often leads to a prize most people never consider, let alone attain.
Shokunin
“A master artisan” — a person who wholly and completely devotes their mind and spirit to the highest ideals of their work, and who feels an obligation to do the work at the utmost of perfection because to do less so would be to let down the world around him or her — and themselves.
Shikantaza
“Just sitting” — and describes both a type of meditation, and the philosophical concept that the universe is exactly as it is: a crazy place filled with joy and sorrow, understanding and mystery, and all that is in-between.
Ryu
“Flowing water” — but it also means “style” or “school of thought” and specifically is used to styles of martial arts. In addition, it has a more significant message for us about the need to both stay true to our ideals and to learn to evolve our core beliefs and continue to keep them healthy and vibrant.
Mugah Muchu
“The power of selflessness”, and highlights the great satisfaction and deep happiness that is a part of being focused on helping others.
Setsu do Motsu
“Strong like bamboo” — and provides multiple layers of understanding about how important flexibility is, and how important flexibility is as a component of being strong.
