Zen in Martial Arts

quotes, sayings, stories, truths, metaphor, idioms, proverbs, so on...

collected by P.DiFiore

" An improper attitude inhibits the application of even the most superb
technical skill. The karate man's archenemies are agitation, lack of mental
flexibility and carelessness. ... Since it involves tremendous speed and
great destructive force, karate requires special control. The proper mental
attitude in this case is the one that enables you to manifest maximum power,
to achieve your goal, and to defeat your opponent psychologically. "

" The life of karate is formal practice fighting, without which karate is no more than a game for one person."

" We might call the individual thrusts, blocks, and kicks we have been discussing the alphabet of karate, that is, the individual parts from which karate is made. Karate formal exercises (kata), by combining all these isolated elements and giving them concrete forms, are the spelling that make the words and sentences of the karate alphabet."

" Since olden times, it has been said that the karate grip requires three years to learn, the standing method another three years, and the thrusting method still another three. In other words, making a powerful weapon of the body is the most important of all karate basics. Completely and correctly mastering this basic requires intensive training, and ..., The very act of mastering it is the road to an understanding of karate's inner essence. "

“… one thousand days of training, a beginner; ten thousand days of training, a master.”

“... The spirit of Kyokushin Karate-do is to fight to overcome oneself, not others.”

"A man who has practiced this (Tensho) a thousand times and has a firm grasp of its theory can not only take any attack, but can turn the advantage in any attack and will be able to defend himself perfectly."

"Because the formal exercises were developed by superior karate technicians and teachers after many years..., they are dynamically and physically concerned with the strength and weakness of the body, with the good and bad points of technique... "

" In modern Karate contests of today, the competitors are never allowed to actually strike each other for fear of causing serious injury... It is my belief that this type of match takes away a great deal from the very essence or spirit of karate... The two combatants should be permitted to actually strike one another so that the judges and the audiences can clearly see who is winning, and how the match is proceeding. Karate should never be thought of or displayed as a vehicle for public entertainment. Nonetheless, so long as it is performed cleanly and according to the rules of the sport, interested spectators should be allowed to observe karate competitions. This would serve as an excellent way to promote and expand the general public's interest in the sport."

Karate is like climbing a Mountain. Life, too, is like climbing a Moutain. It is important to try hard to reach the top at your own pace. Once You are on top, You can look all around. If you stay at the bottom, you can only look up.

This Webpage has been collected from various sources, and compiled by P.DiFiore.

If you have any proverbs, life motto's, riddles, sayings, writing, poems you think would make a good addition (or any corrections) on this page, please email them to Paul DiFiore, c/- RookieKill. All All credits are given, noted.

If you use any items from this page please give credit to this page, and link back to this page. Your honesty is appreciated.

Thankyou.