Throughout
history there has been an inextricable link between various
practices of meditation and the co-existent development of martial
arts. Indeed, their paths have long been entwined, and pre-date
the legendary monk Bodhidharma and his introduction of physical
exercises to the monks at the Shao Lin Temple in ancient China,
thought to be done in part to increase the their stamina such
that they might continue in the rigors of meditation that constituted
the basis of their religion.
Ken Zen Ichi is a traditional Japanese saying that reflects
the relationship of karate-do to traditional Zen Buddhist philosophy.
In literal translation, Ken refers to the fist, but carries
the deeper implication to symbolize the physicality of the body,
while Zen refers to the obvious Zen Buddhist emphasis on the
attainment of satori, realization or enlightenment , through
the self-reflective practice of meditation. Ichi, literally
one, carries with it the more significant implication that these
two aspects, the body and the mind, are inseperable, and should
therefore be realized as such in the equality of their practice.
Traditional budo (martial ways), and Zen Buddhism share similarities
in that they strive for insight or realization through experiential
repetitive practice, and rely almost exclusively on direct transmission
from master to student.
Gichin Funakoshi , the modern day founder of karate, who was
responsible for bringing the art from Okinawa to Japan in 1922,
changed the characters that symbolized the name of the art from
"Chinese Hand" or "Tang Hand", (due to it's
Chinese origin) to those meaning "Empty Hand,"partly
due to it's meaning in Zen Buddhist philosophy: "rendering
oneself empty."
To Master Funakoshi, karate was more than a martial art. He
wrote, "As a mirror's polished surface reflects whatever
stands before it, and a quiet valley carries even small sounds,
so must the student of karate render his mind empty of selfishness
and wickedness in an effort to react appropriately to anything
he might encounter. This is the meaning of kara, or 'empty,'
of karate."
In 1984, while training in Japan, Shihan Michael Berger met
and trained with the legendary JKA Chief Instructor and heir
to Shotokan karate, Master Masatoshi Nakayama., who shared
with him his favorite saying:Ken Zen Ichi.Later, that same
year, Master Nakayama presented Micheal with a hand drawn
calligraphy of the character "Mu," literally 'nothingness,'
a term significant to the study of Zen Buddhism. Again the
saying Ken Zen Ichi appeared. Furthermore, precious hand drawn
calligraphy received from Soke Kubota reflect similar ideals,
in Soke's rendition of
"Mushin no Do," (way of the spirit of "mu")
and "Mizu no Kokoro," (heart/spirit of water). As
a tribute to both Sensei Nakayama, who passed away in 1987,
and to Soke Kubota, his current master, Shihan Michael Berger
has adopted this name for his karate schools. In addition,
his karma has guided him to become a student of Zen under
renowned Master Gempo Merzel Roshi in Salt Lake City, where
he endeavors to appreciate his life and the furthering of
the dharma under the tutelage of his teacher.
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