"Training in karate ultimately means not having to fight anyone." - Yoshio Kuba

 

Posted by ADAM CARTER on DEC 29, 2023

"Training in karate ultimately means not having to fight anyone." - Yoshio Kuba

 

Yoshio Kuba, 10th dan Goju-Ryu karate, once said, "Training in karate ultimately means not having to fight anyone." This profound statement challenges the popular perception of martial arts as solely about physical combat. Instead, it highlights a deeper principle: true control lies in not needing to use force.

Forget the street-brawler mentality. True strength lies in disarming conflict before it even arises. To constantly seek "defeat" in others, if you’ve only been taught to fight, to see the world as a battlefield, is to miss the point entirely.

This approach, Kuba-sensei argues, makes you no better than a common thug.

Instead, cultivate a keen mind and a strategic spirit. Your best defense is often found in foresight and de-escalation. Don't let ego be your guide. Recognize that fighting should be the last resort, not the first impulse.

True strength lies in defusing tension and eliminating the opponent's desire to fight. Focusing solely on "defeating" others creates a street-fighting mentality, far removed from the true spirit of martial arts.

Morio Higaonna, 10th dan Goju-Ryu, echoes this sentiment: "Karate training is a moral training, as well as a physical one for self-defense. It isn't only concerned with developing fighting machines."

True karate transcends the realm of physical techniques. It's about understanding the true meaning of self-protection, about discerning when violence is truly necessary and wielding it with wisdom and restraint. Fighting should always be the last resort, a conclusion drawn after exhausting all other options.

Defend yourself when your safety is at stake, not when your pride is bruised. Learn to disarm not just attackers, but also the situations that might lead to conflict.

This is the legacy of Okinawan karate, a cultural treasure that goes far beyond mere "fighting arts." It's a philosophy of inner peace, strategic thinking, and mindful self-defense. It's about building a life where conflict is not a constant companion, but a distant echo, a path you actively choose not to tread.

The true spirit of karate lies in the wisdom imparted by its masters. It beckons practitioners to rise above the urge to engage in unnecessary conflicts, promoting a philosophy that goes beyond fighting - a philosophy of control, discernment, and the profound understanding that karate is a way of life, not just a means of self-defense.

So, as you embark on your karate journey, remember: true power lies not in the winning the fight, but in the wisdom of your mind and the control of your emotions, and using force only when absolutely necessary.

Quote from an interview with Yoshio Kuba, Okinawa Karate Spirit

 Photo Credit: International Goju-Ryu Karate-Do Sakura-Kai