Letter from a loving fatherDear Sons,
You have learned your martial arts history from me as children, and now from your own study. You often teach me.
You have learned how a man, Jigoro Kano, who was a member of the Japanese educational system, changed Jiujitsu into Judo. He took a Japanese martial art, modified it to make it safer, designed it to be a collegiate sport and used it to support and encourage Japanese culture and history.
In an article, he wrote, “The meaning of jitsu is ‘art, practice,’ and do means ‘principle’ or ‘way.” While he felt that his new art was in some ways superior to the old, the reality was that his changes were safer to practice, and less combative and more sports-like by design. Mr. Kano founded his school during 1882. He would have been proud (as indicated by his writings) to call it “modern jiu-jitsu.”
During 1901, Ankoh Itosu developed Karate-do. He was also an administrator of the school system, but this art was developed on the islands of Okinawa; and he worked in the middle school system there. His purpose, similar to the pattern established by Kano, was to use Karate as a means to encourage the importance of Okinawan culture and history. He wished to use this art to develop important character traits in the children for which he was responsible. His material was made safer to use by the practitioners, and, as an educational tool, he developed the pinan katas (from a Chinese model or not, who knows?).
For the first time, the Okinawan arts faced the challenge of being taught to groups of children during an entire school semester. It was breaking new ground, and it was called “Karate-do.” We would now call this “modern karate.”
During the beginning of 1957, General Hong-hi Choi required the army to be trained in Taekwondo, so the very first Taekwondo students were Korean soldiers. Clearly, it became a Korean-government goal from the beginning, undoubtedly for the patriotic pride of the Korean people, to maintain (or re-establish) their culture and history, and to create a new Korean sport.
With government support and funding, the old Korean arts and the art of Karate learned by Koreans in Japan, were modified into a sport to be practiced by young people-first throughout Korea, then the world. It eventually carried the flag and pride of Korea to every continent. Certainly, the old Korean martial artists would have called it a “modern” version.
Remy Presas did the same with Filipino Kali, and called it “modern Arnis.”
What did these historical events accomplish, and what did they diminish?
First, modern approaches ignited the interest in and growth of each particular art. Membership soared, media coverage became more commonplace, teaching the art became a financial possibility and whole industries developed to supply equipment and training supplies. The martial arts ultimately became an industry.
Additionally, an emphasis was usually placed upon the character development of the student. Was it wrong to change the main purpose from life-and-death combat to helping to make better humans? In the final analysis, I don’t think so, and I encourage you to consider this as well.
Certainly, the number of students from our school who’ve been involved in mortal struggles outside of the classroom is very small. I know this, because I often ask the student population. Even in your lives, consider how many times you have been faced with a life-and-death situation.
I’ve often felt a great part of this development is due to the increased awareness of the practitioners, who are able to sense violence developing and avoid it, rather than stumble blindly into it. Whether you agree with that or not, the reality is that practitioners rarely put their combat training to use.
This would make the lifelong practice of martial arts less important militarily, and more important in the development of “life skills.” After all, how many times has the confidence, the discipline, the focus, the goal setting, etc., been of great value to your lives?
Remember this fact, and continue to develop better people for a better society. It is a proud and honorable way for you to make a living in modern society.
Finally, with all of the training and knowledge that you acquire, never depart from the “do”-the way-the character development of the art you teach. It makes what you do of value to your community and your society.
Your Loving Father
