Comments on: Funakoshi’s Creative Mandate

By: Theodore Kruczek

Theodore Kruczek — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 22:30:00 +0000

As always, great article Billy! Just wanted to let you know that your article got mentioned by myshotokan on twitter. Nicely done!

By: Billy James Parker

Billy James Parker — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 22:43:00 +0000

I completely agree with you. Preservation is important. We need to know where we have come certainly as well, and it’s good to know what each stage of Karate’s evolution looked like along the way. Shotokan’s Secret: The Hidden Truth Behind Karate’s Fighting Origins; by: Bruce D. Clayton Ph.D. (Expanded Edition) Really has a lot to say about this topic. I recommend this book as well. On my page I have a list of suggested reading. Karate needs creativity and a little change in it’s life, times change, threats change it’s only natural. Not everyone should, I do hope some keep the old way. But in my opinion, change is the old way, it’s just become lost. Osu Brother.

By: Noah Legel

Noah Legel — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 16:03:00 +0000

Thanks for the article, Billy! I feel that many people feel that they need to preserve their respective style exactly as it was taught to them. This is fine, in my opinion, so long as it is made clear that a style is being preserved. Personally, I would much rather train under an instructor who finds value in other systems and finds ways to integrate them into the system that they practice, and I am lucky enough to train under just such an instructor. I actually see the process of being creative as being part of the top of my “karate tree” philosophy, so I love seeing other people embrace it!