the eight precepts of the code of karate

My facebook friend and Isshinryu practitioner, Jithu Nair, asked if I would comment on the Code of Karate given by Tatsuo Shimabuku, founder of Isshinryu, on the graduation silks presented to me and other of his students. I list the eight precepts of the code as printed on the silks followed by their translation (in parentheses) given in Patrick McCarthy’s The Bible of Karate: Bubishi.

1. A person’s heart is the same as heaven and earth
(The human mind is one with heaven and earth.)

Isshinryu means the way of one heartmind, the way of one consciousness, of one awareness. We are like a sphere within a sphere. The inner sphere is our little self – the one who trots around and conducts business, the one who gets all inflated and deflated. When we let that go and are not performing beef on beef actions in the sparring of the little dojo nor in our daily life relationships (the larger dojo), our heartmind awareness begins to open to the larger sphere we are. We embody heaven and earth. We ground and open simultaneously. The grounding and the opening know no bounds. We extend “outward” in all directions with no bounds. We know the inner infinity and outer infinity as the same infinity. Our heart is the same as heaven and earth.

2. The blood circulating is similar to the Moon and Sun.
(Our blood circulation parallels the solar and lunar cycles of each day.)

Blood is energy. The circulation of our energy is similar to the Moon and Sun. The Sun is solar power shining its rays upon all with no exception. So does the light energy of our awareness. We are also instructed to have a “mind like moon, mind like water.” The Moon reflects the light of the Sun with no clinging and no hesitation. These ways of the Sun and the Moon are the ways of the martial artist. Awareness in all directions both internally and externally (internal and external are one) with no clinging to any “thing” (thought, sound, image, movement) and no hesitation.

The Cheng-Tao Kung-Fu Chih-Lun (Discourse on the Correct Method of Energy Work) speaks of this inner sun and moon: “When you see the moon rise from the tan-t’ien, use the true intention to hold it. Unite the sun and moon, gather them, and hide them within. Remain in the absolute stillness of the void and let no thoughts arise. When everything has returned to the origin, the Great Tao will emerge.”

3. The manner of drinking and spitting is either hard or soft.
(Inhaling represents softness while exhaling characterizes hardness.)

The right kind of inhalation can fill the room or space with an assertive calm energy that decreases another’s desire to attack. Inhaling is like a tiger preparing to leap. There is a softness so soft that it is diamond hard. Move forward or strike with exhalation of breath.

Drinking is inhaling. Spitting is exhaling. Inhaling and exhaling are the condensing and expansion of energy, ki, chi. Breath and energy coincide.

Breathe in positive energy (plus ki) to your own being. Breathe out positive energy to all around. If cornered and under threat of life, breathe out a diamond sharp dagger with appropriate movement. Otherwise run like hell.

4. A person's unbalance is the same as a weight.
(Adapt to changing conditions.)

The unbalance of a person’s mind is simultaneously manifested in the body. The unbalance of the mind is the splitting that occurs through the arousal of fear, anger, or anxiety. Jujutsu and the sport of judo are founded upon the accurate use of another person’s unbalanced weight.

A calm mind is a calm body. An unbalanced mind is an unbalanced body. Keep the body in balance and the mind will follow. Breathe deeply, centering and opening.

5. The body should be able to change direction at any time.
(Response must result without conscious thought.)

When centering at the hara (tan t’ien), the sphere of energy that we are can be condensed to the molecular realm. This allows the body freedom of movement, unbound by mental or emotional energies. Response occurs without conscious thought .

Not only should the physical body be able to change direction at any time, more importantly so should the energy body. The energy body moves in accord with the energies around it while keeping its own deep centering. “The sword swings itself.”

6. The time to strike is when the opportunity presents itself.
(Distancing and posture dictate the outcome of the meeting.)

The universe opens and closes, is opening and closing all the time. We move when there is an opening. We are still when the universe is still. Any move made before or after an opening is ineffective. We strike (move) when the opening is here.

There are only four major moves: toward, against, with, and away.

We maintain right distance and right posture when facing any situation. Both distance and posture shift as the situation shifts. It is a dance. We become and are the situation.

7. The eye must see all sides.
(See what is unseeable.)

Open, 360 degree, awareness uses more than the physical eye. One’s senses deepen and heighten when one is in danger. Death sits next to us and is here all the time. We stay awake and open of vision.The eye will shut down if we are not relaxed. We relax in the now and see. We see within and without. The inner infinity and the outer infinity are the same infinity. We are present and open to all around us. We are a centering of the universe.

8. The ear must listen in all directions.
(Expect what is unexpected.)

This is a paradox, as most truths are. We expect the unexpected by having no expectations. Our ear listens in all directions while not being caught by any sound. When our ear gets caught, it no longer hears. When the ear listens, it is one with what it hears. As the sounds transform, so does the ear.