Twenty Precepts: Attack

The opening “block” from Enpi - Picture courtesy of M Golinski

When I first heard this precept, it was during an explanation about Kata, and why all Kata start with an Uke – or in English parlance a “block”.

I can already hear the gasps and the rush of Karateka getting to their keyboards to make a correction.

Of course, my understanding now is that all Kata start with an Uke which is often a form of attack whilst defending – for beginners though perhaps it’s ok to teach Karate a particular way.

This precept has also come up in discussion online over the years. You know which one I am referring to by now surely.

Karate ni sente nashi

There is no first attack in karate

It is clear to me why there has been confusion – trying to translate the written word of Japanese and Chinese never often translates well, if at all (see the meaning behind Kata names!)

If you take it too literally you will see the word attack as meaning the action of attacking – whereas if you understand the way it is written that to attack is referring to an intention.

This is my understanding, especially from some rather close calls when growing up.

It was also made clearer still thanks to the no nonsense approach of Sensei Iain Abernethy who, if I remember correctly, explained that Kata was a set of strategies to use once you had used up your primary options – grabbing the opponents throat, gauging the eyes, or taking a tight grip of the opponents weak spot 😉 (Offence is the best defence, right?)

So now we have that clear – I hope – let’s consider why Funakoshi Gichin chose to write this down.

Because does it not, perhaps, go without saying.

Like if I said, Boxing is only for the ring, not for using outside. You might think, well that doesn’t need to be said, and if it does it’s perhaps said to absolute beginners to set a condition of learning something which can cause serious harm.

Japan at the time of writing was no stranger to understanding martial arts, there uses, and the harm they could inflict.

Martial Artists, I’m sure, would understand also that they need to reduce the likely hood of having to use them, and setting about attacking someone was definitely off the list of things to do.

I have my theories as to why Funakoshi set this down on paper to be remembered all these years.

Firstly, I think it was just one of the ways in which to promote Karate, as a noble, dignified, respectful form of fighting.

Not the rough and tumble that some Japanese considered Okinawan fighting to be, and not simply a method of fisticuffs that Karate was being boxed into to (pun intended).

Secondly, it was written at a time when Japan was fostering a spirit of the past as it modernised and had introduced the notion of Do as opposed to Jutsu when it came to martial arts.

Funakoshi was, it seems, on a mission to integrate this into Karate – stating that “the ultimate aim of karate lies not in victory nor defeat, but in the perfection of the character of its participants".

Reinforcing this idea by stating, rather tersely, that Karate is not about picking fights sets this tone; and if you have read Funakoshi’s other works like Karate-Do: My Way of Life there is a story about Asato Sensei redirecting an eager and young Gichin away from a possible confrontation whilst walking the streets of Naha.

My last thought is that Funakoshi was attempting to instil a pacifist nature within his art which in most circumstances isn’t really a bad thing after all.

These days, as I think I mentioned, most, if not all, karateka are certain what the phrase means - especially with the rise in application and practical based approaches to Karate.

There is, however, a slight trend amongst a few that wish to show a presence of strength and confidence in posts on social media, that come from a place of needing to prove that when the time comes they’ll unleash hell.

If there are a couple of lessons I have learnt in life is that if you try to show yourself as powerful you can attract trouble for those seeking to topple your dominant position, and to feel that an outward show of strength is required is akin to feeling the opposite within.

If you can trust your art, trust what your learning and how your developing it, then what have you to fear? – the true challenge of Karate lies in working through this mindset which can carry with it a burden of feeling inadequate.

Don’t get me wrong though, showing yourself in order to inspire others is definitely a great way to be, and I absolutely love to see the inventive ways in which we can apply our skills and Kata interpretations – that’s half the fun, right?