This post is a continuation an earlier post filed under “Dojo Experiments”. Prior to reading the within, please read “General Patton, Horse Gyrations and Kata” filed in the category “Dojo Experiments” below. After reading the earlier post, please embark on the “experiment” and contemplations set forth therein before moving on to the within post.
In part one of this Dojo Experiment, I purposefully omitted the last paragraph of General Patton’s observations. That paragraph is as follows.
After lunch, General Walker arranged for us to witness one of the exhibitions (of horsemanship), which was extremely interesting and magnificently performed. However, it struck me as rather strange, that in the midst of a world at war . . .(some fifty men) had spent their entire time teaching a group of horses to wiggle their butts and raise their feet in consonance with certain signals from the heels and reins. Much as I like horses, this seemed to me wasted energy. On the other hand, it is probably wrong to permit any highly developed art, no matter how fatuous, to perish from the earth – and which arts are fatuous depends on the point of view. To me the high-schooling of horses is certainly more interesting than either painting or music. General George S. Patton., Jr., War As I Knew It: The Battle Memoirs of “Blood ‘N Guts”, (Bantam Books, 1980), p. 311.
Patton On Horseback
Based upon your analysis of the first part of this experiment, how would your analysis change, if in fact it would change, in light of the above? Do you feel that Kata is glorified as an end in and to itself? If so, how does that impact Karate-Do? To what extent does the “modernization” of Karate allow it to “not perish from the earth” as the general would say. Does the term “modernization” equate with “evolution“, “development” or “innovation”? Or, as some “Masters” assert, does any change (including evolutionary processes) dilute the art? To what extent do modern gymnastic-type Kata impinge upon the traditional Kata? Does the “forgotten” aspect of Bunkai dilute the Kata? If so, how? To be sure, there is no correct answer as it depends on one’s point of view.
For me, the proverbial “Gyrating Horses”, lead to an intense study of Kata and (of course) Bunkai which, after much sweat, resulted in my book – Koryu Kata-Jitsu: Ancient Style Art Of Kata. Many years later, after continued practice, study and self-reflection, I began to conceptualize and develop my methodology and ideology of Jiriki Kata-Do – The Way Of (attaining) Inner Salvation Through Kata. The foundation of this methodology is to be found within the heretofore hidden and undiscovered teachings of the Sanchin Kata. These secrets are then carried forward through certain other unique Karate-Do Kata which I have incorporated into the system of Jiriki Kata-Do. The hidden teachings of Sanchin Kata are set forth in my newest book on Sanchin Kata which is described on the Sanchin Textbook page of this blogsite.
I hope this Dojo “experiment” has given you pause to consider your personal feelings as to Karate-Do or other martial art you may practice. Look for more Dojo Experiments in future posts on this blogsite.
Please feel free to view the page herein on my new Sanchin textbook.
You may also find additional information on Jiriki Kata-Do, by reading my article herein dated December 15 , 2009. Entitled “Kata evolves into a methodology and ideology …”
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Tags: Bunkai, Dojo Experiments, Equestrian, Form over substance, Gen. Gerorge S. Patton, Goshin-Do Karate, Jiriki Kata-Do, Karate, Kata, Martial Arts
Kata-RX For wellness 
I am presently in the State of New Jersey and had the distinct pleasure of having had a visit from Shihan Vincenet Marchetti, Soke, Michi Budo-Ryu. Shihan Marchetti read my two articles
entitled “General Patton, Horse Gyraton’s and Kata”. During our visit, Shihan had shared photographs he had taken at the Patton Museum located at Fort Knox, Kentucky with me. Shihan gives many seminars on his Michi Budo-Ryu, several at Fort Knox. I am very grateful to Shihan for sharing his photographs. You may visit Shihan’s Michi Budo-Ryu Dojo at http://WWW.KearnyMartialArts.Com.