Karate-do

Kurofune
The Black Ship of Karate-do
By Joe swift

Introduction
Patrick McCarthy began his training in the 60's and came up through the ranks with
good old-fashioned hard traditional type karate training. He forged his identity on the
tournament floor in kata, kumite and kobudo during the 70's amidst fierce and tal-
ented competition. In the 80's he relocated to Japan, and became widely recognized
for his field studies and historical-based writings. His groundbreaking research, sev-
eral books, including the best-selling publication “The Bubishi,” now translated into
several languages, have been published everywhere during the 90’s. He’s even re-
sponsible for establishing the world’s first University-level undergraduate Diploma of
Martial Arts Instruction program in the new millennium. The success of his interna-
tional seminars has made him one of the most sought after master instructors any-
where in the world. As a 5th generation master-level instructor of Uchinadi, following
Kinjo Hiroshi, Hanashiro Chomo, Itosu Ankoh, and, Matsumura Sokon, he’s walked in
the footsteps of those masters who pioneered modern karate and received his cre-
dentials (Kyoshi 7th dan) from the Dai Nippon Butokukai, as they were bestowed
upon Funakoshi Gichin, Miyagi Chojun, Mabuni Kenwa, Ohtsuka Hironori, Konishi
Yasuhiro, Sakagami Ryusho, and Nagamine Shoshin. A recognized trailblazer in the
application practices of traditional kata, McCarthy Sensei has also been invited to
teach his theories in more than twenty countries around the world including, Canada,
the USA, Venezuela, Trinidad, Ireland, Scotland, England, Holland, Belgium, Ger-
many, Austria, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Russia, Israel, South Africa,
Kenya, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.
 n't just come to Asia for a cou- course, having been married in
Karatedo Kurofune ple weeks to train under a cer- Japan [to a Japanese girl from
Patrick McCarthy Interview tain “Master,” you lived in Nagano, who was educated in
By Joe Swift
Japan for nearly a decade. Tokyo at Aoyama Gakuin, and
What was the catalyst that worked overseas…which is where
made you pick up and move we both met; Vancouver], with
overseas? both of our children also being
born there, and working in a
PM: That’s very easy for me to Japanese high school for many
respond to; I was terribly dis- years, I got to experience Japan
traught with the politics of sport in a way that not many foreigners
karate [which was my life at that visiting or working in Japan do. I
time], the egomaniacal personali- made many wonderful Japanese
ties, and the widespread hypoc- friends; found much more than
risy so rife in the professional in- what I had been looking for in ka-
dustry. rate, and during my pursuits, I
even discovered something very
What was your first impression special about life itself.
of the karate scene in Japan, As the years passed on I also
and how (if at all) did that im- grew to dislike several things. Re-
A young Patrick McCarthy pression change over the siding in Japan during the Bubble
receiving instruction from years? Economy-era, I naturally consid-
Richard Kim Hanshi, his PM: Like so many first-timers, I ered pretty much everything over-
long-time sensei and mentor was very impressionable and priced, especially rents, key/thank
thought everything was larger you money, and real estate. Look
than life, so to speak…almost sur- what happened to so many peo-
First of all, why karate? I real. I was very impressed with ple after the bubble burst! It was
mean, out of all the different the friendly and seemingly mod- very sad. Living in Kanagawa
martial arts available, what est personalities, wonderfully dif- Prefecture, and commuting back
drew you (and still draws you) ferent culture, delicious food, and and forth to Tokyo, you can imag-
to karate? ancient temples, etc. The fact that ine how much I came to dislike
PM: I started learning karate dur- I could freely enter the dojo of crowded trains, traffic jams and
ing my childhood, when I per- well known, and in some cases throngs of people. Socially speak-
ceived it as a vehicle through famous sensei to train and openly ing, in Japan one is expected to
which life-enhancing transforma- talk shop with them was just a tre- behave a certain way…. very “in-
tion towards becoming brave, mendous experience. the-box” like thinking. As I am not
strong, and courageous could be much of a conformist, and prefer
made possible. From that youthfulOf course, as I became more and straightforward-style communica-
time, I passed through the difficult
more settled in and got to know tion, one can only imagine how
years of receiving a good ground-more about Japanese language, frustrating it was working within
ing, went on to become infatuatedcustoms and culture, the novelty
with the competitive arena, and gradually wore off and I began
ultimately become a professional putting things in their proper per-
instructor. Frustrated with politics,
spective. I ultimately came to love
hypocrisy and egos, I decided to many things about Japan and her
walk away from the sport, and thewonderful culture, her difficult but
profession, in search of more provocative language, and her
meaningful pursuits. My search profound spiritual connection with
took me from Canada to Japan nature. I simply love the food, the
where I was introduced to the es-seemingly friendly behavior
sence of Bunburyodo; the twin [BTW, tatemae would be a great
paths of study and training. Thataddition to the western world as it
ultimately opened the door to newseems that so many folk these
and more meaningful personal days lost their manners, common
journey, which continues on even sense, and the idea of fair play]
to this day. and myriad remarkable traditions.
I always enjoyed how gracious
Your credentials read like any Married in Japan, Miyahara
people were; the men are always
Yuriko is his lovely wife of
non-Japanese karate practitio- gentlemen, and the women are
nearly twenty years
ner's greatest fantasy. You did- generally refined and modest. Of
 karate often place their Japanese
counterparts on pedestals be-
At home in Japan with his yond reproach. It was pleasing to
first child, Bianca [Yuko].
discover such leaders were just
mere mortals, fallible just like the
rest of us!

Around 1990 I did a study on a

Meiji-period politician named
Inoue Karou because of my kobu-
jutsu training under his great
grandson, Inoue Motokatsu, and With Sugino Yoshio at the
the fact that he’d also served as Kawasaki honbu dojo
governor of Okinawa. That study
brought me into contact several
important historical issues, which made the most impact on your
allowed me to put cultural behav- current understanding of the
ior in its proper perspective. Spe- art, who would they be, and
cifically, the historical issues were what do you remember the
Confucianism, Kokutai Hongi, most about your time with
Shushin and Nihojinron Wa, them (on and off the dojo
sonno joi and Deru Kugi wah floor)?
that mindset. utareru. PM: Well, there have been so
many wonderful people from
Growing up in a typical western Learning that Japan is a homoge- whom I have gained so much. I
multi-cultural society, I found re- neous, male-dominated and dis- suppose three very important
siding in a more homogeneous criminatory/conformist culture ones are, in no special order,
and conformist-based Japanese provided me with the contextual Kinjo Hiroshi [Karate], Sugino Yo-
culture simply fascinating and premise with which to resolve the shio [Kenjutsu], and Takada No-
learned much more than I ever ambiguity of Japan culture and buhiko [submission-kakutogi].
could have by reading books or customs, and also allowed me to Kinjo Sensei is simply a walking
watching. On the other hand, as better understand Japanese be- encyclopedia of karate, and a
karate has long been promoted havior. This study also revealed genuine living treasure, and the
as a vehicle through which physi- what cultural forces had influence link between the old and the new.
cal health could be fostered, I the transformation of a foreign From Sugino Yoshio, I learned
was somewhat amused to find [Chinese-based] discipline like how classical attack scenarios
that many of these Japanese karate and explain how and why were historically identified and
Sensei were quite fond of drink- it is learned and taught the way it catalogued into prescribed re-
ing and smoking. This is in con- is. sponses using two-person train-
trast with the western stereotypi- Before anyone brands me a Ja- ing drills [I believed this to be
cal image of a Japanese sensei. pan-basher and concludes that I lacking in modern karate]. From
Non-Japanese practitioners of am anti-Japanese, please under- Takada Nobuhiko I learned how
stand that I do not believe for a
moment these issues are limited McCarthy with Japanese Shoot-
fighting pioneer, Sayama Satoru
to Japan. Similar problems exist
in my birth country of Canada,
and in my present country of resi-
dence, Australia. In fact, I am
sure that they exist everywhere.
The fact, however, that they are
common does in no way reduce
my disdain for them. I sincerely
believe that armed with this infor-
mation many foreign residents of
Japan would be much better pre-
pared to deal with the many
socio-cultural issues, which are
too often bewildering.

If you were to list the three

teachers in Japan/Okinawa that
 case these days.

Based on this historical analy-

sis, who would you say some
of the most influential histori-
cal figures in the tradition are?
PM: I can’t help but wonder if per-
haps asking, “what were some of
the most influential circumstances
surrounding the development and
proliferation of karate,” might be a
more appropriate question? So
much ink has been spilt on the
peasant hypothesis, the historical
Author [Joe Swift] with
weapons prohibition theory, and
McCarthy Sensei at Funakoshi
the 36-family influence, and
Gichin’s stone monument
“researchers” have paid so little
located at the Enkakuji in
Kita Kamakura attention to cultural circum-
stances and local trends. By look-
ing into the history of cultural fes-
tivals I discovered the old grap-
pling discipline called, “Tegumi.”
When studying the class structure
of Okinawa’s old Ryukyu King-
dom I discovered the responsibili-
to “think outside the box” when it rect access to the original publi- ties of local law-enforcement offi-
came to functional applications cations in Japanese where per- cials, their requisite skills with a 6’
practices, from which I subse- haps those not residing in Japan, wooden cudgel, iron truncheon
quently linked to the defensive or traveling in the same circles, and arrest/capturing and control
themes in ancestral-based karate did not. techniques. By looking into the
kata. old Ryukyu Kingdom’s commer-
I am not really sure if I’ve actually cial/political liaison with the Mid-
You are also well known for discovered anything too fascinat- dle Kingdom I learned about the
your historical research, a ing but I have certainly enjoyed trade links with China and
study that goes far beyond publishing the results of my his- neighboring SE Asian cultures
names and birth/death dates. torical investigation and the leg- and the enormous influence it
What are some of the most fas- acy of its pioneers. That was a had upon the tiny island culture.
cinating discoveries you made hugely rewarding personal study That study opened the door
in the field? for me from which I gleaned im- through which I discovered how
PM: In truth, much of my under- measurable insight. Of course, Siamese boxing found its way to
standing comes from studying the my study of the Bubishi and its Okinawa as a popular exercise.
original works of pioneers like translation was yet another
Matsumura Sokon, Itosu Ankoh, hugely important learning curve. By looking more closely at the
Funakoshi Gichin, Motobu Choki, holistic aspect of 19th century Chi-
Mutsu Mizuho, Miki Nisaburo, Na- Research has also allowed me nese quanfa I came to recognize
kasone Genwa, Miyagi Chojun, clear away most of the historical how kata [xing in Mandarin Chi-
Itoman Seishin, and Mabuni and tactical ambiguity that has nese] was first used as an organ-
Kenwa. Of course, beyond that I traditionally shrouded the origins
studied the principal works of and evolution of this tradition. By
Japanese researchers, like Kinjo discovering what and how anthro-
Hiroshi, Fujiwara Ryozo, Takami- pological forces effected the
yagi Shigeru, Kinjo Akio, Na- growth and direction of karate I
gamine Shoshin, Tokashiki Iken, have been bring something to the
Nakamoto Masahiro, Hokama table that might not be completely
Tetsuhiro, Ohtsuka Tadahiko, understood elsewhere. Finally, I
and my colleague, Iwae Tsukuo, suppose that by being able to put
to name a few of the most nota- things into the correct perspective
ble ones. I suppose if I had an it takes away the mystic and be-
advantage over anyone else [in ing dependent upon sources that McCarthy Sensei with Mifune
the West], I guess it would have may be biased or not completely Toshiro at the Sugino Dojo
to have been because I had di- reliable…which is so often the
 1930), Higashionna Kanryo knowledge and the latest devel-
(1853-1917), Zhou Zhihe (1874- opments: 2. A teacher, in review-
1926), Uechi Kambun (1877- ing old material, should be able to
1948), Wu Xianhui (1886-1940), derive new insights. Noted trans-
Kyan Chotoku, Tang Daiji (1887- lator/editor author James Legge,
1937), Kiyoda Juhatsu (1886- wrote, "The Master said, 'If a man
1967), and Miao Xing (1881- keeps cherishing his old knowl-
1939), who preceded them. edge, so as continually acquiring
There’s also Ohtsuka Hironori new, he may be a teacher of oth-
(1882-1982) and Konishi Yasu- ers.'" 10 In short, I believe that if
hiro (1883-1983) who played a any learner well versed in the his-
monumental role in the develop- tory of this wonderful tradition will
ment of modern karate. never be inundated by frivolous
consideration or superfluous dis-
Your translations of karate tractions.
"classics" have also become
bestsellers. Why do you think it Your translation of the Okina-
is important that modern karate wan/Fujian “Bubishi” is one of
McCarthy Sensei with his practitioners study these old the best-selling martial arts
kobudo teacher, Kinjo Hiroshi books? publications in the world. How
PM: Among my favorite koto did this project come about?
ized form of physical exercise waza [maxims] is, "On Ko Chi PM: I stumbled onto the little pi-
[not unlike Meiji-period Taiso]. Shin" [“To search for the old is to rate copy of Mabuni Kenwa’s
Studying the history of Japan’s understand the new," ... my trans- 1934 “Seipai no Kenkyu” [Taiwan
Meiji Restoration, with a special lation]. Based on the Kongzi published] in Toronto’s China-
emphasis on her radical period of Lunyu (the Analects of Confucius) town during the 1970’s. As you
military escalation, I discovered from China, the sentence origi- now know, the publication in-
why Itosu Ankoh was granted nally reads "zi yue wen gu er zhi cludes Itosu Ankoh’s version of
permission to used kata [as a xin keyi wei shi yi." From this the Bubishi in the back half of it
form of human movement] in the comes the contraction "wen gu but I never realized its importance
school system as a vehicle zhi xin" (On Ko Chi Shin in Japa- until Chinen Teruo [the student of
through which to funnel both nese). The passage has two main Jundokan’s Miyazato Eiichi]
physical fitness and social confor- interpretations: 1. "The Sage showed me a copy of the Higa-
mity, in support of the war ma- said: reviewing the old and know- lineage Bubishi during a tourna-
chine, in the same way that ing the new, (one) may be a ment hosted by Ozawa Osamu’s
Kendo and Judo were being used teacher." meaning that a teacher in Vas Vegas about ten years
on the mainland. By looking at should be conversant in both old later. From that time forward I be-
the underpinnings of Japanese
society [described earlier in this
interview] and the omnipotence of
the pre-war Dai Nippon Butoku-
kai, I was able to easily identify
how karate conformed under the
weight of Budo culture. In fact, I
could write an entire book just on
this aspect of historical influence
alone9.

Of course, the contributory au-

thors I have already mentioned
stand as central icons in the evo-
lution of this tradition. So too
were Sakugawa Kanga (1733-
1815), Waixinzan (DOB?), Iwah
(DOB?), Ason (DOB?), Anan
(DOB?), Matsumora Kosaku McCarthy Sensei in South
(1829-1898), Kojo Taite (1837- Africa with Zulu stick-fighter
1917), Aragaki Seisho (1840-
1920), Norisato Nakaima (1850-
1927), Xie Zhongxiang (1852-
Koryu Uchinadi 型 [Kata] Applications
Here’s a single technique applied more than a dozen different ways
 plishes its combative outcome
through using highly functional
Edwardian London Pierre Vigny

two-person drills, which I found

seriously lacking in modern “rule-

Codex Wallerstein
bound” karate.

I based my study on those classi-

cal acts of physical violence ha-
bitually used by men against men
in empty-handed one-on-one civil
aggression during the 19th and
early 20th centuries in China, Tai-
wan, SE Asia, and Japan/
came infatuated with discovering Okinawa. I borrowed liberally
its contents, which ultimately lead from my experience with Chinese
to an incredibly rewarding jour- and SE Asian martial art prac- safe learning environment. Ana-
ney, including my immigration to tices11, used abstract themes lyzing each HAPV [bunkai-jutsu]
Japan, and field study trips to from the Bubishi12, and the con- provides the basis of understand-
China, Taiwan, SE Asia, Korea, textual premise used in Katori ing its mechanics, and dynamics,
Egypt and India. Shinto Ryu13 and contrasted them its strengths and weaknesses.
with classic Shaolin empty- Without this intelligence it is frivo-
You are known the world over handed scenarios14. Broadening lous trying to develop workable
for pioneering your tactical strategies. I
"HAPV" Theory. Can brought the application

Hans Talhoffer’s Fechtbuch

you please describe practices [oyo-waza] of
this theory, as well as these tactical strategies to
tell us a bit about the life in two-person drills.
BFO's that led you Each HAPV could be rec-
there? reated by uke [attacker/
PM: As I previously receiver] while tori
mentioned, it was dur- [defender/taker] re-
ing the time I studied enacted the defensive re-
Tenshi Shoden Katori sponse. As learners gain
Shinto Ryu, at the Su- familiarity and proficiency
gino dojo in Kawasaki with each drill they are
that I had my BFO. encouraged to increase
Like a blinding flash of power, strength and resis-
the obvious, I learned tance [gradually or expo-
how classical attack nentially depending en-
scenarios had been tirely upon physical prow-
historically identified, studied and my analysis, I also explored the ess, and aptitude] so that two out-
ultimately developed into individ- defensive practices found in turn- comes can be achieved:
ual and collective leaning tem- of-the-century jujutsu styles15,
plates, each with prescribed re- and medieval manuals on empty- #1. Making the attack scenario as
sponses and variations on com- hand fighting16. I ultimately identi- life-like as possible, and…
mon themes. Shinto Ryu accom- fied 36 individual attack scenar- #2. For each learner to develop
ios17 and 72 variations on these
common themes for a total of 108
1539 Ringer Kunst
Nicolas Petter 1674

separate practices. I further di-

vided the attack scenarios into
three individual categories:

#1. Seizing,
#2. Impacting,
#3. A combination of #1 & #2
used together.

These 108 attack scenarios pro-

vide an opportunity to recreate
and study each conceivable sce-
nario of physical violence in a
 Power"] Boye de Mente's work on
kata clearly illustrates how uniquely
Japanese this "way/process" influ-
ences every aspect of their cul-
ture; eating, reading, writing,
speaking, walking, sitting, drinking,
thinking, to you name it! After living
and experiencing a decade of
Japanese culture, I agree with De
Mente's position; that the tradition
of using kata [“cast” since ancient
times] compels the Japanese to
McCarthy Sensei poses with his learn patience, diligence, precision,
collection of trophies amassed form, order, makes them acutely
after more than a decade of aware of spatial relationships, and
open competition hones their manual dexterity, and,
that Japanese who do not follow
the precise patterns of behav-
highly functional skills. dardize core curricula in these early ior stick out like sore thumbs, and if
quanfa schools, I believe that pio- they persist, may even be ostra-
I ultimately chose the acronym neers formalized prescribed model cized. As an "out-of-the-box-
HAPV to represent what I identified responses into creative geometri- thinker," who resided in Japan's
as Habitual Acts of Physical Vio- cal shapes . conformist-based culture, there's an
lence. important lesson I painfully remem-
In this phenomenon we can not ber which underscores De Mente's
And, how about the things that only identify find crucible from comments; Derukugi wah utareru
led you to discover their con- which kata evolved, it is even plau- [A protruding nail gets hammered
nection to the classical kata of sible to suggest that kata were down or ultimately ostracized--
karate? never originally developed to impart mura-hachi-bu]. Finally, when any
PM: By separating the two-person the actual lesson, but rather to cul- number of moulds [型] are brought
drills into equal parts [#1.the HAPV minate that which had already been together into a single study it is also
portion and #2. its prescribed de- taught. This, however, I believe referred to as kata [形]; A homo-
fensive response] I was able to ritu- changed radically when attention nymic term meaning form, shape or
alize each part of the practice [i.e. a shifted from the classical one-on- [teaching] style.
bear hug & its response] into mne- one, or, small group hands-on style
monic-like templates18. Historically of instruction, to drilling huge What can you tell us about the
speaking, I believe that kata were groups of students in the school- various defensive themes hid-
originally devised by using such in- yards of turn-of-the-century Oki- den inside the kata?
dividual model responses and ex- nawa. Training curricula were sim- PM: I’ve already outlined this earlier
pressed grammatically by using the plified and kata became the princi- in the HAPV-theory and two-person
following ideogram [pronounced pal tool used for fostering physical drills but would like to add the fol-
xing in Chinese and kata in Japa- fitness and social conformity in Oki- lowing: The fundamental defensive
nese]. By arranging HAPV-related nawa’s school system. themes hidden inside the kata fo-
prescribed responses into unique cus largely on overcoming an oppo-
geometrical configurations, ex- Looking beyond Budo and into the nent through seizing and impacting,
pressed grammatically by using the historical landscape of the Japa- or a combination of the two. Com-
following ideogram [also pro- nese it gradually becomes obvious mon categories include striking
nounced xing in Chinese and kata that Kata [型], as a mould/type or anatomically vulnerable targets,
in Japanese] early quanfa pioneers model, is as much a product of the strangulation, balance displace-
succeeded in developing some- culture as the culture is a product of ment, joint/connective tissue ma-
thing greater than the sum total of this conformist mindset. A micro- nipulation, cavity/fossa pressing,
its individual parts. Not only could cosm of the abstract society from
students come into contact with the which it comes, looking at kata, out-
HAPV, and learn highly functional side the contextual premise of
prescribed defensive responses to Budo, we can more clearly observe
them, they could also improve their the profound influence it has on the McCarthy Sensei’s 8th Dan
McCarthy Sensei’s 8th Dan
physical skills, mental focus, and traits and talents of the Japanese.
holistic condition, hence strength- Not unlike the message delivered
ening the overall learning process. within the writings of Karel van
In an effort to establish and stan- Wolferen ["Enigma of Japanese
 enlightenment could be achieved jutsu, can you describe the
by happily devoting oneself to curriculum for us?
training and ignoring trivial dis- 1. Chokyu, 2. Happoren, 3. Ha-
traction, and wrote, in an abstract kutsuru, 4. Kusankun, 5. Naifan-
poem, that "when the spirit of chi, 6. Nanshu, 7. Nepai, 8. Ni-
Karatedo (written as "bu" for seishi, 9. Passai, 10. Rakan-ken,
Budo) is deeply embraced it be- 11. Ryushan, 12. Sanchin, 13.
comes the vehicle (described as Seisan, 14. Sochin, 15. Tai Sa-
a boat) in which one is ferried baki, 16. Unsu, 17. Wando...
across the great void to the more here http://koryu-uchinadi.
"dao" (described as an island). com/koryu_Uchinadi_Curriculum.
htm
A younger McCarthy receives Correctly studied the kata re-
instruction from Teruo Chinen veals both the physical and You are also well known for
at the Vancouver Karate metaphysical precepts of Karate- your Yamaneryu Kobudo.
Centre during the mid-1980’s
do. Best described through the What is this unique method?
abstract tenets of "shuhari," Kinjo PM: As you know I had studied
and clinching or grappling. In or- Hiroshi, a person characterized a karate/kobudo in Canada for 17
der to make these counter and walking encyclopedia of karate years before meeting my
defensive themes work effec- history, philosophy, and applica- teacher, Kinjo Hiroshi Shihan.
tively the student needs to under- tion, maintains that kata is the Having already been a 3-K top-
stand how the mechanics of the bible of Karatedo. ten rated tournament champion I
5 Ancient Machines19 [in contrast was both skillful and experienced
with anatomical structures] along To a beginner of Karatedo, kata in Kata, Kumite and Kobudo.
with a simple 5-part lesson20 in is the vehicle through which the Knowing that I had both the skills
application of kinetic power. central principles of self-defense and experience, Kinjo Sensei
So far we have touched mainly are first learned. If there is any- happily passed his kobudo
upon the purely utilitarian as- thing else to be discovered be- knowledge onto me [in addition
pects of kata, yet we are told yond that, it is only something, to learning karate under Hana-
by which manifests itself after in- shiro Chomo, Tokuda Ambun,
the old masters that kata is so sightful guidance, intense study and Gusukuma Shimpan, he also
much more than simply this. and thousands upon thousands studied under Oshiro Chojo—
What are some of the other of repetitions; a practice, which who was also an accomplished
benefits of kata training? compels one to turn their atten- kobudo practitioner under Chinen
PM: Earlier I described kata as a tion inward. Miyamoto Musashi, Sanda]. I was able to take what I
holistic form of human movement when describing the kata, once learned from Kinjo Sensei and
and a vehicle through which to wrote, Senjitsu no keiko Tan To systematize it into a cohesive
condition the body, cultivate the ii, Banjitsu no keiko Rento learning format, in the same way
mind and nurture the spirit. Yu," [1000 days to forge the that I did with my karate practice.
spirit, 10,000 to polish it]. In contrast to other mainstream
On a spiritual plane, Uechi Kan- Okinawan-based practices Ya-
bum said, "Only through the re- About the karate that you mane Ryu kobudo is quite circu-
lentless study of Karatedo could teach, Koryu Uchinadi Kenpo- lar and flowing but not at the cost
one achieve the highest stan-
dards of inner beauty and
strength. The fusing of the body
and mind through Karatedo is
indescribably beautiful and spiri-
tual. When totally absorbed in
kata one is brought into complete
contact with the central core of
their being. It is there that the es-
sence of Karatedo is to be dis-
covered."
Prof. Wally Jay was an
Mabuni Kenwa concluded that
early and instrumental
understanding the deepest
influence upon McCarthy
meaning of Karatedo first meant
during the 1970’s and
transcending ego-related distrac- 1980’s in Canada
tions and finding inner-peace.
Mabuni Sensei believed that
 McCarthy Sensei often says that he’s only mediocre but like to surrounds
himself with good people—–perhaps this is what he means; Here, at the
Ginowan sports centre in Okinawa, he is surrounded by Higa Seikichi,
Matayoshi Shimpo, Miyahira Katsuya, Nakazato Shugoro, Nagamine
Shoshin, Higa Yuchoku and Uehara Seikichi.

of losing its dynamic forcefulness. and an excellent way with which phere he cultivates with his char-
It’s also completely application- to help eliminate the terrible ambi- ismatic personality, makes attend-
based. guity which tends to shroud the ing his seminars not just a re-
You spend a lot of time on the inner-workings of this wonderful warding learning experience, but
road, teaching seminars all tradition. In the words of Krishna- also a genuine pleasure.
over the world. Can you please murti, "All of us are working to-
let us know about what kind of gether in a spirit of real co- Built upon timeless principles, Ka-
seminars you teach? operation in which there is no sin-rate is a way to condition the
PM: My seminars are all kata- gle authority: it is our interest in
body, cultivate the mind & nurture
based application practices using the teachings which brings us to- the spirit. Through diligent training
the HAPV-theory and highly func- gether and helps us to work to- one can improve health, its holis-
tional two-person drills. More im- gether." tic purpose; be better prepared to
portantly, I try to bridge styles by protect oneself, its defensive ap-
breaking down political barriers Conclusion plication; build moral character, its
and misunderstanding through Having simplified the process of social aim; discover and over-
illustrating how common acts of reverse engineering kata through come the source human weak-
violence are effectively negotiated his HAPV-theory and highly func- ness; its philosophical nature, and
by identical mechanics, and sup- tional two-person drills, McCarthy finally, to know inner-peace, its
ported by immutable principles. In Sensei reminds each of us that spiritual essence. Supporting
short, my message is to “think kata is better understood through every facet of this practice is a
outside the box.” studying the sum total of its indi- message far greater than the
vidual parts. Perhaps it is for this physical conduit through which it
In closing, is there anything reason that Patrick McCarthy’s is delivered. The art reminds each
else you want to touch on for popularity is sustaining such lon- of us of our own humanity, the
readers in Japan? gevity in a tradition where other importance of improving the qual-
PM: Don’t be afraid to “Think out- very competent instructors con- ity of daily life and our responsibil-
side the box,” nor question your tinually come and go. By all ac- ity to contribute to the welfare of
teachers [respectfully], as critical counts his growing popularity those within the field of our influ-
thinking is perfectly acceptable seems to be fuelled by four ence. Respecting time honored
things: #1. A genuine desire to values, Patrick McCarthy Hanshi
better understand the true nature is a dedicated professional pro-
of kata. #2. The quality of what he moting both this timeless mes-
is imparting. #3. His student- sage and functional application
friendly teaching style. #4. A sin- practices with a new generation of
cere appreciation for his willing- more progressive learner seeking
ness to openly share the pene- to better understand traditional
trating insights and his practices. Okinawan/Japanese karate and
McCarthy with Kinjo Hiroshi Moreover, his open-minded ap- not afraid to look outside their
at his home in Hiratsuka proach to teaching, supported by own peer groups to find it. Echo-
the friendly and informal atmos- ing the wisdom of Funakoshi
Gichin, “All traditional karate is one: Metaphoric, referring to failure to conform in
Japanese society. 17
karatedo. Traditional karate is 1. Straight kicks
Budo. We MUST keep this philoso- 9 2. Angular-type kicks
The influence of the pre-war Dai Nippon 3. Straight punches
phy.” Butokukai, as a microcosm of Japanese 4. Circular punches
Budo culture, transformed the embryonic 5. Downward strikes
Readers may contact the International Ryu- way karate was embraced in old Okinawa. 6. Upward strikes
kyu Karate Research Society c/o Such things as the dogi, the obi, the chang- 7. Knee & Elbow strikes
[email protected] ing of its prefix/suffix, the adoption of the 8. Head-butt/Biting & spitting
dan/kyu structure, the paper menkyo li- 9. Testicle squeeze
Endnotes cense, ippon-kumite drills, and the shiai 10. Augmented foot/leg trips
format, are all Japanese innovations based 11. Single/double-hand hair pull from the
1 http://www.everything2.com/index.pl? upon early 20th century Judo & Kendo, and front/rear
node=Inoue%20Kaoru largely the product of Konishi Yasuhiro and 12. Single/double-hand choke from the
his colleague/friend Ohtsuka Hironori's ef- front/rear
2 In order to understand education and un- forts [Ohtsuka studied karate with Funako- 13. Front neck choke from rear
derlying principles in Japan, it is imperative shi & Motobu, while Konishi learned under 14. Classical head-lock
to study Confucianism and its effect on cul- Funakoshi, Motobu, Miyagi, Mabuni and 15. Front, bent-over, augmented choke
tural mindset and ethos of its people. The Uechi]. Hence, it can be argued that Okina- (neck-hold)
Japanese might outwardly reject the notion wan karate, especially if an organization, 16. Half/full-nelson
of Confucianism as a dominant force in their dojo, teacher or student adhere to these 17. Rear over-arm bear hug (& side varia-
culture, but it is very evident that Confucian Japanese Budo Cultural influences, must tion)
values are implicit in the Japanese way of then be embracing, practicing and imparting 18. Rear under-arm bear hug (& side varia-
life: "stability, order, belief in the family, har- Japanese karate. tion)
mony, hierarchy in the work-force, loyalty to 19. Front over-arm bear hug (& side varia-
employers and superiors, importance of 10 tion)
Chapter XI http://nothingistic.org/library/
diligence, self-cultivation and so on." 20. Front under-arm bear hug (& side varia-
confucius/analects/analects02.html
tion)
3 http://www.iar.ubc.ca/centres/cjr/jsac2000/ 11 21. Front/rear tackle
brownlee.pdf Two-person hand drills from Silat, Arnis, 22. One-handed wrist grab (same & oppo-
Wing Chun and Taiji. site sides-normal/reversed)
4 Shushin and Kokutai represent diligence, 23. Two-handed wrist grabs (normal/
regimentalism, conformism, the commitment 12 The section addressing the 48 two- reversed)
to mass productivity, strict adherence to 24. Both wrists seized from the front/rear
person postures and the section on escapes
seniority, emperor worship, and lifetime loy- & grappling. 25. Both arms seized from the front/rear
alty to its precepts. 26. Single/double shoulder grab from front/
13
rear
5 The essential premise of Nihonjinron is Katori Shinto Ryu lays great emphasis on 27. Arm-lock (behind the back)
that Japanese people are unlike any oth- mastering the use of its curriculum through 28. Front arm-bar (triceps tendon fulcrum up
ers - unlike either Westerners (typified by two-person drills where the tori recreates supported by wrist)
Americans) or Asians such as Chinese and the classical attack scenario and the uke re- 29. Side arm-bar (triceps tendon ful-
Koreans. In other words, Japanese customs enacts the classical response theme. crum down supported by wrist)
and people are held to be unique: i.e. Japa- 30. Single/double lapel grab
nese people have different brains from 14 31. Single/double-hand shove
In a 1992 interview with Liang Yiquan
Westerners and hence cannot pronounce "r" [DOB 1931, Dengfeng county] of the Histori- 32. Garment pulled over the head
and "l" correctly. Even though Japanese cal Research Society at the Shaolin Temple, 33. Seized & impact
youth who grow up in a Western country I learned of the 36 classic acts of physical 34. Single/double leg/ankle grab from the
using "r" and "l" correctly, this has been violence. front (side/rear)
proposed as a serious theory. Japanese 35. Ground straddle
people use the left side of the brain but 15
36. Attacked (kicked/struck) while down
Westerners use the right side of the brain, “Jiu-Jitsu Tricks,” by K. Saito, publisher
or vice-versa. Richard K. Fox NYC 1905, Irving Hancock's 18
A mechanism used as an aid to assist the
1905 publication, entitled “The Complete
Kano Jiu-Jitsu,” “The Text Book of Ju memory.
Japan is the only country with four distinct
seasons, and Japanese people thus have a Jutsu” (as practiced in Japan) by S.K. Uyen- 19
unique connection with nature. ishi, “Jiu Jitsu Combat Tricks” by H. Irving Patrick McCarthy believes that virtually
The Japanese language is uniquely vague Hancock, “The Complete Kano Jiu-Jitsu” every application technique that has to do
and imprecise, in contrast to languages 1905 by H. Irving Hancock & Katsukuma with hyper-extension/hyper-flexion, balance
such as English, which are held to be highly Higashi, “Ju-Jitsu” (Exposure of all Methods displacement, and strangulation, etc., can
logical and precise. This reflects on the of Self-Defence) by Higami Kasatu Briton be explained through the 5-ancient ma-
Japanese unique way of thinking. Only the Publications, Sydney Australia, “The Secrets chines; Lever [3-categories], the wedge,
Japanese language has words for various of Jujitsu “(7 Vols) 1918-19 Captin Allan pulley, screw, and fixed axel & wheel. `http://
emotions, colors, etc. These ideas, colors, Corstorphin, Stahara Pub Co., “Combat Jiu- www.tpub.com/content/engine/14037/
etc. cannot be expressed in Western lan- Jitsu” by S.R. Linck, publisher Stevens-
guages. Many of these may seem ridiculous Ness Law Publishing Co. Portland, OR 20
1. Location (The precise anatomical
to outside observers. http://en.wikipedia.org/ 1943, and Joseph Charlemont’s “Savate” structure to be attacked)
wiki/Nihonjinron 1920, etc.
2. Tool (Which part of the body [fist, foot,
elbow, knee, fingertips, etc.] used to attack
6 Karel van Wolferen, "The Enigma of Japa- 16
Sources included, Talhoffer’s 1443 with)
nese Power," (London: MacMillan London “Flehtbuch,” Hans Wurm's “Ringbuch” c. 3. Angle (The angle of energy transfer)
Ltd., 1989), p. 412: “Wa” is an element of 1507, Vollstandiges Ring-Buch 1659, “Clear 4. Direction (The direction of energy trans-
Japanese culture, perhaps better described Instructions to the Art of Wrestling” by fer; i.e. back to front, perpendicular to loca-
as the readiness to sacrifice one's personal Nicolaes Petter 1674, Edmund Price “The tion, etc.)
interests for the sake of harmonious com- Science of Self Defence” (A Treatise on 5. Intensity (The amount of energy trans-
munal unity. Sparring and Wrestling) 1867, Prof. Mike fer necessary to achieve the desired out-
Donovan's 1893 “Science of Boxing,” The come)
7 Revere the Emperor! Expel the Barbari- “New Art of Self-Defence,” by E.W. Barton-
ans! Wright (Copy of the 1901 Pearson Maga-
zine Article).
8 “A protruding nail gets hammered down;”