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Selected Quotes of Tsutomu Ohshima, who introduced Karate to America from Japan:
- Each one starts karate with some particular reason: to be a good fighter, to keep in good physical shape, to protect himself. I wanted to become very strong when I first began. But karate training soon teaches that real strength is facing oneself, with severe eyes. This is the first condition of martial arts training. Therefore, everyone in SKA must be strong inwardly but quite gentle to others. As we train together, each contribution to a good atmosphere, let's try to bring out that serious strong mentality from deep inside.
- I was trained by my seniors, and they gave me lots of projects I was never able to understand at that time anyway. I thought they were crazy or mysterious...
- If you are a big man and punch some kids, nobody will say you are a karate expert. But if you face a two-hundred-fifty-pound, seven foot guy-then...
- Repeat in your action with your mind, willpower and emotions. Then, someday, your body and mind will say, 'yes, I understand.' that is basic in martial arts.
- It is not to memorize just numbers of kata or to create more kata after only a few years of experience. I'm very creative. I could make up my own kata, but why? So that I could make a demonstration and everyone would be clapping? No. Kata is completely the opposite of that. Kata is for your own spirit, your own maturity. If you digest the kata, then you become one.
- The true opponent of a karate student is himself. He must push himself to the limit, bring up his weaknesses and overcome them. Words are inadequate; only one's example can help others push themselves. The senior drives himself and leads his juniors with a warm heart. The junior respects the senior and follows him. We consider that because of the junior-senior relationship, we have three lives: our senior's life, our own, and our junior's. In this way our karate has come down to us.
- The purpose of karate practice is to become one, mind with body and conscious with subconscious.
- "Kata, Tournaments and Personal Honesty"
An interview with Tsutomu Ohshima.
by William Beaver, Karate/Kung Fu Illustrated Magazine
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