Tode
did not develop from the way of Buddhism or Confucianism. In the
recent past Shorin-ryu and Shorei-ryu were brought over from China.
They both have similar strong points, so, before there are too many
changes, I should like to write these down.
- Tode
is primarily for the benefit of health. In order to protect
one's parents or one's master, it is proper to attack a foe
regardless of one's own life. Never attack a lone adversary.
If one meets a villain or a ruffian one should not use tode
but simply parry and step aside.
- The
purpose of tode is to make the body hard like stones and iron;
hands and feet should be used like the points of arrows; hearts
should be strong and brave. If children were to practice tode
from their elementary-school days, they would be well prepared
for military service. When Wellington and Napoleon met they
discussed the point that 'tomorrow's victory will come from
today's playground'.
- Tode
cannot be learned quickly. Like a slow moving bull, that eventually
walks a thousand miles, if one studies seriously every day,
in three or four years one will understand what tode is about.
The very shape of one's bones will change
Those
who study as follows will discover the essence of tode:
- In
tode the hands and feet are important so they should be trained
thoroughly on the makiwara. In so doing drop your shoulders,
open your lungs, take hold of your strength, grip the floor
with your feet and sink your intrinsic energy to your lower
abdomen. Practice with each arm one or two hundred times.
- When
practicing tode forms (kata) make sure your back is straight,
drop your shoulders, take your strength and put it in your legs,
stand firmly and put the intrinsic energy in your lower abdomen,
the top and bottom of which must be held together tightly.
- The
bunkai (application of kata techniques) should be carefully
practiced, one by one, many times. Because these techniques
are passed on by word of mouth, take the trouble to learn the
explanations and decide when and in what context it would be
possible to use them. Observe principles of torite(grappling)
and applications will be more easily understand.
- You
must decide whether tode is for cultivating a healthy body or
for defense.
- During
practice you should imagine you are on the battle field. When
blocking and striking make the eyes glare, drop the shoulders
and harden the body. Now block the enemy's punch and strike!
Always practice with this spirit so that, when on the real battlefield,
you will naturally be prepared.
- Do
not overexert yourself during practice because the intrinsic
energy will rise up your face and eyes will turn red and your
body will be harmed. Be careful.
- In
the past many of those who have mastered tode have lived to
an old age. This is because tode aids the development of the
bones and sinews, it helps the digestive organs and is good
for the circulation of the blood. Therefore, from now on tode
should become the foundation of all sports lessons from elementary
schools onward. If this is put into practice there will, I think,
be many men who can win against ten aggressors.
The
reason for stating all this is that it is my opinion that all students
at the Okinawa Prefectural Teachers' Training College should practice
tode, so that when they graduate from here they can teach the children
in the schools exactly as I have taught them. Within ten years tode
will spread all over Okinawa and to the Japanese mainland. This
will be a great asset to our militaristic society. I hope you will
carefully study the words I have written here. |
