Mental training
“A person who has achieved mastery in an art proves this through all his actions” (Samurai saying) Karate is much more than just a sport. On closer inspection, and provided that you train regularly, the training of your own mind becomes more and more apparent.
Kara (empty)
te (hand)
do (way)
So: the path of the empty hand, also unarmed or with an empty mind - in other words: not thinking about anything. At the beginning of the path you are mainly concerned with practicing the techniques (te). However, the longer you train, the more you are confronted with yourself.
The ability to concentrate increases. In the student grades (Kyu) you think more or less about the techniques to be performed. In the master grades (Dan) this thinking should be replaced more and more by emptiness or thinking nothing. Emptiness creates resources - also for dealing with everyday problems. The empty mind knows no prejudices. This means you are better equipped for the tasks of life.
"The path is the goal" - not the result striving for external recognition (black belt), but the maturation of the personality on the way to this goal.
"The highest goal in karate-do is not victory or defeat, but the perfection of the human character"
Thomas Nieth
