The Hawaiian Blessing and Other Customs

In traditional Karazenpo go Shinjutsu  (KGS), you bring your new belt and new uniform to the ocean. Soak them in the ocean water. Let the water saturate the belt and uniform. This blesses them with the spirit of the ocean and provides you with the strength of the seas. This is called the Hawaiian Blessing. It’s a wonderful custom that was forgotten by many schools and instructors.

Black belt takes time

Another custom of KGS is twisting the belt. Twisting of the newly awarded belt takes some of the newness out of it. Usually, they come out of the wrapper and into the hands of the recently advanced student. The belts are stiff and nearly untieable. The twisting or breaking-in of the belt signifies the efforts you put into training. It also represents the fact that you are not new even though you have a new rank.

During Black Belt ceremonies, there is a custom of breathing into belts. Breathing into the belt transmits the spirit of the Testing Board into the new belt. The master or grandmaster put a bit of their knowledge into your belt. The belt (also known as obi) represents your knowledge of the art and loyalty to the school. This custom links you spiritually to the lineage of your ancestral teachers.

Black Belts also have another custom issued by the master. Getting hit by the belt signifies the combat element of the art. It demonstrates you can take punishment and hardship. The ceremonial hit also symbolically tempers the spirit, forging your perseverance and reminding you of humility.

Finally, newly ranked Black Belts drink a shot of saki when the Testing Board presents it. This ceremonial drink represents camaraderie–sharing a drink with your fellow students. You are now a member of the Yudansha, the Black Belts of the school. You have earned the right to represent the school because of your diligence in training and skill in techniques.

These are some of the more interesting customs found in Karazenpo go Shinjutsu. There are undoubtedly more. Does your school have a custom? Tell us about it in the comments.

        

Kempo in Action 5

Here is a real life example of how one of my students actually used a technique in an actual bully situation. “James” vs. the BB Gun.

Several weeks ago, one of my junior students (a nine-year old Brown Belt) said he performed a variant on Gun #7 on a neighbor. His opponent had a BB gun — not a real gun. According to him, that kind of gun still hurts and his friend was
Shoot the other kids on the block.

James said he zigzagged up to the guy, quickly disarmed the gun, backed up and aimed the gun at the guy. The kid said he was sorry to everyone.

James said “Sifu, it really works!” His mom (also a Brown Belt) was proud of him.

I thought to myself, “You shouldn’t be doing gun defenses in real life.” But ended up telling him, “Good job. Keep calm in those situations and train hard. By the way, beware of real guns, please.”

Our little student here, James was able to stop a confrontation without breaking bones or causing blood to spurt out of a nose. He disarmed and cooled the situation down. Hope this inspires you to train.

Do you have any stories about a marital art move that really worked as taught? Post it here in the comments.

        

Kempo in Action 4

Here is a real life example of how one of my students actually used a technique in an actual mugging attempt. “David” a man waiting for his car, approached by two assailants. The names are changed but the story is true.

David was waiting at a dealership for his car to be repaired. He paced the block on the main street of the area. This apparently attracted the attention of two thugs. They approached David quickly. He noticed one fellow taking off his headband and wrapping around his fist. So David took his hands out of his pockets.

They came up to him and started yelling. “Stop seeing my girlfriend. She’s mine. I’ll beat you up if you don’t stop.”

David replied in a calm voice, “I don’t know your girlfriend.”

The main ruffian stepped closer to get in David’s face while the other tried to get behind him. “Yes you do. I saw you with her the other day.”

David stepped in and to the side to keep the second thug away from his back. He stayed close to the primary thug, even inching a bit closer. This showed that he wasn’t intimidated. David also kept his cool and began to slow his speech down in a calming manner. “You are mistaken. I don’t know who she is or where she lives.”

The primary thug, feeling a bit to close to David backed up slightly. “She lives right over there on that street.” He pointed over at the other block.

David looked over at the second ruffian calmly then back to the first. “Look, I’m here to get my car fixed. I don’t know who your girlfriend is. I don’t know where she lives. I’m sure she is very pretty and you are a lucky guy. I have my own girlfriend and I don’t want someone else’s.”

The primary thug got flustered and stepped back a few steps. His friend stopped checking his bandana-covered fist. “Alright, just don’t come around here anymore or I’ll kick your butt. Stay away from my girlfriend. You understand?”

David replied, “Yes, I will stay away from her. However, I may need to fix my car again so I will come back here.”

The two thugs walked back the way they came. David continued to scan the area for more trouble until his car was fixed. What David did was diffuse a potentially dangerous situation. He assessed the men were out to start a fight, perhaps mug him. They began the confrontation with trumped up story to “justify” the fight they wanted to start.

Instead of being a victim, David showed courage without feeding into the hysteria of bravado talk. He calmly addressed their issue (whether fake or real) and stood his ground. He neither egged them on nor submitted to their intimidation. David didn’t feed their anger, which they were using to get the courage to attack him. So instead, they gave him a warning (to save face) and walked away.

Good self-defense doesn’t make it to a fistfight. Use the strategies and techniques to avoid fighting or to diffuse tense situations. This doesn’t always work but it does usually. You’ll know the difference because it’ll go from contact to actually physical contact right away. When fights start with verbal intimidation, you have a chance to use these tactics.

Do you have a self-defense story to share? Put it in the comments.

        

Kempo in Action 3

Here is a real life example of how one of my students actually used a technique in an actual robbery attempt. The names are changed but the story is true.

Natasha, a restaurant manager on the graveyard shift, used verbal and mental self-defense moves I taught at workshops and in class. She used her Mom-justu to keep the vagrants and vagabonds in check. Often in the late night hours, a drifter would come into the restaurant and demand money or food yelling and screaming with fists in the air.

Using a calm demeanor, Natasha told them sternly to get out of the restaurant. “That behavior is not welcomed or tolerated here.” she said. Natasha never backed up or gave up ground. Her confidence and tone broke the will of the opponent and they left.

Only on two occasions did they resort to striking her. Each time she blocked with a strong left arm and wagged her finger at them. “That behavior is definitely not allowed. I’m now calling the police.” Again, her calm yet forceful demeanor never faltered. Again the vagrants left humbled by her defense.

Remember that self-defense happens well before the first strike is thrown. Keep yourself out of dangerous situations. Be prepared and calm. Use your mind and mouth to de-escalate the situation so there is no physical attack.

Have you ever taken a potentially violent situation to a none-event just by using your mind and mouth? Tell us your self-defense story.

        

Kempo in Action 2

Here is a real life example of how one of my students actually used a technique in a schoolyard bully situation. “Rebecca” in Third Grade. The names are changed but the story is true.

Rebecca started at a new school filled with students she didn’t know. It wasn’t long for the other students to single her out as different. The boys started to bully her and push her around, perhaps as a way to demonstrate their machismo and bravado to the other boys. Each time a boy grabbed her arm, Rebecca performed the windmill escape.

They tried again and she escaped quickly. They couldn’t keep their hands on her arm. Finally, they resorted to verbal abuse instead since physical violence was stopped. After a while, they just left her alone.

In situations where fighting can get you in trouble such as the schoolyard, there are still options. You can defend yourself with blocks and escapes without counter strikes. You are not fighting only defending. Rebecca remembered a simple technique we practiced in class…a lot. She used the technique and disengaged the opponent. Luckily, that solved her situation.

Real Kempo in a real situation, share one of your Kempo in Action stories.

BTW, I’ll be out of touch for the next four days so no posts until Monday. Train hard! Train smart!

        

Kempo in Action 1

Here is a real life example of how one of my students actually used a technique in an actual mugging attempt. The names are changed but the story is true.

Mary, a mother on vacation with her family, was attacked in a casino. A strange man approached and distracted her while his accomplice sucker punched Mary. The accomplice lady pulled on Mary’s shoulder and turned her around. Then struck with a right cross. The surprise punch landed square between the eyes.

Mary quickly performed one of Kempo punch techniques that had a leg hock and a three-punch follow up. This busted up the assailant’s face. The strange man stood there in shock. While this happened, a casino security guard watched and approached just as the action occurred. The security guard took Mary away from the scene and calmed her down. The guard saw the whole thing and said she was in the right.

An innocent conversation with someone in a business can turn ugly fast. Nice people usually don’t know a fight is happening until they get hit. Make sure you can take a punch and dish out a counter quick like Mary.