KARATE DO AND THE ANSWER TO "THE IMPOSSIBLE THING"
Master and student walking in the forest...
For a Martial Artist the impossible thing doesn't exist, the Master said. A Martial Artist should overcome to any adversity.
But Master – the student answered – you always had taught us that we don't think that to be karatecas we can conquer all the other ones.
Who is only interested in karate, he lives thinking how overcoming the other ones, and to compared oneself with the other ones, is not another thing that to put on limits oneself.
The important thing is to think in an horizon that it is always a step further on.
But Master – the student insisted – the horizon it is impossible to reach, we will never be able to arrivet, if it will always be is a step further on.
That is not the correct philosophy. Let us don't think that it is unreachable because it always will be a step further on. Let us think that it is a luck that the horizon shows us, that the possibility always exists of walking a step further on.
Let us don't compare ourselves with anybody, more than with ourselves. The important thing is the superation of ourselves. In this superation of ourselves, the possibilities will be infinite.
Let us take the example of the horizon.... we must to be a step further on!!! ...
... This is Karate Do and for who practices Karate Do the impossible thing it doesn't exist.
Who practices karate it is a karateca, who practices Karate Do is a Martial Artist and a Martial Artist is not given by conquered, even conquered... he always has an horizon...
Suddenly they met with three brothers – students of the Master too - that they complained and discussed themselves.
What does happen, the Mast asked ?
Master – responded the bigger of the brothers – because of not following your teachings, our father has punished us.
Tonight there is a meeting in the town, to the one we want to attend, but we need it money and we don't have it.
Because of among the three, we need ninety currencies, our father authorized us to take the last ninety lettuces that we had left of our crop, and that - as to be the last ones are quite withered - we only sold the letuces by one currency each one. In this way, because of to be so cheap, easily we would join the ninety currencies.
But I found that - because of to be the adult – corresponded me more currencies, and I kept fifty lettuces. Following the same reasoning, my brother Juichi – who follows me in age – he kept thirty, and to our smaller brother – Tomeiji – we had left the remaining ten.
Our father got angry a lot, because he said that the meaning of giving us the lettuces it was to teach us the detachment that should exist among family. Our father wanted to teach us to be solidary; that we got our objectives with the equally effort of the three, and that when we had reached our objectives, then we distributed equally.
Because of that reason he punished us, and he told us that he will only give us the money if we achieve the following thing:
Each one of us should sell all the lettuces to the same price, without exchanging us lettuces - neither money - among us, and we will return to our home each one with the same quantity of money.
As you will see, now our father no longer wants to give us the money, since it has punished us requesting an impossible thing. Anyone being the price that we agree, it will always collect more money the one who has more lettuces.
In first place – the Mast said to Yasunori, the bigger of the brothers – you will learn that the punishments of the parents are never for the mere fact of punishing. All punishment of our parents always contains a teaching.
What you will do is the following thing:
You will separate the most withered letuces, and you will make bundles of seven lettuces each one, leaving me those the rest, that will be those that are in better condition.
Then you will leave to sell each bundle by a currency, and in this way surely that will sell the letuces very quickly, because the price is very cheap.
When you have sold all the letuces, then return here.
Because of were really very cheap - as the Master had foreseen - the three brothers sold all the lettuces very quickly, then they return after a little time.
Yasunori – who had fifty lettuces – had sold forty nine in seven bundles of seven lettuces each one - by one currency each bundle - collecting then seven currencies, and he had one lettuce to sell yet.
Juichi – who had thirty lettuces – had sold twenty eight in four bundles, of seven lettuces each bundle - by one currency each bundle - collecting in this way four currencies, and having then two lettuces to sell yet.
Tomeiji – the smallest brother who had only ten lettuces – had only sold one bundle, of seven lettuces, collecting then only one currency, but having three lettuces to sell yet.
Now – the Master said – you will sell the spare lettuces that you hd leave me in three currencies each one. Because of are those that are in better condition, then you won't have bigger difficulties to sell these last lettuces.
You Yasunori – the Master continued – that for the sale of seven bundles, by one currency each bundle, you sold forty nine lettuces and you collected seven currencies up to now, when you have sold the only lettuce that you have as rest by three currencies, you will complete a final collection of ten currencies.
In your case Juichi that for the sale of four bundles, by one currency each one, you sold twenty eight lettuces and you collected four currencies up to now, when you selling the two lettuces that you have as rest - by three currencies each one – then you will have six more currencies, completing your ten currencies too.
Lastly you –Tomeiji – that you sold a bundle of seven lettuces by one currency, when you have sold the three lettuces that you have as rest – also by three currencies each one – then you will have nine more currencies, and you will also complete your ten currencies.
Thank you Master, did Yasunori respond, but what we will do with only thirty currencies ?
You have recognized that you have ignored my teachings - and also your father's decision - and of this experience, the Master responded, you have to learn at least three things:
In first place, the decisions; the advice and the teachings of the parents - and Masters - should never be discussed.
Second, that the Masters - and mainly the parents - they would never request us an impossible thing.
In third place - now that you have learned that until what it seems impossible it has solution - you will make possible that thirty currencies will be enough to do what - apparently - only it is possible through ninety curriencies.
Pardon Master, embarrassed Yasunori said, but the idea was happened taking as example an inheritance that our grandfather left us.
Our paternal grandfather was breeder of horses, and - when dying - he left thirty five hoses so were distribbuted among us in the following way:
Because of to be the adult, it corresponds to me the half. To my brother Juichi - that, as you knows, is who follows me in age - it corresponds him the third part, and to Tomeiji - because of to be the minor - it corresponds him the ninth part.
The grandparents are doubly parents, and remember that the decisions; advice, and techings of the parents should never be discussed. For some important reason, yourr grandfather took this decision, the Master answered.
Surely it was in this way, Master - did speak Juichi for the first time - but how thirty five horses can be distributed in that way ?
The half of thirty five horse are seventeen horses and a half of a horse, and we cannot cut a horse to give his part to Yasunori.
The same thing happens with me - Juichi continued - since the third part of thirty five is eleven horses and a little more than a half horse.
What we can do - Tomeiji cheered up - how I could receive the ninth part of thirty five horses, if it corresponds to three horses and fraction.
Are the horses very far, did the Teacher ask ?
No - Yasunori responded - they are refreshing in a very near river.
Then we will go to where the horses are - the Master said - and we will solve this dilemma.
Let us think that Yoshihide - who was walking with me by the forest, and who he doesn't discuss the decisions of the Masters - it is my horse.
Yoshihide - the Master spoke to the student who accompanied him - allow you that I give my horse, that is to say that I give you, as present to these three brothers ?
Of course Master, the student responded.
And speaking to the three brothers, the Master said:
Now instead thirty five, you will have thirty six horses.
You - Yasunori - will have eighteen horses, that it is half of thirty six. As you see you are winning, since before corresponded to you seventeen and a half.
In your case - Juichi - before this solution corresponded to you eleven horses and something more. But as the third part of thirty six it is twelve, this it is the quantity of horses that now you will have, therefore you are winning too.
And with you - Tomeiji - it happens the same thing. First corresponded to you three horses and a fraction, and now will correspond to you four horses, that it is the ninth part of thirty six.
Arriving at the river where the horses drank and took a bath the Master asked:
Are you according with this solution ?
Yes!!!, the three brothers responded at the same time.
Then - the Master said - you Yasunori takes your eighteen horses; you Juichi takes your twelve, and you Tomeiji takes the four that we agree.
When each one of the brothers took their horses, with surprise they saw that eighteen; add to twelve and four, were thirty four, and that - therefore - one horse and Yoshihide remains as surplus.
The answer to this curiosity - the Master said - it is that the allotment of the inheritance was not well outlined. A half (1/2); a third (1/3); and a ninth (1/9), add as result (17/18), that is to say that don't add the unit (18/18).
But the important thing it is that all of us come out winning.
Return me to Yoshihike, and let us give him the horse that remains, since thanks to his collaboration - and the trust, and obedience towards his Master - we find the solution.
Besides - in this way - Yoshihide and me won't have necessity to return walking.
As all they were of agreement, the Master and Yoshihide undertook the return.
Master - Yoshihide said - we are two, and we have a single horse. Won't we force it too much ?
You are right - answer the Master - we will return walking the three.
.
FERNANDO PRIETO
6th. DAN KEN SHIN TETTSU
GAKKU = KENSHIN RYU = TOKU IN KAN
6th. DAN GOJU RYU = JKF GOJU
KAI