| Gichin Funakoshi is generally regarded as the | | | | was probably 25% more massive than this guy, |
| Father of Modern Karate. | | | | so his "choosing me off" was almost comedic. |
| Among his contributions is a list of 20 core beliefs | | | | We stood face to face, with about two feet |
| that every karateka should subscribe to. | | | | separating us, and I could tell he was waiting for |
| At the very top is this one: "There is no first | | | | me to make the first move. |
| strike in karate." | | | | But I came to my senses after having weighed |
| The idea is that karate is about self-defense, | | | | the idea of defending a lawsuit or worse, a |
| primarily, and only secondarily is it a fighting art. | | | | criminal charge in court. |
| Funakoshi didn't want to spawn generations of | | | | Also, I heard a little voice inside say, "Don't make |
| bullies. I think it is right to say he wanted to sire | | | | the first move!" and I heeded it. |
| gentle men and women, people of refinement; in | | | | Anyway, I think I grumbled, "This isn't worth it," |
| a word, civilized folks, and not just more | | | | and he told me to never darken their doorstep |
| barbarians. | | | | again. |
| Before unleashing fury and destructiveness a | | | | Many moons later, after studying karate, I learned |
| person must be sure it is the right thing to do, | | | | about Funakoshi's aphorism: There is no first |
| that he isn't making a mistake, and that he has | | | | strike in karate. |
| exhausted better ways of reducing conflict. | | | | And a few things came to mind: |
| But what if you KNOW someone is coming for | | | | (1) I was pleased I de-escalated and walked away. |
| you or your family or your nation? What, then? | | | | It's one of the only ways to "win" a fight. |
| Can you strike, peremptorily? | | | | (2) I always wondered if this guy had karate |
| Funakoshi is silent about this, at least from the | | | | training, and he was forbearing because of |
| reading of him that I've done so far. | | | | Funakoshi's philosophy. |
| But a story comes to mind. | | | | (3) I did act rudely, and things hit a flash point |
| I was exhausted one late afternoon after having | | | | because of me. |
| flown to Houston, probably for the 40th time in | | | | In any case, I lived to "not fight" again, and so did |
| as many weeks, so by the time I reached the | | | | he, presumably. |
| rent a car counter at the outskirts of the airport, | | | | Fighting should always be the last resort, and only |
| I was in a terrible mood. | | | | when we have no other choice. And as far as |
| They didn't have the make and model I had | | | | that question I raised above, I think we should be |
| reserved, a convertible as I recall, and being used | | | | so attuned to our potential enemies that we can |
| to getting everything I wanted on the road, I | | | | see the stirrings of hostility in them before they |
| blew a gasket. | | | | ever become an overt threat to us. |
| The manager felt I was being verbally abusive, | | | | By doing so, we can avoid difficulties before they |
| and I told him, more or less, when I needed his | | | | become unavoidable. |
| opinion I'd give it to him. | | | | Moreover, we should always be aware of how |
| He asked me to step outside to "Settle this" with | | | | we're coming across, and restrain ourselves and |
| him, and I recall saying something to the effect | | | | struggle to be polite, especially when we're |
| that "I'd be delighted." | | | | convinced we have the right to act otherwise. |
| I hadn't been in a fistfight since high school, and I | | | | |