[This is a true story]
[“There’s no art to the soul through the face of a man…” said King Duncan, ironically right before his right hand man murdered him. When I was a young student in Chinese kenpo I hated doing Forms or Sets/kata’s. Katas/Forms/Sets are the “dance” that a lot of people think of when you mention karate. They were invented when a Sensei or Instructor couldn’t get students to practice so Forms were invented to be able to practice your art without a partner. Performing one you fought against imaginary opponents in a sequence that resembles a dance. I believed them to be boring and would rather be doing fighting or techniques believing them to be more important. Seeing David perform his Shotokan Katas made me realize I was wrong. Any fool can punch and kick, but doing a form or kata will show what you put into your art. It’s a total expression of self. I firmly believe if you want to see into a soul, watch them perform their favorite kata.]
Dave’s loud voice brought my mind back abruptly from its recent trip to mars. I had been seated in the bleachers at the Dojo that were put by the door. All my attention had been returned to my “brother” now lunging, punching and kicking across the floor. He had been going to the Japanese Karate Associations Dojo for a lot longer than I can recall. David would be there at least an hour a day training and that was beside the time that we trained every night.
David was performing one of his favorites at the time. The form, kata or set of moves is called “Bassai Dai” or in English “Penetrating Fortress”. To watch anyone perform it the kata would appear to be controlled chaos. Blocks in all directions, kicks in combination, elbows and lots of movement. To me it seemed to portray a solitary fighter in an enemy’s lair fighting his way out against overwhelming odds.
The wooden floor thumped sharply as Dave now lunged and punched. His Kiai bounced off the walls around the room. Watching him pour all his concentration into the kata and outward his effort would flow. To see David perform was like watching a fast stream of water flowing.
As the kata continued I began to see the opponents that he was fighting. First the figures were faint and transparent, but as He went on they became solid, shadowlike people. I continued watching as David fought his way through the enemies, no longer looking at the damage being dealt to opponents but looking at him. I began to be able to see inside Dave.
I saw his calm, I saw his courage and above all I saw the bull-headed determination or better known as stubbornness. I saw that he would attack and defend with all and if he lost he would be gnawing on your ankle before he quit. Later on in life I would meet a 1st Sgt. That would tell me that “you don’t rise to a situation, you sink to your highest level of training…” and I would remember David calm and collected facing a multitude of enemies.
Dave finished the form ending on the spot he started. The circle now complete he stood calmly as if deep in thought or reflection. I have heard of his sensei telling the class that after a kata was completed that before bowing out you should reach a “happy place”. He told them it was as simple as standing there calmly [pretending] or to picture a relaxing place to be like a brook, or a snowy scene. I really believe Dave was trying to accomplish this as he seemed very at peace.
When David opened his eyes, he appeared to not know where he was for a second. After discovering he was still here, he smiled at his mother and me for a second before returning to the wall to wait for the other students to finish. After all the other students finished the class re-stated their oaths known as the Dojo Kun. Then they all changed their Gi’s for street clothes and bowed out of the Dojo. We three piled back in the car for the drive home. The Normal “Cartoon” antics of David and me resumed.
The Martial Ways have been a big part of my family’s life. At some point most of us have studied some type of combative or another. For me, Empty hand and Weapons hold a large part of my life surpassed only by my son. There isn’t a time when I am not practicing in some form or another. I know Dave still walks the path and we will continue to walk it till our days end.
Many years have passed and I have had a lot of time to reflect. Bassai-dai or penetrating fortress is a Kata representing a lone warrior taking the fight to the enemy and plunging deep into his ranks. I wonder that if that day he performed that kata , the fortress he penetrated was himself…
[ Upon the posting of this, Dave is a returning hero from the Iraqi War, if you know him tell him thank you for wearing the flag and to his wife and son thank them for Dave and his service.]
-B
