Meibukanmagazine No 2
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MEIBUKAN MAGAZINE House Of The Pure Martial Arts Interview with Master Anthony Mirakian Science as a Weapon The History of Goju-ryu Karate, Part III What is Ki? Courtesy of Anthony Mirakian. Picture taken by Edward Mills. Courtesy of THE INTERNATIONAL WEB BASED MARTIAL ARTS No 4 FEBRUARY 2005 MAGAZINE AS A PDF DOCUMENT MEIBUKAN MAGAZINE House of the Pure Martial Arts WWW.MEIBUKANMAGAZINE.ORG No 4 February 2005 MEIBUKAN MAGAZINE House of the Pure Martial Arts No 4 FEBRUARY 2005 MISSION STATEMENT Column 2 A Shift in Intention Meibukan Magazine is an initiative of Lex Opdam and Mark Hemels. Aim of this web based magazine is to spread the knowledge and spirit of the martial arts. In a non profitable manner Meibukan Maga- zine draws attention to the historical, spiritual and Interview 2 technical background of the oriental martial arts. Interview with Master Anthony Mirakian Starting point are the teachings of Okinawan ka- rate-do. As ‘House of the Pure Martial Arts’, how- Anthony Mirakian was the first Westerner taught by Grandmaster Meitoku ever, Meibukan Magazine offers a home to the vari- Yagi, the top student and successor of Chojun Miyagi, the founder of Goju- ous authentic martial arts traditions. ryu. Reflecting on a lifetime of practice, Master Anthony Mirakian dis- FORMAT cusses the meaning of karate-do and the techniques of Goju-ryu kata. Meibukan Magazine is published several times a year in an electronical format with an attractive mix Feature 10 of subjects and styles. Each issue of at least twelve pages is published as pdf-file for easy printing. Science as a Weapon Published editions remain archived on-line. We have Throughout time, scientists have waged war on established beliefs and con- chosen for a low picture resolution for easy down- loading cepts. Using the same process as the scientist, martial artists are able to test their own theories regarding techniques and personal defence. Readers of the webzine are enthousiasts and practi- tioners of the spirit of the martial arts world wide. PRODUCTION Review 11 Comprehensive Asian Fighting Arts Editor in chief Lex Opdam by Donn Draeger & Robert Smith. Executive editor Mark Hemels History 12 Editorial Board Matthew Jones The History of Goju-Ryu Karate, Part III Iwan Meij Jeroen Verhoeven In this last part in a series of three, we continue the exploration of the Chi- nese influences on Goju-ryu. Where did Chojun Miyagi learn the kata that do not come from Kanryo Higaonna? To understand this, we take a look at Contributors Mathieu Ravignat the Karate Research Club and the Chinese combat manual the Bubishi. Mario McKenna Casey Putney Marc van Dam Experience 15 Art director Lex Opdam What is Ki? After practising the right punches Mario McKenna went on a search for the SUBMISSIONS meaning of the mysterious ki. After experiencing pleasure and flow he ends up with an ancient meditation technique. Meibukan Magazine is pleased to submit views, con- cerns and experiences on any subject matter IF re- lated to the mission statement expressed by the Meibukan Magazine. Therefore articles, photo- graphs and illustrations are welcome, although Meibukan Magazine is selective and can not garantee that submissions will be placed. Submis- Copyright and disclaimer sion can be mailed to our P.O. Box by floppy, CD or DVD, or can be sent to our e-mail address. © 2003-2004 Meibukan Magazine. All materials on the Meibukan Magazine website and Meibukan Magazine pdf-files (including without limitation all articles, text, images, logos, compilation, audio, video, and design) are Copyright by Meibukan Magazine. All rights reserved. The downloadable Meibukan Magazine pdf-files may be downloaded, printed and distributed for personal use only. Only with explicit permission in writing from the Meibukan Magazine and the original copyright holder may the Meibukan Magazine or (part CONTACT of) articles be used for other than personal use (e.g. educational, research purposes, commercial use, a.o.). Every Meibukan Magazine pdf-file has a unique ISSN number (1572-5316) and is registered by Law. MEIBUKAN MAGAZINE All information and materials on the Meibukan Magazine website and Meibukan Magazine pdf-files are provided “as is” and without P.O. Box 8, 6663 ZG, Lent, Netherlands warranty of any kind. Email:[email protected] Meibukan Magazine founders are Lex Opdam and Mark Hemels. Url: WWW.MEIBUKANMAGAZINE.ORG Web design by Lex Opdam. House of the Pure Martial Arts WWW.MEIBUKANMAGAZINE.ORG No 4 February 2005 A Shift in Intention Interview with A while ago I had a conversation with a Tai Chi Chuan Sifu. He told me that for Master Anthony Mirakian the last decade, more and more people that visited him to receive instruction saw him as a personal trainer. Like the Karate-do, its purpose and responsibility ones presented by the many 24-hours a day television commercials. Those After a decade of intensive training in Okinawa, Anthony people also saw his martial art as something to fulfill their needs – needs Mirakian introduced Meibukan Goju-ryu karate-do to the that seem to be dictated by these media United States in 1960. Mirakian was the first Westerner taught monsters but that are not forthcoming by Grandmaster Meitoku Yagi, the top student and successor of from their own inner quest. Chojun Miyagi, the founder of Goju-ryu. Reflecting on a I told him that in general I also have lifetime of practice, Hanshi Anthony Mirakian, 9th degree black noticed a shift in expectations when belt, discusses the meaning of karate-do and the techniques of people visit my school for the first time. People seem to replace the concept of a Meibukan Goju-ryu kata. martial arts teacher to the concept of a ‘personal trainer’. To justify their pre- - by Lex Opdam - chewed needs, they are taking over the wrapped up superficial talk concerning the philosophical meaning of martial arts as presented by the commercial Question: Sensei, could you give your Teaching an art like karate-do, in our media. definition of a martial system and a case Okinawan Meibukan Goju-ryu Nowadays, with 24 hours commercial martial art? karate-do, which includes aspects of television, sales are all that matter, and Answer: An art encompasses the spirituality, means that we are not just martial arts are exploited as never philosophical concept of a specific before. The way martial arts are system. Not only as a fighting method “The aim of a martial art is to strive to presented by the media and received by but as a way of life, as a philosophical develop a pristine human nature the unaware seems to form a new part concept. There should be a guideline through hard intensive training, which of culture in our western society. With for all our actions, our interrelations with is a challenge for a person mentally, this every new generation seems to relatives, friends and students. This is physically and spiritually.” slowly erase the deeper meaning of the art. martial art in society in general. A system is a composite of techniques practicing the art for the sake of physical The ego is very easily fed, and with this that does not have a binding ethical movements. The aim is to strive to shift in our high-tech society and tendency for speed, the right questions concept that an art form will have. The develop a pristine human nature through asked are another step away. Questions art form will bring the human element hard intensive training, which is a that could bring us self-knowledge and into it, the human spirit, and the physical, challenge for a person mentally, physi- understanding of each other. Every mental and spiritual concept. cally and spiritually. An art goes into the martial artist stands in connection to There was a great Okinawan master other human beings in our daily life. If called Tode Sakugawa who developed we value martial arts and want to keep the dojo-kun over more than 200 years them alive, not only now but also in the ago. Okinawan karate is recognized and future, we should actively participate in highly respected for this moral ethical society by letting people know about aspect that the dojo-kun represents. the deeper ways of the martial arts, and In a dojo a group of people are training by giving notice to those who want to with the same aim. Practicing with a listen. Those who present or teach joyful heart and a pure mind, without martial arts could have a task here in distractions, training highly spirited keeping the spirit of the martial arts without any ego intentions against each alive. Maybe they should keep it from other. being overtaken by those who are only in it for the money. Sensei, how would you describe the role of the teacher in a martial art? An instructor in a system teaches purely Anthony Mirakian. Courtesy of Lex Opdam physical movements. It doesn’t go any Hanshi Anthony Mirakian, appointed by Meitoku Yagi in 1972 as the Overseas General Manager of the Editor in chief deeper than that. Okinawan Meibukan Goju-ryu Karate-do Association. House of the Pure Martial Arts WWW.MEIBUKANMAGAZINE.ORG No 4 February 2005 2 inner aspects of the human being that is there are also those who are not. When belt. It is like when somebody is training actively engaged by the continuous effort, I lived in Okinawa I had the privilege and, this happened in my dojo, asks: devotion and dedication to the training to meet many masters and because of “Could I use the knowledge of karate/ the practitioner puts into it without my nature and search for information technical skill in daily life?” I replied egoistic feelings behind it.