No.8 Hyaku Ren, Ji Toku

1. When Souke started Karate training in the 1950’s,
his Sensei(s) and Senpai(s) would always talk about
"Hyaku Ren Ji Toku".

2. Hyaku Ren Towa:
"Hyaku Ren" literally means 100 times.

It means to do something over and over and over, hundreds,
thousands, tens of thousands of times.

In other words, "Hyaku Ren" stresses the importance of
repetition.

So many aspects of Karate practice are accomplished
through "Hyaku Ren".

First of all, a person must have initiative to keep doing
something over and over.

Without good mental strength (seriousness, try hard, never
give up) or good mental attitude (initiative, responsibility,
pride), there is no way that a person could sustain the practice
of repetition. Neither could that person produce

anything of real quality from the repetition if he/she just
practiced lazily or sloppily.

But most importantly, when a person practices "Hyaku Ren"
he discovers for himself the meaning or significance of what
he is doing. This is true awakening.

And the impact of this personal discovery will be remembered
for a lifetime.

All of this comes from the simple but powerful act of repetition.

3. Ji Toku Towa:

"Ji Toku" literally means Self-Realization.

Through the practice of "Hyaku Ren" (repetition)
self-realization occurs.

You realize or discover for yourself that which is important.

You see for yourself what needs to be worked on like
strength, speed, balance, position of feet, different postures,
mei tsuke (correct eye), etc., etc., etc.

In Karate this is how so many of the finer points of development
are discovered, practiced and accomplished.

The teacher cannot really teach the student these lessons.
The student must discover this himself/herself.

4. Hyaku Ren Ji Toku Towa:

"Hyaku Ren Ji Toku" means to develop and refine yourself
through endless repetition. And through this practice you
discover for yourself what you need to develop and refine next.

This is the process by which the raw metal of great potential
is heated in the fire of the sword-maker’s hearth, then
pounded to release its impurities and then dowsed in the
water to harden. Then it is put back into the fire to start
the whole process over again…..over and over and over until
finally the magnificent sword is revealed.

Ultimately through the practice of "Hyaku Ren Ji Toku",
you have the chance to realize or discover your "Self"…
..your "True Self". And this is a Gift of immeasurable worth.




5. Souke’s observations of "Hyaku Ren Ji Toku" in the
history Karate:

In the 1950’s, one of the most important methods of
instruction that Souke’s Sensei(s) and Senpai(s) used was
"Hyaku Ren Ji Toku".

At this time in Japan, "Hyaku Ren Ji Toku" was not only used
in Martial Arts, but also in many different fields, for instance;
flower arrangement, tea ceremony, etc.

Rather than trying to intellectually learn about something,
you learn by doing it.

This is learning through or with the whole body.



But when the 1960’s came along, scientific training methods
were applied to Karate training. In scientific training, the body
components were studied, in other words, how the bones,
joints and muscles function and how these body parts work
together in a technique. Karate movement was broken down
into its components to analyze and teach the proper functioning,
execution and understanding of the technique. And this became
the emphasis of Karate training in the 60's.

In the 1950’s the people who were training were strong people.
They were not only strong as far as physical strength, power
and technique went, but they were also strong in their lives.

After the 1960’s (latter part of the 60’s) there were not too
many strong people like this. They were technically good and
they were very fast but they did not have the power of people
who trained in the 50’s. For example: Souke said that in the
50’s when he would block a kick, his hand would fly. He knew
of people who even got their arm broken while trying to block
a kick. After the 60’s, when he blocked kicks, his hand did not
fly.
The fighters of the 60's were so fast, accurate and beautiful
in their attacks. Great technique. But when they hit you it
didn’t incapacitate you like those Karate-ka from the 50’s.

6. Souke’s Opinion:

In the 1950’s, their main training method was "Hyaku Ren Ji
Toku" (Over, over, over. 500 kicks, 1000 punches, day after
day, year after year.).

In the 1960’s, the methods changed to the type of training
that would help people win at tournaments, what they called
scientific training method.

As a person who trained in the 50’s and later went on to
compete in the All-Japan tournaments, Souke witnessed the
inner workings of this transition for himself.

And after almost 50 years of teaching Karate and helping
others in their practice and their lives, Souke says, "I don’t
know which way of training is better, Martial Arts Karate
("Hyaku Ren Ji Toku" training) or Sport Karate (Scientific
training). The only thing that I can say is that Sports helped
to spread Karate all over the world."

When asked why this is so, he said, "Because people want to win.
People want recognition."

Other interesting historical facts as Souke experienced them:


1. Before the 1950’s, the practice used to be called To Te
(Chinese Hand) or Okinawa Te (Okinawan Hand) or just Te (Hand).

2. After the 1950’s, the practice became known as Kara Te
(Empty Hand).

3. Souke heard that calling the practice Karate was started
by Funakoshi, Gichin (founder of Shotokan Karate and the
Japan Karate Association (JKA)).

4. In 1957 the first JKA tournament took place.

5. In 1958, the All-Japan University Karate tournament started.
This was a competition for all styles of Karate. You also had
to be a student of a University to compete in the tournament.

6. In 1965, University and High School Prefectures began
regional tournaments that were held in the different styles.

7. Okinawan Karate had two styles:

a. Shuri (Samurai style) – Shuri was the capitol of Okinawa.
Funakoshi comes from this Shuri lineage. This became
Shotokan Karate.

b. Naha (Farmer’s style) – Led by Miyagi, Chojun. This
became Gojuryu Karate.

1) Go – Hard.
2) Jyu – Soft.
3) Ryu – Style.

8. Shitoryu was not an original style of Karate.
The name "Shi To" comes from:

a. "Shi" - Itosu, Yasutsune, an Okinawan Karate Master.
The "Ito" from his name can also be read as "Shi" (from the
Chinese characters).

b. "To" – Higashionna, Kanryo, also an Okinawan Karate Master.
His Chinese character can be read as "To".

c. Their students, particularly Mabuni, Kenwa, combined the
names of Itosu and Higashionna to create the name
Shito-ryu for the practice.