karate

Prolog

This writing is severely overdue; I should have written about Okinawan martial arts years ago, but, as with other, otherwise essential things in my life, I always incorrectly felt it was a matter of fact, needed more study, and could wait. 

Introduction

My adopted name is Uki, 宇氣 (うき), which means "universe-space energy." I have grown up studying Shotokan karate under Sensei Józef Rączka in Poland. After I moved to the USA and joined the USMC, I was introduced to the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP), which has since morphed into a blend of Jiu-Jitsu, Krav Maga, and Karate. While in the USMC, for 3 years, I lived in Okinawa, Japan, where I was exposed to Japanese and Ryukyu culture. 

While the above resume looks very martial, I was primarily interested in karate's health, cultural, and personal betterment aspects.

I also studied the cultural anthropology of East Asia while in Japan. After leaving the service, I studied Aikido while staying fit by practicing karate. In my adult life, I have read and studied a library-worth of works on culture, human behaviour, and history. 

Okinawa is designated a "blue zone," and I learned about the lifestyle, longevity, and diet of its people.

It is impossible to state, and it will remain an understatement, that all of the above became the most significant influencers on my life, my body, and my mind.

The Indian origins of self-defence

The spiritual origins of this story date back a few thousand years, but I will have to skip for now the Vedas, India, Buddha's life, and start with Bodhidharma (達摩, だるま), who in the 5th–6th Century brought Hindu-derived Buddhist culture, meditation, and breathing techniques from India to China. Buddhism flourished in China alongside Buddhist monasticism, asceticism, and rigorous practice.

In China's political situation, Buddhist monasteries had to protect themselves, and warrior monks emerged with a strong focus on non-aggression and self-defence.