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Nintai: Philosophical Lessons in Okinawan Karate
Anyone can learn karate, but to master oneself takes a lifetime.
This is the inspiring story of an ex-Marine who sought out the one form of martial arts that would polish his mind and strengthen his spirit- Kobayashi Shorin Ryu Karate. Finding the right dojo would lead him to Okinawa and a Sensei (teacher), a seventh degree black belt, who would show him what lay beyond the pain, beyond the exhaustion. He was taught the art of patience, perseverance, and endurance.
"The reason there are mirrors in the dojo is to allow the student to always face his greatest himself. It is the aim of the true karate practitioner to overcome the ego, and focus on the higher goal of unifying the mind, body, and spirit. In Okinawa, it is the Sensei's responsibility to help the student become humble enough to attain this objective."
Only when Nintai is accomplished, can one pursue a higher spiritual path.
This is the inspiring story of an ex-Marine who sought out the one form of martial arts that would polish his mind and strengthen his spirit- Kobayashi Shorin Ryu Karate. Finding the right dojo would lead him to Okinawa and a Sensei (teacher), a seventh degree black belt, who would show him what lay beyond the pain, beyond the exhaustion. He was taught the art of patience, perseverance, and endurance.
"The reason there are mirrors in the dojo is to allow the student to always face his greatest himself. It is the aim of the true karate practitioner to overcome the ego, and focus on the higher goal of unifying the mind, body, and spirit. In Okinawa, it is the Sensei's responsibility to help the student become humble enough to attain this objective."
Only when Nintai is accomplished, can one pursue a higher spiritual path.
- GenresMartial Arts
160 pages, Paperback
First published November 14, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 28, 2016
This is a book, common in the martial arts field, where the author illustrates points or lessons through anecdotes and events from their own training, and things they learned as a result. In this case, Mr. Vellucci spent seven years training at a small dojo in Okinawa in Shorin Ryu karate.
Mr. Vellucci practices a different style of karate than I do, but this isn’t a book about style. Most of the character and intellectual lessons in martial arts can be arrived at through any style, or any art really. Actually, a lot of the physical answers wind up in the same place, too. Because he approaches things from a Shorin perspective instead of a Goju one, I get to see a different way to arrive at similar answers. It’s the little differences that bring great joy.
Training in Okinawa, it’s fair to say that much of Mr. Vellucci’s training was been a lot harsher, and harder, than what the vast majority of his potential readership goes through, and he admits several times that he can’t train his students the same way in the United States that he was trained in Okinawa. Not many people would accept it; we’re not culturally conditioned to the hardship, difficulty, and dedication it would take.
And that’s okay.
It’s not about comparing the path taken, it’s concepts we’re after here. And the primary concept is found in the title of the book: nintai. The basic meaning of nintai is more or less found in the back cover copy: patience, perseverance, endurance. There are other, smaller lessons observed and demonstrated through the anecdotes in the book, but they all come back to nintai in some way.
Through the course of the book, the author talks about various training methods, testing, respect and tradition, and how kata practice is the most important thing but not the only thing. There are plenty of tiny lessons in there too, like how respect goes both ways (something people often forget), wooden weapons are probably a lot sharper than you think they are, keeping your temper is important, and everything is a learning experience.
But, like I said, everything comes back to nintai, and that’s the overarching point the author wants to make. It’s not a concept that has an exact translation into English, needing three words to get the entire point across, and it’s certainly not just a martial arts concept, but it’s an important concept in the martial arts, and I think that’s the point the author is really trying to make through the book. If you’re just in the karate class for a little exercise, nintai is probably not ever going to be on your radar. But karate isn’t taught in Okinawa for exercise. It’s a martial art. If you want to pursue it as an art, you need patience, perseverance, and endurance. You need nintai.
Overall rating: 4 stars. This is actually one of my favourite kinds of martial arts books, filled with anecdotes that make you think and maybe take some lessons away. It’s also a book you can go back to again, and that’s nice too.
Mr. Vellucci practices a different style of karate than I do, but this isn’t a book about style. Most of the character and intellectual lessons in martial arts can be arrived at through any style, or any art really. Actually, a lot of the physical answers wind up in the same place, too. Because he approaches things from a Shorin perspective instead of a Goju one, I get to see a different way to arrive at similar answers. It’s the little differences that bring great joy.
Training in Okinawa, it’s fair to say that much of Mr. Vellucci’s training was been a lot harsher, and harder, than what the vast majority of his potential readership goes through, and he admits several times that he can’t train his students the same way in the United States that he was trained in Okinawa. Not many people would accept it; we’re not culturally conditioned to the hardship, difficulty, and dedication it would take.
And that’s okay.
It’s not about comparing the path taken, it’s concepts we’re after here. And the primary concept is found in the title of the book: nintai. The basic meaning of nintai is more or less found in the back cover copy: patience, perseverance, endurance. There are other, smaller lessons observed and demonstrated through the anecdotes in the book, but they all come back to nintai in some way.
Through the course of the book, the author talks about various training methods, testing, respect and tradition, and how kata practice is the most important thing but not the only thing. There are plenty of tiny lessons in there too, like how respect goes both ways (something people often forget), wooden weapons are probably a lot sharper than you think they are, keeping your temper is important, and everything is a learning experience.
But, like I said, everything comes back to nintai, and that’s the overarching point the author wants to make. It’s not a concept that has an exact translation into English, needing three words to get the entire point across, and it’s certainly not just a martial arts concept, but it’s an important concept in the martial arts, and I think that’s the point the author is really trying to make through the book. If you’re just in the karate class for a little exercise, nintai is probably not ever going to be on your radar. But karate isn’t taught in Okinawa for exercise. It’s a martial art. If you want to pursue it as an art, you need patience, perseverance, and endurance. You need nintai.
Overall rating: 4 stars. This is actually one of my favourite kinds of martial arts books, filled with anecdotes that make you think and maybe take some lessons away. It’s also a book you can go back to again, and that’s nice too.
July 29, 2008
Buku ini sangat penting & bagus bwt pegangan para karateka yg ingin mendalami seni beladiri Okinawa ini lbh advanced lg. Saya lg order jg neh, smoga bulan depan dah bs dateng - gak sabar pengen baca langsung (soalnya baru baca di google books).
January 3, 2016
A fantastic account of Mark Velucci's time in Okinawa training with Master Oshiro. For those who have never trained in a traditional martial art it will be eye opening, and for those who have it will bring up fond memories.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews