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Post by youxia on Jul 2, 2012 10:57:18 GMT -5
Do you know of any symbolism in your style? From hand symbols/mudras such as sword finger- To traditions like why belts are certain colours or bowing and tying your belt in certain ways. I would be very interested to hear what symbolism you know of and it's meanings, thanks.
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Post by kokoro on Jul 2, 2012 15:17:00 GMT -5
the knot on the obi comes from the way men tradinally tied there obi for there formal clothing the knot is called kai no kuchi the color order varies from one style to the next there is no standard. there is no symbolize in it. there is a Myth that says you started with a white belt and it turned darker over time, but this is only a myth.
bow is a sign of respect. also in ancient japan if you looked at the samurai wrong you were beheaded. so you always kept your eyes down, the deeper you bowed the more respect you had for the person.
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Post by youxia on Jul 2, 2012 15:45:20 GMT -5
I heard in karate the gi is white to symbolize the washing away of ego, is this true?
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aaronj
Global Moderator
Yondan - Shurite Karate Jitsu, Chen Taijiquan
Posts: 116
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Post by aaronj on Jul 2, 2012 15:48:20 GMT -5
There are some symbolic movements in my system of Shurite. They are the left hand over the right fist, palms facing inward. When the hands are rotated to the palms facing away the right fist opens up.
It's an expression of nothing to hide and no regrets to keep it simple.
We don't really follow any mudra other than that because it is about respect and character, and much of that training in the dojo comes from working hard and getting your butt kicked. Everything else is purely martial.
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Post by youxia on Jul 2, 2012 15:58:49 GMT -5
The right fist in left hand is very common in many systems, it's an old shaolin gesture isn't it?
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Post by kokoro on Jul 2, 2012 17:06:24 GMT -5
not sure about the gi color. the founder of judo jigoro kano created the gi, and gichin funakoshi modeled the karate gi after it
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aaronj
Global Moderator
Yondan - Shurite Karate Jitsu, Chen Taijiquan
Posts: 116
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Post by aaronj on Jul 2, 2012 18:05:57 GMT -5
Yes the covered fist is in many systems.
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Keyboard Warrior
Head Administrator
Ze Führer
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Practitioner
Posts: 721
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Post by Keyboard Warrior on Jul 2, 2012 18:08:33 GMT -5
I heard in karate the gi is white to symbolize the washing away of ego, is this true? I thought this was a myth....kinda like how you aren't suppose to wash your white belt....all the training and dirt, whatever, eventually culminated into a black belt
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Post by youxia on Jul 2, 2012 18:32:39 GMT -5
Could be true, theres a lot of buddhist-y stuff in eastern martial arts. But it could be a myth or something someone made up to sound clever lol
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Post by drunior on Jul 2, 2012 20:41:59 GMT -5
While I haven't heard of the "white symbolizes washing away of ego" before, I have heard many variations. I think it has to do with the culture of the samurais, where they wore white underneath their armor with the meaning behind it varying from different sources now.
I can not stress enough that one should wash their belt. I'm pretty sure some McDojo is the one responsible for spreading that information around. Asian people are big on cleanliness and personal hygiene. If you were to go to a reputable dojo/dojang (such as Kodokan or Kukiwon depending on style), they will show you the door if your belt smells like 1000 year old eggs. You can imagine how nasty your belt will get over the years with sweat and blood (not all of them yours) just sitting on it.
I don't know who started it, but I am aware that Judo was the first to bring in a gi color that is not white due to Olympic reasons. Audiences that were not familiar with Judo had a difficult time following the movements. Prior to the implementation of the blue gi, both contestants in a Judo match wore white, and simply wore a red belt or a white belt around their black belt to distinguish which side they were on. Originally, the gi was going to be red but the color red tended to bleed out on the older television screen.
I think the red gi (except in case of Sambo), black gi, yellow gi, and the other power ranger gis mostly came from western Karate schools where the Dojo just wanted to stand out.
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Post by Possum on Jul 3, 2012 6:16:06 GMT -5
Well said, Drunior! I despise anyone who says the belt shouldn't be washed. However, I offer a cautionary note on belt washing: it is common today for belts to be as temporary as a few months. As such, the cheapest possible materials - including dye - are often used to make it. Cheap dye means that the dye can easily bleed off, and cheap material means that it can absorb other colors more easily. Thus, the caution: be careful how you wash it. Usually, cold water locks in dyes, so it is best to do so in like colors in cold water.
I agree, there is nothing honorable about showing up with everyone constantly asking "who farted" because you didn't take the time to wash the belt.
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talon
Yellow Belt
Posts: 65
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Post by talon on Jul 3, 2012 23:06:32 GMT -5
I thought white was worn under the Samurai's armor as it was the color they are buried in & that they worn it into battle as a symbol that they had been purified & were ready to die. I've only heard similar to this &, until now, nothing to do with washing of egos. As for washing your belt..why would you? If you apply yourself you should earn your next one & not need to wash the old one. Besides the dirty/swear accumulated on it is kind of like battle scars, you wear them with pride for the effort you put in going through that rank. Since beginning martial arts in 1978, I've never washed my belts only my GI.
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