Post by AngelaG on Jan 3, 2005 14:51:43 GMT
Sorry to go on about Karate-do: My way of life again but it has raised a few questions in my mind.
In the chapter Important Points: Violating a Rule Funakoshi tells of an event that occured when he was 80 years old. Walking home one night he was accosted by a young thug who was attempting to steal from him. The young man grabbed Funakoshi's umbrella and swung it at him - at which point Funakoshi ducked under and grabbed hold of they guy's testicles. At that point a police patrol appeared and the young guy was handed over, still intact but probably a little sore in the family jewels area. The last paragraph ends up:
As I continued on my way, I realised that the would be robber was almost certainly a veteran recently returned from some distant front. Jobless, he had decided to rob me on the spur of the moment, and I, also on the spur of the moment, had done what I tell my young trainees never to do: I had taken the offensive. I did not feel very proud of myself
Do you think Funakoshi was right to feel ashamed? As far as I could see he had remained calm and polite througout. He only attacked after the young man had swung at him with the umbrella. So as far as I see it he was on the defensive - not the offensive. There was nothing forcing the young man to rob an apparently vulnerable 80 year old man. Was it right that Funakoshi used his karate training?
I personally think that the young man asked for it; Funakoshi was on the defence; and the young man came out virtually unscathed, but with perhaps with a little more respect for unarmed vulnerable looking old men. ;D
Maybe I need to work more on my Perfection of Character.
Angela
In the chapter Important Points: Violating a Rule Funakoshi tells of an event that occured when he was 80 years old. Walking home one night he was accosted by a young thug who was attempting to steal from him. The young man grabbed Funakoshi's umbrella and swung it at him - at which point Funakoshi ducked under and grabbed hold of they guy's testicles. At that point a police patrol appeared and the young guy was handed over, still intact but probably a little sore in the family jewels area. The last paragraph ends up:
As I continued on my way, I realised that the would be robber was almost certainly a veteran recently returned from some distant front. Jobless, he had decided to rob me on the spur of the moment, and I, also on the spur of the moment, had done what I tell my young trainees never to do: I had taken the offensive. I did not feel very proud of myself
Do you think Funakoshi was right to feel ashamed? As far as I could see he had remained calm and polite througout. He only attacked after the young man had swung at him with the umbrella. So as far as I see it he was on the defensive - not the offensive. There was nothing forcing the young man to rob an apparently vulnerable 80 year old man. Was it right that Funakoshi used his karate training?
I personally think that the young man asked for it; Funakoshi was on the defence; and the young man came out virtually unscathed, but with perhaps with a little more respect for unarmed vulnerable looking old men. ;D
Maybe I need to work more on my Perfection of Character.
Angela
