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The Real Deal
Mirrione likes to remind his students that Kori Hisataka developed an eclectic martial art that hones their fighting ability as it develops their mind and body. The variety of techniques and comprehensive nature of the system are rarely encountered in other traditional forms of karate. Mirrione attributes that to the numerous no-holds-barred matches in which Hisataka participated long ago in China and Okinawa. “But back then, they didn’t call it no-holds-barred.” he says. “To them, it was just fighting.”

Whatever you call it, those rough-and-tumble, real-world experiences helped shape shorinjiryu karatedo into what it is today: an unsurpassed method for enabling human beings to excel in all aspects of life.

About the author: David Ganulin is a freelance writer and martial artist based in New York City. For more information about shorinjiryu karatedo, visit http://www.shorinjiryu.org or http://www.harmonybykarate.com.

In His Own Words
In the martial arts, there is much controversy over eclectic training vs. traditional training. Traditional training involves martial artists who try to preserve the techniques and philosophies of their art. Eclectic training involves practitioners who try to incorporate techniques and philosophies from different arts, thereby creating their own style.

Kori Hisataka learned from the traditional masters of Okinawa and China. He believed in developing a system that would be both traditional and eclectic. His motto of "spiritual development of individuality in mind and body" exemplified his eclectic philosophy.

Hisataka was ahead of his time. He believed in learning the basics of striking and grappling. He also believed in balancing safety with reality through his use of bogujutsu. What he truly understood, however, was that character
development needs a structured format.

If Bruce Lee was still alive, he would have gone back to his traditional training because it was his wing chun kung fu that made him a success. His technique and philosophical foundation would only have improved. There is nothing wrong with exploring different avenues in the martial arts. I have trained in numerous styles myself, and that has made me appreciate my own style even more. However, it is important to have one style and one teacher to call your own. To be able to claim someone as your teacher gives you continuity, stability, focus
and honor.

~ John Mirrione Jr.

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