The KSL
Karate Study List
"Choosing not to follow in the footsteps of the old masters but rather to seek what they sought." Matsuo Basho
The KSL
Karate
Study
List
"Choosing
not to follow in the footsteps of the old masters but rather to seek what
they sought." Matsuo
Basho
The KSL (Karate Study List) is a private conduit serving the members of the International Ryukyu Karate Research Society. The principal focus of the Society is to study the origins, ethos & technical theories of karate & kobudo in an effort to better understand the confusion and ambiguity surrounding these traditions, and to understand its original application & value. Candidates MUST BE active members in good standing with the Society to subscribe.
Catering specifically to Okinawan/Japanese-based traditional karate/kobudo traditions, the Society is a multi-style organization made up of like-minded teachers & learners from all over the world who gather to discuss historical, philosophical & technical issues at the forefront of this art. Unlike so many other e-mail lists in cyber space, the KSL enjoys a wonderfully refreshing environment where dialogue is nurtured with mutual respect without regard to rank or position, and no one is threatened because their opinion doesn't fit someone else's mould.
Originally established in mid 1998, the KSL, then known as the "Karate Shihan List," was developed as a forum where Shihan-level instructors could meet to discuss varying teacher-related topics without the nepotistic distractions, foul language, personality clashes and childlike attitudes common elsewhere. Efforts to gather support to participate in this new email discussion list attracted mixed opinion. Some were disappointed, others angered. In the end, seventy-seven "Shihan" were keenly motivated and the list started with the promise that each of these subscribers would participate, rather than lurk. Despite the great intentions, endless encouragement offered, and the seventy-seven promises to actively participate on the KSL, less than 20% ever contributed. Sadly, it became quite obvious that the KSL was not destined to succeed under these circumstances. Within three months of its inception, a heck of a lot of work went down the drain, as the plug was pulled to terminate the forum.
Re-thinking the entire issue, it finally
became apparent that the KSL would better serve the growing supporters of our
own organization rather than catering to those from who did not have our
best interests in mind. In December of 1998, with the support of about fifty
people, the KSL was re-established under the name, Karate
Study
List
to honour the traditional heritage of
karate and the legacy of its founding pioneers. Proudly, the KSL serves those supporters who
find value and direction within our multi-style international organization.
With hundreds of on-line members, the KSL is, for all intense
purposes, a dojo in cyber space and subscribers honour it as such. Observing
traditional dojo protocol, the KSL is free from inappropriate behavior (such as
foul language, slander or bashing etc.) and actively engages in discussions
surrounding the historical, philosophical & technical infrastructure of
karate. Subscribers posting to the list are reminded to use good old-fashioned
manners when discussing/arguing any thread and to sign their names (i.e.
John/Mary Smith), style (Wadoryu, Shorinryu etc.) rank (Yudansha; with the dan,
or Mudansha; without the dan) and location (New York, London, Tokyo etc.)
We believe that by observing such protocol we are not just helping to set good
examples for all members, and new students, too, we are also underscoring the
value of good manners while being reminded of how important mutual respect is:
The cornerstone of our tradition. We do not believe that the KSL is better or
worse than any other list in cyber space, only that it suits our needs to
correspond with like-minded people in a polite and courteous manner.
http://koryu-uchinadi.org/ksl
Building
bridges & uniting like-minded learners all over the world through studying
the origins, evolution & functional application practices of
traditional karate. Learn to completely understand the sum total of its
individual parts: Ti'gwa [The
plebeian form of percussive impact brought to Okinawa from the old Kingdom of
Siam], Torite
[Shaolin-based
techniques of seizing and controlling], T
"We
respect the traditional heritage of karate, and the cultural legacy of its
Okinawan pioneers, but advocate, "not following in the footsteps of the
old masters but rather seeking what they sought" [Basho]. "We
cannot solve our [kata-ambiguity?] problems with the same level of thinking that
created them" [Albert Einstein]. "Contempt prior to full
investigation enslaves a person to ignorance" [Dr. John Ray],
"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new lands, but in
seeing with new eyes"
[Marcel Proust]. Known for our thinking-outside-the-box mindset, the
IRKRS is a dependable source of information helping students and teachers alike
achieve goals never before thought possible."
Here's
your opportunity to learn the 'secrets' of karate from an internationally
recognized Kenkyu-kai [study-group], professional by example, but
unbiased by style.
A
link to the past is your bridge to the future
Brought
together by common goals, we are...
One
Organization
but
Many
Styles
welcoming you to start your journey with our movement