Tag: Okinawa

The Mighty Okinawan Lion!

Ryukyu: Studying the ‘Okinawa’ Name! (22.2.2024)

I was asked about the history and meaning of the name ‘Okinawa’ and ‘Ryukyu’ – both Japanese in origin – but premised upon older Chinese ideograms. At the above link, there is my research regarding the forensic study of the ideograms involved and my conclusions premised upon these findings. The term ‘Okinawa’ appears to be a post-1872 CE construct – at least in regard to the forming of the Japanese Prefecture of that name. Generally, Chinese literature does not use this term – but prefers the far older ‘Lu Qiu’ designation which dates back around 1500-years.

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Tongliang Athletic Dragon

China: History of the Dragon Dance! (19.2.2024)

Hakka people – who are originally from Central and Northern China perform the ‘Phoenix’ Dance. A Chinese Phoenix looks like a Dragon (with different and darker colouring) – but has a central horn (like a Unicorn) on its forehead. Where this idea comes from no one is sure – but there is a rumour that Hakka people are a mixture of Han Chinese and the invading European ‘Hunnish’ Tribes that plagued the Northern borders of China thousands of years ago! The Hakka (Guest People) are responsible for the Qin and Han Dynasties and have spent their time migrating forever Southward over the centuries (bringing their Northern language, culture and martial arts with them).

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Randori - An Ancient Japanese Art!

Discussing the ‘Randori’ [乱取り] Concept Found within Okinawan & Japanese Martial Arts! (11.2.2024)

A skill is missing which must be acquired and formulated into an effective code. In other words, the ability to fight is a) lacking, b) must be attained, and c) its principles placed into a logical code for others to follow. Within Okinawan and Japanese martial arts this refers to training for combat – or what is referred to as ‘Sparring’ in the West. This is NOT sport fighting for egotistical reasons – but rather self-defence so that the physical body ‘survives’ any martial encounter. The body may be wounded or unhurt – either it is alive. This is different to gaining a piece of coloured cloth worn around the waist – or a shining tin cup, etc. Fighting for one’s life is very different to fighting for money.

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Goju Ryu Karate-Do

Karate Kid Movie [1984] Blu-Ray – “Mr Miyagi” Reconsidered! (14.1.2024)

The authors of the film ‘Karate Kid’ (1984) had a paradox to overcome. On the one hand they wanted a traditional ‘Okinawan’ Karate-Do master – who at the same time had NOTHING to do with Okinawa either before or during WWII! This entire idea is racist and disrespectful to the hundreds of thousands of Okinawan men, women and children who died being trapped between the Imperial Japanese Army and the invading US Marines – and those who died fighting the Americans or were murdered by US troops after surrender. Of course, many thousands of Okinawan women and girls were raped by US troops once captured. Although Mr Miyagi had to represent everything ‘martial’ that defines Okinawan history – including its stand against the invading US Forces – he also had to be completely ‘detached’ from everything ethnically ‘Okinawan’ so as not to disturb the Eurocentric sensitivities of the average US audience!

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Fuzhou: White Crane Fist Gongfu – Long Live the Communist Party of China! (8.11.2022)

The Communist Party of China (indeed, the Marxist-Leninist [Maoist] Communist Party across the world) – dedicates itself to the protection and uplifting of women and children (whilst empowering and looking after many other oppressed, suppressed and exploited groups)! The martial arts above display was organised by the Xiamen Yongchun White Crane Fist Culture Research Association – together with a number of other White Crane Fist Training Halls located in the Fuzhou City area of Fujian province! The ‘White Crane Fist’ (白鹤拳 – Bai He Quan) is famous as being the foundational ‘Chinese’ Style of gongfu that modern Okinawan ‘Karate-Do’ is built upon!

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The US Kami-Kaze ‘Re-Education Concentration Camp’ at ‘Fukuoka’! (20.6.2022)

Those who survived this process describe it as comprising of continuous psychological and physical torture that lasted for around one-month and which was administered by uniformed US Servicemen! This sounds very similar to the contemporary US torture carried-out in Iraq (and other places)! Those now former ‘Kami-Kaze’ Pilots who survived this ‘Re-Education’ process were ‘discharged’ back into Japanese society whilst the US Authorities (with the collusion of the ‘new’ Japanese Authorities) ‘watched’ these men everyday – ensuring that their employment, health and housing opportunities remained very basic and at an impoverished level of existence. These former ‘Kami-Kaze’ Pilots received no pension, no back-pay and were not allowed to attend any Remembrance Ceremonies or have any Monuments constructed to ‘Remember’ the sacrifice of the ‘Kami-Kaze’ Pilots – despite the US Military Authorities ‘filming’ a number of these attacks (so ‘shocked’ were the Americans to encounter this tactic)!

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