Hanging up in the front of Sensei’s dojo is a famous series of eight poems – the Kempo Hakku (Eight Laws of the Fist). The poem comes from article 13 of the bubishi – an historical text recording martial knowledge and techniques from South China (mainly Fukien) and Okinawa.

Apparently, the Kempo Hakku was a favourite of Kanryo Higaonna and Chojun Miyagi Sensei and the third line actually served as the inspiration for the name Goju-Ryu. In training, Higaonna Sensei frequently points at different kanji characters when explaining principals and techniques. I finally managed to track down the Japanese and English translation. Has a nice ring about it when you read the Japanese...

From top to bottom, right to left it reads:

1. Jinshin wa tenchi ni onaji.
The mind is one with heaven and earth.

2. Ketsumyaku wa nichigetsu ni nitari.
The circulatory rhythm of the body is similar to the cycle of the sun and the moon.

3. Ho wa goju no donto su.
The way of inhaling and exhaling is hardness and softness.

4. Mi wa toki ni shitagai hen ni ozu.
Act in accordance with time and change.

5. Te wa ku ni ai sunawachi hairu.
Techniques will occur in the absence of conscious thought.

6. Shintai wa hakarite riho su.
The feet must advance and retreat, separate and meet.

7. Me wa shiho wo miru wa yosu.
The eyes must not miss even the slightest change.

8. Mimi wa yoku happo wo kiku.
The ears listen well in all eight directions.

5 comments

1. Adrian on 13 March 2009 at 07:07

   Wow, I love this verse! Thank you for posting. . .why do you refer to Miyagi as "Shogun Miyagi Sensei". . .just curious, never heard of an Okinawan karate founder being referred to with a Japanese honorific, and a military one at that.
   
   Best,
   
   Adrian

    
2. Krista de Castella on 13 March 2009 at 11:21

   Talk about typos that change the meaning of a sentence!
   
   Not sure how I managed that one but thanks for spotting it.
   
   K

    
3. Mathieu on 13 March 2009 at 12:53

   Hello grasshopper. First time here.
   
   I get your meaning. Yet, politics are politics. :)
   
   Sorry for my english, I'm working on it.
   
   It seems you have found your place under the sun and I'm always happy to find people who live their dreams.
   
   Is it all you wanted it to be?

    
4. Unknown on 15 March 2009 at 20:15

   Interesting post! Great to see you're blogging your adventure in Naha.
   
   Looking forward to future posts of your time at Honbu Dojo.
   
   Dave

    
5. Krista de Castella on 16 March 2009 at 18:26

   Mathieu/Dave,
   
   Thanks for your warm comments. I do feel pretty lucky to have the opportunity to be living and training here and will do my best to keep the posts interesting.