Engaging with the history of karate is often like embarking on a long journey filled with detours, quiet moments, and unexpected encounters. Those who dedicate themselves to historical karate research soon realize: it is not only about dates, names, and techniques, but also about patience – a virtue practiced both in the dōjō and at the desk.
The Incompleteness of Sources
Karate was born in a time when written records were scarce. Much was passed down orally, some deliberately concealed. Today we find fragments: old photographs, handwritten notes, the memories of students. These fragments gradually form a picture, though gaps always remain. Researchers cannot expect quick answers here.
The Parallel to Practice
In training we learn: progress does not come overnight. A kata often accompanies us for decades, revealing its depth only with patience. The same applies to historical sources. A document can lie unnoticed in an archive for years until, at the right moment, it is discovered – sometimes by chance, sometimes through persistent effort.
The Art of Waiting
“Sometimes things come to us without us expecting them.” This phrase captures both the spiritual attitude within karate and the research process itself. Those who wait without forcing the search open themselves to the unexpected. It is often precisely these chance finds, encounters with other researchers, or hints from unforeseen directions that offer decisive new perspectives.
Research as „dō“
Just as karate is a “Way” (dō), historical research can also be understood as a path. It is a process requiring patience, dedication, and a willingness to embrace not-knowing. Walking this path reveals that knowledge lies not only in the result, but also in the inner attitude with which we seek – and wait.
Karate Kenkyū Shitsu 