{"id":1113,"date":"2016-12-06T16:48:32","date_gmt":"2016-12-06T20:48:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/thezenpagan\/?p=1113"},"modified":"2016-12-06T17:09:55","modified_gmt":"2016-12-06T21:09:55","slug":"cosmopolitanism-through-karate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/thezenpagan\/2016\/12\/cosmopolitanism-through-karate\/","title":{"rendered":"Cosmopolitanism Through Karate"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Regular readers of TZP know that my karate practice informs my understanding both of Zen and of magick<\/a>. It\u2019s a core part of who I am. This was my meditation lecture to my karate students last week; it is cross-posted from my karate blog, Sky Hand Road<\/a>. I hope that it might inspire others to think about the ways that the activities and organizations that they take part in, promote or fail to promote cosmopolitanism in this time of increased tribalism.<\/i><\/p>\n

\n

Over the past few weeks there have many disturbing incidents and news stories about bigotry and intolerance. Even before the politics surrounding the election, the FBI reports that \u201chate crimes\u201d increased last year.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s becoming clear that a lot of people are afraid of those who are different from them.<\/p>\n

I want you to know that Seido Karate stands firmly against this trend. We are an international family. We have dojos in the United States, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Chile, China, India, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Korea, Poland, South Africa, and the UK.<\/p>\n

Seido Karate students include Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Shintoists, Pagans, atheists, agnostics, and pretty much any other religious denomination you can think of. We also include members of all racial and ethnic groups. We are also open and welcoming to the gay and lesbian community. Whoever you are, so long as you respect your fellow students you are welcome to train with us.<\/p>\n

In Seido Karate, Kaicho Nakamura has created a cosmopolitan community. He has taken the best of traditional Japanese culture, fused it with the ideals of openness and equality that are the best American tradition, and given us a way to learn from and work with people all over the globe.<\/p>\n

\"Competitors
Competitors and judges at the Seido Karate 40th anniversary tournament, June 2016. Photo by the author.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We Seido students are citizens of the world. I\u2019ve hiked with Israeli students across the Japanese countryside, sat down to dinner with Muslim students from South Africa, been punched and kicked by men and women of all races and creeds.<\/p>\n

I want you to know that you are welcome here. Whether you are black or white or Asian, Christian or Muslim or Jewish or atheist, gay or straight, Seido Karate welcomes you.<\/p>\n

And if you continue your training you will have the opportunity to make friends across the world. It will expand your mind and help you understand other cultures.<\/p>\n

But I also want you to know that as a Seido student you have a duty to stand up for these ideals. If you hear someone saying something bigoted or prejudiced, your training should give you the courage to stand up and say, \u201cNo. That\u2019s not right. That\u2019s not funny or cool.\u201d<\/p>\n

That doesn\u2019t mean we should get into fistfights over insults! But if we let bigotry go unchallenged, we are not living up to the ideals of karate-do.<\/p>\n

I hope that Seido Karate will help you find your best self in these challenging times.<\/p>\n

Osu!<\/p>\n

\n

You can keep up with \u201cThe Zen Pagan\u201d by subscribing via RSS<\/a> or e-mail<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Have I mentioned my books lately? Why Buddha Touched the Earth<\/a><\/i> or What Does It Mean For The Gods To Exist<\/a><\/i> make great gifts for the Zen Pagan on your list.<\/p>\n

If you do Facebook, you might choose to join a group on \u201cZen Paganism\u201d<\/a> I\u2019ve set up there. And don\u2019t forget to \u201clike\u201d Patheos Pagan<\/a> and\/or The Zen Pagan<\/a> over there, too.<\/p>\n

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