Karate is an empty handed martial art using the whole person (mentally and physically) most effectively to defend onself, as such karate is dependent on skill rather than size or strength.
Each technique is studied in depth to make most effect with least effort, and in application, timing, distancing and strategy are most important, so one does not conflict the opponent's strength but rather tune to the opponent and use the space in the opponent's action.
The ultimate goal goes beyond fighting but rather to expand the practitioner's mental and physical potentials.
Mastery of karate is mastery of life with all its aspects, karate is an excellent way to keep the body fit and functioning at peak till old nage. Karate is also an excellent tool to develop focus, centeredness, stable emotions, intuitiveness and creativeness, it is a method to help one become his best at whatever he chooses.
Karate is an endless journey, without conclusions, always investigating, finding out so learning never ceases.
Above are Avi's two teachers, master Nishiyama and Aiko San who brought karate to new levels, I was blessed to spend 27 years with them, daily. They are the first to organize karate principles into a system, yet allow one to go beyond any system.
"seeking the beauty of one finishing blow technique"
is a budo saying that means that we have to look at the details of each technique very carefully to make it most effective. We teach the principles of karate technique through the external motion, form symbolizes principles, those principles when internalized allow us to produce force in small space adapting to any circumstance, even a small person to defend himself successfully against bigger.
In karate technique or in sparring one has to remmember that we look for one finish technique, rather than many sloppy actions.
The beauty is that applying those principles to movement will keep one healthy and functioning optimally till old age.
"I Patsu Shobu" one chance win or lose
Is another saying that reflects the spirit of Budo, it means that one has to use strategy, timing and distance very carefully and once an action is taken, one has to give everything, with no hesitation, no mind in the technique.
This is the difference between karate and sports, there is no second chance and one has to train with utmost seriousness and do his best in every action. In a basketball game if you lose a point you may make up to it, not in Budo.
If one was to hunt a ferocious animal, it is not enough to be good at shhoting an arrow or even a gun, one has to be strategic, calculate the wind, habits of the animal, etc, so it is in fight, when we attack we must think one finish action, but we must also must understand the "in between" up to the finishing action, read opponent, use the space, set up, than give everything.
"one cannot win opponent before winning over self"
First one has to develop discipline, confidence and awareness of self, develop control over his own body and mind, than one can win an opponent. Developing one's character is more important than winning a fight.
Best technique is useless if one is not emotionally stable, and hard training fosters confidence, and confidence allows for stable emotions.
Mizaru Miru - not see, yet you see, not hear, yet you hear, not know yet you know
Karate teaches balance between intelect and intuition, avoid brain interference, effortless total awareness, by the information available one can see what is not there yet.
We learn this by proper use of eyes, breath, relaxation, sensitivity that schools cannot teach, schools teach you intelect and knowledge, but the top people in their fields will tell you that the best decisions are made before intelect is involve.
Wayne Gretzky was not the most athletic of NHL, but he could see where a player was going to be ahead, and therefore did not need to be as fast as others.