1975, at the age of 17, I began to study Shotokan Karate Do by Sensei Pavao Piacun in his Dojo at the Monbijoustreet 10 in Berne, Switzerland.

The main impulse for my interest in martial arts and eventually the beginning of my Karate studies were, as undoubtedly it is for many others as well, the in this period by teenagers very popular Bruce Lee movies.

In all the years since 1975 I studied Karate Do by the following masters: Pavao Piacun, Ilija Jorga, Bruno Koller, Hiroshi Shoji, Yuji Sato, Koichi Sugimura, Hideo Ochi, Tetsuhiko Asai, Sadashige Kato, Masao Kagawa, Hirokazu Kanazawa und Hiroshi Shirai.

Actually, by now over 50 years old, I still practice my huge passion Karate Do several times per week and for my boundless joy, since 2002, after being returned to Berne after 20 years absence, again by my proper Sensei (as one has only one father, one has also only one Sensei, namely the first) Shihan Pavao Piacun and this significantly still in the Dojo at the Monbijoustreet 10 in Berne.

Technique of Karate Do

In the martial art Karate Do power and dynamics are elemental for performing strokes, kicks and blows. The techniques have to be brought on target with maximal acceleration and absolute body tension during a very short moment (Kime) impinging upon a surface as small as possible. Thus a very effective shock technique is obtained. Nonetheless, or just therefore, Karate Do but considers also the economic and ergonomic principle by firstly dodging an attack using dodging steps as for instance Tai-Sabaki, in order to let the attacker walk into nothing as in Aikido, to divert the attacking energy to another direction and eventually launch a counterattack. Finally to mention is also the principle of the direct counterattack (Sen-no-sen), trying to counter an attack directly by an even faster attack whereby disabling the attack of the opponent.

The proper sense of the martial art Karate Do lies in the fastest possible neutralization of the opponent and not in the collection of points performing risky techniques, which would be much too dangerous using them in a real fight. Unfortunately this is exactly what is done in the today’s sports-Karate. The Karate, which is practised these days in many Dojo has to do with sports competition but nothing with Karate as martial art and even less with Karate Do. Nevertheless, also sports-Karate has it’s eligibility, because it gives young Karateka the possibility to gain experience, be it in Kumite or Kata, single events or team events, and also to meet Karateka and Karate styles from other regions, countries or even continents.

Karate Do as life-philosophy

Karate is martial art, but Karate Do is much more. Karate Do is the way; Karate Do is constantly working on yourself, not only physically but also especially mentally and spiritually. Sports-Karate can be practised only up to a certain age, but Karate Do the whole life up to old age. Karate Do is immensely more difficult, complex and demanding as Karate. Sensei Piacun says: ”Karate Do is a fight against yourself. Thereby you must try to defeat yourself, which is much more difficult than to fight or defeat an opponent. Karate Do is more difficult than the bible itself: the bible is read and studied, in Karate Do you furthermore have to apply yourself physically.”

Core point of Karate Do is first of all to achieve "Mushin". Mushin is the achievement of a certain state of mind, in which you free yourself of all thoughts, creating an internal void. Trough this impartiality and absence of thoughts, feelings and judgements, which cloud the intuitive sagacity, the mind is calmed and is opened for the mental principles of Karate Do. By Mushin the spirit is freed before any intellectual process is activated.

"Mizu no kokoro" is to perceive in addition to Mushin and typifies the attempt to combine spirit and technique with the properties of water; to achieve a state of mind of tranquillity, calmness and non-aggression. Water is tough and soft at the same time, dodges any attack, but comes back immediately, sometimes slowly, sometimes quickly and adapts itself to every form. Water cannot be seized; the tighter you try to catch it, the more you lose. The water surface doesn’t interpret anything, but reflects things, without thoughts, spontaneously, immediately.

Laotse has worded the properties of water so perfectly: "In the whole world there is nothing softer or thinner than water. But to compel the hard and unyielding, it has no equal. That the weak overcomes the strong, that the hard gives way to the gentle - this everyone knows. Yet no one acts accordingly."

In our "style" – Shisui Ryu Karate Do – we try to internalize and interpret the properties of water; the softness and smoothness of water; and out of this softness and smoothness the huge power and strength of water. Shisui in fact means “quiet water”. Significantly Shisui was the nickname Sensei Pavao Piacun got from his teacher Tetsuji Murakami because of his fighting style (smooth and fluently, but also powerful and tough like water).

Somebody who exercises in Karate Do should be modest, selfless and gentle, but also, if the situation requires it, courageous and strong of character. Besides he should have a distinctive code of honour, which is shown by the respect, estimation, friendliness and comprehension he brings to his entire environment – be this mankind, animals, plants or material. A deeper analysis of the Dojo Kun reveals how difficult Karate Do – the way – is, first of all if these rules are expanded outside of the Dojo. Karate is a fight against an opponent, but Karate Do is a fight against yourself and this is endlessly more difficult und endures not only three minutes, as a fight in competition does, but the whole life – and even more than that.

Maurizio Gerussi
2009