Motivation

It was during a record Summer Heatwave in Tokyo Japan 1984 that I had the great honour of training with the Headmaster of the JKA (Japan Karate Association) Masatoshi Nakayama. He was the first master in Shotokan history to attain the rank of 9th Dan while alive, and was posthumously awarded the rank of 10th Dan. I was a member of the British team that had arrived in Japan that Summer to compete and train with Various Dojos all over Japan. On a sweltering afternoon we Met Sensei Nakayama in a busy street market. He bought two large frozen water melons and we followed him to the DoJo. In no time at all we were changed and training in a small room with highly polished undulating floor. It was so hot I for one was glad when we finished and sat with the others on the dojo floor eating slices of the still chilled watermelon that Sensei handed out. Several times my good friend and mentor Steve cattle elbowed me as I started to drift with the heat. it was then that Nakayama Sensei sat next to me and asked what was my motivation for training in karate-do, I thought then told the truth I liked it. He gave a wry smile and I thought if it was a test I had just failed. Without really thinking I asked him what had been his motivation when he was my age 31years. He looked at me and said He had not decided yet and smiled again this time at my bewilderment. Then came the words that shaped my life in all things from that moment on. He said Karate is a burden that if one has the ability is carried for as long as possible, when you can carry it no more you hope to pass it on to someone who will honour the gift. I hope I have quoted accurately as his English was assisted by an interpreting student. Sensei Nakayama passed away 3 years later April 15th 1987. it was reported amongst his last words he said “I now know how to make a fist”. My last recollection of this karateka legend was of him waving us goodbye at the dojo entrance. I had turned to walk down the busy street with the team when a hand touched my shoulder, it was the student who had helped as interpreter. “Sensei asked me to tell you that it may be that many students will stand before you but you carry the burden alone. I looked back for him but he was gone. So in answer to a question I received My motivation. I have not decided yet.