011 — The Okinawan Spirit of Not Losing, Part 1: An Introduction
Shureimon: Gateway to the 'Land of Propriety.' By 663highland, licensed under CC BY 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons
"Karate is not about winning, it's about not losing.”
In popular imagination and modern combat sports, the martial arts are often associated with winning. Dominating tournaments. Overpowering opponents. Crushing the enemy. And yes, everyone loves a winner. However, those who look deeper, beyond such superficialities, into Authentic Okinawan Karate discover a very different message—one shaped not by glory or conquest, but by survival, restraint, and moral clarity. It is this contrast that makes the journey into Karate's true essence so compelling.
Within the culture of Okinawa, the concept of "not losing" doesn't simply mean "to avoid defeat" in a physical sense. It embodies an entire mindset—resilience, endurance, and moral steadfastness. To 'not lose' is to stand firm without needing to dominate, to protect without becoming the aggressor, and to survive danger without succumbing to fear, hatred, or ego. This is not a weakness. It is, in fact, a higher strength that empowers us to embody the true spirit of Karate.
In Authentic Okinawan Karate, this concept shows up time and again:
In the saying "Karate ni sente nashi" – "There is no first strike in karate."
In the emphasis on kakie and tai sabaki, with the use of yielding and evasion over brute force.
In the image of the practitioner as protector, not predator.
This is not just a strategy. It's culture. It's ethics. And it's Okinawan.
Modern Karate, particularly in the West and in competitive settings, often tends toward a winner-loser dynamic. Points. Medals. Knockouts. While there's nothing inherently wrong with competition, it risks overshadowing the original purpose of our art: preserving life, peace, and dignity—our own and others'.
In several articles to follow, I will explore this message through three stories of Okinawan masters who embodied this ethos—real incidents from the lives of some of Okinawa's most revered figures. These are not tales of champions standing victorious in the ring or on the podium. They are stories of men who faced danger and injustice—not with aggression, but with poise and control. These stories can help to inspire and connect us to the true spirit of Okinawan Karate. They are:
Matsumura Sōkon, who faced a charging bull and prevailed.
Miyagi Chōjun, who neutralized a violent drunkard.
Sōken Hohan, who intervened to protect a woman.
They did not seek to win; they chose not to lose.
Each article will illustrate a different way of "not losing"—physically, morally, and socially—and stand on its own as a narrative, brief, engaging, and rooted in oral or historical tradition. Together, they will build toward a final reflection on what the Okinawan spirit of not losing means for us today as karateka.
I hope you enjoy them—and discover what it truly means not to lose.