The kanji on the opening page of this website holds much
significance. That is why I chose it as the main focus. On April 4, 2000, Taika Oyata underwent major
surgery for a tumor on his liver, a condition common
among some Orientals. I flew to Impendence, MO to be with him the night before
the surgery and to stay after his recovery. The night before
the surgery we were unable to sleep not knowing what may come of the
surgery. As Taika and I talked into the
wee hours of the morning, we discussed what he had accomplished in his lifetime
and what the future might hold. He was not concerned that the worst could
happen to him, but that his job was not complete.
The morning of the surgery we were up early when Kyoshi Greg Lindquist,
Taika's other senior student, arrived. As we somberly sat
waiting to leave, Taika took his brush and two sheets of paper and proceeded to brush the kanji for
BU. He did so with concentration and bold strokes. As we
watched him, it was as if he was performing a kata, it was most
profound! It reminded me of a samurai, faced with certain death, writing
his last poem. There was strong expression, yet there was calm. Taika
Oyata gave Kyoshi Lindquist and I the kanji explaining, "This may be the last thing I give
you. This is my life, BU WA ZERO
DE HAJIMARI, ZERO DE OWARU - BU begins at zero and ends at
zero. (Meaning that BU begins at birth and ends at death.)
My life has been dedicated to BU and this is all that I can
give. Keep this close to you and you will
understand."
BU is often translated as associated to combat and the western
understanding is associated with war and/or warriors. The Okinawan
translation has is related to life protection and service. The
kanji is actually a combination of several kanji. One means spear and the
other to stop. So, the literal translation means to stop a spear. Thus, the meaning is to stop fighting
or to protect rather than combat. To the Okinawans, martial arts are to protect rather than harm. The physical aspects of
the martial arts are very effective and often appear offensive rather than
defensive; however, true practitioners use restraint and control.
The kanji that is brushed here is a copy of the actual brush strokes given
to me by Taika and it is my treasure. When he gave it, I feared
that he may not survive surgery, but in his wisdom, he gave me a strong
message and lesson that ties my many years of study together. I will be forever indebted to Taika Oyata for
his knowledge, wisdom and friendship. I will do my best to see that
BU becomes my life as well so that his wisdom and those of his teachers
lives from many generations.
Jim Logue
- copyright 2004