I decided to watch The Karate Kid today after having had a recent conversation with a friend of mine about this movie. His enthusiasm about this movie inspired me to really watch this movie and observe the details. I am enclosing a photo of my uncle, Forrest Sanborn with a bit of information about him. You see my uncle was a karate instructor as well as being a respected member of the Braintree police department in Massachusetts. My uncle was one of the most calm men I knew, even when he got upset over something he never raised his voice. Perhaps part of the discipline he learned was through his own study of karate. For the heck of it I googled his name and found this letter referencing my uncle, who is deceased.
Bill,
Shimabukuro Sensei, in my view, performed this kata with effortless grace. I think the video was taken in Atlanta at the 2001 Rengokai. Perhaps you were there? Were there pauses during the performance? Yes. I do not know the kata well enough to determine whether the pauses were done for emphasis, demonstration or some other reason. I do find Shimabukuro's execution to be nearly flawless.
Those who are more familiar with Kushanku may have other things to say about the performance.
On another point, neither I nor any of the other board members of Okikukai West inclusive of Goss Sensei teach mindless execution. Neither have any of my former instructors including Ahti Kaend (dec'd), Jack Summers, Forrest Sanborn (dec'd), Carmine DiRamio (dec'd). All of these men sought to bring out the best in their students by instilling discipline, respect and "mindful" repetition.
All the best,
Mike DeDonato
Uechi-ryu of Los Angeles
uechi-la@ca.rr.com
310 710-6334
Anyway, on to the movie. It is the story of an underdog, the kind of story everyone loves because you always root for the underdog to win. The underdog in this case is Daniel LaRusso, a young man who moves with his mother from New Jersey to Raceda, a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California. The apartment complex they live in is not that great, but Daniel will find a friend in the apartment handyman, Mr. Miyagi. Mr. Miyagi is an Okinawan immigrant. He fixes Daniel's bicycle after Daniel smashes it into the dumpster, then Mr. Miyagi intervenes when a gang of boys try to beat Daniel up. Mr. Miyagi becomes Daniel's mentor, teaching him karate. He gives Daniel a wise piece of advice, telling him karate comes from the head and the heart, not the belt you are wearing. Through their time spent together Daniel finds out Mr. Miyagi's wife and son had died during childbirth while she was interned at Manzanar, a Japanese/American internment camp in California. She died there while Mr. Miyagi was serving the very same country that imprisoned his wife. A service that wins Mr. Miyagi a medal of honor. In a touching moment Daniel bows in respect to Mr. Miyagi after he realizes this sorrow from his friend's life. Daniel really becomes a surrogate son to Mr. Miyagi and Mr. Miyagi becomes the father Daniel is lacking.
Mr. Miyagi gives Daniel a beautiful 1950 Chevrolet convertible as a birthday present. Daniel uses the car to go pick up the girl he loves, a girl he has courted through the entire movie and wrongly judged. Just an interesting fact is that Ralph Macchio, the actor who played Daniel, now owns that car.
As the movie winds down to the fnal scene, the karate tournament, Daniel's mother, his girlfriend, Ali and Mr. Miyagi cheer Daniel on. When things look the bleakest Daniel pulls through to the end, determined to win, just as much for those he loves as for himself. It is their love, encouragement and help that spur him on to win. And win he does, using one of Mr. Miyagi's own poses to win with. As the final scene closes you see Mr. Miyagi's face, smiling with happiness over Daniel's victory. This is a true movie of the heart.
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