culturally conditioned

“Miyagi … was culturally conditioned to state that his karate came from Higaonna Kanryo without apparent contradiction.  …  Miyagi (and Kyoda for that matter) could do this and maintain a very real belief that he had preserved and passed on the true core of his teacher’s karate.” - Mario McKenna Sensei Blog ‘The Enigma of Miyagi Chojun

Comment: This concept of remaining true to a master and the past as a core belief while allowing for a modicum of change as time passes and situations evolve and not feel the loss of that connection is what many Westerners fail to understand. Like the concept of “Harmony” at all costs that lead to approvals when pushed by the wester practitioners so end a disharmonious encounter so it would return to a harmonious event. I have come to believe that many of the accepted practices of karate in the West come from our pension to be persistent in gaining answers to our questions. The Asian systems tend to do what is necessary to stay in a harmonious position that rates higher in importance than even truth. It comes from the concept of shikata that comes from the concepts developed for harmony during the feudal era of Japan and has permeated every corner of the kingdom, including Okinawa.