A Kamikaze Mindset?!

[sensei8]

First of all, I don't glorify the acts of the Kamikaze pilots because of the untold amount of USA solders that died due to the intentions of these pilots. It was war, and the Japanese figured a way to inflict as much as possible. Please understand that it saddens me whenever I think of what took place at the hands of the Kamikaze.

The Kamikaze sits aside any differences and/or uncertainty for the glory of Japan/Emperor. What are we MAists willing to sit aside when that times before us?

Their mindset had to have been convinced that what they were doing was for the glory of Japan and the Emperor. A mindset for sure, without reservations or ambiguity in their willingness to forget self long enough to aim their airplanes towards their intended target.

Having said that, I want to ask these questions for the sake of our conversation...

**Do the Kamikaze's and the MA have anything in common?

**Can the MAist execute said technique(s) with that Kamikaze mindset?

We train, not just in passing, but in a deliberate manner. With a purpose that pales against the MA being a passing notion and/or hobby and/or sport. We train to turn our bodies into weapons. Weapons that can be capable for whatever is necessary for self preservation in the moment when our attacker(s) decide to do us harm. We train no matter how long or how often because we must polish ourselves unashamed and unwilling in the face of making a life changing decision.

Some of our training practices can be construed as barbaric to a point. We harden ourselves in a will to reach a level of effectiveness that in uncanny; without remorse for the sake of their MA betterment.

We separate ourselves within our heart, mind and soul in our training to perform free of restrictions. We pound the makiwara pad until we die. We mold our bodies in a fire that hardens in order to resist attack. We drill insofar because all of the drilling we've done our entire MA life means everything.

We push ourselves intrinsically to the very edge of our MA civility, and at that very moment when we must ask ourselves, with all of the applied effective knowledge within our being---just what are we exactly capable of doing?

I'm a MAist, but I'm not a Kamikaze, hell bent on destruction of our enemies as well as ourselves. However, how we train to be that weapon, no matter the willing sacrifices we make while training, we either are or we aren't standing at the door, ready to enter no matter what's before us.

Let our discussion commence.

EDITS: Spelling errors!!

Edited March 10, 2014 by sensei8

[Safroot]

I agree with you that Kamikaze is a mindset and I think what's common with MAtsis is braveness, courage and persistence (from their point of view) but as you said you have to be the only one to control this mindset.

[AdamKralic]

I've never liked the kamikaze mindset for a few reasons some of which you covered.

One of the others is pretty basic but too overlooked.

It is a failure of leadership to order kamikaze styled attacks. It's not a Japanese only failure by any means either.

Once you start viewing your men as cannon fodder...you are a failed leader imo. Especially as the "typical" kamikaze scenario involves you being weaker than your enemy. There HAS to be a way for you to be stronger than your enemy...find it. Even if it takes decades.

That being said...loyalty, dedication, courage, sacrifice, honor...all incredibly valuable traits. It's a shame they were wasted on suicide runs.

[cheesefrysamurai]

I think the kamikazes were a vestige to the samurai days. I think it was sort of ultimate sacrifice mentality for honor and loyalty.

I think our martial training did reflect part of that attitude. We have a knowledge of what can happen in an altercation and a realization that a fight can never be considered a victory until its over. I think at times, we can see a situation unfold and have to walk into that uncertainty, quite possibly to our defeat.

[SteyrAUG]

**Do the Kamikaze's and the MA have anything in common?

**Can the MAist execute said technique(s) with that Kamikaze mindset?

Being part of Japanese military tradition, even if it was largely a perversion of Bushido that existed from post Meiji until the end of the Pacific War, the mindset absolutely had an influence.

In postwar Japan it was generally referred to as a University mindset. This is because Japanese universities had Karate Teams that were similar to our College Football teams and they would have among their teammates in the 50s and 60s the sons of Kamikaze pilots or other "Sons of Heaven."

Needless to say, given their family heritage and strong martial traditions promoted, they approached their practice of martial arts with a level of dedication that some could call fanatical. The mindset of "My father died flying his Mitsubishi A6M into the hull of an American warship, how can I disgrace him by crying over broken ribs or crushed knuckles?" was a way of proving your devotion to your art and team.

Regrettably this dedication was often directed in unproductive ways and some University dojo became as brutal as LE street gangs in order to hold their standard higher than the rest. There is a rather famous incident from the 1960s where a student who wished to quit the Karate Team was killed by the membership when he was forced into a final sparring session which was basically no different than being "jumped out" of a street gang.

A kamikaze mindset wasn't always detrimental. Single minded devotion, under the guidance of an experienced and sensible instructor produced many exceptional martial artists, many of whom authored books that sit in most of our libraries. But a fascination with the darker sides of the mindset is always a danger and one only needs to look at Yukio Mishima (another extremely talented martial artist) to see where that road goes.

Perversions of the Kamikaze mindset and related influences of 20th century militaristic Bushido even made their way to our country and motivated the actions of John Keehan (aka Count Dante) to hold other schools to "his acceptable standard" of training, dedication and effectiveness which again resulted in tragedy and death.

What it comes down to is responsible leadership of the dojo. If students are allowed to engage in counter productive training methods that allow them to cause irreparable injuries to themselves and are permitted to brutalize other students all in the name of being "gung ho" or "hard core" then such mindsets are a terrible thing.

But if the students have sempai and sensei who know how to direct high levels of dedication and devotion in positive ways that result in higher levels of skill and ability where students find their maximum level of ability through things like shugyo and they set a bar for excellence then that is certainly a good thing.

In very traditional schools you will often see where the sempai are made responsible not only for the progress of the lower kyu ranks but are responsible for their safety as well. They are sort of the "drill sergeants" of the dojo, they might make you do kata or pushup until you believe you are going to die, but they won't let anyone beat on you.