The Wisdom of “Mr. Miyagi”

Title: The Karate Kid
Starring: Pat Morita, Ralph Macchio
Directed by: John G. Avildsen
Date of Release:1984

Daniel: Hey - you ever get into fights when you were a kid?
Miyagi: Huh - plenty.
Daniel: Yeah, but it wasn't like the problem I have, right?
Miyagi: Why? Fighting fighting. Same same.
Daniel: Yeah, but you knew karate.
Miyagi: Someone always know more.
Daniel: You mean there were times when you were scared to fight?
Miyagi: Always scare. Miyagi hate fighting.
Daniel: Yeah, but you like karate.
Miyagi: So?
Daniel: So, karate's fighting. You train to fight.
Miyagi: That what you think?
Daniel: [pondering] No.
Miyagi: Then why train?
Daniel: [thinks] So I won't have to fight.
Miyagi: [laughs] Miyagi have hope for you.

This is one of the few movies my teacher and I went to see together at the movie theatre. Most of the other movies were Japanese films, some of which were my first introduction to “adult cinema.” “Realm of the Senses” still haunts me to this day.

Since my teacher’s English was limited, I’m not sure how much of the dialog he understood; but he did like the movie. That’s not to say he thought the movie was well done, he just found the premise pretty funny. Entertaining, but funny.

He also made it clear he didn’t like Daniel, and that if I had been like “Daniel-san” he never would have accepted me as a student. Being stubborn like me was one thing, but he found Daniel irritating and very whiny. I guess that was his way of complimenting me, and with the few positive comments he ever gave me; I’ll take what I can.

Of course my teacher was no Mr. Miyagi either. He never me made do, “wax on, wax off” or “paint the fence,” but he clearly wasn’t as nurturing as Mr. Miyagi. Not to me, or even his own family.

Though he disliked Daniel-san, he did like Mr. Miyagi. He said Mr. Miyagi reminded him of several people he had known in Japan, and he liked his philosophy-- especially the quote above.

No, it wasn’t the part about learning martial to avoid fighting, though that is a good philosophy, and one he agreed with. The part he liked was the idea that no matter how good you may be there is always someone who knows more.

My teacher said he could really relate to that statement, and that was something that was true in all facets of life. He also made it clear that I should never forget this sentiment as I progressed with my training.

So far I haven’t forgotten, though over the years I’ve often been reminded of that lesson the hard way.

My teacher told me many times that he was not a fighter, and as teenager avoided fights whenever possible. However, as a teen he had his share of free-for-alls, some of which he won, and some that he lost. Of course win, lose, or draw, he always learned something. Most of all, he learned that fights hurt, even if you walk away the winner.

Of course for my teacher nothing was worst than coming home after a fight, because win or lose, he would be punished, beaten, and forced to do “extra training.” This training was often harsher than normal, and intended to send the message that fighting in public would not be tolerated.

My teacher once told a story of his brother who, after getting into a fight, was beaten by his father. He was beaten so badly that he missed school the next day. If that wasn’t bad enough, a few days later, the “extra training” became so intense his brother was permanently injured: an injury that was debilitating enough that it affected him the rest of his life.

My teacher was also very strict with his son and I about getting into fights. It didn’t matter what the circumstances were. Short of defending our very lives, we were told never to fight, or we would suffer the “circumstances” when he saw us.

Unfortunately, there were a few times I discovered what those “circumstances” were. Trust me, no fight is worth the punishment an angry sensei can dish out.

I’ve always stated that I am not a fighter, and avoid conflict whenever possible. However, I’ve had my share of altercations, as a teenager, in competition, and professionally as a police officer.

Some I’ve won, some I’ve lost, and in some cases the “Calvary” came and helped subdue the bad guy before things got to out of hand. Just like my teacher, I’ve learned from all these altercations.

Of course I’ve learned that win lose or draw, there is pain involved in any fight, and that no matter how much it appears you may have the upper hand things can go bad instantly.

However, the main thing I have learned is that no matter how good I think I am, there is always somebody just a little better, a little quicker, and/or a little stronger than me--even among those individuals that have no martial art training.

The “Karate Kid” movie may have been silly, and unrealistic. Surely, there are parts of it that could have been left out, and were just part of the Hollywood formula. Fortunately, and why some find the movie so endearing, are the gems of wisdom within it. Clearly words to live by.