Karate Essence, ‘Ethical Philosophy’ ‘Fear’

Karate Essence

 

 Photograph and editing by Zoё Lake

Ethical Philosophy

 ‘Fear’

By T.D. McKinnon Hanshi 

I first met Michelle Darbro Hanshi about six years ago.  At the time, I was a columnist for ‘The Shotokan Times’, an international martial arts magazine out of Dusseldorph, Germany.  After reading my column, Michelle Hanshi invited me as a guest on her ‘Wildcat Dojo Conversations’ Podcast.  I have since appeared on Michelle Hanshi’s Podcasts on many occasions, and both myself and my wife count Michelle Hanshi and her team among our dearest friends.

Just recently, I took part in a ‘Wildcat Dojo Conversations’ Podcast entitled ‘Fear is a Back Stabber’.  It goes without saying that that Podcast – produced in Florida USA by Michelle Hanshi and her experienced team, who have produced 332 podcasts – is an excellent production and, if you haven’t already done so, you should definitely check it out at Wildcat Dojo Conversations ‘Fear is a Back-stabber’.

My own Blog-post on the same subject of ‘Fear’ was inspired by Michelle Darbro Hanshi, when she invited me to take part in the ‘Wildcat Dojo Conversations’ Podcast. The content in the Wildcat Dojo Conversations Podcast, ‘Fear is the Back Stabber,’ and the content in my Karate Essence, ‘Ethical Philosophy’, ‘Fear’ Blog post for February, is very similar in content and, in regard to my own input, is virtually the same.  I truly believe that listening to the Podcast, and then reading the Blog post gives you the widest possible coverage, in two mediums, of a really fascinating subject. 

Table of Contents

•          Subjective Complexity

•          Western Psychology

•          Eastern Philosophy

•          Unification

•          Dealing with Fear

•          Seeds of Fear

•          Striving to be Fearless

•          The Full Mantle

•          I Remember Fear

•          Therein Lies the Formulae

Subjective Complexity

Regardless of how ‘Fear’ impacts upon you, personally… ‘Fear is a feeling’.  I would suggest that anything concerning ‘feelings’ is subjective; and, depending on the person experiencing whatever feeling (‘Fear’ in this instance) subjectivity can make anyone’s assumption different.  That being the case, any subjective feeling is subject to interpretation.  ‘Fear’ now begins to take on a complexity.

In addition to subjectivity, as Budōka or karateka in Western society, we effectively walk in two worlds: the Western psychological and the Eastern philosophical worlds of the martial artist.  More and more complex.

Western Psychology

In Western psychology, ‘Fear’ is regarded as a primal, protective, and adaptive emotion that serves as an internal alarm system… a warning of imminent danger or potential harm.  Involving a biochemical action, this emotive feeling causes an immediate psychological response that prepares the body for action.  That response is commonly labelled ‘the fight or-flight response.’  

Eastern Philosophy

According to Eastern philosophy, from both the Japanese and the Chinese Buddhist viewpoint, ‘Fear’ stems from a fundamental ignorance of the true nature of reality and having an attachment to things remaining permanent and stable, and when threatened result in suffering. 

Fear can be triggered by both real and imagined threats; and can be a normal and healthy reaction.  However, it can become problematic if it is persistent, irrational, or disproportionate to the actual perceived danger.

Unification

A general statement that I find encapsulates both the Western and the Eastern ideas of ‘Fear’ might be that, “Fear evolves from distressing illusions, possibly based on unpleasant memories, resulting in trepidation for the immediate future.”  However, by understanding that everything is temporary; and, cultivating practices like mindfulness and meditation, you can acknowledge and transform ‘Fear’, cultivating inner peace, and freedom from suffering.

Dealing with Fear

So… how can we best deal with ‘Fear’?

Firstly, I would advise that you prepare yourself to deal with the symptoms, initially, by striving to be a calmer person.

Daily meditation would be my first suggestion… and I know that there are those who might find that hard to do.  I would say to you – the same as I tell any of my students who, for one reason or another, find meditation in any form difficult or impossible to do:

If, when you awake in the morning, you can sit quietly, on your own somewhere, and breathe diaphragmatically (this is also known as abdominal or deep breathing) for just ten, deep, slow breaths.  This will lower your heart rate, and lower your blood pressure; and it will reduce muscle tension, alleviate stress, pain, and anxiety.  This is one of the simplest forms of meditation.  If you do the same exercise before you go to sleep at night, you will fall asleep easier and sleep better.

Secondly, think about what it is that initiates your ‘Fear’, and then, if at all possible, avoid those situations.  If that’s not feasible, and I can understand that being the case, make preparations to face your ‘Fear’.  I know that this option seems difficult to visualise; however, if you can do it, the next step will take a leap of faith…  ‘Do or say what you ‘Fear’ most!’ 

An example of this might be to confront that something or someone and attempt to reason with the person or situation.  You might be surprised with the outcome; however, at the very least it will bring it to a head.  Either way… you will have faced that ‘Fear’, and hopefully, one way or another, brought an end to some conflict in your life.

Just briefly, my wife has her own method of dealing with fear, she says, “I deal with fear by not feeding it.  I blow it away and don’t consider it at all… blow, blow, blow… and then I go and cuddle a cat or three…”

Seeds of Fear

I have to say at this point that, in the process of leaving ‘Fear’ behind, I experienced almost every scenario you can imagine; and there is no such thing as instant fearlessness.  However, the process is rewarding, and the end result is priceless.

Anxiousness is one of the seeds of ‘Fear’.  So, you should prepare yourself to expect anything that comes your way.  You should not be surprised by any eventuality; also, you must be confident that you will react in the way most appropriate to any evolving situation.  If you could do these things, you would not be so anxious in the space between those adverse situations.  The more confidence you have in your ability to deal with those adverse situations – the less ‘seeds of Fear’ you will sew into your life – and the less ‘Fear’ you will have to face.  ‘Easier said than done’ I know.

My wife says, “Don’t react instantly to anything… waiting will do no harm… go cuddle a cat…”

Striving to be Fearless

I’ve known professional fighters who, stepping into the ring, immediately forfeited 25% of their energy, power, speed and confidence.  Consequently, their opponent won the first round without breaking sweat.  However, as the fight progressed I could see, even by the end of that first round, that the ‘Fear’ had dissolved; and superior spirit, strength and technique, first levelled the fight, before going on to win the fight.

In the street, however, you don’t have the protection of rules, referees and the chance to come back from a first round loss.  You may suffer physically, mentally and spiritually; and, in the worst case scenario, you could even lose your life.

That’s why the Budōka strives to be ‘Fearless’.  Without ‘Fear’, the Budōka reacts in the moment, with an uncluttered mind (Mushin) producing, instinctively, exactly what is needed from their treasure chest of knowledge and skill, to bring them safely through any trials and tribulations.

My wife says, “I’d just go get my killing machine and then… cuddle a cat…”

The Full Mantle

So, a true Budōka does not strive to be undefeatable but to be ‘Fearless’.  True fearlessness is a spiritual quality that the Budōka acquires, eventually, through the acquisition of Zanshin, Mushin, Shoshin, Fudoshin and Senshin; and that is the shining armour of the spiritual warrior.

If, at this stage, you’re unaware of those Japanese terms, you may perhaps be aware of their meaning.

1.      Zanshin (残心): is ‘the lingering mind’ which is aware of everything… without distractions.

2.      Mushin (無心): is ‘the uncluttered mind’, without judgement, emotion or anticipation, and deals with situations from the moment point.

3.      Shoshin (初心): is ‘the open, eager mind’, and with its lack of bias, it sees all options.

4.      Fudoshin (不動心): is ‘the peaceful, determined and courageous mind’, and provides the confidence to endure… no matter the odds.

5.      Senshin (洗心): is ‘the enlightened mind’, striving to protect and be in harmony with all life; and completes the five spirits of Budō.

Embracing the five spirits of Budō – the full Mantle of the Spiritual Warrior – endows the advanced Budōka with ‘Fearlessness’; thus rendering that Budōka, virtually, undefeatable.

I Remember Fear

I haven’t experienced ‘Fear’, in any real sense, since I was in my teens… but I remember: 

‘Fear’ floods the mind with emotional turbulence and steals your confidence, preventing you from dealing in the moment and using all of your wiles and capabilities to their maximum. 

‘Fear’ steals your energy, strength and speed, preventing that smooth transition into the explosive expression of that sure, effective, constructive action that you have spent so much time and energy perfecting.

‘Fear’ is the back-stabber that enables the erosion of your confidence and the defeat of your self-belief.

If you allow it, ‘Fear’ can affect any part of your life…

For instance… academically, I was quite a good student, always around the top performers during the course of a school year.  However, particularly in mathematics, whenever the annual exam times came around I would choke.  Terrified, I would just freeze during an exam, unable to complete the paper.  I just could not, for the life of me, remember any of the math formula; and without the formula I couldn’t do the equations.

After leaving high school and joining the Parachute Regiment, as a Junior Leader, I still had many exams to complete.  However, I was then able to treat the difficulties I had with exams as merely one of the many practical problems I encountered on a daily basis, as a Junior Leader, and had to solve constantly to make the grade.

Therein Lies the Formulae

Not unlike mathematics, every problem can be overcome if you have the formula.  If you have the formula to the equation, there’s nothing to ‘Fear’.

‘Fear’ is a paradox… an enigma.

 ‘Fear’ is the only enemy.  Defeat ‘Fear’ and all else will fall before your will.

Without ‘Fear’ there is, literally, nothing to lose.  I’ll refer to the Japanese Budō term of ‘Mushin’ (‘the uncluttered mind’) to separate that part of your consciousness that stores all of your repetitively learned skills; ‘therein lies the formulae’ for every adverse situation you might encounter.  More than merely a repository, your ‘Mushin’ is a sorting station that produces the exact formula, instantly, to deliver you on the other side of any adverse situation, relatively unscathed.  All you need is faith in your Mushin, and that just takes the undoubting belief that your Mushin will be up to the task… ‘without a doubt.’

Thank You

A big thank you to all at the Torakan Devonport Dojo and to all of the karateka, past and present, that have made the 50-year Torakan Karate-Do journey worthwhile.  Thank you also to those who have given their time and expertise, without hesitation, to make the Torakan Journey a successful one.  

Thank You to the Readers

As always, thank you for following the ‘Karate Essence’, and I hope you will all take value from the new 2026 ‘Ethical Philosophy’ Blog posts.

Thank you also for continuing to support my latest book, ‘A Budōka Odyssey’.  The reviews continue to be excellent!

Top reviews from Australia

semone

5.0 out of 5 stars: Inspirational

Reviewed in Australia on 8 April 2025

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This book is easy to read in short or long sessions - such an inspirational life story of an amazing guy. Well worth the read.

Alan

5.0 out of 5 stars  

"Anyone interested in learning the practical use of karate outside of the dojo should read this."

Reviewed in Australia on 28 May 2024

Written by a man who has lived the life of a modern warrior. His ability to recognise the lessons and gifts in any situation and the having the humility to seek out those who can help you better yourself are important traits we should all endeavour to achieve not just in our own martial arts’ odyssey but in life.

Top reviews from the United Kingdom

Carl Slee

5.0 out of 5 stars 

‘A Fascinating Book’

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 October 2024

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A fascinating book, and not just for those interested in martial arts. Although if you are, this is one of those rare books that will help in not just the development of karate skills but in the facilitation of those psychological states (rarely discussed) of the true karateka.

From early childhood to the present day, Shihan McKinnon shares his adventures as, Truant, Soldier, Nightclub bouncer and Bodyguard as well as Business man but always as a fighter. And in this book he shares with us the ‘gifts’ and ‘Lessons’ that come from such a ‘life worth lived’.

A rare book, in that I found myself re-reading pages, chapters or passages over and over to further understand how such insights related to my own life. And this is the ‘gift’ of this book, I think that each person, whatever gender, age or interest will find something at some point within it, that is very personal and that will reverberate for them, long after reading.

 Thank you Shihan

J Brogan

5.0 out of 5 stars 

"A Great Read!"

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 July 2024

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I have to say that I found this book to be compulsive reading. For someone who was born and raised in the West of Scotland I was immediately drawn to T.D. McKinnon’s Scottish roots. He writes in such a concise and realistic manner. As someone with no knowledge of karate and martial arts, I have nevertheless found the main themes of the book easy to follow and this has made me review experiences drawn from my own life. The concept of ‘gifts and lessons’ applies to all life, not just karate. I would recommend this book to anyone, particularly those who are deeply involved in a sport of any kind, and who is striving to be the best person they can be.  Read, learn and enjoy.

Thank you for this book, T.D. McKinnon.

Top review from the United States

Minimal shopper

5.1 out of 5 stars

‘A Fine Man Shares a Life of Budō’

Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2024

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At over 500 pages there is a lot of content in this autobiographical journey.  A quick overview is as follows:

Author Shihan TD McKinnon has had ALOT of fights in his life; starting under the age of 6! He tells the narrative of his life through all those fights and what he learned about himself and life along the way. I appreciate that he doesn’t make self-defense fighting seem glamorous and one sided. He talks about injuries, dangers, and making alternate choices to physical violence as a reality.

This book emphasizes lessons like ‘never quit’, ‘move on to the next venture’, ‘stay in the moment and learn what you can along the way’. I recommend it for young and old, karate people and non-karate folks. He carries the journey into today with a very relevant subject - training and aging. Take it on your next plane trip, or beach vacation. And if you’re a karate instructor, you can work it into your teaching. This book does not disappoint!