Karate Essence, ‘Ethical Philosophy’, ‘Kime’
- tdmckinnon0
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Karate Essence
Photograph & Editing by Zoё Lake
Ethical Philosophy
Kime
By T.D. McKinnon Hanshi
Kime (pronounced with two distinct syllables: ‘kee’ (as in ‘keep’) and ‘meh’ (as in ‘met’), is an often misunderstood concept, even by traditionalists. From the core of your being to the point of delivery, where – tapping into the universal energy in bite-sized pieces – mind, body and spirit meet with intent. As a karateka, I know it when I feel it; and, as a teacher, I recognise it when I see it in others.
Table of Contents
The Etymology of ‘Kime’
‘Kime’ a Budō Concept
Various Masters’ Affinity with ‘Kime’
‘Kime’ A Personal Expression
Etymology of ‘Kime’
Kime is a Japanese word; it is the noun form of the verb ‘kimeru’ (kee-meh-roo), which means ‘to decide’. Depending on the dictionary, it may be defined as decide, focus of power, or finish. Literal translation is a 'decision' or 'commitment'; also, concentration of spirit, mind and physical body at an intended, particular point.
It’s not unusual to find that a word can mean many things, and it is even less unusual to find that a term in Japanese doesn’t translate smoothly into English. Outside of the martial arts, the word Kime is ambiguous at best. However, within that esteemed enclave, the meaning of Kime becomes even more abstruse.
‘Kime’ a Budō Concept
I have heard various instructors (usually Westerners) trying to explain the concept of Kime:
"Accelerating into your target, where your Kime focuses the energy.”
“Kime is the ability to rapidly deliver power into the target.”
“Kime: a destructive force that, once mastered, transforms the student into a master.”
Even the almighty Wikipedia says Kime means “power, and/or focus.”
These are but a few of the many I’ve heard. I’ve also heard those who would debunk Kime:
“Kime is merely a physical contraction that happens when, in traditional karate in particular (because most of its practice is done against an imaginary target), the antagonist muscles (that is the opposing muscles to those used to initiate whichever technique) are used to stop a technique; denoted by the snapping of the gi.”
In my opinion, those who subscribe to 1, 2, 3 or 4 are merely trying to verbalise a feeling that is so elusive that it escapes the Western, purely physical, logical explanation. And those who subscribe to number 5 simply don’t grasp the concept because they never actually feel Kime. I find that some of the sport karate or freestyle orientated styles, with no traditional roots, those who, instead of Kime, use words like ‘Fixate, or phrases like, ‘Deliver vigorously, and pull the punch,’ fall into this category.
A common misconception about ‘Kime’, from a Western mindset, is that the muscles tense briefly at the conclusion of any given technique to protect the joints: elbows, shoulders et cetera. This conception, I believe, completely negates the internal detonation which powers from the core of your being, outwards, to where the maximum effect, of whichever technique, does its most damage. Whether that be a knock-out punch, a devastating strike or kick, a shattering throw, or awesomely, perfect slice from a Katana.
I know how the Budōka sees Kime. From the core of your being (Tanden) to the point of delivery, where – tapping into the universal energy in bite sized pieces – mind, body and spirit meet in a co-ordinated union with serious intent. That is Kime!
When working with a partner to perfect whatever techniques, you want to then store in your Mushin for that adverse situation that you hope will never come, but are then totally ready and prepared for. Do not make the mistake of thinking it is a game, with dramatic, long drawn out ‘pretend’ Kime, for effect, as is quite common, in Kata and Kumite, in tournament style performances.
Believe me, in reality, it is short and sweet; and it needs to be. You move smoother and faster when your muscles are relaxed and, in practice (a real situation), the fraction of a second of tension it takes on the delivery of Kime, deep inside your adversary, should not break the flow. When you practise (with a partner) that Kime should be on skin contact only, of course.
Various Masters’ Affinity with ‘Kime’
One of my favourite metaphors, concerning Kime, I heard from the late Frank Nowak Sensei (1947-1991). Originally from Germany, after completing the legendary Nakayama Sensei’s JKA Instructors Course, Nowak Sensei immigrated to Australia in 1971. Nowak Sensei was the very first recipient of the "Best Referee Award" by the World Union of Karate Organisations (WUKO), at the World Championships in Taiwan in 1982:
“Imagine an antitank weapon firing, first of all, a missile without a warhead at a tank; the missile would surely rock that tank but would probably not stop or incapacitate it. Now picture that missile, fitted with an explosive warhead, hitting that same tank… That is the difference between hitting with and without Kime!”
Shotokan legend, the late Nakayama Masatoshi Sensei (1913-1987), founder of the Japan Karate Association (JKA) in 1949, and Chief Instructor until his passing in 1987, said: “The essence of karate technique is Kime. Kime may result from striking, punching or kicking, but also from blocking. A technique lacking Kime is never true karate. “
Shotokan legend, the late Kanazawa Hirokazu Sensei (1931-2019), founder of the Shotokan Karate-Do International Federation (SKIF), in 1977; and where he remained Chief Instructor until his passing in 2019. As a younger man, while travelling the world, an emissary for the JKA, he would demonstrate how Kime can work by taking a stack of four or five boards and – after asking which of those boards, whilst remaining stacked, the observers wanted him to break – then striking the stack, he would break only the required board.
Shotokan legend, the late Taiji Kase Sensei (1929-2004), who began his training with, none other than Funakoshi Gichin (the Shotokan Founder) and his son Funakoshi (Gigō) Yoshitaka. Kase Sensei of course went on, firstly as a JKA emissary to head up the JKA in France; before, like many of the original emissaries, founding his own particular version of Shotokan, ‘Shotokan Ryu Kase Ha’, in 1989. He was Chief Instructor until his passing in 2004. Speaking of Kime, Kase Sensei, said, “Especially when you punch from a short distance (Ko-wasa), power is coming from Tanden (indicating a point low in the abdomen; meaning from the very core of your being). The action has to be fast and, just at the moment of contact, Kime has to be delivered from your Tanden."
Another Shotokan legend, and where my own Shotokan roots lie, is Enoeda Keinosuke Sensei (1935-2003). Enoeda Sensei was the Chief Instructor for the Karate Union of Great Britain (KUGB) from 1965 until his death in 2003. Nicknamed ‘Tora’, Enoeda Sensei was known widely as ‘The Shotokan Tiger’, and was once reputed to have the strongest punch in Japan; Kime indeed.
I am extremely fortunate to have trained with all of the above masters, and too many more of the most noteworthy martial arts masters of the 20th century to mention, inside and outside Karate; and they all had significant knowledge and wisdom to offer. Having said that, however, for me, it was Enoeda Sensei that I credit for encouraging me to develop the concept we call Kime to the degree that I have. Perhaps because he was so influential in my early Shotokan years, as I perfected Kime, up to and including my Shodan grading… Enoeda Sensei made the biggest impact on me, bar none.
‘Kime’ A Personal Expression
While in the army, I was a useful boxer. Back then, in my teens, I boxed at middleweight; and later, as a twenty-year-old, I boxed briefly as a light heavyweight. I was fast but not heavily muscled, and with no concept of Kime. No matter how hard I tried, and I stopped several opponents with my ferocious onslaughts, I could never manage that one-punch knock-out. No matter whom I asked about generating more power into my punches, I always got a similar answer: “The heavier you are the harder you punch.” My old boxing trainer, Sergeant Johnny Napper, shedding some light at the end of the tunnel, said, “Some lighter boxers have that knock-out capacity… they just have the ‘knack’. You either have it or you don’t.”
I knew that some people did seem to have the ‘knack’, as Johnny Napper called it… because Smoky Lloyd, a 1 Para champion, had been British Army, British Forces, and all-Britain Amateur Middle Weight Boxing Champion for many years, and I had watched him knock out dozens of fighters. There was something different about his punching power, and I could never quite work it out. However, when I began my Shotokan training, I realised that he had been hitting with Kime.
After beginning my Shotokan training, thanks to Kime, more than half a century later, I’m still renowned for my knock-out capacity. I give the credit, for helping me initially find my Kime, to Danny Bryceland Sensei, one of my first instructors.
Everyone has their own special relationship with, and understanding of, Kime; and regardless of opinions to the contrary, Kime is a very real phenomenon. Kime is fundamentally an essential, qualitative part of any martial art. Without Kime, any technique in any art – a boxing punch, Jujitsu throw, Muay Thai elbow, Iaido cut, or any of the precision strikes of Karate ‒ lacks the necessary quality to give said technique its full potential.
For the martial arts fraternity, Karateka in particular, it is an internal function that can be observably demonstrated. Certainly, no Torakan karateka will reach Shodan level without an understanding, and certain mastery of the concept we call Kime.
For me, at 75 years of age, Kime is as Intrinsic as breathing.
Thank You
A big thank you to our demonstrators from the Torakan Karateka; without whose assistance of course the ‘Reality Check’ Blog would be sadly lacking.
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
Reviewed in Australia on 8 April 2025
Verified Purchase
This book is easy to read in short or long sessions - such an inspirational life story of an amazing guy. Well worth the read.
5.0 out of 5 stars
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
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 July 2024
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!
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