Great Masters

Man, like the wild beasts, must keep his senses awake. If the teacher does not have them awake, how will he be able to transmit it to the students? If he does not work with the Hara, if he has no aptitude, mentality or spirit, how will the students find the "Do"?"

Is it possible in the society in which we live that all of this is maintained? That the mentality of the past endures? What is left of that spirit and aptitude that existed in Japan?

"At that time everything was different, not only the mentality, the aptitude, but the life was harder, nowadays you have everything. So it is very difficult to develop the aptitude or the spirit of the warrior. Everything is easier. Everyone has a car, computer, cell phone, etc. Life is very comfortable. The students work in offices or other similar trades and cannot go to work injured or scarred. They know that their family depends on them and therefore, the training of some of them is very weak, they fight with fear. They cannot afford to get injured and miss work.

Some have already understood that it all depends on the mentality with which you train. If you put a brick for an untrained person to break, you will most likely end up with a broken hand. However, if your training is adequate, tough. In time he will be able to break not one brick, but several and not hurt himself. It will all depend on the teachings of the master and the aptitude of the pupils."

These teachings and many others live on in the classes of his Dojo in Madrid, where the spirit of karate is still alive. José Manuel Herrero fights to keep the sensei's legacy alive. Although the master is not physically present, he is still present at least spiritually, the "aura" is maintained.