One Encounter One Chance: The Essence of the Art of Karate

by Terrence Webster-Doyle

Concerned with resolving conflict peacefully, this book is not a manual of self-defence techniques. Instead, it is an inquiry into the essence of all martial arts - the idea of the empty self. The... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0834804778
• ISBN13: 9780834804777
• Release Date: October 2000
• Publisher: Weatherhill
• Length: 221 Pages
• Weight: 0.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 7.5" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

Deeply insightful...

As a 45-year karate practitioner and instructor, I was drawn to Dr. Webster-Doyle's teachings, and sensed his novel methods could enhance the maturity of my students. His enlightened strategy for comprehending the nature of human aggression provides an underpinning for developing tactical skills in voiding it. But, there was far more, being drawn from the author's extensive education and practice in psychology, traditional karate, and education. His, "Karate: The Art of Empty Self," proved deeply insightful for anyone ready for Dr. Webster-Doyle's revolutionary digression from violence as a solution to violence ... who realize it only begets more violence. Combined with dedicated dojo training, it provides far greater rewards than mere physical training in fighting. Even for those untrained in self-defense, it can thwart aggression. I acquired more of his works, including Why Is 'Everybody Always Picking On Me? One Encounter, One Chance to name a few. They provided study and workshop teaching in effective, bloodless tactics for stopping physical violence. Throughout, they shared a strategy for overcoming the internal battles with one's own ego ... the source of all violence, from interpersonal to international. Like all visionaries, Dr. Webster-Doyle has detractors. Their main criticism is that by not heroically jumping into physical engagement, one is cowardly ... a wimp promoting feminism. Granted, their solution is one way to meet aggression ... but with no comprehension of the potential aftermath: hospital or morgue, court or prison. Dr. Webster-Doyle's far more effective approach substitutes cool, rational thinking for unthinking physical resistance ... until an attack in imminent. Then, effective self-defense training equips the student to back up what he says. This is what karate and other arts are supposed to be all about. "In Okinawa, one never strikes the first blow," is a maxim among the island's karate masters. The creator of our style stated it was important that he maintain a soft, almost feminine character, to avoid driving new students away. He also said the secret is to be able to be hard or soft, as the situation demands. To the criticism that Dr. Webster-Doyle lacks valid scholastic credentials from an accredited school is incorrect, as the Web site they mention states his school was accredited when he graduated. Regardless, if he came down from the planet Mongo, his teachings would be equally valuable for those who have seen enough aggression given and taken in the world, seen it doesn't work, and know there is a better way. Dale Scott, Costa Rica

I am also proud of this award winning book

Winner of the Silver Medal from the Publishers Marketing Association given at the American Book sellers convention

let these international awards and acclaims speak for themselves

Acclaims The books of Dr. Terrence Webster-Doyle have won widespread praise as resources for the understanding and nonviolent resolution of conflict * One Encounter-One Chance winner of the Silver Medal at the Amarican Book sellers Convention *Dr. Webster-Doyle Winner of the Martial Arts Industry Association Distinguished Service Award * Endorsed by: * National PTA * Scouting Magazine - Boy and Girl Scouts or America * NEA - National Education Association * Sports Illustrated for Kids * Mothering Magazine - to name only a few *"The books of Dr. Webster-Doyle are the first attempt I have seen to explain to young people and adults the concept of martial arts as a peaceful, nonviolent 'way of life' and to give students the tools to accomplish this goal." - Linda Lee Cadwell * Awarded the Robert Burns Medal for literature by Austria's Albert Schweitzer Society, for "outstanding merits in the field of peace-promotion" * Selected by the International Association of Educators for World Peace for their Central American peace education project in Panama and El Salvador * Acclaimed at the Soviet Peace Fund Conference in Moscow and published in Russia by Moscow's Library of Foreign Literature and Magistr Publications * On permanent display at the International Museum of Peace and Solidarity in Samarkind, Uzbekistan, the Commonwealth of Independent States. * "Why is Everybody Always Picking on Us? explores the roots of prejudice. I don't think I've seen another book like it. How wonderful if this book could be used in social studies classrooms! I have learned where prejudice begins, how it is created, how it is perpetuated, and how it can be resolved. This book looks at stereotypes, bigotry, discrimination, scapegoating, racism, and more. It is a wonderfully comprehensive manual for young people and adults alike on understanding our conditioning and the root of prejudice." American Pride Through Education *"Webster-Doyle's insight is that by recognizing, understanding, and accepting our violent tendencies, we can avoid acting them out. These new books . . . are good for teachers and parents of elementary school children who need appropriate language and activities to help children deal with their feelings and the violence-provoking parts of the environment. To this reviewer, they are realistic and practical." --Young Children - Magazine of the National Association for the Education of Young Children * "The book excels at impelling children to understand how conflict works within themselves. Tug of War offers engaging exercises that enhance a child's ability to understand the world. These exercises inspire self-observation, and the drawings of award-winning illustrator Rod Cameron enliven the book." Forum ¬- Newsletter of Educators for Social Responsibility * Fighting the Invisible Enemy and Tug of War recommended by the Elementary School Library Collection as "fine contributions to materials for children"; both books also ch

Karate as a Therapy

Those who want to learn how to defeat the most powerful enemy must learn this book. That enemy is the one we construct inside us, that enemy is the enemy within our head, inside our spirits. I know is not a question of win or loose, of defeating or be defeated, but the author must know, if he reads this review, that he is constructing an idea about karate, a discourse of what it is, or supposse to be, so, he , by writing it enter in the same conflict. Can we escape from that? I think not. But we can manage the conflict of ideas in many ways, and one excellent theory is given by Dr. Webster-Doyle. I think in a more sicoanalistic way. I believe that the fragmentation of the sychic structure is real and not a mere ideal rupture of the self. But, from a sychoanalitical point of view, been "empty" is to recognice the Void. This is a conversation I wish to have with Dr. Webster-Doyle. But in terms of the book, if you only want the superficial aproach of martial arts, that of just punching and kicking, grapling and striking, well, don't read this book, but if you are serius in understanding combat, conflict and the agressiveness of humans, I dare you to read this pages. And I am convinced that if you don't like the book because it tries to end conflict, may be you need a sychologist 'cause you are so violent that you cannot deal with peace. Any one who read about Gichin Funakoshi will notice that karate is a discourse of understanding the violent capacity of humans, and by that, by knowing combat, we can develope peace. I think that is the intention of the author of One Encounter, One Chance. The concept of using karate to develope a Therapy against violence is excellent. Karate can become a language, just as Jackes Lacan says about langauge and the structure of the human sychis, and by that, by the sign and codes of the Kata, of the form, the subject can take out agression and deal with it in the insatisfaction of the desire of death. The author sees it in terms of a centered self, an individual who is not fragmented, but in terms of a conflict structure, as the sychoanalisys says, the therapy have good potential. As you can see, I do not agree with the theory of the self as Dr. Webster-Doyle expose it, but in terms of the potential of karate as an analysis technique, this book had openned a wonderful door for discussion and debate, and a dialogue torward peace. One more thin, contrary to Dr. Webster-Doyle, I think that Musachi Miyamoto's Book of Five Rings, especially the book of the Void, deals with the Sychic Void that every human have. Deny the Void, even from the point of view of Musachi miyamoto, is deny the human being itself.