Okinawan Quotes

. . . the sole aim of Okinawa Karate is to teach A person to handle violence and violent individuals; whether it is tactile, mental or spiritual

Ichariba choodee,” she said in Okinawan. It meant, “Now that we’ve met, we’re family.

. . . what matters in combat is adaptability, boldness and maintaining A cool exterior, whilst penetrating your enemy's soul with An icy cold stare - Diary of A Combat Fiend

. . . most martial artists want to know how A technique is done, A seasoned Sensei will demonstrate why

Patience and Forgiveness are at the heart of A warrior's success, they help engender necessary intervals of space and time to evaluate difficult encounters.

Okinawans live by the principle of ichariba chode, a local expression that means “treat everyone like a brother, even if you’ve never met them before.” It turns out that one of the secrets to happiness of Ogimi’s residents is feeling like part of a community.

A Martial Artist may become A professional fighter but not every Fighter is capable of becoming A martial artist. Martial Arts are about restoration of physical and spiritual balance and fluidity; they are about observing restraints and 'setting example'. Every practice session is A reminder of the play of opposites (yin and yang), . . . .

Sergeant Meredith was the one who’d taught him how to survive. Sergeant Meredith was the one who’d given him his nickname. Sergeant Meredith was the one who had listened when Ray had argued for the Okinawans. Sergeant Meredith was the one who had taught Ray how to grieve for the death of a soldier.

Aboriginal Okinawan Karate was traditionally taught in modest home Dojos, in small informal groups (sole purpose of teachings revolved around life preservation), in A closely tied supportive environment; unlike main island modern Japanese version with rivalry and competition, instructed in large groups belonging to even larger organizations with pseudo-militaristic hierarchy

The dietary staple of Okinawans prior to the arrival of the Americans at the end of World War II was sweet potatoes, which provided approximately 50 per cent of daily calories. Purple (Beni Imo) or yellow orange (Satsuma Imo) sweet potatoes are extremely rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B6, manganese and other antioxidants like anthocyanins – the same pigments that give blueberries their colour. Elsewhere in Japan, about 78 per cent of dietary calories came from cereals, especially rice.

Okinawans eat fish an average of three times per week; unlike in other parts of Japan, the most frequently consumed meat is pork, though locals eat it only once or twice per week.

Because they are rich in antioxidants and are eaten nearly every day in the region, these fifteen foods are considered keys to Okinawan vitality: Tofu Miso Tuna Carrots Goya (bitter melon) Kombu (sea kelp) Cabbage Nori (seaweed) Onion Soy sprouts Hechima (cucumber-like gourd) Soybeans (boiled or raw) Sweet potato Peppers Sanpin-cha (jasmine tea)

Rather than harbor animosity toward outsiders, however, Okinawans live by the principle of ichariba chode, a local expression that means “treat everyone like a brother, even if you’ve never met them before.

•  Tea: People in all the blue zones drink tea. Okinawans nurse green tea all day. Green tea has been shown to lower the risk of heart disease and several cancers. Ikarians drink brews of rosemary, wild sage, and dandelion—all herbs known to have anti-inflammatory properties.

My best frenemy, proud of her Okinawan ancestry, told me her uncle lost an arm in the Korean War, with the cold glare that only an eight-year old alpha-girl can summon. I didn’t reply that my dad lost his homeland in that same war, that my mom lost half her family. Didn’t know how to explain that the war wasn’t really fought against Korea, but on Korea instead, using Korean bodies.

Sisters in Okinawan families were once commonly referred to as sister gods (onari gami) for their protective and benevolent spiritual power over their brothers.39 In fact, many Okinawan men carried a lock of their sister’s hair to protect them from harm during the terrible destruction

Based on the best available studies with the longest follow-up, including an “unusually slim cohort” from the Oxford Vegetarian Study,2676 the ideal body mass index (BMI) for the longest life appears to be 20 to 22 (kg/m2).2677 Okinawans traditionally fell smack dab in the middle at a stable BMI of 21. Although

How did the traditional diets of more than 2,000 Okinawans break down? Only 1 percent of their diet was fish, less than 1 percent was other meats, and less than 1 percent was dairy and eggs, so it was more than 96 percent plants, with few processed foods.2550

The Okinawa Centenarian Study, done on the Island of Okinawa in Japan—known as the “healthiest nation in the world”—showed that the secret of the Okinawans’ longevity is mainly attributed to the idea of hara hachi bun me, translated as “eat until you are 80 percent full.”11 This Japanese phrase beautifully mirrors the words of the Prophet , when he said that man should fill his body with “1/3 for his food, 1/3 for his drink, and 1/3 for his breath.”12

One of the most common sayings in Japan is “Hara hachi bu,” which is repeated before or after eating and means something like “Fill your belly to 80 percent.” Ancient wisdom advises against eating until we are full. This is why Okinawans stop eating when they feel their stomachs reach 80 percent of their capacity, rather than overeating and wearing down their bodies with long digestive processes that accelerate cellular oxidation.

One of the greatest soldiers in history, Napoleon Bonaparte, upon hearing that the Okinawans carried no weapons, could only reply in astonishment, "No weapons, you mean they have no cannons?" Two Englishmen, who had traveled with the fleet to China and then to Naha, the main city of Okinawa, told Napoleon about the Okinawans on a visit to St. Helena in 1816. Napoleon could not believe that the Okinawans truly did not bear arms, and asked if they used spears or bows, or possibly knives and swords. When informed that the Okinawans carried no weapons of any kind, Napoleon exclaimed, "You mean they really carry no weapons? I cannot understand a people not interested in war.

True world peace, however, can only be achieved when all weapons of destruction are put aside. The peaceful and weaponless Okinawans are living proof of the possibility of a world without war. All people could live in peace if they would follow the example of the Okinawans.

Men must eliminate narrow-mindedness which causes them to stand against their fellows, and acquire broad-mindedness. This is possible through the study of karate. Karate as it should be practiced is not a competitive or violent sport, where men are pitted against each other. Nor is it physical training merely for the sakè of training, where the goal is merely that of smashing boards or bricks. Karate is a training of both mind and body, and leads one to a better understanding of both the self and the world.

There is hope for all mankind in the phrase karate ni sente nashi.

The traditional Okinawan diet was 9 percent protein and 85 percent carbohydrates (mostly from sweet potatoes, if you recall).

Compare that to the inhabitants of the island of Okinawa. They consume the vast majority of their calories in the form of rice and yams, those supposed “high-carb killers,” and get just 7 percent of their calories from protein. They live longer than Americans, have among the world’s highest percentage of centenarians (people who live to one hundred), and have far lower rates of obesity. Their old people are vigorous, active, and full of life. Only when Okinawans move to the United States does their health decline—or when they start eating at the U.S.-style fast-food restaurants that have begun to colonize their island.

The Okinawan diet is rich in tofu, sweet potatoes, fish (three times per week), and vegetables (roughly 11 ounces per day).

Again, the mysterious ikigai. But what is it, exactly? How do you get it? It never ceased to surprise us that this haven of nearly eternal life was located precisely in Okinawa, where two hundred thousand innocent lives were lost at the end of World War II. Rather than harbor animosity toward outsiders, however, Okinawans live by the principle of ichariba chode, a local expression that means “treat everyone like a brother, even if you’ve

never ceased to surprise us that this haven of nearly eternal life was located precisely in Okinawa, where two hundred thousand innocent lives were lost at the end of World War II. Rather than harbor animosity toward outsiders, however, Okinawans live by the principle of ichariba chode, a local expression that means “treat

The traditional Okinawan diet is light on fish, despite what you might expect from an island population. Remember that the majority of their calories (70–80%) comes from the purple yams they call “imo”(Sho 2001). Thus the Okinawan diet is mainly starch, with only 7 percent to 9 percent of calories coming from protein, and a paltry 4 percent of calories coming from animals. Starch is a dirty word in the United States, but Okinawans, unlike the Inuits and Maasai, live incredibly long healthy lives in large measure thanks to starch.

According to a 2007 study published in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, protein provided only 7 percent of the calories in the Okinawan diet (Willcox, Willcox, et al. 2007, 2009; Sho 2001).

Turmeric Smoothie TOTAL COOK TIME: 5 MINUTES | MAKES 1 SERVING Turmeric, which has recently been celebrated for its immune-boosting properties, has figured prominently in the Okinawan diet for hundreds of years. Okinawans use it as both a cooking spice and a tea, and scientists have started to study it for its anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antiaging properties. Its main compound, curcumin, has shown in both clinical and population studies to slow the progression of dementia—a reason why Okinawans may suffer much lower rates of Alzheimer’s disease than Americans. Turmeric regulates FOXO3 (a gene associated with longevity that reduces inflammation in the body), making our cells more efficient. Traditionally, Okinawans sliced and dried turmeric and then steeped it to make tea. But today most people rely on powdered turmeric for their daily cooking and drinking. You can enjoy this smoothie as a snack, a light meal, or even a dessert. 1 ripe banana 1 apple, cored and cut into a few pieces 1 teaspoon turmeric powder 1 cup vanilla soy milk 5 cups of ice Blend all ingredients in a high-speed blender. Serve immediately.

Okinawan Glazed Greens TOTAL COOK TIME: 10 MINUTES | MAKES 4 SERVINGS Okinawan centenarians generally eat greens, often grown in the nutrient-rich soil of their year-round gardens, every day for most of their lives. The greens are used for cooking, and the herbs for both medicinal and culinary purposes. Besides being a continuous source of fresh vegetables, gardening is also a source of daily physical activity and exercise with a wide range of motion. The outdoor exposure provides a regular dose of vitamin D from the sun and gardening has been shown in studies to reduce stress and improve overall mood. Use this quick and easy recipe to whip up any type of green vegetable with the probiotic power of miso. You can create variations with green beans, sautéed kale, or bok choy for a delicious side dish. 8 cups chopped greens like spinach, mizuna, or mustard greens ⅓ cup citrus juice (orange or lime) 2 tablespoons white miso 2 tablespoons mirin (sweet rice wine), plus more if needed Parboil the greens by heating water to a boil, adding the greens, and removing after 1 to 2 minutes, once the greens have turned a bright color. Drain greens. Over the sink, lightly squeeze greens between your hands to remove excess water. In a mixing bowl, whisk together citrus juice, white miso, and mirin. Add greens to the bowl and mix with hands. Season to taste with more mirin.