Taikyoku - First Cause

A universal theme in the martial arts (true martial arts, that is) is peace. One of the most basic lessons that I’ve learned in Shotokan is called First Cause, which is the literal translation of “Taikyoku”(the first kata that I was taught). First Cause can be interpreted as several things.

First cause can mean that you never start a fight, and this lines up perfectly with the first precept of the Dojo Kun. The best way to overcome a conflict is to not enter a conflict in the first place. Sometimes, conflict is inevitable, but when the conflict is started by you, there is no excuse for it, and any effort spent on overcoming the conflict is wasted energy. When conflict arises, you can usually talk the situation down, but in some cases, you may be forced to defend yourself, which martial artists should be trained to do. This brings us into another interpretation of first cause.

If you are backed into a corner with no possible way out, what do you do? Some would attempt to get out of this situation the Steven Segal way, and knock all of the opponents out with several well placed kicks. While this works in the high intensity, amazing world of Kung Fu flicks, back in the real world, it usually just ends up with the defender injured or dead. When backed into a corner, with no other option than to fight, you HAVE to take the initiative if you want to survive. But what is the most effective way to do this? You have to take out the attacker on the edge. If you attack the one in the middle, the gap you created can be closed rather quickly, trapping you again. This wastes time and energy. If you attack the adversary on one of the outsides, the gap is not so easily closed, and you may have more time to escape.

In learning Taikyoku, you learn these lessons. Even though Taikyoku Shodan is the first kata in many styles, that does not mean that it is not for everyone’s benefit. It is a black belt kata, preformed starting at the white belt level. If you learn the lessons it has to teach, and always remember them, you will go far in the martial arts.