Karate can be the worst actor. Karate is likely the worst actor. Which of course brings up martial artist Steven Seagal, and his best movie Above the Law. After that, it is a downhill slide in the quality of his movies.

Karate has developed a habit of being big in its movements because it is what we want to see and what we want to show. The other night in the dojo in asking to explain a technique and in demonstrating it I received a little ego feed. The movement was bigger than it was needing to be.

The reception for the application demonstration was well received. I found myself in the luxurious bath of the ego feed. That is a formula that asks for more, you know a positive feedback loop? I cam frightfully close to letting my karate become the worst actor.

The Karate Value of Big, Not the Worst Acting

Going big in the technique is not wrong, it can be useful. Think of the power stance of negotiation. Taking up space, the means of controlling the room. Those are the acts of a large technique with purpose.

The police approach is different as situations change. Many types of domination or control exerted by police can be overt or subtle. Babies getting unwrapped in the mornings go from being small to big. By-the-way, having a bad day.

Go to YouTube and watch babies getting un-swaddled. No more bad day may be had because it is smiling babies!

Karate can be the worst actor. And in other parts of existence acting is important Animal fur, Peacocks, are a natural thing. It is what we want to do gets big, it has a purpose from top to bottom in our world.

Movies of Michael Bay, are the kinetic trashing of my senses. Yet they have a method that works, it is all metallic animal fur and Peacocks. And the worst movies are the ones that tell and not show, so in that sense, Michael Bay is a champion.

Show Me, Don’t Tell Me

The nature of karate is to show, not explain. That can make karate the worst actor. Don’t tell me show me! The discussion of displaced phenomena makes for a bad podcast, or television show.

The educating of the masses is seen in an old photo taking place in front of the Shuri Castle. This is not a case of karate being the worst actor. In this situation the largeness is necessary.

Does the question arise of the intensity and lack of movement? The balancing of minimal movement necessary to get the moment to work. That leads us to the movie: Heat.

The scene between Pacino and De Niro is a cinematic masterclass. A master class on the impact of the minimal amount of movement needed.

The subtlety of the movie scene and the projection needed for theater are different. These two actors show that difference.

Karate Theater or Karate Movies

Our karate is about theater and not a movie, and is that the correct order of it? Are we a Jazz band or a Marching Band? The music and the behaviors are different.

The gross movement is not necessary unless, of course it is.

You can call it less is more. The comedian Steve Martin, and Let’s Get Small, maybe that is the path.