From the Top of the Mountain

The view over Hobart from the summit of Mt Wellington, Tasmania

They say...although I'm not exactly sure who 'they' are...that when you reach the top of a mountain, by whatever means, the view is the same for all. In karate, this analogy is often used to illustrate a couple of things; first, the reality that there is not just one, but many different ways to reach the summit (mastery), and, that once you get there the degree of mastery (the view), is the same for everyone.

I've never been sure how anecdotes like this square with folks who hold so rigidly to the idea of "styles" in karate, and within them, "syllabus" bound training. I mean, if there are many ways to the top, why make such a big deal of the way you're getting their? Why do so many fail to recognize the paths that others are taking? And why do many so-called traditional karate people believe their sensei and seniors are important, but those from outside their group are not?

I don't have any answers, I'm just thinking out loud here........