| To start we must understand what history has to teach us. Through out time and many cultures we can see that those who lack a moral and ethical foundation tend to misuse their skill and strength. In that they would end up hurting their community, fellow students, and as far as the taking of life unjustly. In times past many cultures have developed strict guidelines as to whom the Arts would be taught to and codes of behavior to maintain that dicipline. Examples would range from the Hwarang Warriors of 6th century Korea, Silla period, the Samurai (Japanese for-One who serves- Knights) of Feudal Japan and their code of Bushido (Japanese for-Way of the Warrior), the Sohei-the warrior monks of Japan, the Shin Moo Sa Soo Rim-the warrior monks of Korea, and the Shaolin monks of China who are more familiar to us. There are many others in other countries but these are just a few.... The Shaolin, at one time, had a problem with those who began to misuse their skill... So guidelines were implemented to curtail the misuse of those skills. So one who wanted to study the arts had to meet these moral requirements before they were considered for martial instruction. Among them are... 1. He must be kind, gentle, humble...so as he would refrain from misusing his skill. 2. To avoid challenge at all cost. Walk away as displays are not fitting for the public. 3. That the arts to be used only for ones survival and the defense of others. There are more but these are in there... on the site there are 8 of 10 principles as to who should learn martial arts by the Shaolin Temple. Among those who train in Martial Arts you'll find they fit into 3 main groups. -Modern These practitioners tend to concentrate on the competitive side of the arts. However the competition version of the true arts are very watered down and loose what made them effective. Making them Martial Sport not at all the Martial Arts that their techniques were borrowed from.(For example Tae kwon Do in sport, not at all like TRUE Tae Kwon Do). Furthermore in the ring, the focus is that your skill is measured by how many you defeat externally. You are only good if you can destroy another. For doing so they are rewarded with trophies, medals and the like. This tends to promote exclusivity, ego, selfishness and material gain....And of course lack of real combat effectiveness on the street giving false hope that ring fighting can help one survive on the street putting the practitioner in danger with usless technique. -Budoka (Japanese for-those who study the martial way) These practioners are not about the competing but rather the goal is to conquer and master ones innerself. As DO means Way, it expresses the ideal of follow a philosophical and/or spiritual path.This is even done at the expence of combat effectiveness of an art BUT not always. Some see the combat as a by product of their training. Competition is frowned upon... -Bujitsuka (Japanese for-those who study the martial arts/arts of war) These practioners train chiefly for the effectivness of their skill in combat/the street but with that training comes those things that build character, strength, and humility. The primary things that the Budoka strive for.Competition is also frowned upon... In the end there are three different worlds, BUT only two of which are Martial Arts. True Martial Arts-Both Budo and Bujitsu, teach paitience and humility, focus and dicipline, proper technique and mastery, compassion and friendship, hard training and combat effectiveness and the measure of oneself by ones self. However Martial Sport- promotes entertainment and teaches all whats contrary to the Arts. "In modern society, martial arts are taught as a sport or recreation and not as the root of the word "martial" dictates: "suited to war or a warrior." The concept at its most basic level is to inflict grave bodily damage on an enemy with as little damage to oneself."-Center of Traditional Taoist Studies. So in closing... you can see from the little I have written that one must have the moral and ethical foundation to be well rounded. Without that you are only a shadow of what you can become. A brute, and one day will be defeated by a true Martial Artist and more so by a true Warrior. May You Find Balance... SUGGESTED READING THE BOOK OF FIVE RINGS-MUSASHI/CLEARY SHAMBAHLA PRESS THE ZEN WAY TO THE MARTIAL ARTS-TAISEN DESHIMARU PEGUIN ARENA HAGAKURE: THE BOOK OF THE SAMURAI-YAMAMOTO TSUNETOMO THE ART OF PEACE-UESHIBA/STEVENS SHAMBAHLA PRESS |
| WHAT MAKES A WELL ROUNDED MARTIAL ARTIST? |
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| The Way of a Warrior is based on humanity, love, and sincerity; the heart of martial valor is true bravery, wisdom, love and friendship. Emphasis on the physical aspects of warriorship is futile, for the power of the body is always limited. -Ueshiba Morihei, The Art of Peace |
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| The Seven principles of Bushido Value of a Sword The School of No-Sword |
| -SAMURAI- |
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