I have mentioned in class on many of
occasions and in a couple of blogs, that the discipline, control, etiquette and
conduct in martial arts training is what in part sets martial arts apart from
just plain street fighting.
Much
of martial arts etiquette and code of conduct comes from the ancient warriors
(e.g., Samurai in Japan and Hwang Ra in Korea, etc.). The Samurai is probably the most well-known
so I will focus on the elite Samurai for the sake of this blog although you can
find some similarities in the other ancient warrior groups.
I
have already discussed how the Samurai’s code of conduct, Bushido, is still
embedded in martial arts today and how it aligns with the tenets we
instil in our club through our teachings policies, and agreement of
participation in the August 2013 blog entitled “Martial Arts Code of Conduct”.
In
addition to the code of conduct and the physical training of the Samurai, what
set them apart was Samurai were also expected to study culture and practice an
art: tea ceremony ritual, flower arranging, music, painting, poetry, etc.
You
may ask yourself why warriors who are trained to protect and fight for his
master would need to study something like tea ceremony or flower arranging?
One
reason is the Samurai were considered an elite class and in doing so they were
expected to be educated and well-rounded.
Many martial arts clubs and schools (although not all), including the
Marines Martial Arts Program require other training besides the physical
training – mostly focused on the philosophical side. One of the reasons I created the two Chief
Instructor Directives that define additional requirements for instructors and
to reach Black Belt was to reinforce the concept that knowledge and an
understanding of the philosophy of martial arts is also a critical part of the
training, and it is not just about the physical aspects.
Second,
these activities require focus, concentration, attention to detail reinforcing
the concepts in other activities that were critical in their physical training
and battle. I have mentioned in class
and mentioned in other blogs (most recently in my June 2014 blog, “Martial Arts Goes Beyond The
Dojang”),
that studying martial arts and the principle and concepts are not just the time
spent in the dojang, but are for everyday life.
The more you embed what you learn in the dojang into your everyday
activities, the more depth you will find in your techniques. You might also discover more clarity in your
life. So, for the Samurai, these
activities outside their physical training helped reinforce and allow them
another avenue to practice discipline and focus.
These
other activities also provided a place and time for Samurai to not have to
focus on death or battle, but have time for peace and inner contemplation. Along with formal meditation, which was a
large part of the Samurai’s practice, the activities themselves were another
type of meditation.
Why
would this be important? If the
Samurai’s job was to defend its mater and protect his family and land, why
would mediation, peace, and inner contemplation be important?
This
aspect of Samurai training no longer seems to be part of modern martial art’s
training. I am not sure why this part of
the training is not reinforced, but for me, time for inner contemplation and
peace is critical to be balanced in your life and to experience energy that is
not always harsh and destructive, but healing and soft or warm. This part of the training can also bring
calmness to your mind and spirit that is critical in battle because it will
help you remain focused and in control making your techniques more effective
and efficient.
The
physical skills we practice in the dojang or if and only if we have to use them
to protect ourselves. And if we stay
aware and in some ways lucky, we will never have to use these skills. So, if that is the case, what does the rest
of our days look like? For me, the inner contemplation and meditative training
reminds me of who we are at our core and how we fit into the universe working
and living among people every day. This
is one reason I practice and study yoga and healing arts. For me, my
engineering is also a discipline and requires focus to ensure specifications
are complete (and do not include just desires but true requirements) and well
documented, design meets specification, products get built right the first
time, the design is producible and supportable, etc..
So,
what activities do you also do outside martial arts that allows for you to
embed and reinforce focus, discipline, and attention to detail? What activities do you participate in that
allow you to mediate, contemplate and find inner peace to balance your life?
Regards,
Kelly
“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.” ~ Morihei
Ueshiba (1883-1969), founder of Aikido
References
1. The Way of the Martial
Artist: Achieving Success in Martial Arts and in Life! By Kevin L. Brett
2.
Holy Mountain Training Company [Online] webpage
“Samurai Cultured Warriors of Japan” http://www.holymtn.com/Japan/Samurai.htm.
[July 2015].
