Saturday, August 1, 2015

Samurai Training versus Today’s Martial Arts - - Chief Instructor's Blog August 2015


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].