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I'm starting this thread as a place for people to state more about their personal beliefs concerning the martial arts, rather than the mechanical techniques elsewhere in the forum. While technique is imperative, mindset and judgment are also significant in a martial artist's proper makeup. After all, the art of self defense becomes somewhat useless when the person using it hasn't the necessary volition or moral knowledge to act.

This forum is for discussion of these topics strictly. Pose hypothetical situations, and how you would deal with them. As per the guild rules, flaming will of course not be tolerated. Strident debate is encouraged; bawdy argument is not. Also, this will not be a pulpit to preach your own beliefs as the be all end all. For instance, I meditate a lot more than is probably healthy on the paradoxes of my chosen paths. I put my discoveries in my (public) blog for interested parties. I'll not proselytize here on them.

Morally speaking, it is my belief that the martial artist has a duty to do the following:

1) Defend others, even to the point of personal peril.
2) Harm nobody any more than necessary to resolve a situation.
3) Approach the martial arts with a deadly seriousness; you are learning things that could enable you to kill another human being if the situation merits such a reaction.
4) Never, ever, EVER provoke a fight when another solution might present itself. Words, especially those that solve a problem, hurt significantly less than a round kick.

I invite others to expand upon this list, edit it to their own beliefs, and explain each belief in turn!

I'd like to start off with saying that your first point:

"1) Defend others, even to the point of personal peril."

is one of the main reasons i do martial arts. I am not so much worried about myself coming to harm as i am those around me which i care about. I am kinda a heroic type so to speak, were as i'm always keeping an eye out for someone who may need rescuing.

Now about that quote, what confuses me about it is the second half "others are condemned to it" just curious as to what you think that means about others being forced or "born" to be pacifist. Other wise i agree that just because you know how to harm someone doesn't mean you need to do so.

Discussion

This next idea comes from my own Sifu, many years ago. I didn't understand it very well then, but after a long time I get it, or at least understand its fundament.

Sifu Liu used to say to the others an I (and I paraphrase):

"There is no such thing as a master. Only a more advanced student."

Only in taking up the mantle of instructor did I come to understand this idea, and I believe wholeheartedly that it is a true statement. Too often in the martial arts community are we confronted with the idea of a "master art", the style that can beat all others, the warrior that cannot be defeated. While I do believe in the concept of the "indomitable warrior" (another post for that later), I do not believe in the concept of a perfect art or an unbeatable martial artist.

To further summarize my beliefs, I can state simply that I believe the martial arts are not a destination, only a path to reach the place you are going. The real trick is staying on the path and never fooling yourself into deciding you've reached the end of it. To quote another (fictional but more famous) master:

"There's always a bigger fish."
-Qui-Gonn Jinn

Discussion

Bonus brownie points for the person who can tell me where the following quote comes from:

"Whenever possible, try to flank your enemies. History won't remember how dramatic your failed frontal assault looked."
-?

This comment, to me, embodies something of failed martial philosophy. I agree with the concept of flanking, ambush, and unconventional angles entirely. The emphasis of "frontal assault" in the modern martial arts training is flawed, and unfortunately altogether too often the way that teachers choose to show their students. These lessons all too often lead to confrontational people, overconfident in their abilities who do not pursue a viable alternative to combat before diving in head first.

The axiom "look before you leap" gets lost in this philosophy. The idea behind it seems to be:

1) Storm forward.
2) Punch lots, kick occasionally.
3) Magical hit noises
4) Victory

This is a horrifying way to look at combat that seems to be the mentality of far too many budding martial artists. Case in point, one of my own students was confronted yesterday (accosted would be a more appropriate word) by a young gentleman. The boastful assailant apparently thought that his belt in Okinawan karate rendered him a better combatant than someone who studied "just" a hybridized self defense.

Russell (my trainee) tried to defuse the situation, but the young karateka's ego would hear none of it. Again, my trainee tried to extricate from the situation by walking away. Again, the karateka's own bloated pride and poor stewardship of his training wouldn't allow for it. He attempted to strike my trainee. First and foremost, I would like to again emphasize that a responsible martial artist never, EVER throws a punch out of misplaced ego or anger. While I am not privy to the exact details of the combat itself, I do no that my trainee, with a cool head and no small skill (I gush, ah, the proud instructor) managed to end the fight with no injury to either party and no involvement from law enforcement.

In the above real-world example, there were two approaches. The karateka bull rushed into the situation, determined that his skills would justify his pride in his aggressive mindset. The other, my trainee, assessed the situation coolly and took action when necessary to defuse the situation. He tried alternatives, rather than the frontal, brutal tactic that might have led to a far more serious altercation.

In some situations, a fighter is not given an alternative of any sort. MMA fighters particularly are confined by the rules of a ring and the requirements of the art. It should be noted that though aggressiveness is promoted, I have yet to ever see a truly successful MMA artist who simply storms forward, arms flailing, confident that their training will somehow help them if they ignore it.

In summation, when you are confronted with a martial situation, do not attempt to attack it headlong, "frontally" as it were. Instead, always look for the alternative, the "flank". Try talking. Try leaving the situation. And if you have to fight, keep a cool head and look for your opening. Do not just march forward like a rock 'em sock 'em robot, praying a punch finds the chin.

Arrogance begets wisdom only insofar as we as people gain wisdom from failure.

I see what you mean ... but i cannot help but disagree ... like you said



the problem with the world is perceptions ... if a country shows that it is preparing for war ... even in order to prevent it ... another country might percieve hostility ... that's kinda how World War One started ... and though that seems ages ago ... it cannot be help that the same thing might happen ... like Iran's supposed nuclear program ...

but that's on the world's stage ... when it come to everyday life for an average person ... the quote is reality ... if your not prepared ... you might die ... the quote is similiar to the condom motto ... "It's better to have it and not need it, then to need it and not have it."

Well, people learn different ways ... sometimes it takes a quote that has almost nothing to do with the original arguement to hammer the point home ...

Well said lol And like the condom motto say, its true.

I agree with both your points. Especially the "bigger stick" world part. Hopefully the more peaceful country will always hold the bigger stick.