When you
think of martial arts or karate, you probably think of fighting and violence.
This is not the true way. A true martial artist never initiates violence but is
prepared to respond to attack if necessary. A major part of martial arts
training involves how to avoid violence, and genuine encounters when they do
occur, are very brief.
Budo, “martial
way”, implies that there is
more to being a person than being strong and powerful. Having solely the
strength to cause destruction will not lead in any productive direction. If you
want to overcome others, you must first overcome yourself and that means
overcoming your own weaknesses. The martial arts is not a battle with an
opponent, it is a battle with yourself.
Who should train in the
martial arts?
Anyone can and should
practice martial arts. Athletes of all kinds have found it a method for
improving their coordination, reflexes, timing, and general physical
well-being. Women, children, and even older people find the combination of
mental and physical activity to be stimulating and of such a nature that it can
be safely adapted to the needs of the individual in actual training.
Won't the martial arts
make you more aggressive?
No, because
aggression is based on fear. Through training fear is replaced with
self-confidence and self-esteem, thus eliminating the need to fight.
What about defending
myself if I need to?
You should be able to
defend yourself in any encounter or situation and we supply you with an
extensive program that will enable you to do so with optimum efficiency. But
you must also be responsible for not inflicting unnecessary damage upon your
attacker.
“When you reach real
ability you will be able to become one with the enemy. Entering his heart you
will see that he is not your enemy after all.”
--
Sword Master Tsuji (1650-1730)
This is definitely
more difficult and is a more sophisticated concept of self-defense, which
requires that more control be developed in order to achieve such aims. When
events overtake you suddenly, as they may if you are unexpectedly attacked, it
will not be possible to pause, consider, decide and then act. You must react
instinctively. But how will you react, and what kind of instinctive responses
will you exhibit? This will depend almost entirely upon the diligence with
which you have applied yourself to your training. Proficiency in the
application of movements or techniques is not possible without continuous
practice of the various movements, etc. The ideal is to go beyond technique so
that after constant repetition of movements your techniques actually become a
part of you.
Are there other benefits to studying martial arts
besides the self-defense aspect?
Yes, as far as
health is concerned you should develop and maintain six specific areas of the
body: strength, endurance, speed, flexibility, balance, and coordination. The
martial arts help you develop and maintain all these. For this reason, the
Chinese and other cultures have practiced the martial arts for centuries for
their benefits to health and longevity. The martial arts can help you realize
physical fitness to the maximum extent possible and ward off the ravages of
time. Also, more than any other physical activity, the martial arts
significantly affects your mental processes and influences the way you live your
life. It can clarify your thinking, increase your awareness, lead you toward
emotional maturity, broaden your attitudes, and improve your way of dealing with
other people. Since we are essentially creatures of habit, any habits learned
in class will manifest themselves outside of class. For example, an improved
ability to focus on the task at hand, improved concentration, and a drive to see
things through. You will also discover that through training you will develop
an all around “I can” attitude.
“In your training, do
not be in a hurry. Never think of yourself as an all-knowing, perfected master;
you must continue to train daily……”
--
Morihei Ueshiba
Technique is essential
in any martial art, but a student who learns only technique is not a true
martial artist. To become a true martial artist the student must develop
certain ideals. These ideals; physical―meaning body or technique,
mental―meaning mind or heart, and spiritual―meaning inner energy or spirit, when
combined as one, are the essence of Budo, “martial
way.”
“To fight and conquer in
one hundred battles is not the highest skill. To subdue the enemy with no fight
at all, that's the highest skill.”
--
Sun Tzu
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