A Question of Martial Morals
A STUDENT of mine posed this question recently "How does martial arts training make you a better, more moral person".
My quick answer was: "It doesn't!"
My rationale was that the training itself is just set of different moves that potentially can kill, maim and hurt and that the moves themselves are not vehicles of moral teaching but are by their nature neutral and at worst can be the complete opposite.
So does this mean that martial arts are devoid of moral understandings?
Again I would argue no.
I have yet to come any system that advocates actively going out and beating strangers up for the sake of it.
But I tell my students not to expect me to teach them some great moral understanding or enlightenments.
Why? Because, what makes them think I'm a more moral person than they are!
Yes - the system I teach, a modern combat system called Directional Fighting Method, has many dangerous techniques in it as our primary concern is not flashy, sports techniques but self-protection on the streets.
For the first few grades students learn the foundations of the system that will give them a fighting chance of defending themselves - but I don't say: "If you do this system it will make you a more moral person and lead you on the path of enlightenment."
To some traditionalists this may seem to be a moral vacuum but we DO have a club ethos and that is about RESPECT.
Respect for people from different cultural backgrounds, respect for one another, respect for the law and respect for different genders and especially respect for those who are weaker or more vulnerable than they are and more.
I don't see these as 'martial arts morals' but rather simple common decency that we all, every single member of society, should embrace.
I compare this to those martial schools that claim that by learning their system this will make people some how better people through some elusive enlightenment.
I have come across a numberb of martial arts instructors in my time who claim that their system and only their system will turn people into ethical creatures if they follow "The Way".
The thing is they never seem to live up to those ideals themselves! Quite often these teachers are biggest load of closed-minded egotists going!
Yes martial arts teaches many things such as self-discipline, motivation, fitness, co-ordination etc etc. But do they really teach anything that society, parents and schools should not be teaching young people in any case?
Frankly no! Teaching people that going around hitting people just because you can is wrong is hardly the moral preserve of martial arts but is part of any lawful society!
But that doesn't mean that martial arts instructors don't have a duty to help re-inforce this simple message. Of course they do as right-thinking members of society.
But please do not wrap this up as some kind of enlightened teaching or mystic moral code.
STOP PRESS: Chris Crudelli of Mind, Body and Kick Ass Moves is coming up to the region to conduct a seminar.
Chris is to be the guest of Sifu Steve Youngman and will be coming to Jarrow to conduct a worshop in his own system Jiu Fa Men Kung Fu - The Way of Nine Methods - a self-defence system based on tradition kung fu, kali, modern combat systems and other traditional martial arts from around the world.
Chris - who spent ten years in China learning from various top martial arts instructors - has been described as one of the top ten martial artists alive today.
His hit shows have been shown on BBC Three, Discovery Channel, Dave tv and Sky as well as broadcast to 120 other countries.
I'm definitely going to be there as this is a too good of an opportunity to miss!
Anyone who would like further information should email Steve Youngman on: syne18037@blueyonder.co.uk
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nice one Phil...you don't go to a dentist to fix your car...but really, we're totally there for the moral guidance, honest
Hello Michael,
of the course the old moral teachings of trhe past masters should be respected - afterall they are based on honourable things such as not hitting in the first place (ni sentenashi) but the movements alone will not teach you any moral understandings.
It really comes down to instructors giving students good reasons why violence is a mugs game - in other words, society morals.
This doesn't mean you can't have enlightments within martial arts - you can. But that isn't because of the techniques themselves but rather where you are in your training.
Many of my 'enlightenments' have been when I've been picking myself off the floor and wondering "what hit me"
When I walked into my club for the first time I can assure you I was not there for any kind of enlightenment or moral guidance.
I was there to learn cool techniques and if I'm honest make sure I was never a victim after suffering a pretty serious assault a couple of years previously.
As my instructors will happily tell anyone, they are not in the business of teaching morals and they don't. Of course we discuss the law on self defence and being responsible with the knowledge and skills you get through training but certainly no guidance along the path to enlightenment.
What I have found however is after training hard and suffering the inevitable aches, pains, strains and injuries that can occur you do come away with an appreciation of just how fragile the human body is. We have all been hit just that little bit too hard by a training partner or hit them that little bit too hard and I will admit that it scares me to think how much damage could be done with these techniques with full power and aggression.
Now I was never the angriest person you'd be likely to meet but now that I have more skills than the average person I am even less likely to want to get involved in a fight. Maybe this is the moral understanding that some arts base their training on though I believe that that majority of mature martial artists can reach these sort of conclusions on their own, in their own time without it being the main focus of their training.
There are some martial arts/sports whose primary focus is self-improvement and I have no problem with this. What I don't like is when proponents of these arts claim that their's is the only way and a modern combat system such as my own cannot promote self-improvement. Whilst it is certainly not the focus of my training I can tell you that anyone who knows me will tell you I have no doubt become a better person since I joined DFM around 4 years ago. Qualities such as patience, discipline, empathy, compassion, self-confidence, self-respect and friendship are all cultivated no matter what style/system/method you decide to train in.
I think that the way most martial artists lean towards pacifism probably stems from a greater understanding of how fragile the human body really is. Is this what some call enlightenment, (or at least a step along the way) or it is empathy?
Your thoughts anyone?
Baz
I reckon the expectations of people expecting "enlightenment" being trained within a martial art system stems from watching too many kung fu videos or the shoalin monks performing their shows. My experiance of martial arts within the D.F.M. club is pragmatic training for the modern world with ethics based on the law.
Hi all. Just trying 4 3rd time to post.
Hi all - seemed to work that time?
Martial morals eh! - Thinking, no matter what the activity along with the physical there will always be a moral/spiritual/ethical side to it. The longer you participate and the more committment you give, the more the physical will give way a little to the m,s,e component of the activity - its balance really. You cant separate action from consequence, its only the level of maturity and individual morality which determines the outcome. Bit heavy eh! Basically, depends on the individual to give and take what they believe they need. Ego also takes a great part in the equation - i'm sure you will be aware of the type of person who uses an activity purely to 'look the biz' - bit shallow - morality a little blurred at times - not anyone we know of course.
Heard Sunderland uni Aikido are in process of putting new website up if anyone wants to link - www.zanshinaikido.co.uk
Some links on site already - sure they wont mind if you link to them too.
Cheers
peter
Control & Defence
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You can see the re-run of ‘Mind Body & Kick ass Moves’ on BBC Three Saturday Nights.
Due to the recent success of the October seminar, Chris Crudelli is back by popular demand and will be putting on a further seminar based in Newton Abbot, Devon on the 28th February 2009.
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time of the seminar is 12:00-18:00
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Topics covered on the next course will be
Modern interpretations of classical moves for self defence
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Minimising the Telegraph
Pain Compliance
Locks & Chokes
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Hello Peter,
yes the activity will have a moral framework, that is true.
But the movements themselves are not moral vehicles.
As you pointed out it can be any activity - Boy Scouts, tennis etc.
But where I think martial arts differs from other activities is that by the nature of our activity we are likely emphasis basic human decencies like not hitting people!
But that is surely down to the teacher's moral understandings and not the movements...
What I found when I began practicing Martial Arts, was that there were also internal changes and a new outlook that came with it. Learning of the body's strengths and weaknesses, far from encouraging me to be a more mean violent person, actually gave me a new respect for human toughness and fragility, including being aware of my own.
It seems that for most it was learning the fragility of the human body and the possible consequences of their action that 'enlightens' them. Surely this cannot be the main factor for people getting some sort of morale awareness from their martial art, from the people I have met along my short but fruitful foray into martial arts their respect goes much deeper than hoping not to hurt someone. I think it has a lot to do with responsibility.
When you learn a good martial art you have empowered yourself with something that sets you apart from the herd, you are more capable in certain situations than other people. This knowledge comes with responsibility and the way to so called 'enlightenment' is accepting that when the time comes this may be called upon for your own protection, or other peoples.
Perhaps its a reflection on the human condition that you feel special when you can help other people. Shouldn't that just be the norm?
Hello Andy,
The martial art moves are just that martial art moves.
But we all know that by doing martial arts something changes within you.
You are right learning about the fragility of the human body does have a tendency to get things into perspective viv vis street violence.
I think the instructor and peer pressure also plays a part but the biggest influence is most likely your self.