Philosophy is about your basic beliefs. It is the concepts and attitudes you have toward something and involves you personally and may be related to any connection you have to a group or tribe. It provides you with self-respect and possibly the respect of the group or tribe. It is about self-discipline, hard work and sacrifice toward a thing. It is about the development of humility toward yourself and toward others be they in the group or tribe of on the peripheral of same. It is not just about the technical but rather a more cerebral spiritual aspect that makes that thing of more value.
A martial philosophy means you have given life to that particular “thing” you believe in and that drives your life. It is connected to a particular belief and practice. In most cases it is connected to a particular martial discipline like Kendo, Aikido or Karate-do. It is what gives balance to that discipline. It is also an integral and inter-connected part of the fundamental principles of martial systems, i.e. philosophy, physiokinetics, technique and theory.
It is what makes for a traditional form of training and practice. It is what takes a purely technical understanding of a physical form of competing, winning, losing and fighting toward a more traditional, classical and philosophical form of martial system.
Most understand martial philosophy from exposure to others writings on the subject. It is connected by ancient Asian classics written hundreds and even thousands of years in the past. These forms are indicative of the Asian martial practices while others such as European martial systems tend toward a belief system in that part of the world.
The Asian perspective as westerners have come to understand them are derived from the various forms of influence such as Buddhism, Zen and Confucianism. They are interwoven into the very fabric or essence of martial arts practice and training. The Japanese in feudal times called this martial philosophy “Bushido.” As the combatives waned during the heavy changes to the feudal systems it also changed to become called, “Budo.” Both Bushido and Budo believe in the philosophical influences derived from “courage, honor, duty, respect, benevolence, wisdom, honesty, loyalty, rectitude, wisdom and self-sacrifice.
As Budo caught on while Bushido faded to the past one believed in Asian martial communities that it was more about perfection of self over either victory or defeat. It was about seeking self-perfection, excelling in all you do, respect for others and not harming others until the need rose to that level while still exercising restraint. It is about avoiding violence but handling violence properly if required.
Martial systems were introduced to westerners as early as the 1600’s when foreigners entered ports of places like Japan and the birthplace of karate, Okinawa. The early pioneers of Budo styled martial systems focused on a purpose of self protection while training the mind, body and spirit in the Way. It was about not attacking or harming others except when necessary to safeguard that person or persons who are exposed to violence and damage.
To leave out any type of martial philosophy means one becomes technically proficient in the mere physical manifestation of that system like karate is to fighting, competing in kumite tournaments or regarding self-defense. Without adequate emphasis on all four principles that includes a philosophy means a practitioner can use the technical for both good and evil.
The western practitioners of the more physical/technical forms of martial systems have achieved a high level of skill that has flourished since its beginnings in the mid to late 1960’s.
The philosophical principle of all martial systems is actually a concerted effort to learn and understand the essence that is built naturally into the martial arts through the history, culture and beliefs of its creators. Since the Asian connection is deeply rooted in such Buddhist, Confucian and Zen like beliefs it is only natural the martial arts in question be influenced in such beliefs.
In the western practices of Asian martial systems there are many skilled, proficient and expert practitioners but regarding the more spiritual philosophical teachings you would find maybe one in one thousand sensei who have adequate understanding, knowledge and experience in that philosophical connection.
There are frauds who will provide plentiful sound bites that would indicate an understanding but rarely will you find one who can actually explain, teach and provide a living example to their students. Even modern Japanese sensei can be clueless about this part of martial arts. There are just as many egoistically driven Japanese Sensei as there are American Sensei who fall into this category of brutish, sadistical and militaristic teachings.
It is easy to sound exotic, sagely and profound but it is rare to live it. Those who spout such sound bites are mostly illegitimate and nonsensical. They use the students ignorance to further their economical, egoistical and prideful goals. It is difficult even for those with a rudimentary understanding to week out the realities from the pseudo-Oriental philosophical garbage floating around almost all martial arts studios.
When you seek out such philosophical understanding you can forget about the technical and focus a lot more on the cultural origins of your system. They will teach you facets of your system that can only be learned by exposure to the cultural beliefs that lead to the creation of that martial art. It has to have an inter-connectedness to the lineage and historical aspects of the martial system be it from Japan, Okinawa or China, etc.
One must have a smidgeon of understanding of and appreciation for that systems cultural origins so that you can develop a personal philosophy that actually completes the art and way of say, Karate of Okinawa.
A martial philosophy will have many things that make it a philosophy of martial arts. In the end the goal of having a martial philosophy will build toward a personal life philosophy that comes from “character,” your character and how that connects you to yourself and to others.
Note; Principle of Philosophy - Mind, mushin, kime, non-intention, yin-n-yang, oneness, Zanshin and Being, non-action, character and the empty cup all provide toward an Asian philosophical wholehearted martial practice.
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