Fighting, Spirituality, and Martial Arts

[Rickster]

Fighting, Spirituality, and Martial Arts

Primarily, by millenium practice and definition, martial arts is about physical conflict, fighting.

Four questions to ponder and answer;


1.) But why is it that religion, such as Taosim, Buddhsim, Hinduism, seem to partake within its structure?

2.) How does one obtain a manner of spiritualty by obtaining a manner of fighting prowess?

3.) Why are the spiritual aspects of martial arts considered pusillanimous?

4.) Is it about fighting and kicking butt? Or about refraining from fighting and kicking butt?

Can anyone answer these?

[disgruntled]

i wanted to revive this thread because it poses some interesting questions, which i personally, do not know how to answer.

i think i know how Sirdarksol might anser

but i think that fighting has a positive quality, you get to know yourself and your body better when put into those adverse conditions. you are forced to find out how strong you are mentally and physically....... but of course i am thinking of fighting in a ring, and MAs we designed for "real" fights, so i am not sure if my logic even applies.

[sirdarksol]

Originally Posted by Rickster

1.) But why is it that religion, such as Taosim, Buddhsim, Hinduism, seem to partake within its structure?

2.) How does one obtain a manner of spiritualty by obtaining a manner of fighting prowess?

3.) Why are the spiritual aspects of martial arts considered pusillanimous?

4.) Is it about fighting and kicking butt? Or about refraining from fighting and kicking butt?

Can anyone answer these?

My answers (which may or may not be right for the other readers)
1) Because this is the culture that the martial arts sprang from, in much the same way that certain matters of European knightly combat reflected the effects of Christianity.

2) One does not. It just so happens that the two develop side-by-side, not because of one another, but along with one another.

3) They aren't. I suspect that this was just an author reaching to use an archaic word. I have yet to meet a serious martial artist who considers the spiritual aspect of the martial arts to be "cowardly".

4) Having a lessened need to fight and kick butt, as well as having the capability to do so, should the need arise.

[rolltroll]

i think that the answerers above do great justice.

along with learning how to defend you learn about human mortality and thus you learn about your mortality.

you can weigh the options of taking away from this earth or giving to the earth, that choice is sometimes tough for people to swallow.

[disgruntled]

the only thing that it kinda makes me question our interpertations is that it we don't take into account that MAs are used in the military.... and they do kill, and kinda encourage killing, so how does that work?

[sirdarksol]

I agree, but the majority of the great strategists preferred a display of martial prowess winning the battle without blood over a bloody fight. Battles may have been necessary, but not preferable. Unfortunately, history focuses on the bloody fights, because they make for better stories. Thus, we hear a lot about the Oda decimating Japan, but we don't hear as much about the Takeda sweeping across a battlefield with their cavalry, ending the battle with minimal blood shed on either side.

[DOCBROWN1705]

Originally Posted by Rickster

Fighting, Spirituality, and Martial Arts

Primarily, by millenium practice and definition, martial arts is about physical conflict, fighting.

Four questions to ponder and answer;


1.) But why is it that religion, such as Taosim, Buddhsim, Hinduism, seem to partake within its structure?

2.) How does one obtain a manner of spiritualty by obtaining a manner of fighting prowess?

3.) Why are the spiritual aspects of martial arts considered pusillanimous?

4.) Is it about fighting and kicking butt? Or about refraining from fighting and kicking butt?

Can anyone answer these?

1) All of these religions believe that the body and mind are connected to every other living thing. The arts are, an amazing way to use movement and focus to strengthen that connection. Also most of the arts were formed as forms of protection, and not as forms of aggression. They were mimics of nature, and animals. Just because you do not believe in violence, does not mean that you should not know how to defend yourseld, and your family. You must remember that most arts we're created by members of these religion, not adopted my them.

2) I Agree that one does not..... however I do believe that in order to master anything, you do need to have a great deal of belief, and focus. Most martial arts have a root in the metaphysical (Ie: Meditation, Tai Chi, etc...) These practices not only help focus your mind, and body and increase your MA ability, but they also help you to see inside yourself and become more "Spiritual".

3) My question would be ... Who considers them that way?... I believe that to understand and master anything, you need to study every aspect. One without the other is like a Pie without the crust.

4)Neither... It is about knowledge, and understanding... and knowing how to use that knowledge so that you don't have to fight.....

[disgruntled]

Originally Posted by sirdarksol

I agree, but the majority of the great strategists preferred a display of martial prowess winning the battle without blood over a bloody fight. Battles may have been necessary, but not preferable. Unfortunately, history focuses on the bloody fights, because they make for better stories. Thus, we hear a lot about the Oda decimating Japan, but we don't hear as much about the Takeda sweeping across a battlefield with their cavalry, ending the battle with minimal blood shed on either side.

good point!

DocBrown made some great insights too. i especially like your answer to #3

[rolltroll]

having some experience in the military, i have to say yes there is a focus on killing because thats the hardest part of the job, the rest is field craft, IE camping and moving around in an environment, but you are not trained just to blindly kill, there are certain criteria that a target must meet before you can take its life. so i would say that the training is much the same you get both the killing and the caring, part of EIB ( expert infantry badge) is giving first aid, locating and disarming mines, its not all about the kill.

[disgruntled]

does the US military have any sense of bushido?