"Martial arts is a form of expression, an expression from your inner self to your hands and legs."
-Donnie Yen
"Martial arts is a vehicle for developing your human potential."
-Joe Rogan
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| Self-portrait of Miyamoto Musashi |
It is my opinion that martial arts is more than just fighting and forms, it is a way to live. To augment our lives; to practice being human.
But there are certain qualities I believe martial artists should have, should be able to do. After all, a human being is well rounded more often than not.
I know this is a stretch for many who practice, but consider the following: Miyamoto wrote this in 1645
"First, as is often said, a samurai must have both literary and martial skills: to be versed in the two is his duty. Even if he has no natural ability, a samurai must train assiduously in both skills to a degree appropriate to his status."
This means we must practice the art of writing. It has long in the martial arts been considered that one's ability to write, both the writing itself and the formation of its characters and components to be equitable to skill with the sword. The sword strokes are very similar to those in calligraphy.
"Many students of traditional Budo have read that the education of the bushi consisted of a dual emphasis on bun and bu. Bu refers to the study of martial strategy and combat, while bun indicates the literary and fine arts of Japan. Some scholars of Budo have even declared that bun and bu must be considered as one. For example, Nakajima Masayoshi Sensei, fifth headmaster of Takenouchi-Hangan-Ryu, has written that, in addition to the ryu's eighteen classical martial arts, students are taught such fine arts as Shakuhachi (five-holed flute), Shimai (a form of Noh dance), Yokyoku (Noh song), Sado (tea ceremony), and Kado (flower arrangement)."
http://www.smaa-hq.com/articles.php?articleid=3
If it is the case that martial practice can be considered to extend to writing as well, why? Because the expression of human spirit is a commonality between the two which transcends any kind of similarity of technique. It is sharing one's very soul or inner essence as I know it.
"Since the Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.), swordsmanship (Jian) was considered one of the "five arts" along with the zither (Qin), chess (Qi), calligraphy (Shu), and painting (Hua). These five arts were requirements for men of talent who aspire to serve their country.
The five arts were representative of a well-rounded warrior capable of both martial and civil responsibilities. There is strong emphasis of a balance between hard and soft, that a warrior must be able to lead men in battle during times of unrest and govern the masses during times of peace.
Through the centuries, warriors who did not seek service in the Imperial court primarily focused on the art of the sword but shortly after, although they could pass on learning music, painting, and even chess, they couldn't entirely forego calligraphy. This is in a large part because of the close relationship between the sword and the brush...
Both the art of the sword and the brush have two internals and two externals, equaling the four essentials - Form (Xing), Strength (Li), Spirit (Shen), and Energy (Qi)...
The Two Externals focus on that what a person can objectively see:
1. Form (Xing) - Every brush stroke in calligraphy has a certain shape and form like that of a sword stance.
2. Strength (Li) - The power in the hand, wrist, and forearm while holding a brush applies to that of holding a sword.
The Two Internals focus on that what cannot be seen but felt or 'sensed':
3. Spirit (Shen) - A trained calligrapher can almost "feel" the emotion of a written character or word and it reflects in the spirit of the piece. This is not so different from a trained swordsman during practice, feeling the poetic or destructive nature of a particular stance.
4. Energy (Qi) - Chinese calligraphy requires the application of Qi to properly follow through with each stroke. During writing, the controlled breathing could help steady your hand and concentrate. This is not too different from that of using a sword."
http://home.comcast.net/~o.tsun/ThreeDragon/index_swd.htm
But if martial practices extends in this fashion to be considered the art of being human and living, then could there be more?
It is my opinion a martial artist should be well rounded then. One should learn how to make music; for me this I do in whistling.
A martial artist should be able to feed themselves; so must know how to cook. And because of this should be able to create a fire to keep warm and use when they can.
We should be able to carry our world on our shoulders; self-providing and sustaining.
A martial artist should therefore be able to grow their own food. One can start with gardening until able to cultivate crops. A simple acre is enough to feed a hundred people if used appropriately. Because of this I gather certain plants with medicinal purposes. When road weed helped me heal several agrievious injuries, it opened my eyes to the world of herbology and how it can help. Dit Jao, a method to help hand conditioning is very useful for martial artists, and requires a knowledge of plants to make beneficial materials.
We should be able to build our own homes. I admit I am a novice in this area, but who says there is something wrong with the process of learning? Learning architecture and its principles are essential. If fact, Miyamoto directly compares martial arts to building houses;
"The master carpenter is the organizer and director of the carpenters and it is his duty to understand the regulations of the country and the locality, and to abide by the rules of his guild.
The master carpenter must know the architectural theory of towers and temples, the plans of palaces and all sorts of structures, and must employ people to raise up houses. In this way, the Way of the master carpenter is comparable to the Way of the commander of a warrior house.
In the construction of houses, careful selection of woods is made. Straight unknotted timber of good appearance is used for the revealed pillars, straight timber with small defects is used for the inner pillars. Timbers of the finest appearance, even if a little weak, is used for the thresholds, lintels, doors, and sliding screens. Good strong timber, though it be gnarled and knotted, can always be used thoughtfully in consideration of the strengths of the other members of the house. Then the house will last a long time.
Even timber which is weak or knotted and crooked can be used as scaffolding, and later for firewood. "
We should be clean; I begin every practice by first organizing, and then cleaning and sanitizing the space I will be practicing in. We should not wallow in our filth and disorder; it is chaos and can affect how we practice. If one always has an obstacle in their way, and practices around it, this will affect what we practice.
A martial artist should be spiritual. This does not necessitate believing in God or Tao or Karma. This is finding one's place in the order of the rest of the world. It is tangibly believing and seeing how one can express their own inner essence, which can have everything and nothing to do with the concept of a soul.
This does not mean doing religious rituals, though that may be enough for some. It is finding meaning in one's life, and learning how to express it to others. I do this in the martial arts I practice. Kata for me are a form of meditating. I express my spirituality through that, through my writing, and in doing my best to help others. That is what gives purpose for me on a certain level in my life. As a martial artist you must find the same. For some it is teaching, for others it is praying. For others it can be just exploring nature. Find your way to do this.
But most importantly, a martial practitioner must find how they express their own spirit in their own ways to round themselves as the human being they desire to be.
"Get the inside right, the outside will fall into place."
-Eckhart Tolle
“In
Japan, a number of time-honored everyday activities (such as making tea,
arranging flowers, and writing) have traditionally been deeply examined by
their proponents. Students study how to make tea, perform martial arts, or
write with a brush in the most skillful way possible to express themselves with
maximum efficiency and minimum strain. Through this efficient, adroit, and
creative performance, they arrive at art. But if they continue to delve even
more deeply into their art, they discover principles that are truly universal,
principles relating to life itself. Then, the art of brush writing becomes
shodo—the “Way of the brush”—while the art of arranging flowers is elevated to
the status of kado—the “Way of flowers.” Through these Ways or Do forms, the
Japanese have sought to realize the Way of living itself. They have approached
the universal through the particular.”
-H.E. Davey
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