MARTIAL ARTS - INTRODUCTION

“We are not Masters without students, who are, in the long run, our best masters!” - Mao

Although martial arts has been perpetuated as a way to learn how to fight and defend yourself by movies, magazines, advertisement, etc.; and although most students enroll in martial arts with the purpose of learning how to defend themselves; the real purpose of martial arts is to help their practitioners to become better human beings by means of developing their bodies and minds, by learning how to manage their emotions and energies, and by challenging their physical, mental, and emotional boundaries. It is not a sport or a combat sport, nor a fight club or where you just learn to defend yourself or fight. To the contrary, it is a way of life!

There is a big difference between sports and martial arts. On the one hand, while physical activity and exercising are practiced in general for health or to overcome some type of sickness or health issue, sports are practiced mostly for competition or some specific purpose like a title, a record, a challenge, etc. Sports are great and are a great opportunity for those who can practice them. They are intense, challenging and demanding, and deal mostly with the development of the body and partly with the development of the mind. What percentage is mind over body depends on the type of sport and the level practiced.

Although injuries and long-term health issues are common when practicing sports due to the extreme levels in which they are practiced today, the benefits of sports are immense and most people who practice them will benefit enormously in all aspects (physically, mentally, and emotionally). In general, as we age, most sports get harder and harder to practice due to their physical demands.

“There are no bad martial arts styles or artists, there are only bad instructors. Any martial art that teaches how to improve life is a good martial art!” - Mao

On the other hand, in addition to the physical and mental aspects of sports, martial arts go far beyond by also focusing on the mental, emotional, energetic and philosophical aspects of the practitioners and their lives. This is what differentiates martial arts from combat sports and all other sports. The tools used are kicks, punches, falls, jumps, breakings, weapons, forms, self-defense, meditation, breathing, etc., but the by-products are sound, balanced, and confident individuals ready to confront life in all its aspects with respect, acceptance and humility.

Although most people want to practice martial arts to learn how to defend themselves, to fight or for competition purposes, by taking students by the hand and guiding them step by step through a well-designed process, students eventually will change their mind and see the real purpose of the teachings. The result is confident, just individuals that use martial arts to better themselves and others at all times. Like sports, there are all different martial art styles for all types of people. The difference is that although some martial arts concentrate on some aspects of the art, like kicking, or punching, or forms, or…, they all use the entire body, mind, emotions, and energies. Finally, as we age, martial artists just dynamically change the emphasis from the body to the mind and spirit, completing the full circle of life and in pursuit of complete emptiness (enlightenment or self-realization).

The life of true adept martial artists should be in, around, and about martial arts…their physical, mental, and spiritual development regardless of whether they still practice or not. Every single day that they live, they should be true to the code (love, power and wisdom), polish their swords (compassion and empathy), and be ready for anything (life and death). Although they may or may not have ever fought (physically), they should use all their skills, knowledge and experience to better their lives and the lives of everyone and everything around them. Their only enemy and their only fight should be with themselves! Their only weapons should be compassion and empathy! Their only search should be for the truth, for their real potential…for who they really are! And their only path should be through experience!

“To really live, you must let your heart express itself in everything and for everything!” - Mao

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Author: Maurice Correa
Website: pathtoone.com
Blog: p2oblog.blogspot.com