Dear friends, what do you think about martial arts? Is it cruel, extreme sports or way of life. And what do you think about many styles in martial arts and interconnection between them? Lets share on this group.

Greetings Rahmat and others!

(Bows)

I have lots of thoughts, based on an active career of learning and teaching in several styles.

Given the rich publishing history in martial arts, books are often a favorite topic of discussion with fellow students, so I look forward to the chat here!

I think I'll begin by adding a few favorites to the book shelves, and maybe rate or review a few.

- CB

I've been fascinated with the martial arts ever since my dad got my brother and I karate classes when I was about six. The lessons only lasted a couple of weeks but the interest has stayed with me all this time.

I'd love be able to study the old Japanese arts. As a matter of fact I'm looking into several opportunities to do so:

There are two Karate dojos in town. One is World Oyama Karate, which I understand to be an organization that branched off from Kyokushin and remains similar. Also offered at this dojo is training through the International Shinkendo Federation (or the art of the Japenese sword).

The other is International Japan Karate Federation, which trains in the Heiwa-do style, a synthesis of the best parts of the four major styles of Japanese Karate-do, with additional influences from Soke Hirano's experience in Aikido, Iaido, Judo, and Ki.

Master Sum Bok Choung, three time world champion in Taekwondo, also teaches Hapkido and Haidong Gumdo (the art of the Korean sword). I trained with him several years ago, progressing to an orange belt before a job relocation mucked that all up.

Finally, there is a group that trains in Bujinkan or Budo Taijutsu, the art handed down to Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi, the 34th Grandmaster of nine ancient martial arts traditions of feudal Japan. They are: Gyokko Ryu Koshijustsu, Koto Ryu Koppojutsu, Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu, Shindenfudo Ryu Dakentaijutsu, Kukishinden Ryu Happo Hikenjutsu, Togakure Ryu Ninpo, Gikan Ryu Koppojutsu, Gyokushin Ruy Ninpo, and Kumogakure Ryu Ninpo.

What does everyone think about these options? Especially if one has knowledge the various styles of Karate or of Budo Taijutsu, I'd love to hear what from you. Thanks.

All the martial arts have something to add. Having respect for various styles, I rotate training in many different forms. Get a feeling for the dojo and it's instructors. I'm currently training in Judo, Aikido, Vovinam, Shotokan, Wing Chun, Boxing, Capoeira and Tai Chi. It is a way of life for me, always will be. I have a pile of books that I am reading. Just finished rereading Dojo wisdom for writers as I am currently writing 3 books.

Well, taking that into consideration, the Budo Tiajutsu will give me the most well rounded training. I called and spoke with the instructor and he's invited me to check it out tomorrow evening. I'll let you know how it goes.
So what is the topic of your books?

Greetings Pamela,

I'm impressed! Am I reading that right, that you are currently rotating between eight different arts?

I can understand martial arts as a way of life, (or perhaps a "Way" would be more accurate) but I find that utterly astounding!

At my peak, I studied and taught about 40 hours per week, and I found that quite overwhelming. Between MA and a minor in Asian studies, I was thinking in Japanese as much as English, but I cannot conceive of actively practicing more than three arts in any one period.

At one time or another, I have tried all of those but boxing, and I found it difficult to "unlearn" muscle memory from Shotokan to Tai Chi. How have you managed it?

I appreciate the suggestion of the Lawler book. I've read "Dojo Wisdom" but not the sequels. I'll give it a try.

If you don't mind my asking, what is (are) your book(s) about?

- Chris

I have been studying Bujinkan for 17 years now and find it to be the most beneficial art over all that I have seen.
I have also studied Pencak Silat, Dragon society Karate, Aikido, Brazilian Jiu Jutsu, Hoshinjutsu and probably some other crap that I can't either remember or can't spell.
Now I have not seen it all (who has?) but it seems to recoginize modern day demands.
The thing with Budo Taijutsu is you have to experience it because trust me if you just watch it looks like a load of crap.
If you want to read interesting stories about the modern ninjas I would recommend Glenn Morris' book Pathnotes of an American Ninja Master.
Please let me know how your training goes and whereabout you live so maybe I could tell others to help you.
Gambatte,
Will

Martial arts is an art. As a painter demonstrates their inner world by the choice of brush, stroke, and color; so the martial artist chooses. Not just the styles we practice, but how we practice. What we do when faced with a powerful opponent, how we move to accomplish our techniques, etc. These choices define us as artists and on a grander scale, as humans. Matial arts are self-expression. You cannot create what was not already there to begin with.

If Martial Arts are training for battle,then I guess the question I have is just what battles are we training for?. Learning to protect ourselves and our loved ones from physical violence is a laudable goal, but what else can we do with our training?. A warrior always has periods of peace to live with. How we use are traing for our own periods of peace is just as important.
We can train ourselves to be deadly, but what good does that do us if that closes us off from the others ?.
Martial arts training can show us our own capacity for courage. Courage in battle is important,but having the courage to live your life with an open heart is also important.
It is often said that Martial arts training teaches us discipline, but I tend to aggree with Scott that "You can not create what was not already there to begin with". I think that Martial arts training strips away our fears and shows us the strengths that we all own .


Regards to you all



Russell

Life is battle. Everyday we fight and usually not with others, but with ourselves. We have different individual goals yet we strive for the same general ideal: to live free. Free of doubt, free of fear, free of our capacity for selfishness, apathy, and cruelity. Martial arts teaches us, as Russell put quite well, to "strip away our fears." It helps us to learn a fundamental lesson of life. To get from point A to point B usually requires struggle. In martial arts we struggle to learn a new skill or master a kata. In order to accomplish these tasks we must constantly practice while sweating and occassionaly bleeding. We could just as well quit, but we would never accomplish our tasks. So martial arts better prepares us for the "battle" or struggles that life requires to go from point A to point B, from my goal to its end.

I agree with Russell and Scott - I was on a seminar with Patrick McCarthy who is a well-known master and translator and he said something which has always stuck in my mind:

The greatest battles are fought, and won, within

Not sure if it's his line or he was quoting someone else, but it's pretty spot-on!

Hello, sirs and ma'am's

Well I'm not really a teacher. I wish I was. I've been a student for as long as I can remember. My mom says I was five when I first started. It certainly feels like its been that long. My dad was a Navy man and we moved a lot so I never recieved my dan. Now i'm an Army woman so yeah....Anyways, in regards to the question, I deffinately belive martial arts to be a way of life. No matter how many times I move or where I move it will always be a part of me. Weather I practice at home or in a dojo, its all the same. the martial spirit dwells inside us and that is where we have to look to truely come into a full knowledge of the arts and what they do for us.

Martial arts can be brutal but it can also be very calming and the discipline, especially in karate, shows that it is a passive form of fighting, mainly using blocks, etc.

Respectful greetings to all,
My opinions on the martial arts come from a different angle. I've only been studying and taking classes since June so I am newly on this path. Martial arts, to me, has been a re-birth. Much like a Christian reborn feels he has finally found his true path in life, so too, do I feel I've found my true path. Every class, every practice, every book, every conversation with my sensei, is a discovery both in learning new techniques, thoughts and learning more about myself. I can feel the difference of my still meager training in my everyday life - the way I look at situations, the way I handle adversity, the manner in which I choose to spend my time and the foods I choose to eat.

When my kids and I first started on this path, other moms asked me how I could possibly want to enroll my kids in classes that teach violence. My initial response was that it was so much more than fighting, that the other non-visable education in respect, discipline, thought, etc., was just as important as a good center punch. But they weren't intersted in my answers nor in learning that the martial arts has many facets. They wanted to complain. Many of these moms still cackle about my kids learning a martial art but I no longer respond. I do not take the time to try to change their minds because their minds are not open to change. There is an old proverb that says it all, "Those who speak do not know, those who know, do not speak."

Pam, if I had a hat, I'd take it off to you! I know another woman who got into martial arts through her children and fell in love with it. She was a brown belt last time i saw her, probably a black belt now; and well-deserved too.

As you said, most people's minds are not open to change, but some are. Good for you!!

I agree!

Goran and Marco,
Thank you very much. I saw a black belt test last night. The intensity of the young man's katas were impressive. It was an inspiration to keep doing my best.

Goran, I'll buy you a hat. And can I ask a beginner's question? Is a "dan" the same as a "level", is a second degree black belt the same thing as a person who is second dan?

Thank you again, friends.

Hi Pam,

Yes it is!

If you have any more questions, ask away. I'm sure that between us, the Martial Arts Group on Goodreads can give you the answers :)