I think it was in my jujutsu or judo class the other day where the thought occurred to me: here we are learning physical techniques that can be used to subdue the physical violence and aggression of another human being, but what about learning to "tap out" our own violence and aggression? It's interesting that when we think of martial arts as being "self-defense", violence becomes framed as a problem that we must deal with in "other" people. Maybe some of us have never been in a fight. Maybe some of us have never even killed a fly! But violence isn't something that just comes in the form of a slap, punch, kick, shove, head-butt, grab, etc. That is to say, violence is not just "physical". Think about the time when your anger was triggered by the person who cut you off on the freeway. Think about that middle finger you may have greeted them with. Think about the words you may have shouted aloud or muttered in your head. Think about the kind of things you wanted to do to them. Yeah, maybe you didn't get out of your car and exchange fists or get your shotgun and shoot the person (I hope you didn't). But I don't think the world can become a less violent place just because you might not act on the aggressive/violent thoughts in your head. Physical violence seems to me the outward manifestation and projection of what starts within us; our pain, our fears, our insecurities, our misconceptions, our misinterpretations, our unfulfilled emotional needs and wants. Okay, so you may not be a person who physically acts upon those angry thoughts, but does that then excuse you from an inner examination of your human shadow? I don't believe a healthy mindset means thinking pleasant thoughts all the time and smiling even when we are feeling dark. That seems fake to me. I think we need to acknowledge our human capacity for brutality. We need to stop pretending as if some of us are just "nice" people and it's only the "bad" guys that cause all the violent problems of the world. I think that the greatest threat to our daily peace of mind and well being doesn't come from outside of us. It
is us. I'd like to be involved with the kind of karate/martial arts training that incorporates ways to handle and process this violence inside.
"Any martial art without proper training of the mind turns into beastly behavior."
– Shoshin Nagamine
Elbow SMASH!
- Hiji Até
“Karate aims to build character, improve human behavior, and cultivate modesty; it does not, however, guarantee it.” – Yasuhiro Konishi (founder of Shindo Jinen-ryu Karate) - See more at: http://www.karatebyjesse.com/karate-quotes/#sthash.EYYIdmZV.dpuf
“Karate aims to build character, improve human behavior, and cultivate modesty; it does not, however, guarantee it.” – Yasuhiro Konishi (founder of Shindo Jinen-ryu Karate) - See more at: http://www.karatebyjesse.com/karate-quotes/#sthash.EYYIdmZV.dpuf
“Karate aims to build character, improve human behavior, and cultivate modesty; it does not, however, guarantee it.” – Yasuhiro Konishi (founder of Shindo Jinen-ryu Karate) - See more at: http://www.karatebyjesse.com/karate-quotes/#sthash.EYYIdmZV.dpuf
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