Martial "arts" philosophy

[GrowingSmaller]

I know this is equivocation, but isnt art meant to create beauty, and martial arts destroy it?

The best form of martial art I know is proactively avoiding trouble.

After that I am a useless fighter, when it comes to the pecking order.

I have sparred with world ranking fighters, and county champions. And been beaten.

The best martial art philosophy I know of is that of "Aikido" - or the way of spiritual harmony IIRC. It is totally non aggressive, and more like a formalised "tea ceremonty, flower arranging, and swordsmanship" to quote my inspirational tutor.


Aikido had its roots in samurai Aikijujutsu. Look, this is potentially devestating yet in my eyes beautiful at the same time:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iknZJfZYWtw&list=WL&index=8

 

[juvenissun]

I know this is equivocation, but isnt art meant to create beauty, and martial arts destroy it?

The best form of martial art I know is proactively avoiding trouble.

After that I am a useless fighter, when it comes to the pecking order.

I have sparred with world ranking fighters, and county champions. And been beaten.

The best martial art philosophy I know of is that of "Aikido" - or the way of spiritual harmony IIRC. It is totally non aggressive, and more like a formalised "tea ceremonty, flower arranging, and swordsmanship" to quote my inspirational tutor.


Aikido had its roots in samurai Aikijujutsu. Look, this is potentially devestating yet in my eyes beautiful at the same time:

Destruction is an application of the martial ART. It is an ART first.

 

[DogmaHunter]

The best martial art philosophy I know of is that of "Aikido" - or the way of spiritual harmony IIRC. It is totally non aggressive, and more like a formalised "tea ceremonty, flower arranging, and swordsmanship" to quote my inspirational tutor.

The best martial art I know of is Ninpo. Also known as Ninjitsu, although that term has false co-notations thanks to Hollywood.

I practiced it for a couple years. Eventually had to stop because the Dojo moved and I had much dificulty arranging transport to practice at that time. I regret it till this day

It was an amazing art. Completely true to the "hardcore" ways of old. Before that I also did some jujitsu, judo and karate. None of them compare to Ninpo though. It's a world all on its own...

The school I went to was that of Bujinkan, with as current Grandmaster sensei Hatsumi. Looks like the school is doomed though, as there doesn't seem to be a suitable student to take over the Grandmaster title. It's a shame... several centuries old traditions will dissappear with sensei Hatsumi's death.

Anyway, Bujinkan ninpo is a collection of several "schools". Each with its own techniques, methods and specialisations. If I remember correctly, Hatsumi holds the master scrolls of 9 such schools.

One of which is Taijutsu. That was my favorite. No weapons, just body movement. To spar with a master in Taijutsu is downright scary. You'ld have to do it to truelly understand how scary.

The guy you spar with is barely moving. But he'll tie you into a knot in a matter of seconds and you won't see it coming.

There are no competitions in Ninpo. There are no championships. It's not even seen as a "sport". Reason being that it is not suitable for such.

In Karate and stuff there are ways to work with point systems etc. Not so much in Ninpo. Just about every "move" ends with a broken arm, a splintered wrist, a broken neck or other such nasty outcomes - all within a couple of moves.

I find this art to be immensly beautifull. Not because of the violence, the assassination methods or the broken limbs...

Rather because of the beauty of the movements. The required knowledge of human anatomy. The calmness with which the art is practiced.

I remember clearly that training at the Dojo was like almost a spiritual experience. Like meditation or something, I don't know. It's hard to explain.

 

[Eudaimonist]

The best martial art philosophy I know of is that of "Aikido" - or the way of spiritual harmony IIRC. It is totally non aggressive, and more like a formalised "tea ceremonty, flower arranging, and swordsmanship" to quote my inspirational tutor.

I've taken Aikido, and it is an interesting martial art. It's main claim to fame seems to be the way it uses the force of the attack against the attacker by redirecting it. It uses fluid, circular motions much of the time.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[Eudaimonist]

The best martial art I know of is Ninpo.

Is this it?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csMCFHyKW5g


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[High Fidelity]

Most things can be destructive under the right circumstances.

Martial Arts, I think, is primarily about the discipline.

 

[Eudaimonist]

My favorite martial art is RoboBall, as practiced below. When you roll like a ball, the universe rolls in the other direction.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[True Scotsman]

I know this is equivocation, but isnt art meant to create beauty, and martial arts destroy it?

The best form of martial art I know is proactively avoiding trouble.

After that I am a useless fighter, when it comes to the pecking order.

I have sparred with world ranking fighters, and county champions. And been beaten.

The best martial art philosophy I know of is that of "Aikido" - or the way of spiritual harmony IIRC. It is totally non aggressive, and more like a formalised "tea ceremonty, flower arranging, and swordsmanship" to quote my inspirational tutor.


Aikido had its roots in samurai Aikijujutsu. Look, this is potentially devestating yet in my eyes beautiful at the same time:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iknZJfZYWtw&list=WL&index=8

I was involved with martial arts extensively when I was younger and it was all about self defense. At least where I trained there was a complete prohibition of the initiation of force. We were told that if we ever did we would be kicked out for good.

I think That a man or woman defending their life and property against those who would initiate force is a beautiful thing. Martial arts is also all about improving one's self in mind and body. It is life affirming if used for the right reasons.

 

[GrowingSmaller]

I got into too many fights. I was over confident in my "self defence" capabilities, and although not initiating violence, never learned to walk away. Now I know that "a journey of a thousand miles" may begin with a single step - in the other direction. Otherwise it may all be over too soon.

 

[GrowingSmaller]

I did some jujitsu which was mad. Break this break that. All the stuff i studied (boxing, judo, karate etc) left me with different "body aesthetics" on the way home from class. Boxing was the aesthetic of quick, educated left. Judo compactness and spin. Jujitsu a pliable toughness and tech. Aikido was more like havinga a shiatsu massage in the dojo.

On the street now I meet mental aggression with a top notch "reverse emotional clearing" move. Avoid eye contact, trace the outline of the spiritual aggrassion with ones heart, and say "all that hostility belongs to you, and thats the world you create and belong to". Its like ju, or pliability in the face of opposing force, knowing that that force is a "negative energy to be avoided and rejected rather than owned.

Hi 5 Copernicus!

 

[Ana the Ist]

My favorite martial art is RoboBall, as practiced below. When you roll like a ball, the universe rolls in the other direction.


eudaimonia,

Mark

I swear the first time I saw that clip I thought, "That can't be what they really put into the movie...it looks like a soccer ball someone kicked and then digitally added an upside down bowl on top."

 

[GrowingSmaller]

If you were to visit the caves of Lascaux, and use them as a "rorschach test", where would your karma take you? No yoda references please!


I say this because all this talk of fighting makes me feel like a cave man, or a "dharma protector" at best.

On many selves in psychology:

"In principle, one could have as many relational self-schemas as there are different people with whom one interacts" Baldwin.



Where on the wheel of life do you belong? Apparently in Buddhism Islam can be seen as a desire realm practice, the fruits being lots of pleasure, but the difficulty being one gets roped into fights between rival "leader Gods" in the desire realm as is par for the course in that level of samsara.


thanks,

Vajradharma.

 

[Eudaimonist]

I swear the first time I saw that clip I thought, "That can't be what they really put into the movie...it looks like a soccer ball someone kicked and then digitally added an upside down bowl on top."

It's not far away from some early R2D2 concept art:

eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[JackofSpades]

I think there are two subcategories in philoshophy:

1) Martial art in sense of practising for fighting (usually in self-defensive sense), for example aikido or JJ
2) Combat sport, where idea is to compete in sport, which just happens to include alot of elements from fighting. For example, wrestling or boxing.

I've personally always been more drawn into concept of combat sport, than self-defense. While the excact line between two isn't that clear, and there is overlapping, I think there are philoshopical differencies. What has drawn me towards combat sports is the whole deal: competition, excitment of being in tough situation, body control etc. Ability to defend myself in possible streetfight has been a by-product of all that, not so much the original motive.

 

[poolerboy0077]

Most traditional martial arts are superstition and tradition based.

 

[DogmaHunter]

Is this it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csMCFHyKW5g


eudaimonia,

Mark

Indeed, that is it.

 

[Inkfingers]

I know it's fiction but....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2fq9K1yE4k

 

[hankroberts]

GrowingSmaller;
"I know this is equivocation, but isnt art meant to create beauty, and martial arts destroy it?"

"Martial Arts" is essentially the art of war, or that set of practical and philosophical skills which prepares one for personal combat.

"The best martial art philosophy I know of is that of "Aikido" - or the way of spiritual harmony IIRC. It is totally non aggressive, and more like a formalised "tea ceremonty, flower arranging, and swordsmanship" to quote my inspirational tutor."

While most current martial arts teach non-aggressiveness (in the sense that they do not advocate initiation of an unprovoked attack), they vary in the level of aggressiveness and proactive engagement. As you point out, Aikido is probably the least aggressive, relying almost entirely on the aggressive action of the attacker to defeat him. Properly done it is incredibly effective.

"The best form of martial art I know is proactively avoiding trouble."
"After that I am a useless fighter, when it comes to the pecking order."

My philosophy is that I do not like confrontation. I've been engaged in it, and I agree with the quote from Roadhouse; "Nobody wins a fight". However, I have learned over nearly 3/4 of a century that there are people out there who insist on being confrontational. You can often avoid them, but you will eventually have to deal with them. I am a two year combat Marine (Vietnam), retired military, former Law Enforcement, close combat and firearms instructor, and student of several different martial arts over the course of four decades.

I don't like personal confrontation, but if you insist on being confrontational, I do know how.