Using a Sword in Japanese martial arts and being a Christian Samurai.

[faroukfarouk]

"Lady Being Tattooed" by Taiso Yoshitoshi
tattoostoday dot blogspot dot com

 

[faroukfarouk]

pixoto dot com

 

[Gxg (G²)]

marketplace dot secondlife dot com

That's awesome....

 

[faroukfarouk]

bookdepository dot com

 

[faroukfarouk]

amazon dot co dot uk

 

[faroukfarouk]

ChristianSamurai88: I hope you're okay with the various images I posted?

There is some interesting literature out there relevant to some of the themes you have raised.

Blessings.

 

[faroukfarouk]

ChristianSamurai88:

What I was wanting to ask, was: Do martial arts practitioners have to remove all jewelry and piercings? like from ears, eyebrow, navel, etc.? I guess this might have to apply even if the jewelry consisted of Christian symbols, etc.

Blessings.

 

[ChristianSamurai88]

ChristianSamurai88:

What I was wanting to ask, was: Do martial arts practitioners have to remove all jewelry and piercings? like from ears, eyebrow, navel, etc.? I guess this might have to apply even if the jewelry consisted of Christian symbols, etc.

Blessings.

Well as a safety measure we do need to remove jewelry from the ears if they obstruct movement like hoop earrings. As for eyebrows and naval piercings it all depends on what is on. Or If it can be removed. But as for your question on Christian jewelry it doesn't matter what it is as a safety measure it has to be removed. We have logos on our uniforms that will tell that we are a Christian dojo, but other than that we are not exempt from the jewelry rule.

 

[faroukfarouk]

Well as a safety measure we do need to remove jewelry from the ears if they obstruct movement like hoop earrings. As for eyebrows and naval piercings it all depends on what is on. Or If it can be removed. But as for your question on Christian jewelry it doesn't matter what it is as a safety measure it has to be removed. We have logos on our uniforms that will tell that we are a Christian dojo, but other than that we are not exempt from the jewelry rule.

ChristianSamurai88:

Thanks.

Interesting that you guys belong to a specifically Christian dojo. I guess you guys designed your logo?

Blessings.

 

[faroukfarouk]

So let's do what you imply you want to do.

Have you been to a martial arts session? what were your impressions?

What's your reaction to the OP's discussion of the sword and its comparison with the Word of God?

How do you see the specifically Christian aspect of the Samurai? What is your impression of the OP's desire to engage in Christian testimony in Japan?

Let's hear your views now. I'm interested.

 

[Alithis]

Greetings! I have a few pointers to make on the misconceptions about a Christian using a sword and why it is relevant to today...
Also going to cover what it means to be a Christian Samurai, and the path I walk as one.

Let's start with the meaning of a Christian Samurai:

1) The kanji for samurai is very simple (&#20365 if you want to get technical, it means to serve. As Christians we are called to serve God as we live our lives and walk alongside him, a Samurai is one who serves his master. He/she follows the master who commands him/her to serve unwaveringly. If you look at the concepts, we are servants to God as Christians and we are called to follow unwaveringly and walk alongside Him. These mean the same.
2) As a Christian Samurai myself, my life belongs to no other but God and Jesus. Back in history, many samurai denied their lives were for the master they served when the Daimyo commanded them to commit seppuku or ritual suicide. Instead, they stated that their lives did not belong to the daimyo, but to The Lord, and refused. Many were martyrs and died for that faith. I am not afraid of death in my body because I have eternal life with Jesus.
3) A Christian Samurai is also one who serves his or her people to know Christ. We are called to make disciples in many lands and give the love of God to all. We all have spiritual gifts The Lord has given us, and we should join together in bringing love through those gifts. This means we should also love those who don't love and need it.

For using a sword in martial arts as a Christian:
1) I was taught at a very young age, when I started Iaido (Japanese swordsmanship) by my cousin saying to me that "the sword isn't merely wielded by the hand, but by the heart. If your Heart is for God, and it is full of love, your blade will be after God as well, but if your heart is full of hate, your blade will be evil, and those who don't understand this are unfit to use a blade." A Christian Samurai doesn't use his sword to murder but to protect. I believe God will not judge you if you kill someone in the process of protecting yourself or others, if your heart is for God. Of course, we should fight as a last resort and try to win with the sword in the sheath if possible. A common mistake of society is that as Christians we cannot and are not allowed to kill under any circumstance, but this is not true. There is a verse in Matthew (I think? Unsure exactly) that tells us Jesus told his disciples to sell their coats and buy two swords. Meaning that Jesus was all for self-defense on his mission to save all of us. At the same time, when Peter cut a man's ear off in the garden the night Jesus was betrayed, and Jesus healed the man, He rebuked Peter. This means that Peter was trying to stop God's master plan, even so with intentions of protecting Jesus. However, Christ calls us to use a spiritual sword, the Bible as our guide, and use The Word as our sword and use it in love, coming back to the sword being wielded by the heart. 2) we are called to love our enemies. This is never going to be easy, especially if using a sword, but it comes back to what the intent is. Love means many things and if it means to protect yourself for God's plan for you, it is not wrong.

I am a Christian Samurai and I fight a spiritual battle the world will never see unless they choose The Lord. All things I do, I do in love after God's heart.
If anyone has questions or comments feel free! Amen and God bless you all!

what do we use a sword for?
what is the imagination of our mind?
what do we desire to do with a sword?
whose Glory do we seek in its use?

are we willing to cast it to the ground and count it but dung..to follow our lord and saviour Jesus ,who gave up all and became a servant ,who showed us God is declared mighty in our weakness not despite it.who showed the meek inherit the kingdom of heaven,who taught to forgive those that harm us and pray for those who spitefully use or malign us...

not questions to answer outwardly... but to ponder inwardly

 

[BryanW92]

So let's do what you imply you want to do.

Have you been to a martial arts session? what were your impressions?

What's your reaction to the OP's discussion of the sword and its comparison with the Word of God?

How do you see the specifically Christian aspect of the Samurai? What is your impression of the OP's desire to engage in Christian testimony in Japan?

Let's hear your views now. I'm interested.

Good questions.

 

[faroukfarouk]

michalemynameIS: To some extent the OP has already addressed the issue of the sword, though she can speak for herself.

In Ephesians 6 there is the whole armor of God described, including the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

 

[faroukfarouk]

Good questions..

Let's hear you talk about them now.

 

[Azureknight 773]

You read or speak Japanese also?

Yes, but not much.

 

[faroukfarouk]

Yes, but not much.

Seems like martial arts terminology is bound up with many Japanese words and from other languages, also. The OP identifies specifically with the Samurai tradition.

Maybe you could find some Japanese classes there in the Philippines?

 

[Alithis]

Greetings! I have a few pointers to make on the misconceptions about a Christian using a sword and why it is relevant to today...
Also going to cover what it means to be a Christian Samurai, and the path I walk as one.

Let's start with the meaning of a Christian Samurai:

1) The kanji for samurai is very simple (&#20365 if you want to get technical, it means to serve. As Christians we are called to serve God as we live our lives and walk alongside him, a Samurai is one who serves his master. He/she follows the master who commands him/her to serve unwaveringly. If you look at the concepts, we are servants to God as Christians and we are called to follow unwaveringly and walk alongside Him. These mean the same.
2) As a Christian Samurai myself, my life belongs to no other but God and Jesus. Back in history, many samurai denied their lives were for the master they served when the Daimyo commanded them to commit seppuku or ritual suicide. Instead, they stated that their lives did not belong to the daimyo, but to The Lord, and refused. Many were martyrs and died for that faith. I am not afraid of death in my body because I have eternal life with Jesus.
3) A Christian Samurai is also one who serves his or her people to know Christ. We are called to make disciples in many lands and give the love of God to all. We all have spiritual gifts The Lord has given us, and we should join together in bringing love through those gifts. This means we should also love those who don't love and need it.

For using a sword in martial arts as a Christian:
1) I was taught at a very young age, when I started Iaido (Japanese swordsmanship) by my cousin saying to me that "the sword isn't merely wielded by the hand, but by the heart. If your Heart is for God, and it is full of love, your blade will be after God as well, but if your heart is full of hate, your blade will be evil, and those who don't understand this are unfit to use a blade." A Christian Samurai doesn't use his sword to murder but to protect. I believe God will not judge you if you kill someone in the process of protecting yourself or others, if your heart is for God. Of course, we should fight as a last resort and try to win with the sword in the sheath if possible. A common mistake of society is that as Christians we cannot and are not allowed to kill under any circumstance, but this is not true. There is a verse in Matthew (I think? Unsure exactly) that tells us Jesus told his disciples to sell their coats and buy two swords. Meaning that Jesus was all for self-defense on his mission to save all of us. At the same time, when Peter cut a man's ear off in the garden the night Jesus was betrayed, and Jesus healed the man, He rebuked Peter. This means that Peter was trying to stop God's master plan, even so with intentions of protecting Jesus. However, Christ calls us to use a spiritual sword, the Bible as our guide, and use The Word as our sword and use it in love, coming back to the sword being wielded by the heart. 2) we are called to love our enemies. This is never going to be easy, especially if using a sword, but it comes back to what the intent is. Love means many things and if it means to protect yourself for God's plan for you, it is not wrong.

I am a Christian Samurai and I fight a spiritual battle the world will never see unless they choose The Lord. All things I do, I do in love after God's heart.
If anyone has questions or comments feel free! Amen and God bless you all!

the term samurai ..in essence merely means servant.so it remains important whose servant we are. and we must not become servant to the material object thereby idolizing it.

the reference to armour in ephesians is a direct spiritual reference.we know this because its also written the weapons or our warfare are not carnal(material physical).. and the depiction is of a person dressed in truth righteousness salvation faith ,wielding the words of God for the purpose of praying for all other believers.

absolutely nothing to do with physical weaponry .
but the question of the heart before God remains.. do we elevate the material object (sword in this case) to a place of importance in our life and in so doing devalue the lordship of Jesus in our life? do we "enshrine it " "on display in our homes and so idolize it? does thought and imagination and speech of it take precedence over the gospel?
in essence the philosophy (for thats what it is) is one of attempting to integrate inner life in obedience to the holy Spirit and outer allegiance to a material object .a merging of spiritual and carnal.one thing we are not to do.
it attempts to mingle Gods word with worldly philosophy ... mixing the waters.. leaves us with ..mixed waters.

ex-martial artist . i renounced it all when i could not follow Jesus...& bow entering a dojo

 

[BryanW92]

Let's hear you talk about them.

OK. Yes, I took kendo for just under a year back in 1996. I was an atheist in those days so there wasn't really anything spiritual about it to me. It was fun training with the bamboo swords. Lots of bruises.

I visited the Christian Karate school here in town a few times, but never joined as a student. They try very hard to merge Christian virtues with the Asian spirituality of karate, but it just seems like they try to hard to keep that Christian veneer showing. I don't see any problem with being a Christian and taking martial arts training without adding a layer of Christianity to it.

My martial art is combat handgun shooting. I have gone to several schools and spent decades in practice and competition. I did it when I was an atheist and do it now as a Christian. Do I think it glorifies God? Not really. It's just one of those things that I do while I'm walking this earth. Do I do anything differently now in my pistol shooting than I did when I was an atheist? Yes. I am calmer when I mess up or get beat. I can shake off a bad round, refocus, and be ready for the next round. Perhaps that glorifies God. But, I don't pretend that putting every shot in the center of the cardboard is doing anything for God.

I could engrave a fish or a cross on the slide of my Glock or wear a Christian shirt while I'm at the range, but I choose not to.

Although I have used a gun twice to stop a crime, I've never had to fire it. If I do, it will not be as a "Christian gunfighter", but it will merely be as a Christian who was placed in a certain place at a certain time with certain equipment for a purpose and I pray that I fulfill whatever that purpose it.

 

[faroukfarouk]

OK. Yes, I took kendo for just under a year back in 1996. I was an atheist in those days so there wasn't really anything spiritual about it to me. It was fun training with the bamboo swords. Lots of bruises.

I visited the Christian Karate school here in town a few times, but never joined as a student. They try very hard to merge Christian virtues with the Asian spirituality of karate, but it just seems like they try to hard to keep that Christian veneer showing. I don't see any problem with being a Christian and taking martial arts training without adding a layer of Christianity to it.

My martial art is combat handgun shooting. I have gone to several schools and spent decades in practice and competition. I did it when I was an atheist and do it now as a Christian. Do I think it glorifies God? Not really. It's just one of those things that I do while I'm walking this earth. Do I do anything differently now in my pistol shooting than I did when I was an atheist? Yes. I am calmer when I mess up or get beat. I can shake off a bad round, refocus, and be ready for the next round. Perhaps that glorifies God. But, I don't pretend that putting every shot in the center of the cardboard is doing anything for God.

I could engrave a fish or a cross on the slide of my Glock or wear a Christian shirt while I'm at the range, but I choose not to.

Although I have used a gun twice to stop a crime, I've never had to fire it. If I do, it will not be as a "Christian gunfighter", but it will merely be as a Christian who was placed in a certain place at a certain time with certain equipment for a purpose and I pray that I fulfill whatever that purpose it.

Thanks.

I was talking to a guy who is a martial arts and fitness trainer and he said that there are two sides to martial arts; some of it is geared to self-defence; and some of it is geared more to the martial arts traditions.

He said that people who have done martial arts training don't all have good self-defence skills, and those with self-defence skills don't necessarily have a deep understanding of martial arts.

Interesting that the OP has a profound interest in martial arts and is from a family where a sword has been handed down over the generations. It's interesting also that there is a specifically Christian Samurai tradition; I was not aware of it.

Japan seems to be one of the countries with an especially profound martial arts tradition, even though some of the more formal warrior privileged were apparently abolished in the 19th century.

This is a very absorbing discussion, I find, with many avenues.

 

[BryanW92]

What's your reaction to the OP's discussion of the sword and its comparison with the Word of God?

The sword is the sword, just like the gun is a gun or a hammer is a hammer. The spiritual sword, as found in Ephesians 6:17 is much more powerful than any of those three tools I listed above. I don't think that any weapon, regardless of how peacefully it is wielded, is something to compare to the word of God.

If I was a great Christian, I'd sell my guns and cut up my Concealed Weapons Permit. But I'm just the flesh body that surrounds the spiritual man inside, so I will continue my shooting and hope that the OP continues her iaido.