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Les Bubka
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Moral Spine of Karate

Hi all

I would like to share my article about morality in martial arts,

Does your training is purly focused on "winning" or you teach "more" ?

Personally I'm put off watching Boxing and Mma due to lack of respect between fighters (not all)

https://shinaido.wordpress.com/2016/06/09/moral-spine-of-karate/ 

Kind regards 

Les

Marc
Marc's picture

Les, thanks for sharing your article.

I think you're right in that it is important for karate instructors to aspire to be good people. To follow the Way of Karate (Karate-Do) as you say. Although I believe that it makes no difference what your sources for a good, moral, ethical behaviour are. They could be religious, humanistic, scientific, or the teachings of honorable samurai or british gentlemen. At the bottom line it should be along the great line of Commander Data from Star Trek:

Data's daughter Lal: "Father, what is my purpose?"

Cmdr. Data: "Purpose?"

Data's daughter Lal: "My function. My reason for being."

Cmdr. Data: "That is a complex question, Lal. I can only begin to answer by telling you that our function is to contribute, in a postive way, to the world in which we live."

As an example of how to include moral teachings in class: I teach karate to a bunch of 8-13-year-olds. At the moment I reserve the last 5 minutes of each class for a little discussion about one of Funakoshi's 20 precepts. The kids love that part, and they are quick in grasping the ideas of those precepts. It is also fun to see that some kids who seem kind of sluggish in training do engage in the conversation all the more.

Take care

Marc  

Leigh Simms
Leigh Simms's picture

Hi Les!

I liked your article and it brought up a few interesting points of discussion that I would like to engage with.

Firstly, to answer your question above. My karate training is (or at the least tries to be) life-preserving and life-enhancing, so I guess that it may constitute as something "more". I would point out, however, that I do think that the original purpose of karate was purely as solution to non-consensual violence. Later on, when Karate became a "do" system it took on more of the philosophical and moral teachings. In addition to its original purpose, I use Karate, as a mode of exercise, stress-relief and social interaction with others. 

Whilst I agree with you that there is a lot of disrespect in the MMA/Boxing world, I do not think that the traditional martial arts are on a higher pedestal.  I can think of countless historical stories regarding past masters and their run-ins with alcohol, sex and violence. They were definitely not the saints that they are sometimes noted to be. And as you pointed out, there are many people doing Karate and doing bad things at the same time.

Karate can be taught in a way that develops respect, humility, honesty, integrity and other "good" character traits but that is not always the case. I would argue that Karate only works in that way when the training methods used are specifically designed to import these traits on students. Yasuhiro Konishi (one of the many karate-ka who helped bring Karate to mainland Japan) once said that "Karate aims to build character, improve human behavior, and cultivate modesty; it does not, however, guarantee it." 

I think we have to find our own sources of morality that resonate with us individually and provides us with examples and directions on how to live our lives. Some of my own morality comes from past martial masters and some come from other sources. 

Leigh

Les Bubka
Les Bubka's picture

Marc 

Great great quote, I like it. In my dojo we do similar thing, only on beginning of the session I choose philosophy cal topic and we have a lecture. Students love it.

Leigh

I'm sure that the karate on beginning did not have philosophy other than to win, I like to think that as karate was as self defence or as some suggest a tool for policing, its primary function was to protect and be use for good.

Every teacher brings to their teaching their behaviour and morality, for me ,my core value is care, and this is reflected in all teachings.

Kind regards

Les

marlon
marlon's picture

Hello Les,

Thank you for sharing. I was greatly disappointed in many  of the Martial Arts master that I met early on. I had expected more of them I had expected them to live and teach what I call warrior ethics. However, most of them were filled with ego and were about the money. When I began to teach, I always  made sure to incorporate in someway shape or form, in every class a discussion of " morality". In the end, it is a bit cheesy but I believe in the warrior ethos as exemplified by an emphasis on the reason we train, the reason we push ourselves is in order to serve.  At the same time, I cannot say that Martial Arts instructor is obligated to be this type of person. To teach this way, as a way.  Ultimately, the best martial artist are, in my opinion, true warriors living a true warrior lifestyle. Yet, it is in fact the responsibility of the parents to teach the children well. To teach their children  proper ethics, behaviour and respect. One would hope, that the parents were involved in bringing them to a martial art instructor who reflects their own values. In the case of an adult, who they are usually set in stone already

Les Bubka
Les Bubka's picture

Hi Marlon 

Thanks for your post, I had very similar experiences with a lot of sensei. 

Great that you incorporate ethics in your teaching, I do agree that parents should teach children in the first place.

Kind regards 

Les

Paul_D
Paul_D's picture

The thing to remember about MMA is that the more controversy you generate the more tickets you sell.  Josk Koscheck was almost universally dispised purely for the persona he put on for the cameras, he never won a title, yet made so much money (because he generated so many ticket sales) he at one point owned two Ferraris.  

McGregor is the same, watch him interviewed back stage after the fights and he is quiet, respectful and down to earth, but that doesn't sell tickets, so he plays up the arrogant persona for the camera.  No, of course that isn't the best role model, but he isn't a role model, he's a business man.  I don't like that side of MMA myself, but I certainly don't blame him for doing what he does for the cameras.

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

Always an interesting and important topic! The myth of martial arts having their origins in religion and philosophy, and hence being inextricably tied to them, has been thoroughly debunked. We can therefore safely put that to one side. Marital arts were created with the sole goal of defeating enemies on a battle field, or keeping civilians safe from criminals. There was frequently a “code” that the warrior classes were expected to act by, but that was often far from the morality we would expect or want from civilians in the modern world.

Combative function was the original purpose of the martial arts and, to me, that remains the entry level requirement of any worthwhile system. All of that said, there is no doubt the martial arts can be a crucible where character and virtue can be tested and developed. That “additional layer” (or something more) while not there originally, does give the martial arts greatly increased value in the modern age.

We don’t fight for our lives every day; but we do live our lives and interact with others every day. Fostering a healthy body, healthy outlook and improved character are undoubtedly of great value. However, seeking those very worthwhile things while downplaying or ignoring combative function does not a martial art make.

It’s something I’ve written and spoken about a few times. These podcasts in particular are worth a listen for those interested:

Jutsu Vs Do (how the non-combative aspects rely on the combative):

Podcast: https://iainabernethy.co.uk/content/karate-jutsu-karate-do

Article Version: https://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/article/jutsu-vs-do

Martial virtues and Warrior Ethics (what the ethics of martial arts are and how they can be developed)

Podcast: https://iainabernethy.co.uk/content/martial-virtues-and-warrior-ethics

No article version.

All the best,

Iain

Les Bubka
Les Bubka's picture

Paul_D wrote:

McGregor is the same, watch him interviewed back stage after the fights and he is quiet, respectful and down to earth, but that doesn't sell tickets, so he plays up the arrogant persona for the camera.  No, of course that isn't the best role model, but he isn't a role model, he's a business man.

Paul I understand thet people like that kind of show, and that is the way to make money. For me its not right, but that is my personal opinion.

Connor have change after getting rich, if you wach the interviews and documentary about him, in my opinion he shows now who he really is. I would like to think that if I was payed so much I would stay respectful, but who knows...

Iain Abernethy wrote:

Combative function was the original purpose of the martial arts and, to me, that remains the entry level requirement of any worthwhile system. All of that said, there is no doubt the martial arts can be a crucible where character and virtue can be tested and developed. That “additional layer” (or something more) while not there originally, does give the martial arts greatly increased value in the modern age. 

Iain I totaly agree, for me it is like with the gun, its primery function is to shoot. Gun does not have morality, people who have access and knowalge how to use it, have the morality or not. Same for martial arts either I decide to use it, as in my case to help others(keeping the primary function), or Im using it to be selfish and do not care about others, there is a third option. Just using it as self-defence not including any "morality" good or bad.

I like to think that karate today have more to offer than just defensive use, but that is just my view :)

Kind regards

Les

karate10
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Excellent podcast of Jutsu Vs Do Mr. Abernethy.

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

karate10 wrote:
Excellent podcast of Jutsu Vs Do Mr. Abernethy.

Thank you! An oldie but a goodie :-)

All the best,

Iain

Paul_D
Paul_D's picture

Leszek.B wrote:

Paul_D wrote:

McGregor is the same, watch him interviewed back stage after the fights and he is quiet, respectful and down to earth, but that doesn't sell tickets, so he plays up the arrogant persona for the camera.  No, of course that isn't the best role model, but he isn't a role model, he's a business man.

Paul I understand thet people like that kind of show, and that is the way to make money. For me its not right, but that is my personal opinion.

Connor have change after getting rich, if you wach the interviews and documentary about him, in my opinion he shows now who he really is. I would like to think that if I was payed so much I would stay respectful, but who knows...

But if you had stayed respectful, you wouldn't have earned as much ;-)