Image by Tom Gill (lapstrake) via Flickr
Obviously, the skills involved in martial arts tackles more than bowing, kicking and conquering. The philosophy of martial arts entails gaining confidence, dealing with challenge and getting to know “you.”
But that’s just the beginning.
Martial art focuses on mind, body and spirit in much the same way as Christianity focuses on the trinity as “the way” to God.
How does one begin to master the mind? We may ask. By gaining control of the body, answers the master of martial arts. A student learns why they think the way they think, do the things they do, and the longer a student works at martial arts, the greater their sense of personal center, the stronger their strength in the realm of daily struggle, the more they see themselves and the world around them. Visualization, practice, and control are major points in martial arts and the skills learned in the classroom will assist the student in every other arena of their life.
Getting the information you need on the philosophy of martial arts takes time, but learning about it is just as important, if not more so, than learning the skill. Blogs, websites and other material can be found on the Internet to broaden your understanding and increase your wisdom.
Martial arts is indeed and “art,” a way of finding yourself in the midst of a loud and busy world. It could be considered a religion; a way of life, a direction; but for those experiencing martial arts for themselves, martial arts is more than thoughts, more than action. It is beauty expressed.
