Martial Arts Philosophy

[Guest]

Forget religion just for a second...


Here is some philosophy- some martial arts stories:


http://w3.blackbeltmag.com/bbkids/empty/

 

[FireGarden]

In the somewhat appropriately titled "Who is the Enemy?", I found this:

To live as a nobody is the greatest skill, for it is so easy to fill yourself with the many self-centered dreams that false prophets offer you ... at a price.

This is something I don't like.
Sure I agree that desire leads to suffering, but it also leads to better things. To be told that being (or living as) "a nobody" is the highest ideal is somewhat suspicious. "It's lonely at the top. You wouldn't like it. Honest you wouldn't. (And I don't need the competition)"

Of course it's easy to fill yourself with dreams. I'm not saying that people should dream their lives away.

From "If" by Rudyard Kipling
"If you can dream -- and not make dreams your master"

I'd heard the tea-cup story in "beginner's mind, empty self" before.
I haven't read the others.

My vote:
made me think about something in a way I've thought before. (Twice)

Ho-hum,
You revise something old everyday
(See I can invent sig-lines)

 

[Yahzi]

My marital arts philosophy is closely related to Taoism - it focuses heavily on what works, on accepting the universe the way it is instead of the way you think it should be.

It doesn't object to you trying to change the universe into what you want it to be - it just says, start with what it actually is.

It taught me a lot about how people work, and about how they appear to work, and about how those are often unrelated things.

 

[Doctor X]

My martial arts philosophy consists of:

"Shut up and train!"

It seems to cover all of the bases I have encountered.

--J.D.

 

[Tricky]

I haven't read the whole thing, but doubt that it will contain anything of substance. The very first one said something that I consider to be one of the stupidest platitudes ever uttered.

"Perform every act of your life as if it's your last". That's just plain crazy. If I thought something would be my last act, I would perform it in a way with no regard for my personal well being or continued existence. If I performed every act as if it were my last, it wouldn't take long until it became true.

 

[Plutarck]

I haven't read the whole thing, but doubt that it will contain anything of substance. The very first one said something that I consider to be one of the stupidest platitudes ever uttered.

"Perform every act of your life as if it's your last". That's just plain crazy. If I thought something would be my last act, I would perform it in a way with no regard for my personal well being or continued existence. If I performed every act as if it were my last, it wouldn't take long until it became true.

That's it, I'm going to go empty my checking and savings accounts and blow it all on whores and drugs!

If it's going to be my last moment, why bother to save (curtail current consumption in favor of consumption in the future) and invest (use savings - from curtailed consumption - to generate revenues)?


Tricky, until you pointed that out, I never actually thought about that phrase. Amazing how such stupid things can slip by you without noticign.

 

[BillyTK]

It doesn't mean act as if you're about to die; it does mean to focus on whatever you are doing, and don't be distracted. It's kind of similar to, "When sitting, sit; when standing; stand. Above all, don't wobble!"

 

[BillyTK]

My marital arts philosophy fwiw is, "What she says!"

 

[Doctor X]

Shut up and train!

--J. "See? It works!" D.

 

[BillyTK]

"Shut up and dance!"
- Aerosmith

"Shut 'em down!"
- Public Enemy

"Shut it, you!"
- Dead or Alive

 

[Plutarck]

"Shut up!"
- Little Richard

 

[Tricky]

Tricky said
----
The very first one said something that I consider to be one of the stupidest platitudes ever uttered.

"Perform every act of your life as if it's your last". That's just plain crazy. If I thought something would be my last act, I would perform it in a way with no regard for my personal well being or continued existence.
----
Whodini added
(or others' we assume)

Incorrect assumption. The scenario does not state that the world or humanity will end, only my existence. Being the empathic person I am, I would try to never do something to endanger someone else, even if it were the last act of my life. In fact, quite the opposite.

Whodini said
Does that have anything to do with your lack of belief?

I doubt it. There was a whole thread dedicated to the question of whether atheists were more concerned with self-preservation than theists, and the general conclusion was that there is no significant difference.

 

[thaiboxerken]

My martial arts philosophy consists of:

"Shut up and train!"

It seems to cover all of the bases I have encountered.

--J.D.

I'm with you, X, it seems that those that buy into the "grasshopper" philosophies of martial arts spend more time pondering about silliness than training. The "Chi" people are notorious for getting their butts kicked.

 

[Crossbow]

The best thing I have learned from martial arts is when not to fight, and when to fight.

And when it is necessary to fight, then how to pick a battlefield or at the very least, be able to make the best use of the battlefield available.

 

[Doctor X]

His opinion is shared by the Chinese.

--J.D.

 

[Aoidoi]

My martial arts philosophy? Don't get hit in the nuts. It hurts.

Oh, and don't bring your fists to a gunfight. That hurts too.

But my all time favorite martial arts slogan... "Go for the EYES, Boo!"

 

[evildave]

Quick FYI:

'Chi' (pronounced 'key') is a spiritual energy thing. There is no testable evidence for its existence. (Sound familiar?) The idea for 'chi' believers is to focus your 'chi' for an attack.

For some reason, those who focus on the more mundane things, like where to punch someone so they fold up, win.

 

[Guest]

His opinion is shared by the Chinese.
--J.D.

The first part of his opinion, probably. However, I'd say a lot of people view philosophy as highly important.

The second part:

----
The "Chi" people are notorious for getting their butts kicked.
----


, I disagree with. I'd say that what Ken calls "Chi people" are more notorious for BS demonstrations.

I'd also add that if you are an American thai boxer, you will learn that other martial artists get their butts kicked, while amazingly, thai boxers will be the most victorious.

I have many videos of thai boxers getting "their butts kicked" by non thai-boxers, as well as videos of thai boxers dancing around in their rituals and praying before their match starts.

I also have videos of thai boxers giving some of the most devestating blows that I've ever seen. I also have so called "Chi people" giving some devestating blows.

Explore both sides - Interesting stuff.

 

[Guest]

---
'Chi' (pronounced 'key') is a spiritual energy thing. There is no testable evidence for its existence. (Sound familiar?) The idea for 'chi' believers is to focus your 'chi' for an attack.
----


That is the Japanese pronounciation anyway, spelled as ki.

In Chinese it is spelled ch'i or qi, and is pronounced chee.

Also, as me and Valmorian explored to death in a thread, qi has many meanings. -about as many meanings as the word 'energy' does.

 

[Guest]

Tricky,


----
Incorrect assumption. The scenario does not state that the world or humanity will end, only my existence. Being the empathic person I am, I would try to never do something to endanger someone else, even if it were the last act of my life. In fact, quite the opposite.
----


Ok Tricky, I just wanted to check to make sure.

Ack, just realized the part I added in ()'s made it look like you said that. Sorry- I'll check better next time.