To Be A Martial Artist by D. Glenn Werry, Jr.

To be a martial artist…

Violence is nature. It is all over the animal kingdom. It is a fact of life. Humanity has

the propensity towards violence in its nature just as much as the bear, wolf, shark, and

eagle. We deal with this daily, as a species, violence amongst ourselves for resources

and standing. While the crime rates are thankfully dropping over the years, it is still a

pressing concern for those who must face it. Throughout the centuries, this is where

martial arts enter in.

For those that recognize violence is an infectious probability that needs to be prepared

for, martial arts is the vaccine. We become intimately acquainted with violence, inured

to it, and able to meet it if, and when, necessary. It is this intimacy with violence that

allows us to develop and grow and realize the spiritual truths that so often become the

focus, overshadowing the seed that sprouted them.

That seed, nurtured by the efforts of training, is that martial arts is about fighting, most

often dueling, though occasionally including multiple attackers. All martial arts practice

focuses around ‘hurt, maim, and kill’ within their techniques, whether through grappling

and throwing, striking, or weapons. The philosophy of most schools, however, generally

holds a nonviolent approach. My art, Elemental Jujutsu, captures this well with our dojo

kun of, ‘preserve peace, restore harmony, and nurture every living thing.’

Let’s start off by defining some terms for our purposes here. Hurt means to damage in

such a way that there is pain, bruising, and bleeding, possibly some tearing or minor

fractures, but the opponent’s normal activities are not seriously impacted for more than

a couple of weeks. Maim is the next level, and herein the opponent’s normal

capabilities are seriously impacted, semi-permanently to permanently. Kill of course is

obvious. Back to the dojo kun, peace is a calm state of contentment, and harmony is

being in tune with the ebb and flow of the current situation, and nurture is effort towards

best outcomes.

How do we reconcile these philosophies? Violence is a fact of the world. We have an

inherent trait towards violence in the pursuit of dominance and tribal (peer group)

standing, and sometimes in resource predation. We want to be seen as “someone,”

rather than a nobody. We want to meet our needs, real or imagined.

The philosophers

amongst us realize the dangers inherent in this drive and strive to become better. How

did they come to this realization, though? It was through the practice of violence,

through training and sparring, and through dueling. These practices showcased the

futility of the endeavor, that being good at violence leads to more violence, as fighting

against a renowned artist became a badge of honor. As put forth on the Goodreads

website, “Generally speaking, the Way of the warrior is resolute acceptance of

death.”― Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings. Also, Chapter 31 of the Tao te

Ching,

“Weapons of war

Are instruments of fear,

A spread of plague,

Hateful to living things.

Therefore the wise shun them.

Weapons are not auspicious tools,

And should be used only when no choice,

Then with only a calm, still mind

That doesn’t rejoice at victory.

To rejoice at victory

Is to enjoy killing people.

And to enjoy killing people

Is to lose share in the common good

And the possibility for worldly success.

The death of so many

Is cause for mourning.

Victory in war should be received

With funeral ceremonies.”

No one should celebrate violence, or seek true violence, sport notwithstanding. Yet it

is within training for violence safely that we find peace, serenity, and spirituality. The

falling, rolling, being thrown, trading controlled blows, wrestling, and body conditioning

refines us, strengthening the body and mind so that the spirit shines through.

We find

our peace amidst violence, learning to stay calm and controlled in facing adversity and

loss. We learn to stay in harmony with the flow of the moment, and to only respond with

what is necessary to keep the external peace as well. We nurture ourselves, so that we

may be better leaders, teachers, friends, and family members, and can nurture those

around us.

“The purpose of training is to tighten up the slack, toughen the body, and polish the

spirit.” ― Morihei Ueshiba, The Art of Peace

By D. Glenn Werry, Jr., 6th Dan Jujutsu, 4th Dan Karate, 3rd Dan Judo, and retired Infantry

Staff Sergeant