What to Believe

With so much being written, filmed and taught today in martial arts how does one determine what is truth/fact and what is not truth/fact? I realized last night in meditation that we have available to us a lot of information that was nonexistent in the early years of martial arts, specifically karate from Okinawa. We had early translations from early American martial arts pioneers but that also must be tested as to translations especially since translating Asian characters/ideograms is most difficult even with the best western minds translating.

Translations have gotten better when the translators get Japanese, Okinawan and Chinese academics to assit in checking and validating translations. Then you still have to consider the expertise on the subject as well as the personal perceptions and cultural belief influences of those individuals.

Take this example, in the last publication of the classical fighting arts magazine there was an article on the Isshinryu style that was considered by some as inaccurate and inflammatory with prejudice against those who created and practice the art. Yet, the publisher in all likelihood felt the article was accurate so if the publisher is right then a lot of others are mistaken then again if the publisher was incorrect in their assessment of Isshinryu then we have to ask ourselves at every publication "what do we believe?"

It is important that we discover the past for a lack of knowledge tends to diminish the art itself. This does not mean that we have to adhere to that past knowledge but rather simply understand it so that we can use that past to create a better today and stimulate those who follow to crete a better future for the system, style, or art.

I ask myself more and more each reading of any information regarding the martial arts as well as self-defense and violence what should I believe and what should I discard. In this arena it is most difficult since many who may or may not actually be professionals and experts will still promote themselves and their systems as the best of the best. This is an issue that haunts all those who seek such knowledge and expertise.

In the end what to believe comes down to how much work you, the individual seeking knowledge, put into your research. It also comes down to non-acceptance. Non-acceptance only in skepticism in what you learn and know leaving an open door to change as more knowledge comes your way. You accept what you perceive as factual and correct until you encounter a change that says the last needs modification. It does not mean it or you were wrong, it just means things have changed and you need to change your data.

A good healthy bit of skepticism is always good. Your continued diligent efforts toward validation is always very, very good. Even if something is factual and accurate it still, in martial arts or self-defense, etc., does not mean it will work for you but with effort, training and practice it will, it might, it just may or may not work. All part of the process, validation - validation - validation.

You might say, "the author or expert has provided a solid resume as well as supporting documentation/information so why should I doubt it?" Experts are not always experts. We provide that title to many disciplines and usually because of a large quantity of knowledge in academic form. Academic forms are great but they lack, sometimes, that essence or sense or common sense aspect that actually validates said data.

How many training sessions have you experienced in your life that when taken to the streets where reality and chaos change the dynamics turned that training on its ear. I have taken considerable training while in my military and civilian service for both the Marines and the Navy jobs I have held. The training is a solid introduction but you learn early on that it is just an introduction and that much of what you learn will need adjustments to work in real life scenarios. It is just a fact of life.

Even our perceptions that support our belief systems sometimes when confronted with reality don't hold up well. I believe this is how some people are subjected to such horrible changes psychologically when they encounter violence. It takes their belief system and turns it upside down and inside out. When your belief system is subjected to such trauma sometimes you experience lots of pain and anguish. This is very difficult to overcome if you are not open and trained for change - constant, continuous and sometimes radical change.

Sometimes you have to take what you believe on faith. This is part of life as well but still means validation. This is important in martial arts and especially self-defense. When you take training you will want to validate it but in some form that will not actually put you in harm's way unless you work in a field that requires you to go into harms way. Hopefully the training and practice will be real enough to get you through the introduction to violence, etc.

Look at it like military training for combat. You will train, train, train and you will practice, practice, practice so that when you go into harm's way you have a fighting chance of learning, changing, adjusting and gaining real life experiences to supplement further training and practice and training and practice. Does this make sense?