Caveat: This article is mine and mine alone. I the author of this article assure you, the reader, that any of the opinions expressed here are my own and are a result of the way in which my meandering mind interprets a particular situation and/or concept. The views expressed here are solely those of the author in his private capacity and do not in any way represent the views of other martial arts and/or conflict/violence professionals or authors of source materials. It should be quite obvious that the sources I used herein have not approved, endorsed, embraced, friended, liked, tweeted or authorized this article. (Everything I think and write is true, within the limits of my knowledge and understanding. Oh, and just because I wrote it and just because it sounds reasonable and just because it makes sense, does not mean it is true.)
Please make note that this article/post is my personal analysis of the subject and the information used was chosen or picked by me. It is not an analysis piece because it lacks complete and comprehensive research, it was not adequately and completely investigated and it is not balanced, i.e., it is my personal view without the views of others including subject experts, etc. Look at this as “Infotainment rather then expert research.” This is an opinion/editorial article/post meant to persuade the reader to think, decide and accept or reject my premise. It is an attempt to cause change or reinforce attitudes, beliefs and values as they apply to martial arts and/or self-defense. It is merely a commentary on the subject in the particular article presented.
“If we look at the world we see arts for sale. Men use equipment to sell their own selves. As if with the nut and the flower, the nut has become less than the flower. In this kind of Way of Strategy, both those teaching and those learning the way are concerned with coloring and showing off their technique, trying to hasten the bloom of the flower. They speak of ‘This dojo’ and “That dojo’. They are looking for profit. Someone once said, ‘Immature strategy is the cause of grief’. That was a true saying.” - Peyton Quinn, Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi Kensai
Now, I believe this is a quote from the Ground Book of the Go Rin no Sho as translated but I also believe or feel that Mr. Quinn’s influences, knowledge, understanding and especially experience has influenced how this was written in the book. Regardless of that, this quote comes from a time long ago by a master of strategy of that time and under the circumstances and situations encountered in that time, that culture and that era.
It is to my mind a hint toward how humans tend to repeat history over and over again because what I feel is conveyed here is also how I see our modern martial arts teachings. I see ego and the selling of a product where one usually renders that product to a more malleable and sellable one. In a nutshell, it is about pulling the teeth of the tiger, the claws of the tiger and therefore the will and mind of the tiger for the sake of gratification and monetary gain. The true loser is the buyer for we forget the old adage, “Buyer Beware!”
If we accept that martial arts are just another project that provides no more than gratification of the body and mind without adhering to its historical combative traits then who cares. It is when we fool ourselves into thinking and believing it to be something it is not, that is dangerous when that something exposes its proponents to conflict, violence, grave bodily harm and even death.
Does this mean all martial systems are in this fix, no it does not as many solid, professional and proficient martial practitioners have embraced the system combative roots and worked diligently toward restoration, that is really cool and even good. Yeah to those folks! What a boon for us who desire the combative benefits of martial systems!
If this is true also then who cares about all those who find false lost martial disciplines a product to remove one’s hard earned cash from their grasps and if those who pay out find comfort and excitement and gratification then that is ok too but remember that what you get may come back to cause you to regret. Just saying …
Bibliography:
Quinn, Peyton. “Musashi’s: Book of Five Rings” Quinn Communications. Amazon Digital Services, inc. 2011.
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