My Martial Philosophy

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I have theories. I have idea's. I have beliefs. I have my own philosophy. I have one for my life and one for my practice of martial disciplines. They are intertwined. My philosophy is a mixture of many things that come from my personal life experiences. This means my philosophy is very personal and has nothing to do with anyone else or any other practice of martial arts. It is mine.

Get your own philosophy! I don't mean you ignore the philosophies of others especially those within the ancient classics of Asia. It would be important to take in philosophy from other sources for within those you may find tidbits that can make your personal philosophy more than you would have known existed.

When I post I am expressing many things from my viewpoint that rise up from within "me" and are a part of or a new addition to my  philosophy of both life and martial practices. Like the symbol of the great tai-chi, my philosophy is a never ending cycle between yin-yang to yang-yin influenced by my practice and studies of the martial-way-methodologies. It influences my life and my life influences it. This is good.

Don't assume an others philosophy. It may be cool but it is NOT your philosophy, it is theirs. Get your own philosophy. You can mix, match, add, subtract, divide, morph, meld - whatever - but let all philosophies you study influence how you personally "choose" your philosophy. 

We spend way too much time and energy trying to get others to buy into our philosophy when in reality it should be "we present ours so you can find your own" and that works. No one is in a vacuum, an island, if you remember the quote. We are the center of the circle and we are the space outside of the circle. We are the circle and we must allow both inner and outer influences mix and form our personal philosophies. 

We must assume the fundamental principles, the basic waza, the kata, the other various practices of the masters but we must NOT remain stagnant by dogmatically maintaining that practice. Rather, allow it to form a new and unique form by our philosophy and its influences on training, practices and applications. It is necessary to remain faithful to the fundamentals of a system. It must be taught, initially, as it was meant to be taught, traditionally, yet it must rise up, grow, and blossom into a unique practice/philosophy, one unique to you - the individual.

The Ken-po Goku-i remains the same as we pass it down to our students. Yet, its meaning and teachings are open to the individual. Although it remains steadfast in its original form it has the ability to take the practitioner on a path that deviates/diverges from any other persons path. Why it is not defined adequately by Tatsuo Sensei, or any other Isshinryu practitioner, is because it was not meant to be rigid and inflexible. It was meant to be fluid, to present a key to open the doors to each unique person so they can "get their own philosophy."

My philosophy is mine. I hope it is and has provided thought provocation. Let it be a step toward your own philosophy.


Fundamental priciples regarding philosophy; PRINCIPLES OF PHILOSOPHY: Mind, Mushin, Kime, Non-intention, Yin-Yang, Oneness, Zanshin & Being, Non-action, Character, The Empty Cup.

How does your philosophy fit within these sub-principles of the fundamental principles of martial disciplines? 

PHILOSOPHICAL: Philosophy is important all on its own in regard to the study of “The Way,” but it is also that social/personal philosophy that usually drives you and how you see, feel and apply such skills. If you are a bad guy you use it one way; if you are a good guy you use it another way and so on. 

Philosophy: the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence, especially when considered as an academic discipline; a particular system of philosophical thought; the study of the theoretical basis of a particular branch of knowledge or experience; a theory or attitude held by a person or organization that acts as a guiding principle for behavior.

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